ALL QUESTIONS, ALL THE TIME | TALKING CARS WITH CONSUMER REPORTS #158

EV Channels Review

This episode of Talking Cars by Consumer Reports tackles viewer questions, covering a range of automotive topics. Key discussions include comparisons between the Hyundai Kona and Nissan Kicks for city driving, with a recommendation leaning towards the Kona due to its available all-wheel-drive option, a crucial factor for Northeast winters. The hosts also delve into selecting a fun-to-drive manual transmission car under $50,000, suggesting options like the Subaru WRX, BMW 2 Series (specifically the M240i), Honda Accord Sport, Civic Si, Audi A4, BMW 320i, Ford Mustang GT, and Subaru BRZ/Toyota 86. A significant portion is dedicated to Consumer Reports' seat comfort rating methodology, emphasizing the importance of diverse tester feedback and individual fit, with specific examples of good and bad seats cited. The practicality of third-row seating in compact SUVs is questioned, with the consensus being that they are often small, compromised 'jump seats' with limited utility. Finally, the episode addresses the Hyundai Veloster N and the common auto journalist complaint about infotainment learning curves, arguing that intuitiveness and minimizing driver distraction are paramount, regardless of a car's price point or target audience. A brief look back at the 1991 Dodge Daytona concludes the Q&A, with reliability concerns noted.