I bought a lightly used 2017 Nissan Leaf SV with a 30 kWh battery. Amazing, great range, so quiet, and for 2020 I saved a net (cost of electricity counted) of $1,350 in gas. My Leaf cost me $11,300.
I visited a client at a local Cadillac dealer service dept and I have never seen so many cars waiting in line to get into a service dept. The service advisers were going crazy trying to take in all these customers and 90% of these vehicles were late models.
Shocking the vehicles they like best are the ones that have the worst reliability. No matter how great the Sentra is, it's still lipstick on a pig since long-term reliability will prove a nightmare, especially since Nissan is perpetually in financial trouble and therefore inclined to cut costs wherever they can.
Although the not mutually exclusive, generally better driving cars with newer technology mean lower reliability. A Toyota 4Runner or Tundra will be bulletproof, but they are 10+ year old designs. A 2020 RAM is going to be way more enjoyable to actually drive, even if you’re going to be at the dealer a lot.
My power in PA has gone out 2 times in the past 3 weeks.... So no EV for me with the snow it was off 48 hours. I had to do fule runs just to keep my heat running. .. i still have an hour drive to work.
If you can charge at home, that's all the infrastructure I need for 99% of my driving. For trips, Tesla makes it easy. Other companies are improving with DC fast charging. Electrify America and Tesla are adding hundreds of new locations each year.
Lack of chargers?? Tesla chargers are all over the place. It's extremely seamless and easy to use. I wouldn't go for any other EV for now because they don't have a dedicated charging Network
@@blueplanet1048 that is just not true. Chargers are not everywhere. Maybe in your area but in my area you have to drive at least 30 plus mile to get to one.
Diesels used to be marginally more expensive to maintain than a gas powered car, but no more. Fuel for the diesel is more expensive, you MUST add D.E.F. on a regular basis (think of def as an expensive fuel additive), diesels use a bit more oil and a more expensive grade of oil. So mechanically, I am not sure if a diesel is any worse in the reliability category, but just regular maintenance will be more expensive and NOT always offset by better fuel economy.
Ditto! The expected reliability was clearly not considered or the picks would have been entirely different. Pretty disappointed in this CR video for that reason. I've been reading CR for decades and in the past CR never recommended a vehicle without at least average expected reliability.
Reference Mike Quincy's thoughts on the lack of EV sales, I agree that there is a lot of hype and not much consumer appetite. Currently, environmental concerns aside, it just doesn't make sense for car buyers to flock to an EV. The numbers are not there for prices competitive to gas powered cars, availability of recharge stations, and cruising range on one charge. Unless the government legislates gas powered vehicles out of existence, I see the EV market remaining just a fraction of overall vehicle sales. To be competitive, EV's need to be price competitive, without government tax incentives, 300+ miles per charge range, fast charging, and the number and location of EV charging stations to match gas stations. Until then, EV's are a niche market.
I agree. In addition a model y like EV with a normal roof, normal door handles and a few normal dial controls. Resurrect toyota using Tesla power trains.
A *HUGE* issue is the fact we don't have a singular hardware/payment standard for commercial EV charging over DC. Every EV manufacturer, including Tesla, should agree on a singular plug connector standard and the means to make payments for charging the vehicle. Correct these issues and EV sales will really take off, since we eliminated a large part of the "range anxiety" problem.
I own an older EV with a limited range, and I gotta tell you I’m never going to buy another gasoline car again. People have a hard time wrapping their head around the convenience factor that EVs provide because everyone is so used to the “gas station” model. I do 99% of charging at home, and I love never having to make a trip to fill up the car. It’s just so enjoyable to drive with all the silent torque, and I find getting back into a gasoline car feels old fashioned. The reason EVs haven’t really taken off yet is primarily because nobody has advertised them. Tesla famously spends nothing on marketing, which means only tech oriented people are aware enough to understand the appeal. When VW and GM start rolling out mass market EVs, I expect they’ll actually spend some money on explaining why these cars are so good.
For wider adoption, we need EV's to be more competitive with their gas counterparts. In Canada, a Nissan Leaf starts at $44K. That's pretty pricey given a Corolla is $22K and a Camry is $27K. Yeah.. yeah... five year, ten year cost of ownership... blah blah... but we still need the upfront cost to be affordable. Choosing between a Camry, with $17K in my pocket, versus a Leaf, is an easy decision for me.
Agree, that price is a big part of this. Battery costs are falling yearly and will ultimately make EV's competitive with ICE cars, probably around 2025. EV's are like the new smart phones, very modern, very high tech. They will ultimately be desirable based being latest greatest thing, for many buyers, especially younger buyers.
Yeah, I got the idea that the hosts discussing EVs have never actually owned one. The entire discussion around commutes was just stupid. I'm not aware of an EV that was ever made that couldn't handle 99.9% of commutes. The problem with EVs is long distance travel. Currently Tesla is the only realistic option for road trips over ~100 miles away from your home. Sure there are non-Tesla chargers but they routinely don't work or if they do are very slow. Telsa is the only network that you can rely on. Fix that and you will see EV adoption go up since they won't depreciate like a rock because they are just "city" EVs.
Sure would like to know where to get a Corolla for $22,000 and a Camry $27,000. Toyota dealers in the U.S. are some of the worst for A.D.P. (addition dealer profit) fees, and they will even call it that in their silly little add-on sticker that mimics the factory sticker. With the market for sedans continually shrinking you would think buyers would be in a decent position to get a bargain. Nope, production of sedans is kept low so that you are left fighting for one if you don't want a CUV.
CR's reliability for the Ram 1500, which apparently is not the same model as the turbodiesel but comes from the same manufacturer and is related, is the worst mark (two down arrows in a red circle). I find it strange that one of the Mikes had such great things to say about a model that probably won't get recommended by CR.
CR, I remember when you reviewed the RAV4, you were critical of the noise/rev when accelerating. I believe you said Toyota told you they would address the issue the next model year. I guess they did not correct or improve the problem?
I don’t think so yet. But i know someone who has one and it is very loud and low quality feeling. Toyota really cheeped out on this new model. We have a crv and it is just way better on all aspects.
I can’t understand why the hybrids in the SUV’s are so loud and obnoxious. They prius is very quiet and great to drive. The only thing is the seats are unbearable. Corolla has better seats.
Weird take on EVs. I bought one because I had a long commute. I think the main reason there aren't sales outside of Tesla is not a question of demand - it's a question of choice. There are precious few compelling EVs outside of Tesla that are actually available to consumers, and even those are limited to certain markets.
Agreed. I live in Ohio and can’t buy anything EV from Hyundai or Kia. The local dealers are literally banned by the corporate office from selling them here.
EVs are not going to take off in sales until there are tons of charging stations, like there are filling stations, and charging gets much quicker. These issues will get addressed, I think, but until they do don't hold your breath. People just want to be able to get in the vehicle and go with no worries as they have done for eons.
I'm surprised Jennifer doesn't like the Toyota SUV hybrids, which means I need to go drive more new cars because they must be really good! I drove a friends 2019 Rav4 Hybrid and liked it a lot but I'm comparing it to my 2010 Volvo S80.
Really appreciate Jennifer’s comments about Toyota’s hybrid system noise. When I test drove the Toyota RAV4 hybrid I was so disappointed I went directly to the Mazda dealership for the CX-5. Sometimes feels like every journalist hails these cars without mentioning the noise, glad to know I wasn’t crazy to be this disappointed by such a noisy powertrain.
