Welcome to Gearbox Car Reviews!
My name is Jason and I have a driving problem. I like to drive, but I don't have the budget for Jay Leno's garage. So I figured being one of those car review guys would be the perfect solution. I'll find whatever I can get my hands on and share some info about the cars and share some background info and the drive with you.
If you're in central CT and you have a car that I can take for a spin, please feel free to reach out! There are a lot of interesting cars coming down the pike, so I'm hoping to be a part of the last hurrah, before gas-powered cars fade away.
If you like the reviews and background info on different cars, make sure to subscribe and share. If you don't like the reviews, subscribe anyway so that I can get access to more cars and find something you're into!
Thanks & enjoy!
Jason
Gearbox Car Reviews
2026 Infiniti QX80 Sport!
Infiniti's flagship got a redesign last year, and this year it gains a Sport trim. This isn't quite a NISMO, like the Armada I was in a few weeks ago though, it's more of an appearance package.
Last year, this three-row dropped the V8 and adopted a twin-turbo V6 that pumps out 450-hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, with that power routed through a 9-speed automatic transmission to either 2 or 4 wheels. The Sport trim is solely available in All-Mode 4WD form.
This trim adopts a few luxuries from the Autograph, as well a unique set of 22s, dark chrome trim, and a beautiful blue leather interior.
It also drives quite beautifully. But is it enough to command a sticker price of over $100k?
Full thoughts to come!
2 days ago | [YT] | 7
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Gearbox Car Reviews
2026 BMW 550e!
Last year BMW killed off the V8-powered M550i in favor of the 550e, which features a straight-six (B58) and an electric motor. This plug-in hybrid makes 483-hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, with an available 34 miles of all electric range. Power is sent to all four wheels (xDrive) as standard, via a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission. No eCVTs here.
For 2026, the 550e can now handle 11 kW vs last year's max of 7.4 kW. Otherwise the model is a carry-over.
This car is a middle child, which is a tough position to be in. I felt the mid-level CT5 (V6, non-V) was in no man's land. But the 550e manages to balance comfort and sport surprisingly well with its Jekyll & Hyde powertrain.
Full thoughts to come!
2 weeks ago (edited) | [YT] | 25
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Gearbox Car Reviews
2026 Nissan Armada NISMO!
I have to say, I was more than a little surprised when this performance trim was announced for Nissan's big three-row family-hauler, and I wasn't quite sure what the appeal was for something like this. But after spending a week with it, I can safely say: I get it.
Nissan's Armada NISMO is powered by the same twin-turbo V6 as the standard Armada, but it's tuned for an extra 35 horses, for a total of 460. It makes the same 516 lb-ft of torque. A 9-speed automatic is standard, but tuned a little differently, as are the suspension and steering. A 4WD system is also standard on the NISMO. Towing capacity remains steady at 8,500 lbs.
Your only color choices are black, white, and Stealth Gray--all with red flair--and an optional Super Black roof.
The red accents continue inside, where this 7-seater is decked out with heated massage sport seats up front, a heated steering wheel, a digital mirror, and a power third row. Conspicuously missing is a ventilated seat function, but the sport seats might just be worth the trade-off.
Full thoughts to come!
4 weeks ago | [YT] | 23
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Gearbox Car Reviews
2026 Dodge Charger R/T Plus!
Dodge finally killed the HEMI V8, but they've replaced it with a hurricane straight-six. That's a 3.0L twin-turbo six-cylinder that makes 420-hp and 468 lb-ft of torque. Power goes through all four wheels, but there is a front-axle disconnect for shenanigans. And a ZF 8-speed auto is the only transmission option--pour one out for the manual die-hards (myself included).
If the standard output engine doesn't quite do it for you, there is a high-output option available as well, good for 550 horses.
The Charger is available in two-door or four-door form (no more Challenger name plate). Either way it's a liftback with gobs of space inside.
My tester is adorned in Bludicrous paint, big ol' racing stripes, and Fratzogs galore.
Full thoughts to come!
1 month ago | [YT] | 27
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Gearbox Car Reviews
2026 Kia Carnival Hybrid!
If you want the practicality of a minivan, without the stigma, this is about as close as you're going to get. The Kia Carnival MPV is the anti-minivan minivan.
There is a gas version, but my tester is the standard hybrid, equipped with a 1.6L turbo four and an electric motor, combining for 242-hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. Power goes through the front wheels exclusively, even in the hybrid. No all-wheel-drive available. But you do get a 6-speed auto, so no CVT in sight.
Can this front-drive, hybrid MPV beat out the Sienna?
Full thoughts to come!
1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 22
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Gearbox Car Reviews
2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid Limited!
2026 brings more efficiency and more power to the Crosstrek, with the addition of a hybrid model. The hybrid is rated for 194-hp and 36 mpg highway and city. The kicker is that you're not giving up symmetrical all-wheel-drive with the hybrid, like you would in a lot of the AWD hybrid platforms available.
In addition to the hybrid model, the 2.5L engine is now standard as well. There is no more 152-hp 2.0L base engine. You're baseline is now 180 horses.
Full thoughts to come!
1 month ago | [YT] | 22
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Gearbox Car Reviews
2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid Limited!
2026 brings more efficiency and more power to the Crosstrek, with the addition of a hybrid model. The hybrid is rated for 194-hp and 36 mpg highway and city. The kicker is that you're not giving up symmetrical all-wheel-drive with the hybrid, like you would in a lot of the AWD hybrid platforms available.
In addition to the hybrid model, the 2.5L engine is now standard as well. There is no more 152-hp 2.0L base engine. You're baseline is now 180 horses.
Full thoughts to come!
1 month ago | [YT] | 15
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Gearbox Car Reviews
The Toyota RAV4 is one of the best selling cars on the planet, and 2026 marks the first year of the new generation.
The RAV4 is now built on the 5th generation Toyota Hybrid System, making it more efficient and more powerful than the outgoing car. It makes a combined 226-hp in front-wheel-drive form and 236-hp if you opt for all-wheel-drive, with the extra, rear motor.
Fuel economy on my Limited AWD tester is 41 mpg combined now vs 40 last year. And an eCVT is still standard.
There is also a plug-in hybrid with 52 miles of range and even more horsepower, available exclusively in all-wheel-drive form.
New styling, new features, and more.
Full thoughts to come!
1 month ago | [YT] | 41
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Gearbox Car Reviews
Back in a 2026 Polestar 4!
This one is, unfortunately, missing the Swedish Gold accents of the Performance Package, like my original tester had. But it's still packing dual motors that will shove this spaceship to 60 from zero in just 3.7 seconds. Power output is 544 horses with a peak torque of 506 lb-ft.
The vehicle is built on a 400V architecture and equipped with a CCS port on the driver's rear door, and Polestar claims a max charge rate for the 100 kWh battery of 200 kW, which will get you from 10-80% in 30 minutes.
The 4 is packed with features, but more notable might be what it's missing--a rear window.
Full thoughts to come!
2 months ago | [YT] | 29
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Gearbox Car Reviews
Are you spending the extra $7k for the Premium Plus or going driver-focused with the base GR Corolla? Or are you taking your money somewhere else?
https://youtu.be/6OpJRkZtsMw
2 months ago | [YT] | 8
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