Small Car

They were called captive imports, and they became an important part of the new-product lineups at Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors beginning in the Seventies. The Dodge Colt was such a car, and for years gave Dodge an enviable showroom lineup of small and affordable models. The Colt has an interesting history.

The cars were essentially rebadged and restyled Mercury models with unique Canadian-market trim, grilles, bumpers, and badging—generally marketed with royal/British monarchy themes (e.g., "Ride like a King in a Monarch").

New for the 2004 model year, the QX80 never caught the fancy of shoppers in this segment, and has never impressed us much here at CG. All this changed for 2025. Completely redesigned, the updated QX80—which is closely related mechanically to the Nissan Armada—was improved dramatically, especially in terms of ride, handling, and cabin quietness. So much so, that we named the big Infiniti a 2026 Best Buy, along with the more affordable Armada.

The Car Stuff Podcast crew welcomes Bodie of the Kilowatt podcast to the show. Bodie shares his insights as to where the EV market is heading, and what to expect from carmakers in the near- and midterm.

Modern fuel-injected engines filled with advanced lubricants (synthetic oil) generally achieve full oil circulation within 20 seconds of starting. Subsequent idling serves no purpose in terms of engine preservation, and can, in fact, cause additional wear, as it delays the motor from achieving optimal operating temperatures which are reached most quickly by driving.