Great Video as always, but here is my BUT: As a former owner of two Prius I have to point out a technical error - none of the Toyota Hybrids do not use a CVT but what they call an E-CVT which is entirely different animal. Toyota is telling a fib by including ' CVT' in the name for the transmission for unlike a CVT there is no metal or rubber belt is used in the transmission but instead a planetary gear set. The annoying roar you mentioned as a defect is where the low torque engine has to rev up to produce adequate power with a heavy use of the acceleration pedal. So, unlike other car makers with CVTs, Toyota chose not to do simulated shifts which would rob significant power and would require a more fuel-thirsty, larger engine to compensate.
Consumer report in my view is a measuring tool for what consumers are using at the present time. They do not look further than their nose and that is a good thing if you are a consumer that is doing the same thing. EV’s will grow in the market and if you look beyond your nose you will see it coming. You do a good job at what you are do and in five years you will be doing a good job, talking about the products that are on your nose and that will include EVs. Happy New Year.
Hybrid Toyotas with 4 cylinders get panned, yet CR loves the Prius, your most reliable car. What about Toyota’s 6 cylinder hybrids, ie the Lexus RX? Does the new Venza also have a noisy 4 cylinder? CR has a long love affair with Subaru, yet not one was mentioned.
Drive in a rational manner in a Hybrid and it will be outstanding. Drive a Hybrid like a Corvette in a hurry and there will a plenty to complain about.
Mike: Toyota hybrids don't have actual CVTs, they use fixed ratio planetary gears so they are 1 speed transmissions. Unfortunately, Toyota (and many other hybrids) call these single speed transmissions "eCVTs" which is a stretch for what they actually are. Don't worry though, just about every TH-camr talking about "eCVTs" will say how much they hate the "rubberbandy" feel of the CVT transmissions as the gears change, even though there is never a change in gear ratio.
I agree that the Pandemic and change in commuting has changed buyer behavior myself included. I may end up working from home permanently or maybe at least half time. This has shifted my car buying from what fits my commute to what I really want. I was looking at a hybrid minivan/suv but what I really want is an offroad Truck and likely what I'll buy.
In CR magazine the VW Golf is rated an '82' and the Audi A3 is rated '50' and then the GTI is rated an abysmal '29'. All these cars share a lot of the same parts so why is there so much variation in the ratings?
Customer reported experience / younger more aggressive drivers beat the *hit out of GTIs and A3s…. Current Golf buyers likely more mature and self select the lower performance / less powerful option and driven like a commuter the Golf I’d venture a guess doesn’t fall apart as quickly.
I went into a gas station and filled up my Honda. I was in and out in 5 minutes. When I can go to a charging station and charge up an EV as easily as filling up my ICE car, then I'll consider getting one - but not until then. Until the infrastructure is in place and until EV's can be charged up in 5 minutes, no sale.
If you can charge at home then the equation is different, as you do most of your charging overnight, which is far more convenient than stopping by a gas station every week or two. This offsets the inconvenience of slower stops when road tripping.
I live in a co-op apartment in N.Y.C. There is no practical way to charge my vehicle. This is why EV's are currently a no go for urban dwellers like myself.
As for EV's, they will not be sold in volume until the charging infrastructure across the USA is created, rapid charging is common (15-20 minutes) and 200-300+ mile range between charges is common. Instead, I think Hybrids will grow and be more popular. I'd consider a hybrid for my next car. I currently drive a 2019 Mazda CX-5 Signature and it's been a great, reliable CUV. I'm very interested in seeing the new CUV to be built in Alabama by Mazda/Toyota. Thanks, for the Talking Cars program.
Your ideas are certainly valid, but back around 2017. Tesla has 16,000 superchargers in the US alone now, sells more cars than either BMW or Mercedes, and their longest range is over 400mi and lowest is 300mi. The whole industry is advancing rapidly. Hybrid technology was, and still is, that stopgap to buy themselves time and allow R&D to figure out how to build a proper EV.
Right now, as far as 'clean' fuels, hydrogen makes more sense since you can fill the tank in the same time as an ICE vehicle at the local gas station. And it would be a lot easier to retrofit gas stations to be hydrogen capable. But the greater issue is that the electric infrastructure as it currently exists in America cannot possibly support millions and millions and millions of vehicles being charged daily/weekly. And that's before we start talking about how apartment dwellers are going to charge their vehicles.
Hey if I'm not commuting or driving a lot of miles....I can feel better about driving a Bronco 4,000 miles a year. I like feeling green and the Mach e would be a better choice if I was still driving 16,000 miles a year.
I may be working from home for much longer than I had wanted - and I commute by bike when I work in my office - but I still need a car for taking kids to hockey and lacrosse practices (and games when those happen again), I need a car to get me to the mountain bike trails, to get to the local ski hills and back, to get groceries we can't walk to get - for those trips, an EV makes a lot of sense. Anything in and around 200-280km round trip accounts for about 95% of my travel yearly (trips around town, several yearly trips to Whistler for skiing/biking).
Enjoyed this discussion. On a side note, fascinating to me that on Mike M's "In 2021 Wishlist" are driving cars that many popular TH-cam auto channels have already tested. Not sure what this says about legacy publications like Consumer Reports pecking order in the world of auto journalism these days. Of course, Consumer Reports maybe doesn't drive press cars/go to press events to maintain greater independence?
Seems to me Toyota has a TNGA platform issue with noise. It’s unfortunate if true because they are putting the entire line on it. Will be interested in your thoughts on the Mach E ground clearance. The battery pack is so low it seems vulnerable to me in everyday use.
Great episode! I think we are in a golden age of cars: so many great choices of all different flavors. I was hoping that Tesla would make the naughty list just to read the comments :) TBF only about 10% of households can afford EVs.
Love listening to your conversation and thoughts. I bought a 2020 Mercedes GLE 450 in April as we went into lockdown. Best and smoothest car I have ever driven. No Mercedes on your list of faves?
The fact that dealerships cannot continue to rape consumers on parts/service because EVs are more reliable is the exact thinking that has stagnated the automotive industry for four decades. That and some guys like the sounds exhaust pipes make. The batteries are going to improve, just as all tech is improving. 100% torque at 0RPM, super reliable, simple, quiet and good for most people who don't travel more than 100 miles a day -- that's a LOT of us. If COVID has taught us anything it's that some times the world changes and individuals just have to adapt to those changes. Yeah it sucks but that's the world we live in. There aren't that many blacksmiths around anymore either. During WWII, did the industries making automobiles scream and cry or did they start making tanks, airplanes and ammunition?
The Rav4 Prime isn't actually available nationwide in any numbers. - Much like the majority of EVs other than Teslas and Nissan Leafs. Perhaps you should include that detail when discussing plug-in hybrids and EVs and provide periodic updates on availability.
Very touching to see Mike Monticello get emotional. I too miss the human connection that comes with going into the workplace. As far as EVs, car manufacturers could help sales by making them look more attractive and function better. Somehow, to them, EV is synonymous with weird. That tendency has also infiltrated mainstream cars in some ways, hence the climate controls that are buried in sub menus on a screen.
My disappointment with modern vehicles (in general) is too much plastic under the hood. Plastic: oil pans, valve covers, radiator hose clips, alternator pulleys, etc. = planned obsolescence.
Done for cost savings, planned obsolescence, and weight savings. What I found unacceptable was the elimination of drain plugs and the adoption of "lifetime fluids". Lifetime was then defined as warranty period.
I agree... plastic doesn't normally age very well. Vendors biggest concern is that it lasts longer than the warranty period ... which it should do easily.
