Over engineering plays a big role. The electric motors and inverters are capable of 200kW And fun fact, the first Gen Prius was liable to burnt motors because it didn't step up its voltage, so at highway speeds on ling journeys the 280 volt system got hot enough to burn the windings. The iconic 2004 Prius though came with a boost inverter that stepped up the voltage from 200v (HV Battery) to 300 - 500v depending on how much power is demanded.
Actually having owned a Prius I can say in my actual experience it is designed to fail at 100000. Miles thus creating a lot of maintenance and all for 50 mpg compared to my Tesla after 2 years only needs washer fluid and it was a completely checked & filled at no charge to me and they checked my tires to in less than 5 minutes Wow talk about service Tesla understands what service is Thank You Tesla Team ❤
True, but you also have the advantage of a gas powertrain that can be used for long trips through areas of poor charging infrastructure, along with EV range that is often sufficient for regular daily commuting or errands.
If you keep a BMW once it is out of warranty, then you will pay a fortune to keep it running. That these guys would put a BMW as a top pick is idiotic. It is a fall-apart luxury toy that is horrible for the environment because it falls apart early. Who is reaching these guys to make them give awful advice?
Congrats Alex for hosting. It is commonly believed in business that copying your boss is a path to success, but it is OK to have longer hair than Jake. :)
I absolutely love my 2016 Subaru Forester XT. It is a fun, practical, and reliable car. I wish new versions still had a turbo, but more powerful hybrid versions should be coming down the line.
Every situation is different, here in British Columbia Canada our gasoline costs US$5.00/USG and our electricity charging at home costs US$0.075/KWh. EVs make a lot of sense.
You say the Ford Maverick is the only domestic on the list, but the Tesla Model Y is a domestic, and according to studies it is the most domestic car sold in the USA
Wow, I do have an issue the ford maverick recommendation. I'm 70 years old. I've been buying Toyota's for over 40 years. I bought my first Toyota in 1979. CR recommended it. I do still have that issue of CR and everyone after that. I was a mechanic back then. That's why I started buying Toyota's. My experience with ford was never positive. I've watched their reliability over the years through CR. I also have a brother in law who has been buying fords for decades.I hear about his problems with fords which verifies CR's findings. ford is marginal AT BEST. My suggestion is wait for Toyota to come out with their version of this type of truck. It will be soon.
The Toyota small truck, if it ever comes out, is rumored to be named the Stout. The unfortunate thing about the Maverick (other than lack of inventory) is the hybrid version has been less reliable than the non-hybrid. One would think it would be the other way around.
Why does no one talk about the crazy recalls and defects of Maverick. Especially the cracking injector that could cause fire, only fix they have is to reprogram computer to notify you…that’s it. No real fix. Now there is another recall 3 or 4th. The front axles are so cheep and defective you will replace them before 30k mile. Soon as Honda, Toyota,Mazda make similar truck I will trade in my Maverick.
The recommendation of the two Subaru's a recommended models to buy surprised me. My neighbor had a new Subaru CrossTrek and the 2.0 liter flat four used oil at a quart a month which Subaru said was normal. He later had to sell it for a loss and got a different brand of vehicle. After that, I was very hesitant to even consider any of these newer Subarus. What did CR research come up with on the oil consumption of the smaller Subaru engines?
Speaking of charging.... We drove our i3 on a 400 mile journey to Vancouver BC last week. We found: - broken chargers - vandalized - occupied - requiring credentials - network apps disabled - iced chargers - off limits, behind gates. Thank heavens for the onboard REx 2 cylinder 650cc generator, we *never* have had a ruinded road trip in 4 years of ownership. No wonder Tesla is valued so highly! They make it seamless for their customers.
CR should reevaluate it's gas centric reliability criteria: is it time include oil changes timing belt change and other service that gas cars need, EVS don't. EVs can charge at home or work with just the time to plug-in versus going to a gas station, more time on long trips. Is it cost? that should include total cost of fuel and service. Warranteed vs owner $ Also it's ok to mention vastly reduced pollution from EVs.
