2026 SUBARU WRX

 

MANUAL TRANSMISSION SETS WRX 

APART IN COMPACT SPORT SEDAN SEGMENT

A joke I recently saw — one that those of us in the older generation probably appreciate more — is that if you want to confuse younger drivers put them behind the wheel of a car with a manual transmission and give them instructions written in cursive.

Others have joked that a straight stick transmission is in effect a security system for a modern vehicle.

This is, like many jokes, a bit of an exaggeration.

The elimination of cursive writing may not be as widespread as commonly believed —according to data I turned up in an internet search just over half the 50 states, or 26 in all, still  require instruction in cursive writing in some form— but the situation is not as positive for cars with manual transmissions.

Available data (not all manufacturers break down their sales by available transmissions) show that manual trannies account for less than 1 percent of the 16 million vehicle sales in the U.S. in 2025. With the Volkswagen reportedly eliminating the manual Jetta GLI after this year that number is sure to fall further.

Soldering on in the segment, however, is the Subaru WRX compact sports sedan. Again according to data collected by Artificial Intelligence, about 85 percent of the WRXs sold in the  U.S. were straight stick models in 2025.

And there is even better news for the spunky little performer that delivers a little fun while still serving as a 4-door hauler.

Subaru reports that WRX sales jumped nearly 40 percent in year-to-date sales through August of 2026 compared to the same time period in 2025,  and the total of 10,324 sold in the first eight months nearly match the total of 10,930 sold in the entire 12 months of 2025.

Yes, the 2026 Subaru WRX remains pretty much a niche vehicle in the compact sports sedan market, but that doesn’t translate to “second class” vehicle.

As a Subaru, it offers all-wheel drive and the company’s innovative  EyeSight System that offers adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning,  and lane-keeping assist, and automatic braking that will will stop you if a frontal or collision appears imminent. 

Those features are included on all trims for the 2026 Subaru WRX.  This review is based on the Base model that starts in the low $30,000 range. Going up the ladder are Premium, Limited, GT, tS and a new Series.Yellow special edition.

All come with a turbocharged 2.4-liter horizontally opposed Boxer engine that puts out 271 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. All but the GT trim come with a come standard with the 6-speed manual tranny. The GT gets a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission), which is optional on all but the tS trim.

Subaru didn’t skimp when it came to outfitting the Base trim. In addition to the features found on all trims the Base gets as standard 18-inch aluminum wheels shod with Summer Performance tires, dual exhaust tips, performance designed f
ront seats, dual-zone climate control, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel with Bluetooth and audio control switches, keyless entry and push-button start, and leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear shifter.

Starting MSRP for my test 2026 Subaru WRX Base trim was $32,494. With no options the final total was $33,690 including the destination and deliver charge.

Starting MSRP for other trims of the 2026 Subaru WRX top out at $47,190 for the new Series Yellow models. The Premium trim ($35,190) is the only other model that starts under $40,000.

What I liked about the 2026 Subaru WRX BASE: The manual transmission is fun to drive. The base model is well-equipped. It features Subaru’s all-wheel drive and Eyesight Driver Assist System. The WRX accelerates and handles like a more expensive sports sedan. Infotainment functions work off a user-friendly 11.6 inch touchscreen.

What I didn’t like about the 2026 Subaru WRX BASE: Road and wind noise is excessive. It sits very low and you must take care when parking. Fuel economy is only so-so.

Would I buy the 2026 Subaru WRX BASE? If you are looking for a sedan and want to separate from the crowd, the well-equipped base model WRX is a good bargain. 

MUSTANG MACH-E

FORD CALLS IT A MUSTANG BUT MACH-E EV 

IS NOT YOUR TRADITIONAL PONY CAR

It may bear the name and the proper equine logos, but the 2026 Mustang Mach-E is no Pony Car, at least in the traditional sense.

You can tell that from a quick glance even before you pop the front hood to reveal a small storage space instead of a beefy V8 gas engine.