I’ve never seen a plastic oil pan or valve cover. However I have seen intake manifolds and yes plastic stuff does suck. But it’s been around for nearly 20 years so I think it’s hard to avoid it. My 2001 Honda Accord had a plastic and aluminum radiator
The best practical family cars that were WIDELY available were the new 36 mpg Hybrid Sienna and Highlander. I suppose the Sorento Hybrid would have to get a mention for those who don't need/want AWD. Drive with a reasonably behaved right foot and all Toyota's Hybrids are outstanding.
Happy new year to CR’s team. Like Jennifer, I’ve test the Sentra and fall for it. I know own one and love it. Cheap to operate and fun. Why not an electric car? The cost of those cars. If you do not drive 15k plus miles per year, they are to costly!
I hops CR makes Jen the host of all Talking Cars shows. She relates comfortably with the audience and with the guys. Every episode of Talking Cars with her is better than those without her.
EVs will eventually take over. My next car will probably be one. But this year I bought a Camry TRD. Right now, there's no EV that has the same looks and sound at the same price. But things change. I'm still not willing to have an SUV, but my next car should be eight years from now, and EVs are the future. As for the commute, I have a two hour plus commute. The best thing about this year is that I get to do more fun driving, and less commuting.
I was hoping for a comment on the very low rated (by CR) Kia e-Niro. I would appreciate an explanation for its low rating, especially since it is mechanically the same as the high rated Kona EV. I've found no other source with such a low opinion of the e-Niro. Most reviewers considering it to be more practical than the Kona EV and a Tesla beater given the price.
IRONIC is the word for 2020 for you guys. Love your show. But seriously? Dodge truck, Cadillac, and Nissan Sentra? Do you not read your own reports on reliability? I'm sure they "feel" great but how are they your best picks? Oh well.. I'll keep watching your show. I just wont buy cars from you directly. Haha!
BTW the Pacifica Hybrid PHEV is the best EV ever made!! The Van does everything fantastic!! And yes it blows the Sienna Hybrid out of the water because dollar per charge and fillup the Pacifica leads the pack!! With an average of 80 cents per 30 miles and an average of 1000 miles per fill-up, it is WAY MORE EFFICIENT than any other SUV/MiniVan on the market!!
@@DefStr8up well there are issues for sure in regards to paint and panel alignements, I would not be able to accept that. I suspect in a couple of years they will have an improved manufacturing process. They should buy out one of the 2 American company to accelerate their skills and global dominance
@@stea2494 Tesla is insanely overvalued. They have never broken even or made a profit from their cars. The only think making them profitable is the sale of $330-428M in emission credits to other auto makers per quarter. That's an incredibly shaky foundation. Attempting to buy another auto maker would bankrupt Tesla by eliminating a portion of that income stream (how can they sell enviro credits to themselves) and saddling them with debt they won't be able to repay due to persistent losses on their EV sales.
Great show. I am super disappointed at the Mach-E. It may have a way better fit & finish, compared to a 3 or a Y, but the range/efficiency & weight was not what I expected. Like I've said before, the only "Tesla" I will own is the shares.
Tesla optimizes their EPA range estimates to give you this impression. If you compare WLTP numbers, the Mach e gets longer range, which is accurate in the real world.
When the amount of money to develop and produce electric vehicles is the same as ICE vehicles then the prices of electric cars will drop so maybe more people will buy them.
All other issues aside, I feel that the biggest downfall for GM, and Cadillac in particular is their failure to keep and build upon well known and readily recognizable nameplates, in the way that many of their Japanese and European competitors have done throughout the years. For over three decades now, they have been throwing stuff at the wall hoping that it sticks, and then moving onto something else, jettisoning cars like the Eldorado, and the De Ville for vehicles with alpha numeric nametags. There's more to a name than most people think, and heritage, whether real or imagined, plays a large part in any manufacturers success (or failure). Yes, Chevy completely changed the Corvette from top to bottom in making it a mid-engine vehicle, but they were also smart enough not to rename it the Chevy Croissant.
17:40 uhh... don't push the pedal all the way in if you're so worried about noise? If I put my foot down, it means I want max power, and max power does mean max noise. I would not be happy If my car is holding back. We can argue about how much sound insulation to put in, but simulated shifting in a cvt and especially an e-cvt will never not be a bad idea. (edit: they do walk this back a little bit, but not having artificial shifting in a CVT is simply the right move and Toyota doesn't need to be "cut some slack" at all because there is no slack to be cut)
What happened to the Passat? VW made the same mistake 45 years ago when Rabbit production for the N.A. market was moved to the U.S. VW tossed out the Germanic feel then, and they have done it again. Car and Driver magazine castigated VW for what they termed the " Malibuization " of the excellent Rabbit.
I live in CT (western side of state, about 90 minutes from CR). There is limited infrastructure to support EV sales in CT. One charging station at the library, 5 Tesla charging stations at the Danbury Mall - that is it. We deal with snow, mountains, and cold weather - not friendly to EVs in any of these cases. The range they claim coming of 400 miles means we will have a real range of 300 miles (Tesla's claiming 340 get about 210 miles of range). Japan is forcing people to buy EV's or hybrids at the very least by 2035. Not sure unless the US forces people to go that way if it will happen in the USA to be the majority of sales for a very long time. I know I won't be able to buy one (AWD hybrid is a possibility, but not EV).
The obsession with manual air vents in car seems miss-placed. The reason Porsche and Tesla make air vents controlled from touch screens, is so they become part of the driver profile. Set it once in your driveway, and no matter who drives car, when you get in they return to your setting.
Two comments I would like to make... first I hope you spend some money on a 2021 Lincoln Nautilus, and please please get the brown leather interior (this black on black on black thing is nauseating). The complete redesign of the Interior brought it to World status and I believe it may surprise! Second I hope you pay close attention to the complaints that the Mustang Mach e has a painful area where the right leg rests too sharply on the screen for tall drivers
That's interesting about Toyota. You guys in the past have said, if a vehicle is a little rough, "Get it in a hybrid, they're much more refined and run and ride smoother." I guess Toyota didn't want to spend the money to make the new ones that way, although they're swimming on an ocean of cash.
When car companies make normal cars as EV people will buy. But besides Tesla which is still expensive until recent models, its only been little budget compact cars or high end 100K cars. People want normal $30-$50K midsized Sedans and SUVs EVs before most start buying...
Ummmm...no. Send your kid off to college in a Toyota that will still have 10 years of life left in it and some significant resale value when they graduate. This is always my favorite episode of the year tho because of the surprises.
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You should have named this episode, My favorite and least favorite 2020 vehicles for the Not so wealthy buyer.( the middle class).
Okay, so you bought a diesel truck...so much for clean emissions CR. I find it interesting CR and these employees buy a Dodge Durango Mike Quincy), this diesel truck, and BMW’s paid for at a discount from their employer and those of us who pay for annual CR digital. Canceling my subscription.
A pure EV is a waste for someone with a short commute. They make much more sense for someone with a long commute. Few local miles makes efficiency less important and highway trips a bigger percentage of the use, where the inconvenience of an EV is a much bigger deal.
Instead of sitting through a video of listening to what you guys liked and didn't like it would be great to participate maybe next year's video will involve some consumer clips.
