I've been waiting for one of these forever ! you guys should do one of these every week.

Great answers to questions from a wide range of consumers

Hey CR! Thanks so much for spending all the time on my question. I just finished my car search and you guys were super helpful. Regarding Tom's recommendation, I looked at the BMW 320i xDrive which has a big trunk and folding rear seat (costs extra!). The car drove great, but there was a surprising amount of wind noise, the engine sounded coarse, and the interior seemed low-rent. Lightly used CPO 320i's seem to be surprisingly good values. It was a strong contender. I checked out the Subaru Forester (too basic, too slow) and 2017 Impreza (NVH is not significantly improved, despite claims by the press, also seats were uncomfortable). Didn't look at the Outback 3.6 - just felt too expensive, and a little too big. I also looked at the 2017 CR-V (infotainment was bad, NVH mediocre, fake leather on dashboard with fake stitching surrounded by fake wood was awful). So... I finally found the perfect car for me. 2016 lightly used Volvo V60 T5 AWD! It was just under $31k with 4,000 miles on it. Reportedly good reliability. 29 MPG highway on regular gas is solid, although not mind blowing. Incredible highway comfort. Plenty of space for bikes. Gorgeous inside and out. I'm a happy camper. Keep up the great work.

12:34 the guy on the left is absolutely right when he says "let's LISTEN to this guy...". Thank you.

Turn up the volume please.

Thank you for answering my question. Test rode all three vehicles, XC90 rode hard over bumps. Q7 was stellar and Land Cruiser was quite comfortable. Toyota dealerships discounting it about $8,000. Haven't made a selection yet, thank you for your guidance.

18:42 I so agree with Mike M. CX-9 is such a good combination of easy cargo hauling (no need to even put down 2nd row) with flat floor, good fuel economy for AWD, confident delivery of power, and comfortable and quiet ride. Calm and collected yet sharp and athletic when you want it.

Whoa, thanks for answering my question! I completely didn't think of the RX. Actually a lightly used RX450h might be perfect for me. Appreciate your guys' help and keep up the great show. Compared to most auto journalists, I think you are way more objective and helpful.

I had a Volvo 145 station wagon, with the B20F fuel injected engine, a four speed manual gearbox and lots of neat things for a 1974 car like three point seat belts all around (back seats as well), four wheel disc brakes, comfortable high seats, and loads of cargo room for a small car. It took a century to merge onto the freeway, and rolled horrendously in turns, but was a comfortable highway cruiser, well designed, great ergonomics and safe as a bank vault.

The English guy should go with the H6 Outback. The Outback has a ton of room a smooth ride, good reliability and excellent re-sale value. If mileage is a concern the standard 4 will go 30 mpg with 4 people in the car. It is slow but has plenty of torque for normal driving.

For the individual looking at the comfortable riding small SUV, what about a CANADIAN-built RAV4? If you go for the XLE in Canada (which for 2017 is around $33,000 CAD), you get heated seats, power driver's seat w/Lumbar, power tailgate and sunroof, auto lamp system (all of which you don't have on the US market XLEs) as well as all the Toyota Safety Sense features that for '17 are now standard. Plus top notch safety ratings and reliability (from CR's data), the large dealership network, and the fact it rides better and is quieter now. Its not too fun to drive, but it does the daily grind well, you really can't go wrong! :)

For the guy with

As a former owner of a Echo 2003 (Yaris predecessor), I just don't understand the value of a current Yaris. Just look at the Corolla. More car, more updated, more room and nearly the same price. If you want a hatchback, look at a Honda Fit.

need your help in deciding on a roadster. the MX-5 is the clear choice, but at my age, comfy seats and some storage space is needed for the long weekend drives from LA to SF. also wished for blind spot and auto braking for safety as well as a rear camera for times with the roof up. is there another choice worth the additional costs? the TT and the 2+2's seem to creep up costs to the equivalent of two Miatas and I'm wondering if it's worth it or if I should retrofit it with aftermarket products instead.

