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Talking Cars (MP3)

Talking Cars (MP3)

Consumer Reports

Join our experts at the Consumer Reports Test Track as they discuss cars, answer buying questions, and share insights on everything automotive.

734 - Car Feature Paywalls; Best EV Tires in Snow; Electric Car Reliability
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  • 734 - Car Feature Paywalls; Best EV Tires in Snow; Electric Car Reliability

    In this episode, we dive into the mailbag to answer your questions. We cover data privacy in your car, how tires and all-wheel drive systems perform in snow, tips for long-term car storage, and the methodology behind CR's predicted reliability ratings. We also discuss how different tire sizes affect vehicle performance and explain CR's 2,000-mile break-in period for all of our test cars.

    SHOW NOTES:

    0:10 - Intro

    1:48 - Question #1: Why do automakers paywall vehicle features?

    6:00 - Question #2: What's the difference between mechanical AWD systems and electrical AWD systems?

    9:52 - Question #3: Why does CR perform a 2,000-mile break-in period on test cars, and what's the best way to break in a vehicle?

    14:14 - Question #4: What type of car, EV, ICE, or hybrid, fares best in long-term storage?

    19:09 - Question #5: How does CR determine the predicted reliability of a vehicle?

    22:53 - Question #6: Will the average driver notice the performance differences in wheel and tire sizes?

    LINKS:

    Your Car Is Sharing Data With Big Tech Companies, Study Finds: https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics/personal-information/your-car-is-sharing-data-with-big-tech-companies-study-finds-a4474820962/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

    Your Car May Be Spying On You. Here's How to Get It to Stop: https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics/personal-information/how-to-stop-your-car-from-collecting-sharing-driving-data-a1233378612/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

    How It Works: FWD vs. RWD vs. AWD vs. 4WD: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/automotive-technology/2wd-vs-awd-vs-4wd-a5663578720/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

    Test Results: Tesla Model Y: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/tesla/model-y/2026/overview/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

    How To Protect Your Car From Rodents: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-maintenance/how-to-protect-your-car-from-rodents-a5816950285/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

    How Hot Weather Affects Your Car Battery and What to Do About It: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-batteries/how-hot-weather-affects-your-car-battery-what-to-do-about-it-a4527456418/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

    Test Results: Hyundai Palisade: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/hyundai/palisade/2026/overview/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

    Wed, 11 Nov 2026 - 30min
  • 733 - Why Do Cars Do This?? The Little Things That Irritate CR Experts

    On this week's episode, the Consumer Reports auto team shares its biggest pet peeves about modern cars—from giant touchscreens, distracting alerts, and complicated door handles to cramped back seats, fake interior materials, missing Apple CarPlay, and sky-high prices. What frustrates you most about new cars?

    Join CR at https://CR.org/joinviaYT to access our comprehensive ratings for items you use every day. CR is a mission-driven, independent, nonprofit organization.

    SHOW NOTES

    -----------------------------------

    00:00 - Intro

    01:02 Unusable Armrests

    01:23 Why New Nissans Smell Like Mice

    02:04 Poor Build Quality

    02:25 The Fake Third-Row Center Seat

    02:53 Self-Driving Tech Can't Handle Bad Weather

    03:44 Where Did the Backseat Legroom Go?

    04:06 Stop Reinventing Door Handles

    04:43 Nowhere to Put Your Stuff

    05:00 Square Steering Wheels & Bad Controls

    06:12 Too Many Screens, Beeps & Ambient Lights

    08:16 Why New Cars Are So Expensive

    09:04 Pickup Trucks Became Fashion Accessories

    10:16 Screens Replacing Simple Controls

    11:03 Auto Hold Should Be Standard

    11:56 Every Car Needs Apple CarPlay & Android Auto

    14:25 The Problem With Electronic Door Handles

    16:12 Why Cars Don't Need More Phone Connections

    17:13 Abrupt Throttles & the "Subie Surge"

