2026 SUV And EV Reality Check

In Wheel Time Podcast · Jul 7, 2026 · 30m · transcript

Touchscreens are getting bigger, buttons are disappearing, and electrification is rewriting what “good value” even means in a new car. We put all of that to the test by driving a lineup that spans luxury, mainstream EV, full-size towing muscle, and sporty sedan practicality, then calling out what impressed us and what would drive us crazy after a month of ownership.

We start with the 2026 Lexus RX 450H Plus, a plug-in hybrid SUV with standout styling, a high-end cabin, and the kind of premium audio that makes you take the long way home. Then we get real about the PHEV catch: if you do not…