In Wheel Time - Cartalk Radio

We wrap up the year with two radically different drives, one honest verdict. We put the 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata through its paces to see if a featherweight roadster with a manual top and a “butter” shifter still delivers peak driving joy in a world of screens and mega-SUVs. Then we jump into the 2025 GMC Acadia Denali to test whether a quiet, tech-rich, seven-passenger family hauler can feel premium without feeling ponderous, and how its turbo power, towing rating, and Denali hardware stack up against segment favorites.We start with design that tells the truth. The Miata’s long hood, short deck shape and crisp fender lines aren’t nostalgia plays; they’re a blueprint for balance and feedback. Inside, space is tight by intent, storage is minimal, and everything you touch feels straightforward and well judged. The two-liter engine’s 181 horsepower rides an ideal power-to-weight ratio, delivering real-world pace, great fuel economy, and handling that begs for backroads. We underline who it fits, who it doesn’t, and