Talking Cars (MP3)

In this episode, we take an in-depth look at the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz, which, ironically, was officially discontinued days after we bought one for testing. We talk about the history and future of small trucks, discuss why Hyundai decided to end production of the Santa Cruz, and answer a question from a Santa Cruz owner about why the Santa Cruz returned low scores in our cargo capacity assessment. 
 
SHOW NOTES:
0:00 - Introduction & Why We Bought Another Santa Cruz
1:03 - Why Hyundai discontinued the Santa Cruz
3:03 - Is a small truck enough for most people?
7:05 - What we dislike about the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz
13:35 - Best Small Truck Alternatives
19:50 - Audience Question: How Does CR Score the Bed Size of a truck?
27:15 - Audience Question Follow up: Favorite cars purchased by Ernie from North Carolina
 
LINKS:
2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/hyundai/santa-cruz/2026/overview/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
Test Results: Ford Maverick: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/ford/maverick/2026/overview/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
Model History: Honda Ridgeline: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/honda/ridgeline/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
Test Results: Ford Maverick Hybrid: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/ford/maverick-hybrid/2026/overview/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
Test Results: Ford F-150 Hybrid: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/ford/f-150-hybrid/2026/overview/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
6 Most Reliable Used Pickup Trucks, According to Consumer Reports' Experts: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/pickup-trucks/most-reliable-used-pickup-trucks-a7737894754/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

This week's episode tackles a long-running debate: are American cars inferior to their Asian and European counterparts? We break down the truth about Ford, GM, Stellantis, and Tesla, and how they stack up to Toyota, Honda, and other top automakers, revealing how performance and reliability drive our ratings. Plus: why the American dealership model is still so frustrating, Chinese EV competition, expert tips for negotiating the best price on a new or used car, and how to avoid costly add-ons. We also answer a viewer question about what we think American cars do better than the competition.
 
Join CR at https://CR.org/joinviaYT to access our comprehensive ratings for items you use every day. CR is a mission-driven, independent, nonprofit organization.
 
 
SHOW NOTES
-----------------------------------
00:00 Intro
00:15 Do Consumer Reports Hate American Cars?
00:55 The Myth About American Car Reliability
03:56 What Is an "American-Made" Car?
09:33 Why Consumer Choice Matters
12:37 Chinese EVs and the Future of the Auto Industry
20:26 Why Do Detroit Automakers Struggle With Reliability?
28:05 EVs vs. Hybrids: What's Next?
33:16 Why Buying a Car Is Still So Hard
35:42 Dealership Tips: Avoid Costly Add-Ons
42:06 The Future of the U.S. Auto Market
51:13 Audience Question: What Do American Cars Do Better?
 
 
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Best cars, SUVs, and Trucks from American Brands
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/cars-best-american-cars-suvs-trucks-a1034107548/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
 
Best cars made in the USA
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/best-cars-made-in-the-usa-a7966845571/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
 
Who Makes the Most Reliable New Cars?
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-reliability-owner-satisfaction/who-makes-the-most-reliable-cars-a7824554938/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
 
Which Brands Make the Best Cars?
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/cars-driving/which-car-brands-make-the-best-vehicles-a6159221985/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
 
How to buy a new car in today's high-priced market
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/buying-a-car/how-to-buy-a-car-in-todays-challenging-market-a7648220054/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
 
Chinese-made cars are already here.
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/automotive-industry/chinese-made-cars-in-us-market-a3786571662/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
 
Most and least satisfying hybrids, PHEVs, and EVs
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-reliability-owner-satisfaction/most-and-least-satisfying-electric-vehicles-and-hybrids-a2825600877/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
 
How do hybrid cars work?
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/hybrids-evs/how-do-hybrid-cars-work-a1034181509/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
 
Find an efficient vehicle that's right for you
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/hybrids-evs/buying-guide/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
 
What to know when buying a new car
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/new-cars/buying-guide/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
 
Best Cars Under $30K
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/best-new-cars-under-30000-dollars-a6574737993/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
 
Best new-car deals for July Fourth
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/buying-a-car/best-new-car-deals-for-july-4th-a1191663902/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

Is the all-new Subaru Uncharted a rugged Subaru, a rebadged Toyota, or something in between? We share our first impressions of the compact EV's strong performance, comfortable ride, confusing ergonomics, and missing EV features. Plus, we answer a viewer's question about the best fun-to-drive car for a college student with a $35,000 budget.
 
Join CR at https://CR.org/joinviaYT to access our comprehensive ratings for items you use every day. CR is a mission-driven, independent, nonprofit organization.
 