    18:29 Bring Back Physical Buttons

    19:28 Ventilated Seats Are Essential

    20:08 Driver-Monitoring Systems That Distract You

    20:57 Lazy Interior Screen Design

    21:53 New Cars That Aren't Better Than the Old Ones

    22:14 Windshield Haze From Interior Off-Gassing

    22:48 Pop-Out Door Handles Need To Go

    23:06 Dashboard Reflections in the Windshield

    24:08 Missing Manual Transmissions

    24:53 Square Steering Wheels for No Reason

    25:13 Fake Metal and Fake Luxury Materials

    26:13 Bring Back Oldsmobile

    ----------------------------------

    Who Makes the Most Reliable New Cars?

    https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-reliability-owner-satisfaction/who-makes-the-most-reliable-cars-a7824554938/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

    Popular Small SUVs to Avoid and What to Buy Instead

    https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/suvs/popular-small-suvs-to-avoid-and-what-to-buy-instead-a1273704153/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

    10 Most Reliable Cars

    https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-reliability-owner-satisfaction/10-most-reliable-cars-a6569295379/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

    10 Best SUVs You Can Buy Right Now

    https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/suvs/10-best-suvs-you-can-buy-right-now-a8518508556/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

    How to Find the Best SUV

    https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/suvs/buying-guide/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

    Which Brands Make the Best Cars?

    https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/cars-driving/which-car-brands-make-the-best-vehicles-a6159221985/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

    TalkingCars@consumer.org

    https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/cars-driving/talking-cars-podcast-archive-a1439738009/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

    Wed, 04 Nov 2026 - 27min
  • 732 - The 2026 Lexus ES Hybrid is an Endangered Species

    This week, we're talking all about the 2026 Lexus ES Hybrid. We share our first impressions of this perennial CR favorite, discuss how it stacks up against its all-new EV twin, the Lexus ES 500e, and debate whether the 2026 redesign offers enough improvements over older, popular (and reliable) models from Toyota/Lexus. We also answer questions about the risks of buying a redesigned car in its first production year and about how child seat technology, seat belts, and driving habits have changed over the last 60 years.

    SHOW NOTES:

    0:10 - Intro

    0:25 - 2026 Lexus ES Hybrid, Overview

    1:30 - Pricing

    1:55 - First Impressions

    7:13 - Hybrid system quirks

    11:20 - Driving & Interior characteristics

    16:00 - Infotainment system

    19:05 - Beeps & safety systems

    22:26 - Lexus ES 350 Hybrid vs. Toyota Avalon

    34:02 - Question #1: Is it safe to buy a vehicle in the first year of production?

    42:02 - Question #2 (video): How have cars become safer for child passengers when you compare data from the 1960's to today?

    LINKS:

    Review: The Redesigned Lexus ES Hybrid Is in Its Soft Era: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/hybrids-evs/lexus-es-hybrid-review-a1014364803/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

    2026 Lexus ES Hybrid: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/lexus/es-hybrid/2026/overview/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

    2026 Lexus ES EV: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/lexus/es/2026/overview/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

    Test Results: 2026 Toyota Crown: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/toyota/crown/2026/overview/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

    Test Results: 2026 Mazda CX-5: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/mazda/cx-5/2026/overview/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

    Test Results: 2026 BMW X3: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/bmw/x3/2026/overview/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

    Wed, 28 Oct 2026 - 48min
  • 731 - Toyota RAV4 Woodland; Dealer Add-Ons That Are Actually Worth It

    On this episode we share our first impressions of the 2026 Toyota RAV4 Woodland, the new hybrid SUV with all-terrain tires, extra ground clearance, and a more outdoorsy look. Is it a smart upgrade for rough roads and city potholes—or mostly a styling package? Plus, we answer an audience question about which dealership add-ons are worth considering and which ones you should skip.

    Join CR at https://CR.org/joinviaYT to access our comprehensive ratings for items you use every day. CR is a mission-driven, independent, nonprofit organization.