I'm Swedish. We're "wagon country". I've mainly owned hatchbacks and wagons, my only sedan was the Subaru Impreza WRX 2000 model, which I actually regretted getting in sedan form after owning it a short while (I ended up owning it for 6 years). I don't think I'll ever buy a sedan again. It's impossible to load larger items into a sedan because of the form factor. With a wagon or hatchback (or SUV), you open the whole rear window+hatch, and you can load stuff by lifting them up and putting them down if necessary, not only slide them in. You can load large bulky items. Much better than a sedan. Ok, so over to the SUV form factor. I just purchased a Mazda 6 wagon 2016. I tried cars like the CX-5 and Subaru Outback (more wagon than SUV though) whilst checking the market. So while I can see the appeal for the CX-5 (high driving position for instance), the high trunk load height just kills it for me, and I'm a pretty tall guy. It's close to 10cm higher load height on these things, and imagining my wife (who is short) lifting stuff that high... well, even worse. Also, the CX-5 SUV is 460cm long, the Mazda6 wagon is 480cm long. They cost approximately the same. The trunk load area in the Mazda6 Wagon is much deeper than the CX-5. This seems to be true for most SUVs. You get a shorter car than the equivalent Wagon. The whole floor is higher, so interior compartment space isn't that much better, so for me a SUV is just a one size smaller car, jacked up a bit, and sold at the larger car price. Doesn't make sense to me.

I have a Cascada, & love it!

Regarding new car tests, CR often makes reference to the 2,000 break-in miles that you put on the cars before running them through their paces in official tests. There is a lot of debate and misinformation or outdated information out there about how to properly break-in a modern car. I'd love to have Consumer Reports' take on that topic. Thanks!

Hi, I have a friend in China looking for a midsize family car. Friend is looking at a Camry. The Camry there is similar to the pre refresh Camry here. I'm recommending the Optima 1.6T for her in EX equivalent trim. For the same price as the Optima, the Camry has a 2.0 four in base spec. A 2.5 similarly equipped Camry costs a lot more. Plus you can get a really good deal on the Optima. From your experience, which is better? Or is there another better midsize sedan? Choices there are pretty much identical to the US.

Are you guys gonna test 2017 Buick lacrosse and Kia cadenza

To me a Q7, Terrain, Equinox, Explorer all of them are Crossovers or gussied up wagons IMO. A SUV is a BOF vehicle Tahoe, Yukon, Expedition, Land Cruiser. But that's just me.

No reccomendation of the Rav4 for the comfortable small SUV?

Can talking cars explain talking about leftover cars on dealer lots (2015 models as NEW). Is it a bargain? I tend to keep my vehicles for 5 years. Pros, Cons? For example: I came across a 2015 BMW 428i with a MSRP of 52k, however the dealer is advertising it for 38k. There are plenty of 2015 vehicles still on dealer lots, with them advertised with significant discounts. I'm not quite sure if these left over cars, especially 2+ year old vehicles left on dealer lots, are a good deal. I'm afraid that it may hurt me long term, with resale. Any input would be much appreciated.

I recently purchased a 2014 Audi A6 TDI because with the ongoing diesel scandal they are presently a relative bargain in the marketplace and I am hoping that they will be much easier for VW’s engineers to bring into compliance than the 2011 Golf TDI that it will be replacing. (Sorry Tom I couldn’t afford an A7, and mine came with the tan not brown interior.) It is a Prestige trim car that has all of the newer and more advanced safety equipment optioned on it (lane watch assist, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, etc.), but when I went to go add it to my insurance policy I was told that in my state (Georgia) insurers are not allowed to offer discounts for those features by two different insurance companies; one representative (from CR’s well reviewed Amica) expressed surprise over this and went on to say that the option boxes that she would normally be able to check were greyed out. So with that in mind could you tell me if that is actually true, if so why that is the case, and provide me with details as to whom I need to write or call to see this legislation changed? I know that is a bit outside of the normal purview of this show, but given how important CR seems to view such features and the fact that they actively help to prevent accidents that insurers would otherwise have to pay to repair: I thought it was a consumer issue that needed to be addressed. Secondarily I would be curious to know how many states have such policies.

To me an SUV is a true body on frame vehicle. Tahoe, Expedition, etc. A crossover is unibody vehicle. Escape, Acadia, Explorer, Highlander etc. Although todays crossovers fit the definition of "Sport Utility Vehicle".

For a sedan with < $40,000, BMW 328 xdrive diesel makes lot of sense. Its awd, superb highway mileage of 45 mpg+ and very quiet and free maintenance for 50,000 miles. There are superb deals going on with it where you can easily get it for 20% less MSRP. What say?

the Buick Cascada looks like combination of several different cars. The headlights look like they come from the Chrysler 200. And the weight sounds like it came from the Pontiac Grand Am.

