Looking Ahead To 2026…

You may not know this, but Victory & Reseda will celebrate its 15th anniversary in 2026. 

Over the years, we focused our work in delivering content about the automobile, through vehicle reviews, commentary, history, personal reflections, and much more. 

What really makes this website – and our YouTube channel – tick are the vehicles we work with. We've worked with the latest and greatest. Partly, to share our thoughts (exactly) on each of these vehicles, as well as our attempt at serving some consumer advice. 

There are two algorithms that work in requesting and scheduling vehicles. One is driven by curiosity. One is your viewership on YouTube, as well as interest on our social media platforms. Based on traffic on these channels, we see what brands. vehicle types, and price points you like watching the most. It is not fool proof, but we take note of what you’re interested in. 

Then, we take account some vehicles that were introduced in the recent auto show cycle that we think would be interested in. Taking from many sources, including our own, we figured we could bring them forward and put them on our list to request for scheduling throughout the year. 

Based on the latter, we figured we would share which vehicles we look forward to working with in 2026. This might be a partial list, but these are what we call “headline vehicles.” Models that have grabbed headlines across the automotive media landscape – and beyond. Some that has garnered discussion among consumers and enthusiasts – good and bad. 

Our interest is piqued. We guess your’s, as well. Without further ado…here they are…

2026 DODGE CHARGER: Yes, we briefly drove the new four-door body style of the Daytona EV back in. May. So, yes, it looks awesome. However, the Moparians have rejected the battery-e;ectric driveline. Stellantis came back and dropped the turbocharged in-line six-cylinder Hurricane engines underneath its hood. That alone should bring more people back to the Fraztog brand.

2026 HONDA PRELUDE: Considering the history and legacy of Honda’s sporty coupe, this new one sounds promising. A slinky design with a hybrid driveline may not excite you. However, using the same chassis components as the Civic Type-R and a program in the CVT that emulates manual shifts makes it more intriguing. Combined, this could yield a very interesting time in one. 

2026 HYUNDAI PALISADE HYBRID: Earlier this year, we drove the V6 version of the new Palisade. We agree that the standard engine was adequate for the job, but not confidence inducing. Word is that the new turbocharged Hybrid driveline is much better. It offers more power and can turn better fuel economy. Are these enough to elevate the Palisade for this new generation?

2026 JEEP CHEROKEE: As Stellantis reboots its Belvidere, Illinois assembly facility, it does so by rebooting the Cherokee. It has been repositioned in the hotly contested compact SUV segment powered only by a hybrid driveline. The question that comes up is whether this will be competitive against the major players in this segment. Can it bank on its name? Valid questions that we can’t wait to explore when we get one. 

2026 JEEP RECON: After its debut in Los Angeles – and the subsequent incident that almost destroyed one of the show floor models – it becomes a question that needs to be answered. Is this the future of Jeep? Taking what they know from the Wrangler and other iconic models and creating one powered only by batteries. Probably the bigger question should be: “it looks like a Jeep, but is it really one?” Inquiring minds want to know. 

2026 KIA K4 HATCHBACK: We love the K4 when we got it earlier this year. The style alone was astounding. Then, we saw the photos for the hatchback. Oh, baby! We know that Kia’s design language sparks conversations – remember, we called the sedan a “work of art.” Its driving signature is also quite good. We have driven the GT-Line Turbo sedan, so this could give us an opportunity to get that 190-horsepower engine in that trim. Wishful thinking?

2027 KIA TELLURIDE: The last model won its share of trophies – including our #VOTY19. A new model was unveiled in Los Angeles last month. It looks pretty cool – combining the latest EV designs with some of the three-row SUV’s signatures. Two major changes will appear under the hood – a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a hybrid driveline. We say, “bring it on!” 

2026 MAZDA CX-5: Our V&R Machine is an example of what a good compact SUV truly is. However, the outgoing CX-5 has been on sale for a long time. It was time for a change. While looking evolutionary, there are some transformations that we’re curious about. The new cabin, for starters. However, the big news of swapping the turbo for an in-house developed hybrid driveline is a year away. Still, this one has drawn a lot of curiosity. 

2026 SUBARU OUTBACK: The mix of opinions are divergent on this one. No, it’s no longer a wagon based on the Legacy. Yes, it is taller offering more interior volume. It is more of an SUV than before. Even better, they kept the same two drivelines – including the turbocharged XT – and the Wilderness model. Our main question centers on the new infotainment system and whether it has improved at all. 

2026 TOYOTA RAV4: Another compact SUV that has been completely redone. The basic bones are there, but everything else is new. From going to a standard hybrid, adding more plug-in hybrid versions, a new exterior and interior design, and a new grouping of trim levels. One of which has been getting all of the attention – the GR Sport. No matter which trim we get, we’re interested whether this makes a serious leap in improvements overall. 

“WILD CARDS”: While we do not work with every manufacturer as much as we do with others, there are a few other new vehicles we would love to create content with. For example, the swath of new battery-electric vehicles from Lexus, Lucid, Polestar, Subaru, and Toyota. Jeep also revised the Grand Cherokee and Grand Wagoneer for 2026 with reshuffled trim levels and powertrains. Additionally, we have not had the chance to check out the newest Ford Expedition, along with other vehicles that were introduced last year. We may be missing a few more…so, stay tuned!

We will have our work cut out in 2026. And, we look forward to delivering these and many more vehicles throughout the coming year. 

Cover photo by George Torline