Instead of a Pony Car’s fastback, 2-door coupe styling, the Mustang Mach-E has the look of a 4-door, hatchback sedan. Performance comes from electric motors mounted on the front and rear axles on all-wheel-drive models and on the rear axle of rear-wheel-drive trims.

Underneath the passenger compartment between the front and rear axles is a large battery back that provides the juice for those motors. 

The standard range battery boasts a driving range of  240 or 260 miles for RWD Mach-Es depending on the trim level while the extended range battery can deliver over 300 miles, again depending on the trim level.

The exceptions to the latter are the Mustang Mach-E GT that is offered in AWD form only and delivers an estimated 280 miles on a full charge and the AWD Mach-E Rally version that limits range to 255 miles.

Ford introduced the all-electric Mach-E for 2021 with five trims but the First Edition trim was around only that year. An off-road focused Rally model took the spot occupied by  the California Route 1 trim for 2024.

The 2026 lineup comes with Select, Premium, GT, and a mysteriously marketed Rally trim. News reports have claimed that some dealers say they are not able to order the Mach-E Rally edition. Yet the ford.com website lists it on its website. 

Frankly, the possibility that Ford has plans to scrap the Mustang Mach-E in the not too distant future likely adds to the speculation surrounding the status of the Mach-E Rally. 

Sales of the Mach-E have fallen off dramatically this year which follows a trend for the EV segment. In response to that slowing EV market Ford has cut back on Mach-E production, but it hasn’t halted it completely. 

My test 2026 Mustang Mach-E was the GT trim.

In addition to benefits of all-electric driving like instant torque and throttle response, the 2026 Mustang Mach-E GT had a nice assortment of standard features.

Among them are a 15.2 inch touchscreen for operating many infotainment features, wireless charging and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 5G modem, dual-zone automatic climate control, 10-way driver and 8-way front passenger power seats, adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera, power liftgate, a tilt-and-telescoping steering column , Ford’s B&O premium sound system, push-button door openers, a suite of driver aids in the Ford Co-Pilot 360 package.

One-pedal driving and Brembo front brakes are standard and Ford’s Blue Cruise hands-free driving system is offered as an option.

Starting MSRP for the 2026 Mustang Mach-E GT is $53,395. Options that included Blue Cruise, a California Special Package that adds several distinctive design touches like a hood stripe and rear spoiler, and a panoramic roof, ran the final total to $65,485 including the $2,045 destination and delivery charge.

Pricing starts at $40,335 for the Mach-E Select, $43,135 for the Premium, and $59,735 for the Rally including destination and deliver charges.

What I liked about the 2026 Mustang Mach-E GT: It’s fun to drive with the instant throttle response typical of electric vehicles. There are some fussy facets about the tech features (especially when manually adjusting climate control) but overall they are fairly easy to operate. The frunk (front storage area) is of a usable size.

What I didn’t like about the 2026 Mustang Mach-E GT: Putting pony  logos and adding a racing stripe n the hood on this vehicle doesn’t make it a Mustang. It borders on sacrilege to the classic Mustang model to call it that. Charging seems slow even at fast charge outlets. My test model showed a range of 246 miles when I charged it to 100 percent, less than the advertised 280 miles. You ned to get the Performance Grade , a $1,995 option, if you want the quickest zero-to-60 time of 3.3 seconds.

Would I buy the 2026 Mustang Mach-E GT? If I’m going to get a Mustang, I’m going for a gas model. A less expensive trim for the Mach- E is going to fit most of your needs.

2026 FORD F-150 HYBRID

F-150 LEADS THE WAY AS FORD’S F-SERIES CONTINUES TO DOMINATE AUTOMOTIVE SALES

When it comes to automotive royalty, there is no question what vehicle is the king of the road. For going on a half-century, the Ford F-Series has been the nation’s best-selling pickup truck and for well over four decades it has been the best-selling vehicle in the U.S. overall.

The reign began when the Ford F-Series beat out the Chevrolet C/ K for the No. 1 spot in U.S. sales in 1977 and has continued ever since. 

