Top Stories
The Era of Automotive Globalization is Dead
Stagnating demand in Western markets, the end of the ‘global car,’ and the cost of electrification present automakers and suppliers with a triple conundrum, says AlixPartners’ annual report on the state of the auto industry.
A Week With: 2026 Toyota Tacoma Limited Hybrid
For two decades, the Toyota Tacoma has been the best-selling midsize pickup in America. After a week in the Tacoma Limited, I’m not sure what could happen to change that. Toyota builds a Tacoma for everybody. That said, Headlight.News did find a small flaw in the Limited model … most people would call that “a needle in a haystack.” Check out our review of the country’s top midsize pickup.
Have “Illegal” Immigrants Driven Up Auto Insurance Costs? Trump Says Yes. Data Says No
Auto insurance rates have gone up sharply this decade and the question is why premiums have risen so quickly. Pres. Trump points to illegal immigration. But that doesn’t appear to be matched by the data. Headlight.News has more.
Honey & Me: How a Cross-Country Trip, 16 Dogs in Tow, Changed Everything
What happened when a menagerie of homeless dogs needed to be moved cross-country? That’s when a gaggle of autowriters, analysts and PR folks came to the rescue. Here’s Part II of Operation Frodo EV.
Jeep, Honda Collectively Recall 2 Million Vehicles; Meanwhile Ford is Again Heading for a Recall Record
It’s a big week for automotive recalls – among the biggest, Jeep and Honda each are targeting more than 1 million vehicles due to safety defects. A potential fire risk has Jeep telling owners they should park their vehicles outside.Then there’s Ford which could soon set another recall record. Headlight.News has more.
Podcasts
Get the Latest Auto News on the HEADLIGHT.NEWS Podcast
Headlight News Podcast for the Week of 2-16-26
The Headlight News Podcast for the Week of 2-16-26 covers big Ford losses, sliding EV sales, the 2027 Toyota Highlander EV, President Trump pushing to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, plus we review the 2026 Mazda CX-90 Turbo S Premium Plus and look back at this Week in Auto History. Give us a listen.
Headlight News Podcast for the Week of 2-9-26
On this week’s Headlight News podcast, we cover the big hit to Stellantis’ earnings, Toyota’s changes at the top as well as its new EV, plus the decline of new car sales last month. We also review the 2026 Honda Prelude and more. Give us a listen!
Headlight.News Podcast for the Week of 2-2-26
This week’s Headlight News podcast chronicles the fall of GM and Tesla earnings, Toyota setting a new sales record, Mercedes showing its new S-Class, automakers not advertising during the Super Bowl this year. Give us a listen and tell us what you think.
Headlight News Podcast for the Week of 1-26-26
On this week’s Headlight News podcast, we cover the influence China is having on the U.S. automotive market, declining Cybertruck demand and sales, Mercedes equipping its 2027 E-Class with heated seatbelts and more. Check it out at Headlight.News.
Latest Reviews
No Longer Locked in the Bargain Basement, the New Seltos Shows Why Kia is a Brand to Reckon With
It started out as a nearly invisible, “cheap and cheerful” brand. Today, Kia is one of the fastest-growing brands on the U.S. market and challenging not only competitors like Nissan but its own Korean sibling Hyundai. The redesigned 2027 Kia Seltos is a reason why.
A Week With: 2026 Subaru Outback Wilderness
Subaru found itself caught with nothing to offer during the initial years of the SUV boom back in the 1990s. To compensate, the marque raised the ride height of its Legacy station wagon and billed it as the Legacy Outback — the “World’s First Sport Utility Wagon.” Now the brand has a “proper” ute in the 2026 Outback Wilderness and it’s unclear if it was necessary to make the change. Get the answer in our review at Headlight.News.
A Week With: 2026 Kia K4 Hatchback GT-Line Turbo
Kia built its first car in 1974, some 30 years after the company was founded. Nineteen years later, the company launched its first model in the United States: the Sephia. It was a decent, if something of an ordinary car — a word that cannot be applied to any of the marque’s offerings. A good example of this is the Headlight.News review this week: the 2026 Kia K4 GT-Line Turbo Hatchback.
Lexus Bucks the EV Trend, New TZ Will its Third All-Electric Model for the U.S.
While most automakers are cutting back on their EV plans, Toyota Motor Co. is ramping up. And it’s taken the covers off the latest addition, the Lexus TZ set to become the luxury brand’s third all-electric model. Headlight.News has more.
A Week With: 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT AWD
A few years ago, Hyundai made waves with the debut of its car/truck, the Santa Cruz. It arrived with a natural rival, the Ford Maverick compact pickup. Fast forward to now, the Santa Cruz is on its way out — and that’s a damned shame. Find out why at Headlight.News.