Scion iA is being sold as a Yaris where I live since it was released

"Subaru Forester is a station wagon." Good. I always liked station wagons (even though my parents had one), but went with the Forester over the Outback.

It's a great car! Wonderful ride!

RIP Talking Cars :( I remember a day when this was weekly...

I do agree with them about the Subaru Outback for the guy who wants a relatively quiet car, can carry a bike, gets good gas mileage, and is less than $40,000. The other answers (Kia Sorrento, Mazda CX-9) also fits the bill, but even the 6 cylinder Subaru gets better gas mileage. The guy who likes the Yaris from Toyota - there are just too many other cars that are better - which is what they said. Even cars like the Chevy Cruze, Honda Civic, Honda Fit - they are all better cars.

Haha a mustache call out...nice!

I'm still waiting for the Consumer Reports TV Channel. It'd be the only thing I watch... besides F1.

Question: I am looking at Subaru Forester 2011 and Outback 2013 (both 5 spds) and wondered...what is the real difference. Is there anything the Outback does better?

The guy in Toronto should buy a Ford Edge SEL 2WD. A person in Toronto doesn't need AWD because there is little snow there. Buy four winter tires for it, and it's about the same price as a Forester. MyFordTouch is gone, it's got a smooth ride, and looks great.

I live in So Fla and I have yet to see one single one out on the road. It is Cascada as Cicada

I eschewed getting a compact SUV, got a '17 Golf Wolfsburg instead. For less money it rides drives and handles better, isn't so slow that you feel vulnerable (points at HR-V), fit and finish and sound level is equivalent to that of Audi, holds just as much cargo, or more in some cases. All wheel drive isn't necessary, snow tires and rims are considerably less costly, and long term less to go wrong. As for economy, EPA might rate it at 29mpg combined but I am averaging 34 with mostly city driving. Reliability.. well, it is a fact that German cars cost more to own but I think the ownership experience outweighs that (and satisfaction ratings seem to reflect that theory, re: Golf rated as Excellent), personally I have not had serious reliability issues with any of the 3 Volkswagens I have owned. In my opinion, SUV's only begin to make sense in the next size up.. like CR-V, Escape, and Tucson.

I drove in Germany and Poland last week. Rented a 3 series BMW diesel wagon. Great little car. Very good gas mileage. I'm surprised they haven't tried to bring it here. Probably a diesel thing.

If I jacked up my 84 Civic wagon would it become an SUV? A prehistoric CRV? Or is it a precursor to the Fit?

When's the next episode? It's been over a month. :/

It is fun to drive!!!

What about a Audi A3 convertible 1.8 fwd for 40k?

station wagons are DOPE!! I'll take a CTS Wagon & Audi A4 Avante anyday!!

Why has the the Frequency of NewTalking Cars Episodes slowed down?

the 1.6 from the Cascade should be the Malibu engine just tuned for better mpg

I won't miss sedans. Especially factoring in the ever increasing cost of vehicles.

Why is this titled as a discussion about the Buick Cascada?

Volvo S90 Cross Country looks interesting and cool.

accord hybrid for 60 mile commute guy. small trunk though. and no awd

To the guy with the bike and the long commute: lightly-used Volvo XC70?

Test the 2016 Land Cruiser. Test that beast plz!

So you did not recommend what car instead of Yaris?

what about the Volkswagen beetle convertible?!?!?

Cars will come back in vogue when fuel gets to $5 a gallon

It's a shame that Buick doesn't offer a 300hp performance option for the cascada. I feel it's am attractive vehicle and it sticks out amongst the other choices, however under powered + poor fuel economy = a hard no from me. Eh, maybe I'll find a good deal on one with a blown engine in the future, and try a performance engine swap.

that's where CR confuses me. I thought you guys were about reliability and useability. The Q7 and XC90 are great cars but the question sounds like the person is trying to BUY the car, not lease it. The Land Cruiser does everything the other two do better, with a mileage penalty sure, and will do it loooonnnggg after those cars get to the scrap heap. that's what I think the submitted was getting at.

