2026 car buying tips and trends

Kristen Lee, the senior features editor at MotorTrends, joins "CBS Saturday Morning" with what to know about buying a car in 2026.

• Jan 3

Trump's tariff war hurting auto industry in Japan

As the country's largest export, Japan's auto industry is a source of national pride. But in recent months, it has been rocked by President Trump's tariffs. The volatility has been felt acutely at Mazda, one of the nation's oldest car companies. Anna Coren reports.

• Aug 8, 2025

UAW launches campaign to unionize Toyota, Tesla and other automakers

The UAW, coming off of new labor contracts with Detroit's Big Three, said it's now targeting automakers that rely on non-unionized workers.

• Nov 29, 2023

Suzuki, Mazda, Yamaha admit faking vehicle emission data

Under government pressure, Japanese manufacturers acknowledge conducting bogus vehicle inspections

• Aug 9, 2018

Mazda recalls 270k vehicles with Takata airbags

At least 23 deaths and more than 300 injuries worldwide linked to defective product that can spew shrapnel

• Jul 6, 2018

Alabama tab to win Toyota-Mazda factory: $175K per worker

State and local governments dangled tax breaks and freebies worth $175,000 per worker to lure Japanese automakers

• Jan 12, 2018

Source: Alabama picked for $1.6 billion Toyota-Mazda factory

The joint-venture auto plant is expected to start operations in 2021 and employ 4,000 workers in the Huntsville area

• Jan 10, 2018

Consumer Reports most satisfied car owners are. . .

This annual survey asks whether you would buy the same car again -- and the top 10 names include a few surprises

• Dec 21, 2017

The best cars for reliability and low-cost repairs

CarMD ranks brands and models that'll keep you out of the repair shop and not bust your budget to fix when needed

• Dec 6, 2017

Toyota and Mazda to set up $1.6 billion joint-venture plant in the U.S.

Move could create 4,000 jobs; Trump has been urging Japanese automakers to build more vehicles in U.S.

• Aug 4, 2017

Takata recall expands again, by 2.7 million more vehicles

This time the defect involves air bag inflators with a drying agent thought to prevent deterioration from high humidity

• Jul 11, 2017

Mazda recalls 228K cars over parking brake concern

Japanese automaker warns that faulty party can result in vehicles rolling unexpectedly

• Jun 30, 2017

4 automakers agree on Takata air bag compensation

Toyota and three others offer to pay $553 million to owners who incurred costs while getting getting their cars recalled

• May 19, 2017

Mazda recalls 2.2 million cars for falling rear hatches

Nearly 760,000 of the vehicles are in the U.S., though Mazda says it has no reports of injuries or accidents

• Sep 8, 2016

The subpar headlights of small SUVs

New tests found that of 21 models of SUV, no headlights rated good, four were acceptable and the rest marginal or poor

• Jul 13, 2016

Warning: Small SUVs could be dangerous for passengers

Highway safety study shows front seat passengers in SUVs face greater threat of injury or death in 'right corner' crashes

• Jun 23, 2016

Mazda and Honda issue new recalls

The carmakers are recalling 237,000 CX-5 SUVs and 45,000 Civics, respectively, for potentially dangerous defects

• Feb 8, 2016

​Honda and Volvo drive off with top honors in Detroit

The Civic and XC90 win the auto show's awards for 2016 Car of the Year and Truck of the Year, respectively

• Jan 11, 2016

Mazda expands Takata air bag recall

Air bags' metal inflator can rupture and shoot fragments into the vehicle; nine deaths have been blamed on the problem

• Jan 8, 2016

Suspension problem prompts big Mazda SUV recall

Recall comes after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into the problem in June

• Aug 5, 2015

Toyota, Mazda announce tech partnership

Toyota already provides hybrid technology to Mazda; Mazda also makes compact cars for Toyota at its Mexico plant

• May 13, 2015