I find it incredibly annoying to call a PHEV a “new” technology. I also find it correspondingly annoying that CR does not give proper credence to the Chevy Volt, the concept of which was copied (stolen) by Toyota. I own a 2016 Chevy Volt and it is incredibly reliable-it was a car that ran for over a decade beginning in 2010 - so not a new technology. I still own it and my last annoyance is the fact that GM took a proven technology loved by dealers and customers alike and threw it into the garbage, like the EV1. I also own a 1997 Toyota 4Runner, and I wish I had a RAV4 Prime - which is a marrying of two of my favourite vehicles. Perhaps one day.
It really is a head scratcher how reviewers seemingly can't get enough of the new Prius Prime, yet the 2011 Volt was universally panned when it debuted.
I love not going to the gas station with our EV6. Cost savings isn't there since we are paying more for the car, but it's the convenience of no gas station and quiet and powerful car.
Yet they would call it less reliable? Time & $ - waiting for oil changes, time at gas station, etc, gas isn't free. EV save time daily, take a little more on long trips.
Regarding Prius vs. Corolla Hybrid: one-hundred percent agree with the host who said that the Corolla is more practical for a delivery driver who gets in and out of the car dozens of times per day. That new Prius has very tight door openings and headroom. Like, shockingly tight.
Probably the best car I have owned was a 2012 Volt EREV. Drove it for 10 years. The only issue that related to its plug in feature that caused an issue was the EVSE which had to be replaced due to where it plugged in to the 110/120 outlet. A complicated powertrain can potentially cause issues, but mine was faultless and provided the same battery range as when new even as I traded it (foolishly) for a new Model 3. If the complication of the power train resulted in a unreliable car I would agree that it is not the way to go. But the first Volts were pretty damn good. GM's second Volt was NOT as reliable because they decided to cheap out and weakened the overall system..BIG MISTAKE. I dumped the 23 Model 3 because Tesla did not give me a compete car. I waited 5 months for the software to run the cameras to assist in parking. The auto pilot and FSD software were plain scary too and quite unsatisfactory. I hated it. I now have a Maverick Lariat Hybrid and a Prius Prime on order. The Prime is almost as good a 4 door hatch as the Volt and I will have to be patient as although it was ordered 5 months ago, mine may not get delivered until early 2025. I installed a real Tesla charger at great expense, so someday, I may attempt full EV again. But I want a real car that I can use and not be the somewhat willing participant in a lunatic's experiment.
Has CR ever survey Subaru owners after 250k miles on their cvt. I just believe it can go over 200k miles without a catastrophic failure, upper transmission. They call a lifetime cvt. My 03 outback die before 200k miles
Interesting the beloved Kia Telluride is not on the list as it has been for several years in a row. PS-CrossTreck is too small and underpowered. The engine is loud. But my friend owns one she loves it.
James wanted an efficient gas-powered car with an opening moonroof. I don't think either the Corolla Hybrid nor the new Prius have that option. I think the new Prius has a glass roof option, but I don't think it opens. My last-gen Prius (the ugly one) does have an opening moonroof as an option. He may be able to find a used Prius with an opening moonroof and have a somewhat easier time getting in and out of the car.
Alex, you did a great job presenting and moderating. Very businesslike and professional. I have a feeling you’ll be a rising, next generation star at CR.
Considering Subaru's relationship and cooperation with Toyota, it amazes me that they do not already offer them. They say hybrids are coming, but they said that years ago as well. They did offer a hybrid Crosstrek, but it did not save any appreciable amount of fuel and was not a good seller.
Gee, no Hyundai? LOL I do love the RAV4 PHEV, but it won't fit in my garage (a must for us) so I may end up with a Corolla Cross Hybrid instead (to join our 2023 Camry in our garage).
Absolutely the PHEV reliability statistics are being dragged down by certain examples. And I say this as an owner who _loves_ my plug-in Pacifica! But wow has it had a lot of recalls.
I had a 2015 Subaru Forester and I was disappointed with its long term reliability. The repairs became very expensive and that it was more than my Subaru 's suv re-sale value. On a positive note, Subaru of America helped pay for some of the repairs. Subaru's Customer Advocacy was very good. I have to replace my car with a brand new one from another Japanese auto maker.