The Yaris is an excellent transpiration tool. That 4 speed auto is almost indestructible even with poor maintenance. The Yaris with its low power and 4 speed auto is still a 35 mpg car. The Yaris is a painful way to do 300,000 miles. It will go 300,000 miles with just fluid changes. The Yaris IA will drive and handle 3 times better than the current car.......NO WAY it makes it to 300,000 trouble free miles. Even 250,000 miles would be pushing it. That 6 speed auto better be flushed every 40,000 miles if you even want to make it to 200,000 miles. For the person that just needs a car for a few years 100,000 miles I A all the way. If you need a car that will start every day for 15 years 300,000 miles the current Yaris is hard to top.

Kia Sportage is a dependable, great riding small SUV...

the minivans have too low of a ride height for heavy winter driving and only the Toyota Sienna offers awd. Not very good for a daily commuter for a lot of the country.

Not a single Cascada to be found in our rental fleet in Houston. Sorry, we don't use them either. Heck, I'd buy a Ford Flex to use as an enclosed truck bed I can access from the front. I"m not married there are no kids. Black out the windows and I can store whatever I want in a Flex.

It's Cascada not Cascada duh.

thank you for finally acknowledging that these crappy gm vehicles are actually re-badged german opels.

I live in Southern California, which is convertible country and even I don't see that many Buick Cascadas on the road, not even at rental car places. It looks nice but for the same money, I would rather buy an EcoBoost Mustang convertible which is more faster and fun to drive than the Buick.

SUV's to replace cars? Here to stay forever?? I don't think you guys are thinking progressively. The clear trend in design is vehicles that are faster, quieter, and more fuel efficient, completely at odds with traditional SUV design. There may continue to be high riding crossovers, but take the Model X for example, a crossover that takes on almost sedan like proportions (looks like a funny Model S), and when equipped with the Smart Air Suspension, rides high only when stopped or driving slowly, else it hunkers down for max efficiency at higher speeds. Traditional car classes will evolve from what we know them as today and future vehicles will have benefits of both cars and SUV's.

Gabe, I genuinely like it when you're on the episodes. It sometimes appears, this episode especially, as though you're the only one that listens to consumer queries and responds without extraneous filtering. In other words you don't superimpose your likes over the ideals of Consumer Reports. You truly are responding to the Consumer based on the Reports you all work so diligently to provide. Alas, in this episode you faltered a little bit. Doesn't mean I'm going to ignore anything you have to say; your shared knowledge and expertise in the field but... there will be a taint for awhile. At 15:20 when you go off on the taxes we pay in Canada. Really? What does the tax system in Canada, or the price of local farmers market tomatoes in San Francisco have to do with Talking Cars? Nothing. Please, in the future try to be what you have been since I first saw you in Episode 1 of Talking Cars sitting on the couch: the pinnacle of journalistic professionalism, a bastion of consumer information, the calm elder statesman bringing civility to each episode.

I love the cascada, but I wish it wasn’t GM built.

I wonder why Toyota Canada decided not to bring in land cruiser, Sequoia is so outdated.

Test a 2016 Land Cruiser. Test the beast

I'm sorry, but I don't think it's right to ding a car simply because it has a 4-speed automatic. I'll wager that Toyota 4-speed will last a LOT longer than the CVTs or 9-speeds other companies seem compelled to put in their vehicles just to get an extra MPG or two. Cars back in the 80s and 90s had 4-speeds and hit near 40mpg.

21:30. Dude on the right. Who care if it has a 4-speed automatic??? Harping on a car for what it has rather than what it does is silly. The tesla has a 1-speed automatic and it smoked every other car CR has ever tested. Nissan Sentras have infinite-speed automatica (cvt) and it one of your lowest rated. Dragsters have 3-speed automatics and those things aren't hampered by that. If ur going to be critical of a car, which ushould, then bring substance, not neutered facts.

OK guys. I get it that there is a market for cars that thrill boy racers, but I sure wish the automotive press would get over having to bad mouth cars for mere mortals.

it's Cascada not Cascada

"Don't drive a black and white TV."

I wish someone at CU would define the word "fashionable" to me. What parameters are you using when you decide which cars look good and which are ugly. There are hardly any cars being built that don't look like huge vacuum cleaner or something Darth Vader might drive. Although it's true that much of the auto designs are a result of federal mandates new car styling is dictated by marketing people who employ planned obsolescence to ensure your 5 year old car is out of touch with current styling. Reliability and practicality have no place in this discussion. Now you are cursed with expensive toys which are no longer options but part of the vehicle price...and now your car can report to anyone with the necessary equipment exactly where you are at any given time, compliments of your bank account

Cascada? Yawning! Wake me after the show.