 
SHOW NOTES
-----------------------------------
00:00 Introduction
00:23 2026 Subaru Uncharted Overview
01:36 Subaru-Toyota Relationship Explained
03:25 What We Like: Performance & Driving Experience
05:23 What We Like: Ride Comfort, Space & Seats
08:59 What We Like: Infotainment & Interior Features
11:42 Handling Impressions
13:39 What We Don't Like: Driver Display & Ergonomics
18:04 What We Don't Like: Center Console & Shifter
23:45 Is the Uncharted Behind the Competition?
27:37 Final Thoughts: Who Should Buy the Uncharted?
39:19 Audience Question: Best Fun Car Under $35K
 
 
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Model History: Toyota C-HR
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/toyota/c-hr/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
 
Test Results: Subaru Solterra
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/subaru/solterra/2026/overview/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
 
Test Results: 2026 Nissan Leaf
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/nissan/leaf/2026/overview/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT  
 
Test Results: Hyundai Ioniq5
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/hyundai/ioniq-5/2026/overview/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
 
Test Results: 2026 Kia K4
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/kia/k4/2026/overview/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
 
Test Results: 2026 Acura Integra
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/acura/integra/2026/overview/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
 
2026 Toyota GR Corolla
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/toyota/gr-corolla/2026/overview/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
 
Best Cars Under $30K
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/best-new-cars-under-30000-dollars-a6574737993/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
 
Model History: Kia Stinger 
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/kia/stinger/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

Consumer Reports experts discuss the financial viability of EV startups like Rivian and Lucid, share EV charging best practices, give advice for hauling large audio equipment, the future of the minivan, vehicle-to-vehicle communication. We also discuss what it takes to become a Consumer Reports vehicle tester, and compare the real-world costs of driving EVs vs. hybrids and gas-powered vehicles.
Have a question for a future episode? Send us your questions or a 30-second video to TalkingCars@iCloud.com
 
SHOW NOTES:
0:00 - Intro
0:37 - Question #1: What's the best vehicle for hauling DJ equipment (no minivans please)?
5:17 - Question #2: Are we likely to see automakers produce more minivans like the Kia Carnival?
8:13- Question #3: Why does Rivian seem more financially successful than Lucid? What should you study to become a CR Tester?
13:34 - Question #4: What are the best practices for charging an EV?
15:31 - Question #5: Is it possible to calculate the cost-per-mile of an EV vs. a gas-powered vehicle?
18:13 - Question #6: What happened to vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2X) technology that was being developed by the federal government?
 
LINKS:
Will an Electric Car Save You Money?: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/hybrids-evs/will-an-electric-car-save-you-money-a9436870083/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
Test Results: Toyota Grand Highlander: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/toyota/grand-highlander/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
Test Results: Kia Carnival: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/kia/carnival/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
10 SUVs and Minivans With the Most Usable Cargo Space: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/top-10-suvs-and-minivans-with-the-most-cargo-space-a6572456101/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
Owner Satisfaction: Best & Worst Car Brands: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-reliability-owner-satisfaction/most-and-least-liked-car-brands-a1291429338/top-10-suvs-and-minivans-with-the-most-cargo-space-a6572456101/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
CR Survey: Hybrids Are Still The Most Reliable Cars: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-reliability-owner-satisfaction/electric-vehicles-are-less-reliable-than-conventional-cars-a1047214174/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

In this episode, we share our first impressions of the all-new 2026 Dodge Charger. The Charger features new styling and a hatchback design, a twin-turbo inline-six-cylinder engine, all-wheel drive, and an updated interior that feels small, despite the vehicle's overall size. We also discuss what Dodge got right, where the Charger falls short, and whether we'd recommend it over other enthusiast-focused vehicles. Plus, we answer a question about the differences between racing fuel and premium gas, and how octane ratings and ethanol-free fuel can affect performance in regular vehicles.
 
SHOW NOTES:
0:00 - Intro
0:19 - 2026 Dodge Charger R/T Blacktop Overview
1:18 - What we like about the 2026 Dodge Charger
04:51 - Ride, Performance, Comfort & Daily Driving
17:46 - The Downsides: Interior, Controls & Practicality
36:05 - Would We Buy the New Dodge Charger?
41:12 - Audience Question: Is Racing Fuel Worth It?
 
LINKS:
Review: 2026 Dodge Charger R/T: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/sports-cars/dodge-charger-review-a9212537968/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
Test Results: 2026 Ford Mustang: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/ford/mustang/2026/overview/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
Why You might Not Need Premium Fuel: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/fuel-economy-efficiency/why-you-might-not-actually-need-premium-gas-a6382185831/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT