Tuesday - June 23rd, 2026
Apple News
×

What can we help you find?

Open Menu
Tom Appel Host of the Consumer Guide Car Stuff Podcast

Long-time publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive, and frequent radio and podcast guest. Currently co-hosting the Car Stuff podcast with auto-review veteran Jill Ciminillo. Life-long Chicagoan. Live with my wife of 30 years, and have a daughter earning her masters degree in animal behavior.

Recent Content

Loading...
Subaru Uncharted, Jeep Cherokee Deep Dive, New Silverado &Raquo; Car Stuff
Subaru Uncharted, Jeep Cherokee Deep Dive, New Silverado

Jill and Tom open a content-packed episode by welcoming the BMW M5 Touring to Tom's driveway. Expect to hear much more about this practical super-car in future episodes. Producer Margaret then shares …

Jill and Tom open a …

Jill and Tom open a content-packed episode by welcoming the BMW M5 Touring to Tom's driveway. Expect to hear much more about this practical super-car in future episodes. Producer Margaret then shares details of her recent interview of Chicago-based radio reporter/journalist Jennifer Keiper, a peer of Jill's and Tom's. Jennifer lost her most recent position in the radio industry as CBS News wound down its broadcast operations. You can listen to that interview here. Tom share a list of the countries in which the Car Stuff Podcast is most popular, and it's rather surprising. Still in the first se…

Listen · 1:02:17
Massive Jeep Recall, Mercedes Plug-In Wagon, Why U.s. Car Sales Remain Robust &Raquo; Car Stuff
Massive Jeep Recall, Mercedes Plug-in Wagon, Why U.S. Car Sales Remain Robust

Jill and Tom open the show sharing news of a massive Jeep recall. Jeep has issued a "park-outside" warning for owners of many late-model Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators. Listen in for details. The hosts…

Jill and Tom open th…

Jill and Tom open the show sharing news of a massive Jeep recall. Jeep has issued a "park-outside" warning for owners of many late-model Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators. Listen in for details. The hosts discuss Mitsubishi's new electric crossover, the Eclipse Sportback EV. Mitsubishi's first U.S.-market electric vehicle shares its basic architecture with the Nissan Leaf. Jill reviews the Mercedes-Benz E 53 Hybrid wagon. One of a waning number of true station wagons still offered in the U.S., the E 53 serves up power and tech, though exclusive pricing will keep the car a rare sight on U.S. roads.…

Listen · 53:35
Compact Crossover Comparo, Scout Deep Dive, Discontinued Car Quiz &Raquo; Car Stuff
Compact Crossover Comparo, Scout Deep Dive, Discontinued Car Quiz

This week Tom opens the show clarifying the difference between mild-hybrid and full-hybrid applications. Tom notes that mild hybrid drivetrains are found mostly on European luxury vehicles. In advance…

This week Tom opens …

This week Tom opens the show clarifying the difference between mild-hybrid and full-hybrid applications. Tom notes that mild hybrid drivetrains are found mostly on European luxury vehicles. In advance of chatting with Scout Motors' Ryan Decker, Jill and Tom discuss how few all-new car brands have been launched in the past 25 years. Listen in for a list. Still in the first segment, the hosts are joined by fellow automotive journalist Ed Piotrowski. Ed attended the 2026 Midwest Automotive Media Association Spring Rally, and wrote a comparison review of four compact crossovers: The Jeep Cherokee,…

Listen · 54:19
New Lexus Es, Airbag Thefts On The Rise, Best Adventure Vehicles &Raquo; Car Stuff
New Lexus ES, Airbag Thefts on the Rise, Best Adventure Vehicles

Tom opens the show by acknowledging the passing of jazz saxophone legend Sonny Rollins. Sonny was the last living performer to have appeared in the 1958 Esquire magazine photo A Great Day in Harlem. T…

Tom opens the show b…

Tom opens the show by acknowledging the passing of jazz saxophone legend Sonny Rollins. Sonny was the last living performer to have appeared in the 1958 Esquire magazine photo A Great Day in Harlem. The image appears on the Car Stuff Podcast Facebook Page. The hosts discuss the return of the Volkswagen ID. Buzz retro-themed electric themed minivan for 2027. Though little changed mechanically, the Buzz may be packaged to improve the pricey van's perceived value. Jill talks about a marked increase in airbag thefts in the Chicago area, especially among certain Honda models. The hosts address one …

Listen · 1:02:45
2026 Consumer Guide Best Buys &Raquo; Car Stuff
2026 Consumer Guide Best Buys

This week's episode is dedicated to the 2026 Consumer Guide Best Buy picks. In total, 32 vehicles in 13 individual categories are covered. You can check out the complete 2026 Best Buy list here. For a…

This week's episode …

This week's episode is dedicated to the 2026 Consumer Guide Best Buy picks. In total, 32 vehicles in 13 individual categories are covered. You can check out the complete 2026 Best Buy list here. For a look further back, click here for the 2025 Best Buy list.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Listen · 1:04:55
Buick'S New Sedan, 1000-Pound Caterham, Elon Is Distracted &Raquo; Car Stuff
Buick's New Sedan, 1000-Pound Caterham, Elon is Distracted

The hosts open the show discussing Jill's recent interview with the head of Infiniti USA regarding--among other things--the possible comeback of the humble sedan. This conversation dovetails nicely wi…

The hosts open the s…

The hosts open the show discussing Jill's recent interview with the head of Infiniti USA regarding--among other things--the possible comeback of the humble sedan. This conversation dovetails nicely with Tom's news regarding the likely comeback of a Buick midsize sedan--and a possible Camaro, as well. Jill shared impressions of a would-be annual Land Rover event dubbed Defender Trophy Competition. The event would mirror the legendary Camel Trophy competitions of the Seventies and Eighties. Still in the first segment, Jill reviews the Range Rover SE premium large crossover. Listen in for her tak…

Listen · 56:09
An Interview With Infiniti'S Eric Ledieu (Bonus Episode) &Raquo; Car Stuff
An Interview with Infiniti's Eric Ledieu (Bonus Episode)

In this special bonus episode of the Car Stuff Podcast, Jill sits down with Vice President of INFINITI Americas Eric Ledieu for a conversation about the all-new QX65 fastback luxury crossover, Future …

In this special bonu…

In this special bonus episode of the Car Stuff Podcast, Jill sits down with Vice President of INFINITI Americas Eric Ledieu for a conversation about the all-new QX65 fastback luxury crossover, Future Infiniti products, and a possible resurgence in buyer interest in sedans. How will Nissan and Infiniti differ moving forward? Listen in for details.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Listen · 16:34
Honda Delays Updates, Pricey Lucid, After-Market Paint Protection &Raquo; Car Stuff
Honda Delays Updates, Pricey Lucid, After-Market Paint Protection

Sam Fiorani of AutoForecast Solutions sits in for Tom this week. Jill and Sam open this episode of the podcast touching on Sam's recent involvement with the 2026 Greenbrier Concours d'Elegance, a clas…

Sam Fiorani of AutoF…

Sam Fiorani of AutoForecast Solutions sits in for Tom this week. Jill and Sam open this episode of the podcast touching on Sam's recent involvement with the 2026 Greenbrier Concours d'Elegance, a classic car show held in West Virginia each spring. The conversation turns to car news, with the hosts touching on Chinese car makers setting up shop in Canada, Tesla producing its last Model S sedan, and Honda deferring much needed updates of key models--including the Odyssey minivan. Listen in for details. Still in the first segment, Jill discusses her participation in the first Trinitē Road Rally,…

Listen · 56:31
Stellantis &Quot;Core&Quot; Brands, Forester Wilderness, Used Ev Prices &Raquo; Car Stuff
Stellantis "Core" Brands, Forester Wilderness, Used EV Prices

Paul Herrold of the Sons of Speed sits in for Jill this week, as she participates in the Trinitē Road Rally. Follow the link here for details. The hosts open the show with a number of topics, includi…

Paul Herrold of the …

Paul Herrold of the Sons of Speed sits in for Jill this week, as she participates in the Trinitē Road Rally. Follow the link here for details. The hosts open the show with a number of topics, including blue-dyed diesel fuel, and Tom's one-mile test drive of the Mitsubishi Outlander SEL. Paul and Tom go on to discuss Stellantis's "Four Core Brand" strategy, which prioritizes a few of the carmaker's high-volume brands, in terms of product development and positioning. Tune in to hear what this means for lower-volume marques. Still in the first segment, Tom reviews the 2026 Subaru Forester Wilder…

Listen · 54:05
Nissan Restructures, Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid, Canadian Tesla Adventure &Raquo; Car Stuff
Nissan Restructures, Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid, Canadian Tesla Adventure

Car guy Dave Piluski of RTM Engineering Consultants sits in for Jill this week. Tom opened the show by complaining about contemporary country music, especially someone named Luke Combs. This because T…

Car guy Dave Piluski…

Car guy Dave Piluski of RTM Engineering Consultants sits in for Jill this week. Tom opened the show by complaining about contemporary country music, especially someone named Luke Combs. This because Tom did not have time to Bluetooth connect with his new test car prior to recording. Dave and Tom discuss two major news items: Ford's constricted F-150 pickup supply, and Nissan's newly revealed turnaround plan. Because of the Iran Conflict, Ford is struggling to source aluminum for the F-150's body panels, and Nissan is working to rebuild sales in the U.S. and globally. Listen in for details. Tom…

Listen · 56:32
Chinese Cars In Austria, New Jeep Cherokee, Consumer Reports Top Picks &Raquo; Car Stuff
Chinese Cars in Austria, New Jeep Cherokee, Consumer Reports Top Picks

The hosts open the show by discussing Tom's new refrigerator, and his inability to keep Subaru's suite of new electric vehicles straight. Jill agrees to help him remember the names of the Subaru EVs. …

The hosts open the s…

The hosts open the show by discussing Tom's new refrigerator, and his inability to keep Subaru's suite of new electric vehicles straight. Jill agrees to help him remember the names of the Subaru EVs. Jill and Tom go on to cover a number of news items, including the discontinuation of the Volkswagen ID.4 electric crossover, Chinese vehicles being built in Austria, and Kia's plan to build a midsize EV in American by the 2030 model year. In related news, a listener from New Zealand checks in to let the hosts know that he owns a Chinese-built Leapmotor EV (discussed last episode) and is very happy…

Listen · 56:37
Chinese Cars In Canada, Rav4 Review, Looking At Kia'S Newest Rides &Raquo; Car Stuff
Chinese Cars in Canada, RAV4 Review, Looking at Kia's Newest Rides

Tom opens the show with news regarding Stellantis' joint venture with China's Leapmotor. Stellantis currently distributes Chinese Leapmotor-built electric vehicles in Europe, and may be looking to bui…

Tom opens the show w…

Tom opens the show with news regarding Stellantis' joint venture with China's Leapmotor. Stellantis currently distributes Chinese Leapmotor-built electric vehicles in Europe, and may be looking to build Leapmotor models in its idle Brampton, Ontario factory. Listen in for more details. Jill gives a quick rundown of the new-product reveals seen at this week's New York Auto Show. A number of noteworthy introductions are covered, including models and concepts from Chrysler, Hyundai, Kia, and Subaru. Still in the first segment Jill reviews the redesigned Toyota RAV4, which is now offered exclusive…

Listen · 54:16