23:20 people don't buy EV's only because they commute a lot and save money on fuel! Come on as a "professional" you should know that already. I drive a gas car myself but to think we are in 21st century and still driving cars that can poison you to death in 10 minutes in a closed environment is just crazy, it might look normal to us now but one day we'll be looking back in shock
That shadow on the wall above Jennifer’s painting almost looks like a rifle. I realize that can’t be the case as the good liberals at Consumer Reports would never have a rifle in their home. 😁
Wait, did CR really say that the jury is still out no electric cars relative to whether people will buy them?? All you have to do is look at Tesla to see the answer. The Model 3 is one of the best selling cars in CA and in the US. It outsells all of its direct competitors. I'm on my 3rd EV (all Teslas) and in spite of the fact that Tesla build quality is still an issue, simply put, I will never go back to a gas car. The benefits of EV ownership are numerous and significant. First, with Teslas (and likely with the Mach E), you get BOTH great performance, great efficiency, great technology, and low maintenance. It used to be that if you wanted a fast car, that you would have to sacrifice efficiency and maintenance given that high performance gas cars tend to get abysmal fuel economy and tend to require more maintenance than average. With my Teslas, the worst fuel efficiency I've gotten (with my Model X, a large SUV) is around 80 MGP-e, and my Model 3 returns around 120 MGP-e! The Model X goes from 0-60 in under 5 seconds, and my Model 3 is right around 4 seconds. I had a Model S from 2012 to 2016 and I spent a grand total of $600 on maintenance for that car. My Model X has cost me around $1500 over 4 years, and my Model 3 has only cost me around $150 for wheel alignment. Telsas also benefit from Telsa's far-reaching, ubiquitous, and reliable network of Superchargers such that long distance travel, when necessary, is not an issue. I've driven my cars on 6-7 hour road trips and it's both cheap and easy. Yes, you do need to stop every 3 hours or so, but frankly, on a long trip, a stop for a meal is something I would do anyway. Yes, you do ultimately need access to home charging, so if you live in an apartment and don't have regular access to chargers, then that's a valid reason to wait. But for everyone else, EV's are really a no-brainer.
They’re not a no brained. The cost, lack of infrastructure and low ranges are all very valid reasons. Sure, California hates gas engines but not the rest of the states. I do think that if Toyota, GM or Ford actually puts together a charging network like Tesla did it’d be a smart move. I also wouldn’t count out hydrogens though...
This baby boomer got the "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia" ! I'd love to get an EV BUT the cost and charging costs are not in my budget right now. Yes, WFH means I'd have to hire an electrician to install a 220-Volt outlet in my garage for EV charging, plus maybe be forced to upgrade my electrical panel as a result, so let's see what happens within the next 5 years!
You guys spend too much attention on EPA range when reviewing EVs. You really should focus on real-world range. Especially when you compare vehicles such as Tesla where the EPA rating is widely known to overstate what you can expect in the real world with the Porsch, which is known to understate what you can expect in the real world. Also, when analyzing EVs, torque is the game, not horsepower. Horsepower might make sense in an ICE world where you have a widely varying torque curve and a multi-speed transmission. but not with an EV with very uniform torque spread over a wide rpm range and a one speed gearbox.
If pure EV's are going to garner widespread adoption, aggressive R and D, with coordination from the Government to develop a family of quick exchange power packs with a compatible families in terms of physical size and geometry and electrical compatibility is a must. Customer living in urban dense multifamily communities are most unlikely to have access to individual charging stations. Limited range eliminates travelling nurse, sales and manufacturing representatives having to do long range multi-state travel makes EV out of the question. Benefits of quick exchange power packs would incur these tempting benefits. First, fleets of tank wagon petroleum delivery trucks with its inherently empty back-hauls would be replaced by 18 wheelers doing exchange transfers to and from power generating or harvesting complexes, which would also greatly reduce neighborhood power distribution grid overloads, and customers would gain a substantial degree of protection from technological obselescene as breakthrough innovation in energy storage density comes forth.
It would be really cool to be part of the network of Tesla's that replace Uber and Lyft! We could have a little reality show which would be a type of advertising through our channels that could inevitably lead to more people buying Tesla's! I have a background in Automotive Marketing Business Administration and Commercial Energy. Also I'm starting a channel called PROTESLA POWER. Of course this channel will talk about Nikola Tesla, Energy generation, Health and well-being, Tesla motors, Elon Musk, SpaceX, etc. I live just outside of Toronto Canada and could really use some advice on how to get my channel off the ground. I've sent several messages to Elon Musk on Twitter but he gets so many messages in a day or mine probably get overlooked. I think I could be doing a lot more to help people get a Tesla in their driveways faster. I also believe that if you're going to have an EV you might want to have solar generation and battery storage which I also have a business plan to implement. If you like these ideas or have some of your own to offer, I would really like to know. I do appreciate all of you and your comments. This is the time and we are the people that will change the world! propower101@hotmail.com
How does CR make these factual mistakes? Since when does Toyota's hybrid systems use a CVT? It is just spinning an electric motor faster, there ain't a CVT, no belt no pulley... It is called a eCVT so yall don't get confused as for why there ain't any stepped gears. Toyota hybrids being loud on throttle is really old news, but who cares because what other consistently proven hybrids actually sip less fuel..?
I bought a lightly used 2017 Nissan Leaf SV with a 30 kWh battery. Amazing, great range, so quiet, and for 2020 I saved a net (cost of electricity counted) of $1,350 in gas. My Leaf cost me $11,300.
I live in AZ, though sold here, Leaf is not actually suitable for hot climates. The battery pack is not liquid cooled. Just something to keep in mind.
I visited a client at a local Cadillac dealer service dept and I have never seen so many cars waiting in line to get into a service dept. The service advisers were going crazy trying to take in all these customers and 90% of these vehicles were late models.
Shocking the vehicles they like best are the ones that have the worst reliability. No matter how great the Sentra is, it's still lipstick on a pig since long-term reliability will prove a nightmare, especially since Nissan is perpetually in financial trouble and therefore inclined to cut costs wherever they can.
Very true, Cadillac and Ram are also dismal in terms of QDR.
I noticed that too. It's because repairs don't come out of their pockets.
Although the not mutually exclusive, generally better driving cars with newer technology mean lower reliability. A Toyota 4Runner or Tundra will be bulletproof, but they are 10+ year old designs. A 2020 RAM is going to be way more enjoyable to actually drive, even if you’re going to be at the dealer a lot.
I would not trust a Nissan with a CVT as far as I could throw it.
My power in PA has gone out 2 times in the past 3 weeks.... So no EV for me with the snow it was off 48 hours. I had to do fule runs just to keep my heat running. .. i still have an hour drive to work.
Mike said he misses hugs and now I’m crying..
I've worked from home for the last ~3 years and I want my next car to be an EV. My hesitation is the lack of infrastructure...
If you can charge at home, that's all the infrastructure I need for 99% of my driving. For trips, Tesla makes it easy. Other companies are improving with DC fast charging. Electrify America and Tesla are adding hundreds of new locations each year.
But you work from home where of us recharge!
Lack of chargers?? Tesla chargers are all over the place. It's extremely seamless and easy to use. I wouldn't go for any other EV for now because they don't have a dedicated charging Network
@@blueplanet1048 that is just not true. Chargers are not everywhere. Maybe in your area but in my area you have to drive at least 30 plus mile to get to one.
Check out the website PlugShare, you may be surprised how many charging stations are available now.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE AT CR
Good episode, would be interested to hear from the rest of the crew.
Modern turbo diesels are just waiting to break in an extraordinarily expensive way...
Diesels used to be marginally more expensive to maintain than a gas powered car, but no more.