1:58 In my opinion, percentage isn't a useful measurement for discussing how popular a vehicle type is. You can say a vehicle that sold 2000 units this year compared to 1000 units last year experienced "100% growth" when in reality that's still a very small number. While percentages do make for an interesting talking point, I find that total units delivered is a much more relevant measurement and "paints the fullest picture" so to speak. 2:46 With a Tesla, you _do not_ have to plan your charging stops. The navigation system does all the planning for you. It even tells you what your state of charge will be when you get there and how long each stop will be. 2:50 I'd argue that a full EV is the lazy mans way of electrifying a car, as you don't need to make occasional gas station stops or do any maintenance for an engine, both of which you still need to do with a PHEV. If I drive 50 to 100 miles a day, I'm still going to need to stop for gas. With an EV, all my charging can be done at home.
Safety features and Hybrids? Give me a break. People want to know cars that are not junk. They want no repair bills. Just got a gas guzzling 4 Runner. Buy a dinosaur 4 Runner b4 they are gone. The End.
Hybrids have the complexity of both a ICE and EV, the worst of both worlds. And they still burn gas. EV's are very affordable with state and federal tax credits, clean, and you'll never go back. Just make sure you get a Tesla until other brands fully convert to the Tesla charging network and you won't have a "slow" charging experience. And their driver assistance and safety are top notch.
My wife loves her 2022 BMW X5 45e, and I really like it as well. So much so that when we give my 2023 BMW 330ex to my daughter next year, I'll probably get a BMW X5 50e for myself.
I think there could be drivers with situations where a plugin hybrid is a good solution…..But for most, a plugin hybrid sits down between two stools and lands on the floor. Go non-plug with a small battery with all the cost packaging and weight savings or go with a full battery electric vehicle and go without an engine and all that comes with it.
What Mazda needs is a hybrid version to compete with the Honda Civic Hybrid and Corolla Hybrids. They need hybrids pretty much across the line, Toyota and Honda have them.
If this Channel doesn't have as many subscribers as you would expect, I can tell you why : Your videos are loaded with fillers and people don't have patience for it.
Mazda is underrated. I had a 2007 Mazda 3, wagon.., great car. I think it rated highly that year as well. I bought it on Super Bowl Sunday, even though my team was in it.. great stuff. great video. thank you
As a big fan of your lists, the magazine and the show i want to politely note that this years is the first i cant really find useful. The problem is the ev's. They are extremely situationally dependent for buyers, even leaving price aside, and as a result the lists aren't something i can point people to as a starting point. I absolutely recommend non nerd level car buyers to start shopping with you guys fwiw, but that's just a frustrating and irrelevant starting point when it's exclusively cars they cannot consider. Just break the evs out separately and problem solved. Hybrids don't need that treatment, for them it's just a price vs economic gain calculation.
Not a hypothetical btw. A family friend is shopping and I opened with a link to you guys just to get the conversation usefully started. It was not useful, he was very frustrated trying to figure out which cars were buyable for him. If he was a car nerd he'd have been able to instantly decipher which cars are relevant or not, but as a normie his ability to winnow is limited to premium vs mainstream price. I was always under the impression that the lists are kind of a normie aid. That might be wrong on my end, but that's how they are used in my experience. They aren't very normie friendly now in either case.
I'd replace extremely with slightly. I do agree they should be in separate categories since their criteria is biased toward gas cars, some seem scared and puzzled by EVs
I had the Camry Hybrid and now have the Maverick Hybrid. Both were good cars. Hated the numb steering on the 2012 Camry Hybrid. Drove me crazy! Hopefully they fixed it The Maverick just had a new battery after the old one being totally dead after a year and a half. They also have battery wiring harness problems. And we've had many recalls on the Maverick. Otherwise a great truck at a great price ($27k with a lot of bells and whistles).
The top-rated cars for 2024 according to Consumer Reports' Talking Cars segment are the 2024 Toyota Rav 4 Prime SUV, the 2024 Toyota Camry Hybrid, and the ID.7. The stages involved in their decision-making process include evaluating road-test performance, predicted reliability, owner satisfaction, and safety features. They also consider factors such as speed and ease of charging, range, and the overall performance of the vehicles.
