This week we share our test results of the 2020 Buick Encore GX and compare how this 3-cylinder SUV stacks up to its competitors in the Luxury segment. We talk about the virtual unveiling of the 2021 Toyota Sienna and Venza, both of which will only be available with a hybrid powertrain. Also, we discuss the rebates some car insurers are offering due to the reduced number of drivers on the road during the coronavirus pandemic, and wrap up the episode with audience questions.
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SHOW NOTES
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00:46 – Car Insurance Rebates During Coronavirus Crisis
07:12 – 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid Unveiled
13:24 – 2021 Toyota Venza Hybrid Unveiled
17:19 – 2020 Buick Encore GX Test Results
23:52 – Question #1: Why did the 2017 Buick Regal’s reliability drop and what are the issues?
26:39 – Question #2: Are automakers phasing out built in navigation systems?
32:17 – Question #3: Why two virtually identical vehicles, Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade, have different frontal crash test scores?
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Car Insurers Are Giving Customers Breaks Due to Coronavirus. We Got the Details for You
Coronavirus Resource Hub
Preview: 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid Is Versatile and Curvaceous
Preview: 2021 Toyota Venza Hybrid Packs Safety and Convenience Tech
2019 LA Auto Show: 2020 Buick Encore GX
2013 Buick Encore first drive
Toyota Venza review
2014 Buick Regal Review
2020 Kia Telluride Quick Drive
2018 LA Auto Show: 2020 Hyundai Palisade
NHTSA Crash Calculator
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I prefer built in navigation. Both my 2017 Highlander XLE and 2019 F150 XLT have navigation on 8” voice active touch screens. I often put my Garmin on the dash and compare on trips for fun. The reason I prefer built in Navi is that it’s immediately available when I need it in a pinch without having to fumble with a phone or dig a Garmin out of the center console.
Great Friday
The new Venza looks like a baby Enclave from the rear!
Keith lives in a very different city then me. I have to drive almost everywhere.
Apple & Android navigation systems are far superior to any manufacturer aged data interface..
Anything less than a phone based navigation system is like sending smoke signals to the telegraph station for the us mail to send information..
Sure it works but at a much worse way
A Buick made by Daewoo vs a FWD BMW, yuck.
I have a hard time believing the GX will ever be cross shopped with a BMW and a Audi. Those two have turbo 4 cyl with 60+ more HP.
Built in Nav is only worth it if it’s a good system. BMW/Audi/Mercedes are great. Mazda isn’t that good. It’s nice for traffic info though.
The Venza competes with cars getting half the mileage?
Who cares, gas is cheap, and always will be! /s
Before you all think insurance companies are the “good guys” the states require them to manage and report rates vs payouts and with far fewer issues the states would have required these adjustments. No question we may see more in the future.
Regarding phone navigation, download maps before going to areas with weak or no cellphone coverage.
Built in nav is preferred for poor mobile coverage areas, even if it is ugly…
Excellent episode. Regarding navigation, I’d just use my Android phone. Factory navigation seems archaic to me. Regarding the Buick Encore GX, how was rear seat and cargo space? Interior noise level? Love the show!!
I was already getting a discount, pre-pandemic, for low mileage so I didn’t qualify for the pandemic discounts:(
Thank you for answering my question!
Great show. I prefer to use my phone for consistency among the different cars I drive as a frequent (at least used to be before covid) car renter with travel.
I believe with Google maps you can download sections for times you’re put off cell reception. And add needed, that’ll be a feature which will increase over time to address the issue.
Necessity is the mother of invention (and adoption for our slow adopters of tech).
I have Android Auto in my 2018 Chevrolet Volt LT. It takes so long to connect to my phones (i tried 2 phones), that I am a few miles down the road before I can use it. After that, I get disconnected so frequently that I don’t bother using it. I have an dash mounted Garmin GPS that works very well and I get free updates, but it does not look that great. I have a hard time justifying the extra cost of the trim level that has built-in navigation.
Buick should’ve named that car “Rainier” instead of “Encore Gx”. The customers are going to be confused.
Built-in navigation has actually been useful for the times when I got no cell phone coverage. It’s unfortunate that searching for destinations is so cumbersome versus using CarPlay, because the built-in navigation has a very nice integration with my Heads-up display.
Toyota finally did some work on its design 👍👏