    SHOW NOTES

    -----------------------------------

    00:00 - Intro

    00:16 Overview: 2026 Toyota RAV4 Woodland

    02:10 What Is an "Off-Road" SUV Trim?

    05:08 How the RAV4 Woodland Drives

    06:00 Hybrid Powertrain, Performance & Fuel Economy

    09:46 All-Terrain Tires: Handling, Noise & Ride

    14:15 Driver Comfort

    15:49 Infotainment and Controls

    18:20 Driver-Monitoring System

    20:31 Woodland Styling

    23:59 Is the Woodland Worth the Extra Cost?

    29:02 Audience Question: Are Dealer Add-Ons Worth It?

    ----------------------------------

    Test Results: 2026 Toyota RAV4

    https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/toyota/rav4/2026/overview/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

    Who Makes the Most Reliable New Cars?

    https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-reliability-owner-satisfaction/who-makes-the-most-reliable-cars-a7824554938/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

    How to Find the Best SUV

    https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/suvs/buying-guide/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

    Which Brands Make the Best Cars?

    https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/cars-driving/which-car-brands-make-the-best-vehicles-a6159221985/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

    7 Questions to Ask at the Dealership

    https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/buying-a-car/questions-to-ask-before-you-buy-a-car-a6387933582/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

    How to Avoid Unnecessary Car-Buying Fees

    https://www.consumerreports.org/money/fees-billing/how-to-avoid-car-buying-fees-a7209896255/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

    Just Say No to These Car Dealership Extras

    https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/buying-a-car/just-say-no-to-these-car-dealership-extras-a9471188276/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

    TalkingCars@consumer.org

    https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/cars-driving/talking-cars-podcast-archive-a1439738009/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

    -----------------------------------

    Consumer Reports experts: Mike Monticello, Mike Crossen, Jeff Bartlett

    Wed, 21 Oct 2026 - 45min
  • 730 - 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness: Worth the Extra Cost?

    On this week's episode, we discuss the Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness to find out whether its rugged styling, lifted suspension, all-terrain tires, and added features are worth paying $7,000 more than a base Crosstrek. We examine its off-road capability, on-road compromises, fuel economy, noise, safety features, and whether this soft-roader is actually the right choice. Plus, we answer an audience question about whether a lightly used Volvo EX90 at half its original price is a bargain—or a risky bet.

    Join CR at https://CR.org/joinviaYT to access our comprehensive ratings for items you use every day. CR is a mission-driven, independent, nonprofit organization.

    SHOW NOTES

    -----------------------------------

    0:00 - Intro

    00:37 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness Overview

    01:43 What Makes the Wilderness Different?

    03:17 Road Noise, Ride & Handling

    05:16 Off-Road Capability

    07:11 Fuel Economy, Towing & Trade-Offs

    08:06 Wilderness Price and Features

    09:27 Safety Features and What's Missing

    11:03 Crosstrek Wilderness Styling

    13:16 Why Soft-Roaders Are So Popular

    14:24 Is the Crosstrek Good for Camping?

    15:41 Is the Wilderness Worth the Extra Money?

    18:49 Audience Question: Used Volvo EX90 Bargain?

    ----------------------------------

    Test Results: 2026 Subaru Crosstrek

    https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/subaru/crosstrek/2026/overview/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

    2026 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid

    https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/subaru/crosstrek-hybrid/2026/overview/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

    Who Makes the Most Reliable New Cars?

    https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-reliability-owner-satisfaction/who-makes-the-most-reliable-cars-a7824554938/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

    How to Find the Best SUV

    https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/suvs/buying-guide/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

    Which Brands Make the Best Cars?

    https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/cars-driving/which-car-brands-make-the-best-vehicles-a6159221985/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

    TalkingCars@consumer.org

    https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/cars-driving/talking-cars-podcast-archive-a1439738009/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

    -----------------------------------

    Consumer Reports experts: Jon Linkov, Avri Wyshogrod, Maddie McCarty

    Wed, 14 Oct 2026 - 35min
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