Small Car

The hosts welcome Eric Ruble of Nissan to discuss the design of the all-new 2026 Leaf electric crossover. Eric shares a number of insider details related to the Leaf’s overall look, including some fun insights regarding Easter eggs hidden in the vehicle’s trim.

In 1965, roughly six percent of all new cars sold were convertibles. By 1975, that number had shrunk to less than two percent. Sadly, for 2025, the number of convertibles sold in the U.S. has been reduced to a rounding error. Best estimates put the percent of drop-tops sold in the U.S. for ’25 at just .6 percent.

While ostensibly a Chinese brand, it’s not just sold in China. Zeekr vehicles are retailed in Europe, the Middle East, Australia, and all-over Asia. Plus, vehicles from the brand have been available in Mexico for at least two years. Lest you think we’ll never see one in America, Zeekr has already entered into a partnership with Waymo, an autonomous taxi service operating regionally in the U.S., to provide vehicles for the ride-hailing operation.

We named the Nissan Leaf to our 2026 Consumer Guide Best Buy list, and predict that this newest version of the maker’s pioneering EV will hit price-conscious electric-car shoppers with a combination of content and value that is difficult to ignore.

Jill and Tom are joined by friend of show and sustainability expert Robert Colangelo. Robert addresses the fallacy that EVs are a threat to the U.S. electric grid, and details the real power-consumption challenges that lay ahead for the country. It’s a great conversation you don’t want to miss.