This week we cover a wide range of topics, including comparing Consumer Reports’ ratings across car categories; installing a front-facing child seat in the rear seat of a sports car; why higher-level trim cars come with larger wheels and low profile tires; how CR tests the subject aspects of a tire’s performance, and which would be a better 3-row SUV for a growing family: the Acura MDX, or Mazda CX-9.
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SHOW NOTES
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00:39 – Question #1: Are CR’s car ratings comparable across categories?
1:32 – Question #2: Can a from-facing child car seat be installed in the middle seat of a Camaro or a Mustang?
05:25 – Question #3: Why do higher trim cars come with large wheels and low profile tires?
08:04 – Question #4: Why does CR give higher ratings for cars with advanced safety features?
13:12 – Question #5: Please help a growing family choose a 3-row crossover, Mazda CX-9 or Acura MDX
16:32 – Question #6: How does CR grade the more subjective aspects of a tire?
20:00 – Question #7: Is it better to buy or lease an electric vehicle?
23:16 – Question #8: Please recommend an EV or plug-in hybrid with advanced safety features?
30:39 – Question #9: Is a 2014 Lexus ES300h a reliable replacement for a 2014 Toyota Camry and provide a bump in luxury?
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Electric Cars 101: The Answers to All Your EV Questions
How Consumer Reports Tests Cars
Cars With Advanced Safety Systems
2016 BMW 7 Series Quick Drive
4K Review: 2018 Honda Accord Quick Drive
Proper Top-Tether Installation Helps Keep Kids Safer in Child Car Seats
4K Review: 2017 Acura MDX Quick Drive
2018 LA Auto Show: 2019 Audi E-Tron
2016 Chevrolet Camaro Quick Drive
What You Need to Know About Installing a Child Car Seat in the Rear Center Seat
4K Review: 2018 Subaru Crosstrek Quick Drive
2018 Hyundai Kona Quick Drive
2019 Lexus ES Quick Drive
4K Review: 2016 Mazda CX-9 Quick Drive
2017 Kia Niro Quick Drive
2018 Nissan Leaf Quick Drive
2017 Toyota Prius Prime Quick Drive
2015 Ford Mustang Review
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Ryan is back 😍😍😍
Nestor Chavez he’s daddy
It is important to recognize the difference between listening to music and not looking at the road.
ADAS do not always work properly, so giving them points just because they are included, is not correct. I really look forward to Talking Cars every week. I always find it informative and enjoyable.
Big wheels are horrible, give us big tires, enough with this bling bling nonsense already, the novelty factor is long gone by now!
How about you spend your money on what you want and STFU how other people spend their money.
Good show as usual. I look forward to it every week. It is not only informative, but, also enjoyable.
Damn pretty impressed the reviews are universal factor.
Thank you for the time stamps. Much appreciated 🙏
the one with the gray shirt is so cute tho
In regards to wheel diameter and profile height, there’s one racing discipline I know of where the tire width is fixed but diameter is open: SCCA P1 (and P2 by extension). The obvious example of what races in that is the Stohr WF1. That’s probably the ideal sidewall ratio.
Brandon : check out the Hyundai Palisade for a third row SUV. It’s a lot more roomier than the CX9.
Or the Telluride. For being “twin” models, I was surprised that the Telluride scored much higher than the Palisade on CRs road test.
I could use level 2 on many drives when im tired or on a long drive. But, I don’t want to buy a new car yet. So, I gotta deal. Its just such a deal to drive with no payments.
My snow tires make winter driving almost zero fear. Compared to high quality all seasons and I have a 2005 civic coupe ex. If you are considering it. I highly recommend it. All wheel drive is NOT necessary for weather like In Northeast Ohio where I live. Unless you need ground higher clearance. A simple car is fine. And if you get a SUV in most cases you can save money and get front wheel drive. And they are less complex and cheaper to maintain.
Charging circuitry is in the vehicle so please try to stop calling charging stations or charging points “chargers”. Accuracy in Technology terminology, please.
The errands part hit hard
Any wheel/tire combo over 18″ your asking for trouble and be ready to pay the piper.
A bit of social distancing, folks!
Of the 40,000 deaths in car accidents in 2018 slightly less than 6% are caused by distracted driving. Passing a semi at 75 MPH a slower car suddenly switched lanes in front of me (no turn signal) with only a few feet to spare. By the time I took my foot off the gas the 2020 Sonata I was driving had slowed down quickly to create a safer space. Likely I would have hit that car by the time I hit the brake. I had held back for a while thinking he would want to change lanes & pass but you can’t “camp out” in the left lane waiting for the other driver to decide. The AEM (automatic emergency braking) saved the day. THAT’s why CR ranks cars with those features higher or as Jon said gives them “extra credit”.
The 50 mile all highway commute is a huge strike against even buying a hybrid as even the few 300hp’ish vehicles out there (basically every upper trim midsized honda/toyota and have great resale) still hit near 30mpg on the highway. Most automakers have had level 2 automation cars out for 4+ years years- Lexus offered adaptive cruise as far back as 2002 I think and infiniti since at least 2007.
I’ve heard of people having their wheels/tires swapped with another customer buying a lower trim car on the same day.
When we had a mid-sized sedan, we just carted our son to and from practice and to baseball games. Like many parents, we traded it in for a big 3 row SUV because we thought we “needed” one (it turns out we didn’t). All of the sudden we’re constantly asked to car pool the other kids. Arggh! I’ve lost what little free time I had before (not to mention more than doubling our fuel bill). It’s been a nightmare owning this vehicle, which we don’t use the extra room for anything else other than carpooling the other parents’ kids! Don’t do it. If you have a small family, stick with the smallest car you can. Otherwise, you’ll be the “obvious” person to take on the extra kids. Sure, you can say no but you’ll become that “jerk” everyone hates.