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.
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Jason
Gearbox Car Reviews
I've already covered the Q5's big updates for 2025 (some of which is already about to change for 2026), but I took in a spin in the quicker, more aggressive brother, the SQ5.
The SQ5 is set apart by it's bigger engine, more aggressive tuning, sport-tuned air suspension, sportier appearance, seats, flat-topped steering wheel, and more.
The hood houses a 3.0L turbo V6 that pumps out 362-hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The transmission is still a 7-Speed S Tronic (DCT), and drivetrain is still Quattro all-wheel-drive.
Full thoughts to come on the differences between the Q5 and the SQ5, as well as some of what's coming down the pike for 2026.
3 days ago (edited) | [YT] | 8
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Gearbox Car Reviews
Unfortunately, no video this week due to extenuating circumstances. Polestar was gracious enough to get me back on the Polestar 4 schedule for a later date, so that one will still be coming. Back to your regularly scheduled programming next weekend.
Current pipeline for those following along at home:
Audi SQ5
Lexus LC 500 Convertible
Toyota Supra Final Edition M/T
Mazda Mazda3 Carbon Hatchback
Volkswagen Atlas
Polestar 4
Land Rover Defender OCTA
Cadillac Escalade V
Subaru Outback Touring XT
Mercedes E 53
Volkswagen Tiguan
Acura ADX
More to come! Stay tuned!
1 week ago | [YT] | 10
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Gearbox Car Reviews
G87 BMW M2!
The M2 got a big update in 2023, with a bit of a refresh for 2025, and I spent some time out in LA with this refreshed M2!
2025 brought new colors (including this Vegas Red), a bump in horsepower and torque, and some re-kajiggered options.
Power still comes through a 3.0L straight six with twin-turbos (S58), but now it makes 473-hp and 443 lb-ft (vs 453 and 404, respectively). Rear-drive is still the only drivetrain. And you still have a choice between a ZF 6-speed manual and a ZF 8-speed automatic, though if you opt for the manual you don't get the torque bump, unfortunately.
There's a fresh new flat-bottomed steering wheel, carbon buckets can be optioned without the full carbon package, and iDrive 8.5 replaces the iDrive 8 system.
The only change for 2026 is the addition of a monster M2 CS with more power, carbon ceramic brakes, and more.
Full thoughts on the non-CS to come!
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 16
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Gearbox Car Reviews
2026 Genesis G90 Prestige Black!
Genesis is still holding strong when it comes to their large executive sedan. Updates for this year include flat windshield wipers with integrated washers, updated alert sounds, and a new Black Edition!
The Prestige Black is built on top of the E-Supercharged, which means you get all the goodies: heated, ventilated, massage in front AND rear seats, air suspension, active rear steering, and of course, the supercharger. In addition, you get black accents all over, black badges, exclusive black wheels, gorgeous black wood trim on the interior, exclusive quilted semi-aniline leather seats and more.
My tester's twin-turbo V6 and e-supercharger combine for 409-hp and 405 lb-ft, with an 8-speed auto as your only transmission option and a heavily rear-biased all-wheel-drive system as your only drivetrain.
This beast is cushy, quick, and looks great with the black trim.
Full thoughts to come!
3 weeks ago | [YT] | 29
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Gearbox Car Reviews
The 2026 Hyundai Palisade is bigger, boxier, cushier, classier...and it comes in brown!
The Palisade has been updated, and the changes aren't subtle. It's gotten a full redesign, with a longer overall length, longer wheelbase, and shorter front overhang. Stacked headlights and taillights and a horizontal pattern through the front grille add to the wide presence.
There are two new powertrains including a hybrid and a naturally aspirated 3.5L V6. My tester has the latter. It's interesting to see a company putting effort into a new NA V6 in a time of turbos and electrification, but this new motor makes about the same hp and torque as the outgoing 3.8L at 287-hp and 260 lb-ft vs 292 and 262, with slightly better efficiency numbers.
The Palisade is still offered in either front-wheel or all-wheel-drive, with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid uses a 6-speed auto.
There's now an optional fully integrated dashcam, a phone cleaner, and you have full control over the second and third row seats from the infotainment and from the rear cargo area.
Seating capacity is 7 or 8, depending on trim, and the Palisade is still the only vehicle I've been in with a heated third row option (this gen and last). Front seats are offered with heat, ventilation, relaxation mode, and massage (driver only for massage :( ), while captains chairs get heat, ventilation, and relaxation mode as an option.
Full thoughts to come!
4 weeks ago | [YT] | 17
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Gearbox Car Reviews
2026 Toyota Sienna!
If you need space for people and stuff, there is no better vehicle out there than a minivan. And if you want a hybrid, there's no one doing it better than Toyota.
In addition to a new Heavy Metal paint color, there are a lot of new standard features on the Sienna. The LE (base) gains 2 extra speakers (8 total), roof rails, an auto-dimming mirror with Homelink, a power tailgate, rear window shades, a windshield, and a 1 year Remote Connect trial. The XSE gains roof rails and turn signals in the mirrors, and the XLE gains roof rails, turn signals in the mirrors, and a 12-speaker JBL sound system.
The Sienna is still using Toyota's hybrid system II, with a 2.5L 4-cylinder engine, a nickel-metal hydride battery and two or three motors depending on drivetrain, as it's offered in either front-wheel or all-wheel-drive. Combined system output is 245-hp, and an eCVT is the only transmission option.
And it's offered as either a 7-seater or an 8-seater.
Full thoughts to come!
1 month ago | [YT] | 16
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Gearbox Car Reviews
2026 Mazda CX-50!
Mazda's other compact crossover, the CX-5, gets a full overhaul for 2026, but the CX-50 certainly has not been left behind. The CX-5 gains more standard features, a new trim level, some styling tweaks, and a lower price tag! And, while not new, it's still available in this beautiful Cypress Green!
My Turbo Premium Plus tester MSRP'd for $43,500 for 2025, while this year's MSRP is $42,900. The more rugged CX-50 Meridian is now available in non-turbo form. The Preferred gains standard front and rear parking sensors and a moonroof. And the Premium gets standard ventilated seats with memory, auto-dimming mirror, and a power passenger seat.
There are also black badges available for this year, but since my tester has the--also new--white interior, it gets chrome badges, a new set of 20" allow wheels, and the silver rails and trim.
The CX-50 is still offered with 3 different powertrains, a naturally-aspirated 2.5L SKYACTIV-G 4-cylinder, a turbocharged 2.5L SKYACTIV-G 4-cylinder, and a Toyota-borrowed hybrid system. The paint color on my tester also comes from Toyota.*
My turbocharged tester makes 256-hp and 320 lb-ft of torque, with those numbers dropping just slightly if you opt for regular (non-premium) gas. A 6-speed auto is standard, and so is intelligent all-wheel-drive.
Full thoughts to come!
*Since the CX-50 is built down in the shared Toyota/Mazda plant in Alabama, the two automakers are able to do some bartering. Toyota gets Soul Red Crystal Metallic and Mazda gets Cypress Green and a hybrid system.
1 month ago | [YT] | 10
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Gearbox Car Reviews
2026 Toyota Corolla XSE!
This tried and true Toyota compact sedan has been around for ages, and its popularity hasn't waned much even in the age of crossovers taking over the roadways. It's almost cliche to recommend a Corolla at this point, but there's good reason for it.
The 2026 Corolla is still offered in hybrid or gas-only, with my tester here being the latter.
My Corolla XSE is motivated by a 2.0L naturally-aspirated 4-cylinder motor that pumps out 169-hp and 151 lb-ft of torque. A CVT is the only transmission, and front-wheel-drive is the only drivetrain. A hybrid would get you an eCVT and optional all-wheel-drive, in addition to a bit more power and fuel efficiency.
For 2026, the Corolla gains blind-spot monitoring as a standard feature and the XSE gets a standard 12.3" digital gauge cluster.
With pricing starting at just over $22k and my top-spec tester hitting just over $28k, it's one of the more affordable options out there. And with a proven powertrain, it's sure to last.
Full thoughts to come!
1 month ago | [YT] | 7
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Gearbox Car Reviews
2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness Edition!
The Forester got its major updates for 2025, with the introduction of the 6th generation, but the Wilderness Edition was left behind. This year it catches up, with the new design, revised powertrain, and more.
This compact crossover--c'mon, it's really a wagon--gets lots of black and copper trim, a unique seat design, dash design, and more. If you ever forget that it's the Wilderness Edition, just check one of the many many many many labels.
Power comes through a revised 2.5L BOXER 4-cylinder that makes 180-hp and 178 lb-ft of torque, as compared to the 5th gen's 182 and 176, respectively, but more importantly, you get a little more grunt down lower in the rev range.
A lineartronic CVT is standard, as is symmetrical all-wheel-drive, just like the rest of the Foresters, but the Wilderness Edition adds some extra transmission cooling, a shorter final drive, and a temperature sensor on the rear diff. It also adds a couple of mud and snow drive modes and a forward-facing camera.
All 2026 Foresters receive some rearranging of the center console area, with a phone holder, a revised gear shifter, and a cupholder big enough for a 32-oz Nalgene. That last one is way underrated.
Full thoughts to come!
1 month ago | [YT] | 10
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Gearbox Car Reviews
Kia's best-seller, the Sportage, receives a bit of a refresh for the 2026 model year, with updated starmap amber daytime-running lights, cube LED headlights, some tweaks to the front and rear facia, a square steering wheel in the X-Pro Prestige, a standard 12.3" infotainment screen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and over-the-air updates, and the removal of much of the glossy black in the interior.
The all-gas Sportages are powered by a 2.5L naturally-aspirated 4-cylinder that produces 187-hp and 178 lb-ft of torque. An 8-speed automatic transmission is the only choice for the all-gas Sportage. And front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive are the drivetrain choices.
With 36.6 cu ft - 39.9 cu ft of rear cargo space and over 42" of rear legroom, this compact crossover is quite spacious for the class. And there are many great safety and assist features as well. The X-Pro Prestige I'm testing has very comfy seats, a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated memory seats, and more.
Full thoughts are up on the channel!
2 months ago | [YT] | 7
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