Neutral Reviews

🛠️ : A Rare Sight in a Modern Hybrid! 🍩🛞

In a world where car manufacturers are deleting spare tires left and right—replacing them with those annoying, useless can-of-foam "inflator kits"—Jeep actually gave us a real solution.

​For this week's Top Feature Tuesday, we’re giving a massive shoutout to the 2026 Jeep Cherokee Hybrid for keeping a factory space-saver doughnut spare tucked neatly under the cargo floor.

​Why is this a big deal?

​The Hybrid Hurdle: Packaging a heavy high-voltage battery pack usually means the spare tire is the very first thing to get thrown in the engineering dumpster. Jeep managed to keep both!

​The Industry Trend: Heck, even traditional gas-powered cars are abandoning spares nowadays to save a few pounds.

​Real-World Peace of Mind: If you take your 4x4 anywhere near a sharp rock on a back road, a bottle of fix-a-flat isn’t going to save you from a sliced sidewall. Having an actual doughnut and a jack means you aren't stranded waiting hours for a tow truck.

​It might not be a full-sized tire, but in 2026, finding a doughnut under the floor of a brand-new hybrid SUV feels like finding hidden treasure. Way to stick to your rugged roots, Jeep! 👏

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Cameras are up, engines are running. 🎬 Huge thanks to Glassford Chrysler for setting us up with today’s camera truck! Full review incoming. ⚡️

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It may be the end of an era for enthusiasts, as recent rumours indicate that Volkswagen has killed the manual transmission in the Jetta GLI for the 2027 model year. Following the departure of the stick-shift Golf GTI and Golf R, the sporty compact sedan was the absolute last holdout in the lineup, meaning its transition to an automatic-only seven-speed DSG marks the complete death of the manual gearbox for Volkswagen in North America. A company spokesperson confirmed the heartbreaking news, noting that despite regional efforts to save the three-pedal setup for passionate enthusiasts, narrowing global demand made the DIY gearbox completely unsustainable. While the 228-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter engine will remain, purists will no longer be able to row their own gears in a new vehicle sporting a VW badge. Tightening emissions regulations and faster dual-clutch shift times continue to claim the industry's most engaging driver's cars, leaving only a handful of competitors like the Civic Si and Subaru WRX to carry the torch. This final blow cements a tragic reality for fans who have relied on German engineering for affordable, analog fun for decades. How do you feel about this monumental shift—is dropping the manual a dealbreaker that will drive you to another brand, or do you think the dual-clutch DSG is a worthy replacement?

Be sure to check out our full review on the Volkswagen Jetta GLI 6MT on YouTube - link in the comments. 🔗