A manufacturers duration (years even decades) producing a product such as a hybrid or variant is part and partial of ownership experiance. .. The US dealership networks technical chops is another. .. The dealership Tech often is phoning the manufacturer for guidence. .. The MB service operation knows very little. .. I.E. 2023 E-450 wagon, ordered new. .. Full spec. Toyota is the gold standard of vehicle/owner service. .. Bar none. .. Cheers, Vail, Colorado
Surprised the Mazda CX-5 which has been made since 2017 in its current form, and 2014 for the powertrain is not on this list but the Mazda 3 is on the list for the gas vehicles. According to their own ratings, the CX-5 is more reliable. Perhaps so that they had a gas sedan that is not a SUV? Tried to buy a hybrid, but the Toyota hybrids near me were about $10,000 over MSRP early this year and you had to wait for them. New used vehicles (with less than 3000 miles) are not available. Or I could buy a Mazda CX-5 with 3000 miles on it for $10,000 under MSRP. The two cars I was comparing were about the same price MSRP. So saving $20,000 in cash on gas would take about 20 years which did not work for me as in 12 years I tend to put 200,000 on a car.
As a data guy and CR subscriber for 54 years, I sincerely appreciate the commitment and professionalism of your reviews, testing and videos. I typically keep a vehicle 4-5 years and start my research for my next purchase 2-3 years out. I'm considering replacing my 2021 Honda Ridgeline Black Edition (fabulous truck!) and buying an SUV due to aging issues (sniff). Fuel economy is key on a fixed income. Thank you for your hard work on our behalf. Making your Best of List available to the public is wise. Hopefully it will result in new subscribers. Subscribing to Consumer Reports is the smartest decision I ever made in my 20's!
I'm on Team Civic. Not because I love it, but if it's running well, the payback, even doubling your mpg, will be astronomical if you factor in buying a brand new Prius or Corolla, and then putting 35,000 miles on it every year.
“Best selling EV in the country” 😂 the model Y was the best selling car of any power train in the world for 2023. Just in case some people haven’t heard, I thought I’d share 16:43 “its the only domestic on this list” speaking of the Ford made in Mexico😂 the Model Y is literally the most made in America vehicle on the road
So CR is over looking reliable/quality cars just because they don’t offer certain high end safety features on every trim level? I would much prefer they include a caveat, stating that the features they covet are only available on these trim levels.
I strongly disagree with the idea that all cars should have all those safety features! In today's dollars, you could buy the fanciest Cadillac in 1970 for only fifty thousand dollars. Cars with all these bells and whistles make cars too expensive!
Wow CR really has fallen. And that is why I no longer are a CR subscriber mag anymore after two decades with them. Thanks to ICE OEM donation CR are so biases now.
sure Tesla has better charging network and route planning.. but in terms of car quality, ride quality and pretty much everything.. Kia/Hyundai and even Porsche has the best EVs out there tbh.
I run a Avis rental and we have some Tesla and no one wants the stupid things. Car rental companies are taking a huge hit with EVs and they are starting to trade them for gas cars now.
PHEVs are a good transition technology for the short term. But in 5 years, they will be nearly obsolete as EVs and rhe charging network matures PHEVs are dependent on global oil pricing. They have pumps for oil and coolant, as well as water. They have large radiators that can leak. Multiple belts. 10x more moving parts than an EV. Unfortunately, many people are getting tax credits, but not charging at home. Keep it simple.
I agree. I get the bumpy EV transition right now, but it should be much better in 3-5 years. KISS with an EV, instead of 10x more parts with hybrid ICE.
Idk what i will do. I just want a simple no fuss reliable car with some headroom and a opening moon roof. Dont need the bells and whistle. I dont wNt to pay that mu h for any car.