Fuel for the diesel is more expensive, you MUST add D.E.F. on a regular basis (think of def as an expensive fuel additive), diesels use a bit more oil and a more expensive grade of oil.
So mechanically, I am not sure if a diesel is any worse in the reliability category, but just regular maintenance will be more expensive and NOT always offset by better fuel economy.
Wow! I wouldn't touch any of your picks with a ten foot poll. You should change the title of this podcast to "Coming Soon to a Repair Shop Near You."
Ditto! The expected reliability was clearly not considered or the picks would have been entirely different. Pretty disappointed in this CR video for that reason. I've been reading CR for decades and in the past CR never recommended a vehicle without at least average expected reliability.
The disrespect to Toyota...
I loved all 3’s opinions.
Reference Mike Quincy's thoughts on the lack of EV sales, I agree that there is a lot of hype and not much consumer appetite. Currently, environmental concerns aside, it just doesn't make sense for car buyers to flock to an EV. The numbers are not there for prices competitive to gas powered cars, availability of recharge stations, and cruising range on one charge. Unless the government legislates gas powered vehicles out of existence, I see the EV market remaining just a fraction of overall vehicle sales. To be competitive, EV's need to be price competitive, without government tax incentives, 300+ miles per charge range, fast charging, and the number and location of EV charging stations to match gas stations. Until then, EV's are a niche market.
I agree. In addition a model y like EV with a normal roof, normal door handles and a few normal dial controls. Resurrect toyota using Tesla power trains.
A *HUGE* issue is the fact we don't have a singular hardware/payment standard for commercial EV charging over DC. Every EV manufacturer, including Tesla, should agree on a singular plug connector standard and the means to make payments for charging the vehicle. Correct these issues and EV sales will really take off, since we eliminated a large part of the "range anxiety" problem.
I own an older EV with a limited range, and I gotta tell you I’m never going to buy another gasoline car again. People have a hard time wrapping their head around the convenience factor that EVs provide because everyone is so used to the “gas station” model. I do 99% of charging at home, and I love never having to make a trip to fill up the car. It’s just so enjoyable to drive with all the silent torque, and I find getting back into a gasoline car feels old fashioned.
The reason EVs haven’t really taken off yet is primarily because nobody has advertised them. Tesla famously spends nothing on marketing, which means only tech oriented people are aware enough to understand the appeal. When VW and GM start rolling out mass market EVs, I expect they’ll actually spend some money on explaining why these cars are so good.
"If you get yourself a new car, you're not sacrificing anything by getting yourself a Nissan sentra"
I mean, other than reliability
The Sentra? Really? Seriously? Oh dear.
The CVT monster will rear it's ugly head by 80000 miles
For wider adoption, we need EV's to be more competitive with their gas counterparts. In Canada, a Nissan Leaf starts at $44K. That's pretty pricey given a Corolla is $22K and a Camry is $27K. Yeah.. yeah... five year, ten year cost of ownership... blah blah... but we still need the upfront cost to be affordable. Choosing between a Camry, with $17K in my pocket, versus a Leaf, is an easy decision for me.
Agree, that price is a big part of this. Battery costs are falling yearly and will ultimately make EV's competitive with ICE cars, probably around 2025. EV's are like the new smart phones, very modern, very high tech. They will ultimately be desirable based being latest greatest thing, for many buyers, especially younger buyers.
Yeah, I got the idea that the hosts discussing EVs have never actually owned one. The entire discussion around commutes was just stupid. I'm not aware of an EV that was ever made that couldn't handle 99.9% of commutes. The problem with EVs is long distance travel. Currently Tesla is the only realistic option for road trips over ~100 miles away from your home. Sure there are non-Tesla chargers but they routinely don't work or if they do are very slow. Telsa is the only network that you can rely on. Fix that and you will see EV adoption go up since they won't depreciate like a rock because they are just "city" EVs.
Sure would like to know where to get a Corolla for $22,000 and a Camry $27,000. Toyota dealers in the U.S. are some of the worst for A.D.P. (addition dealer profit) fees, and they will even call it that in their silly little add-on sticker that mimics the factory sticker.
With the market for sedans continually shrinking you would think buyers would be in a decent position to get a bargain. Nope, production of sedans is kept low so that you are left fighting for one if you don't want a CUV.
CR's reliability for the Ram 1500, which apparently is not the same model as the turbodiesel but comes from the same manufacturer and is related, is the worst mark (two down arrows in a red circle). I find it strange that one of the Mikes had such great things to say about a model that probably won't get recommended by CR.
CR, I remember when you reviewed the RAV4, you were critical of the noise/rev when accelerating. I believe you said Toyota told you they would address the issue the next model year. I guess they did not correct or improve the problem?
I don’t think so yet. But i know someone who has one and it is very loud and low quality feeling. Toyota really cheeped out on this new model. We have a crv and it is just way better on all aspects.
I can’t understand why the hybrids in the SUV’s are so loud and obnoxious. They prius is very quiet and great to drive. The only thing is the seats are unbearable. Corolla has better seats.
Weird take on EVs. I bought one because I had a long commute. I think the main reason there aren't sales outside of Tesla is not a question of demand - it's a question of choice. There are precious few compelling EVs outside of Tesla that are actually available to consumers, and even those are limited to certain markets.
Agreed. I live in Ohio and can’t buy anything EV from Hyundai or Kia. The local dealers are literally banned by the corporate office from selling them here.
I agree, that and of course price. I think next yearay be different.
Outstanding reviews, you guys. I appreciated this grandly. 🤓
EVs are not going to take off in sales until there are tons of charging stations, like there are filling stations, and charging gets much quicker. These issues will get addressed, I think, but until they do don't hold your breath. People just want to be able to get in the vehicle and go with no worries as they have done for eons.
Nah it’s the price. I’d be charging almost exclusively at hone, but I’m not willing to pay $50,000 for a car
I own an EV and don’t really worry about charging stations because I fill up at home. Every morning, I leave the house with a full “tank”
Nissan Sentra's CVT should keep anyone away
I'm surprised Jennifer doesn't like the Toyota SUV hybrids, which means I need to go drive more new cars because they must be really good! I drove a friends 2019 Rav4 Hybrid and liked it a lot but I'm comparing it to my 2010 Volvo S80.
Do you like your s80? I was a valet driver and have driven a couple of your vintage and found them to be no more worthy than a Honda Accord v6.
Toyotas are to loud now.
Apparently they love it in another video. So much that they planned on purchasing the prime...
Really appreciate Jennifer’s comments about Toyota’s hybrid system noise. When I test drove the Toyota RAV4 hybrid I was so disappointed I went directly to the Mazda dealership for the CX-5. Sometimes feels like every journalist hails these cars without mentioning the noise, glad to know I wasn’t crazy to be this disappointed by such a noisy powertrain.
Can't be that bad...
Happy New Year!! Mike M getting real during a TC podcast. 🥲
Great Video as always, but here is my BUT: As a former owner of two Prius I have to point out a technical error - none of the Toyota Hybrids do not use a CVT but what they call an E-CVT which is entirely different animal. Toyota is telling a fib by including ' CVT' in the name for the transmission for unlike a CVT there is no metal or rubber belt is used in the transmission but instead a planetary gear set. The annoying roar you mentioned as a defect is where the low torque engine has to rev up to produce adequate power with a heavy use of the acceleration pedal. So, unlike other car makers with CVTs, Toyota chose not to do simulated shifts which would rob significant power and would require a more fuel-thirsty, larger engine to compensate.
Good episode, appreciate the honesty
Consumer report in my view is a measuring tool for what consumers are using at the present time. They do not look further than their nose and that is a good thing if you are a consumer that is doing the same thing. EV’s will grow in the market and if you look beyond your nose you will see it coming.
You do a good job at what you are do and in five years you will be doing a good job, talking about the products that are on your nose and that will include EVs.
Happy New Year.
Hybrid Toyotas with 4 cylinders get panned, yet CR loves the Prius, your most reliable car.
What about Toyota’s 6 cylinder hybrids, ie the Lexus RX? Does the new Venza also have a noisy 4 cylinder?
CR has a long love affair with Subaru, yet not one was mentioned.
Drive in a rational manner in a Hybrid and it will be outstanding. Drive a Hybrid like a Corvette in a hurry and there will a plenty to complain about.
Mike: Toyota hybrids don't have actual CVTs, they use fixed ratio planetary gears so they are 1 speed transmissions. Unfortunately, Toyota (and many other hybrids) call these single speed transmissions "eCVTs" which is a stretch for what they actually are. Don't worry though, just about every TH-camr talking about "eCVTs" will say how much they hate the "rubberbandy" feel of the CVT transmissions as the gears change, even though there is never a change in gear ratio.
Oh no here comes the ecvt police
I agree that the Pandemic and change in commuting has changed buyer behavior myself included. I may end up working from home permanently or maybe at least half time. This has shifted my car buying from what fits my commute to what I really want. I was looking at a hybrid minivan/suv but what I really want is an offroad Truck and likely what I'll buy.
In CR magazine the VW Golf is rated an '82' and the Audi A3 is rated '50' and then the GTI is rated an abysmal '29'. All these cars share a lot of the same parts so why is there so much variation in the ratings?
Customer reported experience / younger more aggressive drivers beat the *hit out of GTIs and A3s…. Current Golf buyers likely more mature and self select the lower performance / less powerful option and driven like a commuter the Golf I’d venture a guess doesn’t fall apart as quickly.
I went into a gas station and filled up my Honda. I was in and out in 5 minutes. When I can go to a charging station and charge up an EV as easily as filling up my ICE car, then I'll consider getting one - but not until then. Until the infrastructure is in place and until EV's can be charged up in 5 minutes, no sale.
If you can charge at home then the equation is different, as you do most of your charging overnight, which is far more convenient than stopping by a gas station every week or two. This offsets the inconvenience of slower stops when road tripping.
You can charge at home overnight. Now you don’t even need to go out to a station.
You’re missing the entire benefits of owning an EV.
I live in a co-op apartment in N.Y.C. There is no practical way to charge my vehicle. This is why EV's are currently a no go for urban dwellers like myself.
As for EV's, they will not be sold in volume until the charging infrastructure across the USA is created, rapid charging is common (15-20 minutes) and 200-300+ mile range between charges is common.
Instead, I think Hybrids will grow and be more popular. I'd consider a hybrid for my next car. I currently drive a 2019 Mazda CX-5 Signature and it's been a great, reliable CUV. I'm very interested in seeing the new CUV to be built in Alabama by Mazda/Toyota. Thanks, for the Talking Cars program.
Your ideas are certainly valid, but back around 2017. Tesla has 16,000 superchargers in the US alone now, sells more cars than either BMW or Mercedes, and their longest range is over 400mi and lowest is 300mi. The whole industry is advancing rapidly. Hybrid technology was, and still is, that stopgap to buy themselves time and allow R&D to figure out how to build a proper EV.
I can agree. But once you pilot a diesel. You really don't want anything else.
Right now, as far as 'clean' fuels, hydrogen makes more sense since you can fill the tank in the same time as an ICE vehicle at the local gas station. And it would be a lot easier to retrofit gas stations to be hydrogen capable. But the greater issue is that the electric infrastructure as it currently exists in America cannot possibly support millions and millions and millions of vehicles being charged daily/weekly. And that's before we start talking about how apartment dwellers are going to charge their vehicles.
Most of us charge from home.
Hey if I'm not commuting or driving a lot of miles....I can feel better about driving a Bronco 4,000 miles a year. I like feeling green and the Mach e would be a better choice if I was still driving 16,000 miles a year.
I may be working from home for much longer than I had wanted - and I commute by bike when I work in my office - but I still need a car for taking kids to hockey and lacrosse practices (and games when those happen again), I need a car to get me to the mountain bike trails, to get to the local ski hills and back, to get groceries we can't walk to get - for those trips, an EV makes a lot of sense. Anything in and around 200-280km round trip accounts for about 95% of my travel yearly (trips around town, several yearly trips to Whistler for skiing/biking).
Enjoyed this discussion. On a side note, fascinating to me that on Mike M's "In 2021 Wishlist" are driving cars that many popular TH-cam auto channels have already tested. Not sure what this says about legacy publications like Consumer Reports pecking order in the world of auto journalism these days. Of course, Consumer Reports maybe doesn't drive press cars/go to press events to maintain greater independence?
Marcia, Marcia, Marcia! 😄 Fun show today.
Great vid! Thanks.
Seems to me Toyota has a TNGA platform issue with noise. It’s unfortunate if true because they are putting the entire line on it. Will be interested in your thoughts on the Mach E ground clearance. The battery pack is so low it seems vulnerable to me in everyday use.
I loved Mike’s a bow @ 28:49 🙌🏾🙌🏾
Great episode! I think we are in a golden age of cars: so many great choices of all different flavors. I was hoping that Tesla would make the naughty list just to read the comments :) TBF only about 10% of households can afford EVs.
Love listening to your conversation and thoughts. I bought a 2020 Mercedes GLE 450 in April as we went into lockdown. Best and smoothest car I have ever driven. No Mercedes on your list of faves?
No euro
Heck yes! I miss hug too. Less in the office, but from all the friends and family who we can’t see now.
The fact that dealerships cannot continue to rape consumers on parts/service because EVs are more reliable is the exact thinking that has stagnated the automotive industry for four decades. That and some guys like the sounds exhaust pipes make. The batteries are going to improve, just as all tech is improving. 100% torque at 0RPM, super reliable, simple, quiet and good for most people who don't travel more than 100 miles a day -- that's a LOT of us. If COVID has taught us anything it's that some times the world changes and individuals just have to adapt to those changes. Yeah it sucks but that's the world we live in. There aren't that many blacksmiths around anymore either. During WWII, did the industries making automobiles scream and cry or did they start making tanks, airplanes and ammunition?
The Rav4 Prime isn't actually available nationwide in any numbers. - Much like the majority of EVs other than Teslas and Nissan Leafs. Perhaps you should include that detail when discussing plug-in hybrids and EVs and provide periodic updates on availability.
They're on their way
Very touching to see Mike Monticello get emotional. I too miss the human connection that comes with going into the workplace.
As far as EVs, car manufacturers could help sales by making them look more attractive and function better. Somehow, to them, EV is synonymous with weird. That tendency has also infiltrated mainstream cars in some ways, hence the climate controls that are buried in sub menus on a screen.
Too bad the RAM will fall apart in a few years and it's Fiat diesel will also fail.
Sentra...I can't believe they can't offer a manual. No desire for an EV.
My disappointment with modern vehicles (in general) is too much plastic under the hood. Plastic: oil pans, valve covers, radiator hose clips, alternator pulleys, etc. = planned obsolescence.
Plastic valve cover is the worst on my list, as well as the oil pan
Done for cost savings, planned obsolescence, and weight savings. What I found unacceptable was the elimination of drain plugs and the adoption of "lifetime fluids". Lifetime was then defined as warranty period.
I agree... plastic doesn't normally age very well. Vendors biggest concern is that it lasts longer than the warranty period ... which it should do easily.
I’ve never seen a plastic oil pan or valve cover. However I have seen intake manifolds and yes plastic stuff does suck. But it’s been around for nearly 20 years so I think it’s hard to avoid it. My 2001 Honda Accord had a plastic and aluminum radiator
The best practical family cars that were WIDELY available were the new 36 mpg Hybrid Sienna and Highlander. I suppose the Sorento Hybrid would have to get a mention for those who don't need/want AWD. Drive with a reasonably behaved right foot and all Toyota's Hybrids are outstanding.
Only two Sienna's on Fuelly. One is getting 32 and the other is getting 39. So maybe low 30's?
Rav4 best seller too?
Happy new year to CR’s team. Like Jennifer, I’ve test the Sentra and fall for it. I know own one and love it. Cheap to operate and fun. Why not an electric car? The cost of those cars. If you do not drive 15k plus miles per year, they are to costly!
I hops CR makes Jen the host of all Talking Cars shows. She relates comfortably with the audience and with the guys. Every episode of Talking Cars with her is better than those without her.
I fell in love the first time I drove my 2020 Ram also!
EVs will eventually take over. My next car will probably be one. But this year I bought a Camry TRD. Right now, there's no EV that has the same looks and sound at the same price. But things change. I'm still not willing to have an SUV, but my next car should be eight years from now, and EVs are the future. As for the commute, I have a two hour plus commute. The best thing about this year is that I get to do more fun driving, and less commuting.
I was hoping for a comment on the very low rated (by CR) Kia e-Niro. I would appreciate an explanation for its low rating, especially since it is mechanically the same as the high rated Kona EV. I've found no other source with such a low opinion of the e-Niro. Most reviewers considering it to be more practical than the Kona EV and a Tesla beater given the price.
sorry, i can't get by choosing a ram diesel...
So which of these picks will last 300k kms or 15 years?
0
See their annual automotive issue
@@mikemassino The answer will still be zero :)
IRONIC is the word for 2020 for you guys. Love your show. But seriously? Dodge truck, Cadillac, and Nissan Sentra? Do you not read your own reports on reliability? I'm sure they "feel" great but how are they your best picks? Oh well.. I'll keep watching your show. I just wont buy cars from you directly. Haha!
I'm genuinely surprised you gave some American vehicles credit. You've earned my respect.
No vehicle is american anymore. Most parts come from other countries. Just because they assemble it here doesn’t make it american.
BTW the Pacifica Hybrid PHEV is the best EV ever made!! The Van does everything fantastic!! And yes it blows the Sienna Hybrid out of the water because dollar per charge and fillup the Pacifica leads the pack!! With an average of 80 cents per 30 miles and an average of 1000 miles per fill-up, it is WAY MORE EFFICIENT than any other SUV/MiniVan on the market!!
I’m looking for an improved Tesla quality so I can buy my wife one. I’m keeping my 18 RX ( in the garage as it’s highly sought by thieves)
go look into it for yourself. there is so much BS online it is really hard to find good info. I rented one on Turo and made my decision to buy.
@@DefStr8up well there are issues for sure in regards to paint and panel alignements, I would not be able to accept that. I suspect in a couple of years they will have an improved manufacturing process. They should buy out one of the 2 American company to accelerate their skills and global dominance
@@stea2494 Tesla is insanely overvalued. They have never broken even or made a profit from their cars. The only think making them profitable is the sale of $330-428M in emission credits to other auto makers per quarter. That's an incredibly shaky foundation. Attempting to buy another auto maker would bankrupt Tesla by eliminating a portion of that income stream (how can they sell enviro credits to themselves) and saddling them with debt they won't be able to repay due to persistent losses on their EV sales.
Great show. I am super disappointed at the Mach-E. It may have a way better fit & finish, compared to a 3 or a Y, but the range/efficiency & weight was not what I expected. Like I've said before, the only "Tesla" I will own is the shares.
Tesla optimizes their EPA range estimates to give you this impression. If you compare WLTP numbers, the Mach e gets longer range, which is accurate in the real world.
When the amount of money to develop and produce electric vehicles is the same as ICE vehicles then the prices of electric cars will drop so maybe more people will buy them.
Loved Mike M's hugs comment, thanks
All other issues aside, I feel that the biggest downfall for GM, and Cadillac in particular is their failure to keep and build upon well known and readily recognizable nameplates, in the way that many of their Japanese and European competitors have done throughout the years. For over three decades now, they have been throwing stuff at the wall hoping that it sticks, and then moving onto something else, jettisoning cars like the Eldorado, and the De Ville for vehicles with alpha numeric nametags. There's more to a name than most people think, and heritage, whether real or imagined, plays a large part in any manufacturers success (or failure). Yes, Chevy completely changed the Corvette from top to bottom in making it a mid-engine vehicle, but they were also smart enough not to rename it the Chevy Croissant.
17:40 uhh... don't push the pedal all the way in if you're so worried about noise? If I put my foot down, it means I want max power, and max power does mean max noise. I would not be happy If my car is holding back. We can argue about how much sound insulation to put in, but simulated shifting in a cvt and especially an e-cvt will never not be a bad idea.
(edit: they do walk this back a little bit, but not having artificial shifting in a CVT is simply the right move and Toyota doesn't need to be "cut some slack" at all because there is no slack to be cut)
What happened to the Passat? VW made the same mistake 45 years ago when Rabbit production for the N.A. market was moved to the U.S. VW tossed out the Germanic feel then, and they have done it again. Car and Driver magazine castigated VW for what they termed the " Malibuization " of the excellent Rabbit.
I live in CT (western side of state, about 90 minutes from CR). There is limited infrastructure to support EV sales in CT. One charging station at the library, 5 Tesla charging stations at the Danbury Mall - that is it. We deal with snow, mountains, and cold weather - not friendly to EVs in any of these cases. The range they claim coming of 400 miles means we will have a real range of 300 miles (Tesla's claiming 340 get about 210 miles of range). Japan is forcing people to buy EV's or hybrids at the very least by 2035. Not sure unless the US forces people to go that way if it will happen in the USA to be the majority of sales for a very long time. I know I won't be able to buy one (AWD hybrid is a possibility, but not EV).
The obsession with manual air vents in car seems miss-placed. The reason Porsche and Tesla make air vents controlled from touch screens, is so they become part of the driver profile. Set it once in your driveway, and no matter who drives car, when you get in they return to your setting.
Hybrid Rav4 is fine; Highlander hybrid is horrible, engine sounds like its going to leave the bay at times.
" The best Sentra ever..."
Uh, that's about as compelling as " the best white bread I have tasted, so far ".
Two comments I would like to make... first I hope you spend some money on a 2021 Lincoln Nautilus, and please please get the brown leather interior (this black on black on black thing is nauseating). The complete redesign of the Interior brought it to World status and I believe it may surprise!
Second I hope you pay close attention to the complaints that the Mustang Mach e has a painful area where the right leg rests too sharply on the screen for tall drivers
That's interesting about Toyota.
You guys in the past have said, if a vehicle is a little rough, "Get it in a hybrid, they're much more refined and run and ride smoother."
I guess Toyota didn't want to spend the money to make the new ones that way, although they're swimming on an ocean of cash.
Súper calidad es la mejor
When car companies make normal cars as EV people will buy. But besides Tesla which is still expensive until recent models, its only been little budget compact cars or high end 100K cars. People want normal $30-$50K midsized Sedans and SUVs EVs before most start buying...
Huh?
Ummmm...no. Send your kid off to college in a Toyota that will still have 10 years of life left in it and some significant resale value when they graduate.
This is always my favorite episode of the year tho because of the surprises.
You should have named this episode, My favorite and least favorite 2020 vehicles for the Not so wealthy buyer.( the middle class).
Why do they call those trucks half tones, not 1000 pounders?
Okay, so you bought a diesel truck...so much for clean emissions CR. I find it interesting CR and these employees buy a Dodge Durango Mike Quincy), this diesel truck, and BMW’s paid for at a discount from their employer and those of us who pay for annual CR digital. Canceling my subscription.
You get what you get and you don't get upset
A pure EV is a waste for someone with a short commute. They make much more sense for someone with a long commute. Few local miles makes efficiency less important and highway trips a bigger percentage of the use, where the inconvenience of an EV is a much bigger deal.
Tesla is usually good for a disappointing. And something to laugh at.
Biggest letdown was the Porsche Taycan? Are you kidding? OMG
Instead of sitting through a video of listening to what you guys liked and didn't like it would be great to participate maybe next year's video will involve some consumer clips.
23:20 people don't buy EV's only because they commute a lot and save money on fuel! Come on as a "professional" you should know that already.
I drive a gas car myself but to think we are in 21st century and still driving cars that can poison you to death in 10 minutes in a closed environment is just crazy, it might look normal to us now but one day we'll be looking back in shock
as far as the Bronco is concerned.... I'm down with Dre, like A.C. is down with O.J.
I canceled my CR as my money was used mainly to buy cars. How many time do I need to buy a car?!
That shadow on the wall above Jennifer’s painting almost looks like a rifle. I realize that can’t be the case as the good liberals at Consumer Reports would never have a rifle in their home. 😁
Correct. The folks at CR are too intelligent to have a rifle in their home, much less display it on the wall. That's for right wing gun fetishists.
Cadillac quality isn’t where it should be. Lexus IS the way to go.
Wait, did CR really say that the jury is still out no electric cars relative to whether people will buy them?? All you have to do is look at Tesla to see the answer. The Model 3 is one of the best selling cars in CA and in the US. It outsells all of its direct competitors. I'm on my 3rd EV (all Teslas) and in spite of the fact that Tesla build quality is still an issue, simply put, I will never go back to a gas car. The benefits of EV ownership are numerous and significant.
First, with Teslas (and likely with the Mach E), you get BOTH great performance, great efficiency, great technology, and low maintenance. It used to be that if you wanted a fast car, that you would have to sacrifice efficiency and maintenance given that high performance gas cars tend to get abysmal fuel economy and tend to require more maintenance than average. With my Teslas, the worst fuel efficiency I've gotten (with my Model X, a large SUV) is around 80 MGP-e, and my Model 3 returns around 120 MGP-e! The Model X goes from 0-60 in under 5 seconds, and my Model 3 is right around 4 seconds. I had a Model S from 2012 to 2016 and I spent a grand total of $600 on maintenance for that car. My Model X has cost me around $1500 over 4 years, and my Model 3 has only cost me around $150 for wheel alignment.
Telsas also benefit from Telsa's far-reaching, ubiquitous, and reliable network of Superchargers such that long distance travel, when necessary, is not an issue. I've driven my cars on 6-7 hour road trips and it's both cheap and easy. Yes, you do need to stop every 3 hours or so, but frankly, on a long trip, a stop for a meal is something I would do anyway.
Yes, you do ultimately need access to home charging, so if you live in an apartment and don't have regular access to chargers, then that's a valid reason to wait. But for everyone else, EV's are really a no-brainer.
They’re not a no brained. The cost, lack of infrastructure and low ranges are all very valid reasons. Sure, California hates gas engines but not the rest of the states. I do think that if Toyota, GM or Ford actually puts together a charging network like Tesla did it’d be a smart move.
I also wouldn’t count out hydrogens though...
The Sentra went from an embarrassment to a pretty good car!
Bought a new vehicle. I do want an EV but they’re not ready for my use case. So I bought a supercharged V6 SUV.
Complains about engine noise when the pedal is to the metal and then goes out and buy one...
I didn't realize EVs were 2% of sales. That's double what I thought.
This baby boomer got the "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia" ! I'd love to get an EV BUT the cost and charging costs are not in my budget right now. Yes, WFH means I'd have to hire an electrician to install a 220-Volt outlet in my garage for EV charging, plus maybe be forced to upgrade my electrical panel as a result, so let's see what happens within the next 5 years!
You guys spend too much attention on EPA range when reviewing EVs. You really should focus on real-world range. Especially when you compare vehicles such as Tesla where the EPA rating is widely known to overstate what you can expect in the real world with the Porsch, which is known to understate what you can expect in the real world. Also, when analyzing EVs, torque is the game, not horsepower. Horsepower might make sense in an ICE world where you have a widely varying torque curve and a multi-speed transmission. but not with an EV with very uniform torque spread over a wide rpm range and a one speed gearbox.
I hate pick up trucks. Talk about unstylish vehicles.
They're certainly not for everyone, but you can't beat their versatility and usefulness.
If pure EV's are going to garner widespread adoption, aggressive R and D, with coordination from the Government to develop a family of quick exchange power packs with a compatible families in terms of physical size and geometry and electrical compatibility is a must. Customer living in urban dense multifamily communities are most unlikely to have access to individual charging stations. Limited range eliminates travelling nurse, sales and manufacturing representatives having to do long range multi-state travel makes EV out of the question. Benefits of quick exchange power packs would incur these tempting benefits. First, fleets of tank wagon petroleum delivery trucks with its inherently empty back-hauls would be replaced by 18 wheelers doing exchange transfers to and from power generating or harvesting complexes, which would also greatly reduce neighborhood power distribution grid overloads, and customers would gain a substantial degree of protection from technological obselescene as breakthrough innovation in energy storage density comes forth.
Mike M is a softy 😌
It would be really cool to be part of the network of Tesla's that replace Uber and Lyft! We could have a little reality show which would be a type of advertising through our channels that could inevitably lead to more people buying Tesla's! I have a background in Automotive Marketing Business Administration and Commercial Energy. Also I'm starting a channel called PROTESLA POWER. Of course this channel will talk about Nikola Tesla, Energy generation, Health and well-being, Tesla motors, Elon Musk, SpaceX, etc. I live just outside of Toronto Canada and could really use some advice on how to get my channel off the ground. I've sent several messages to Elon Musk on Twitter but he gets so many messages in a day or mine probably get overlooked. I think I could be doing a lot more to help people get a Tesla in their driveways faster. I also believe that if you're going to have an EV you might want to have solar generation and battery storage which I also have a business plan to implement. If you like these ideas or have some of your own to offer, I would really like to know. I do appreciate all of you and your comments. This is the time and we are the people that will change the world!
propower101@hotmail.com
How does CR make these factual mistakes? Since when does Toyota's hybrid systems use a CVT? It is just spinning an electric motor faster, there ain't a CVT, no belt no pulley... It is called a eCVT so yall don't get confused as for why there ain't any stepped gears. Toyota hybrids being loud on throttle is really old news, but who cares because what other consistently proven hybrids actually sip less fuel..?
Everybody at CR loves Subaru-they are all on Subarus payroll