Even with a 12 percent drop in overall sales the first six months this year, the F-Series held off off a challenge from the Chevrolet Silverado to maintain the crown.

Combining sales numbers for the Silverado with its GMC twin Sierra has given the GM duo the sales lead for the last six years, but the Ford F-Series which includes the heavy duty F-250, F-350, and F-4540 models, remains the No. 1 nameplate. Chevrolet and GMC are separate truck lines.

Though Ford does not break out sales numbers for it, the standard bearer for the Ford F-Series portfolio is the F-150, which is in its 14th generation since its introduction as a 1975 model. This review is based on the gas-electric hybrid version of that vehicle, which debuted as a 2021 model.

The 2026 Ford F-150 is offered in eight trims (including the Tremor and Raptor) but only five are offered with the hybrid setup, which Ford dubs PowerBoost. My test vehicle was the top-of-the-line Platinum version of the  2026 Ford F-150 HEV.

The power comes from a 3.5-liter V6 gas engine paired with an electric motor for a combined 430 horsepower and 570 pound-feet of  torque. That’s nearly the horsepower and more torque than the performance-based F-150 Raptor with its 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 (450 and 510, respectively). The standard transmission is a 10-speed automatic.

The advantage for the hybrid set up over the all-electric F-150 Lightning is that the hybrid is consistently recharging itself through regenerative braking as you slow down.

You can get a little all-electric drive out of the electric motor at very low speed, and there is silence when you first press the starter button before the V-6 engine kicks in.

The hybrid setup does save you a little in the way of gas mileage though not what you might expect out of a typical hybrid vehicle. The government pegs the 2026 Ford F-150 HEV at 22 miles-per-gallon city, 24 highway, and 23 combined in all-wheel-drive configuration. Models with 2-wheel drive are tagged at 24 mpg combined.

Those numbers are not all that far off those for the 2026 Ford F-150 with a turbocharged V6 and 4-wheel drive. It earns a rating of 20 mpg combined city/highway with a range of 756 miles combed compared to the hybrid’s 704-mile range.

The Supercrew cabin of the F-150 Hybrid is spacious and comfortable, and running boards and grab handles ease the way when climbing in and out. Heated and ventilated front seats are power adjustable and second-row seats are heated. All seats feature leather surfaces, and both the steering column and the pedals are power adjustable..

A 360-degree camera provides pease of mind when maneuvering through tight spaces. Other standard features include dual zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, power sliding rear window, and LED lights. The FordPass Connect infotainment system includes a 5G hotspot.

The 2026 Ford F-150 4X4 Hybrid Platinum also includes safety systems like lane-keeping assist and blind-spot warning.with rear cross-traffic alert.

Starting MSRP  for the Ford F-150 4X4 Hybrid Platinum edition is /$72,400 but options can quickly run up the total. The final tab for my test vehicle was $89,725 including a hefty destination and delivery charge of $2,595.

What I liked about the 2026 Ford F-150 4X4 Hybrid: The F-150 portfolio is all about choices. They run the gamut from engines to cabins to bed sizes and more. The Hybrid (HEV) model is the most fuel efficient of the powertrains, but gas mileage isn’t overwhelming in all-wheel drive configuration. The spacious cabin is packed with easy to operate tech features, and large knobs for audio and climate control supplement touchscreen functions. My test vehicle came with optional power running boards, but standard non-power steps are fine. One or the other is a must. Auto Hold prevents creeping at intersections and can be activated or turned off via touchscreen settings. A button on the key fob opens and closes the power tailgate.

What I didn’t like about the 2026 Ford F-150 4X4 Hybrid: The overall size (231.7 inches long, 79.9 wide) can be an issue when searching for strip mall parking spaces. Options drive up the final price to high levels.

Would I buy the 2026 Ford F-150 4X4 Hybrid? I have no need for a pickup so personally no. But your final choice when truck shopping is likely to come down to one of the three leaders in the segment and the F-150 heads the class.