I know this is a shot at EVs and I'm all for 'scraping all mandates and subsidies' so long as we scrap the subsidies enjoyed by the gas companies that keep gas/diesel artificially lower than it would be if the free market had to absorb the full cost of production. Out of 169 countries, the US has the 36th lowest gas prices which puts the US in the 21st percentile for cost (many of the lower priced counties are oil producing and have nationalized that sector and are by definition subsidized and well outside any definition of a free market). In Comparing the US average ($3.751/ga) to the EU (roughly the same population and generally similar standard of living), all have higher gasoline prices by a significant amount ranging from $5.474 (Bulgaria) and $8.47 (Denmark) with an average and median of $6.78 and $6.68 respectively; this is what gasoline prices look like with much more limited subsidies from countries that have not nationalized the sector. A reasonable argument can be made that transportation SHOULD be subsidized as lower transportation costs generally promote higher economic velocity, but if we're going to remove/reduce the subsidies on one, we should remove/reduce the subsidies on the other comparably. If you're OK with gas prices about 80% higher, you should continue arguing for 'scraping all mandates and subsidies' and "let the consumers decide".
It’s time for electric cars. The time for hybrids has passed. With a hybrid, you get an electric car plus the cost and complexity of a gas engine. I have an EV that I plug in at home. I start everyday with over 250 miles of range. I only need more than 250 miles in a day for those few road trips I take during the year. It’s not worth the added expense and long term maintenance costs of an ICE vehicle.
That's great your able to plug in at home and it works good for you, although a good majority of the population doesn't have the option of plugging in an EV at home for various reasons, that's why the Hybrid and ICE vehicles will be necessary at least for the near future!
@@martyi398 If you’ve own your home with a lock up garage and have a range of at least 700km it would be worth considering. In extremely freezing 13:57 cold parts of Canada there would be problems.
The Model Y was by far the best selling vehicle in the world in 2023 dethroning the Toyota Corolla. Coupled with the incontrovertible fact that Tesla has superior software and engineering in their cars made this a no-brainer top EV pick.
EVs have a lower lifetime carbon footprint than combustion vehicles. There are several studies done on this that you can find with a quick internet search.
CR “top pick” is a worthless metric if you mandate safety equipment not required by law or regulation be included on every model. Under this rubric you reject or penalize objectively excellent cars for not complying with your organization’s safety standards. As if auto manufacturers don’t have enough regulations from all over the world to adhere to? Another reason I have lost faith in CR. Ideology is more important now at CR than data and science. Pretty soon they will penalize ICE cars for not being EVs.
You egomaniacs seem to think that we are just as fascinated with the evaluation process as we are with the results. I can assure you that this is not the case. Stick to the reviews and spare us the job description. No offense, but it's really not that interesting. Always remember that the vehicles are the stars of the show.
"Goes WOKE"? .. What does that mean? ... This WOKE nonsense is passee. .. What is Hip - Tower of Power -1973 "What is Hip today just might become passee" .. TOP. .. Cheers, Vail, Colorado
What about the pollution, toxicity, and child and slave labor in mining for resources for electrical cars. What about that? Sticking with gas . At least there's some protections there.
Toyota hybrids were reliable RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX with their 2001 Toyota Prius. So it’s not about experience. It’s about COMMITMENT to reliability.
This is the correct answer.
also made fun of in teh comedy "the other guys"
ill stick with toyota yaris ia which is actually a mazda
Over engineering plays a big role. The electric motors and inverters are capable of 200kW
And fun fact, the first Gen Prius was liable to burnt motors because it didn't step up its voltage, so at highway speeds on ling journeys the 280 volt system got hot enough to burn the windings.
The iconic 2004 Prius though came with a boost inverter that stepped up the voltage from 200v (HV Battery) to 300 - 500v depending on how much power is demanded.
Actually having owned a Prius I can say in my actual experience it is designed to fail at 100000. Miles thus creating a lot of maintenance and all for 50 mpg compared to my Tesla after 2 years only needs washer fluid and it was a completely checked & filled at no charge to me and they checked my tires to in less than 5 minutes Wow talk about service Tesla understands what service is Thank You Tesla Team ❤
Yes, but they made very reliable regular gas powertrains for many years before the Prius was launched.
Whenever I think of PHEV I think of what Sandy Munro said about them. You get the strength and weaknesses of both ICE and EV vehicles.
When you want the reliability of an EV you have to get oil changes and buy gas. When you want an ICE engine, you get the soundtrack of an EV.
True, but you also have the advantage of a gas powertrain that can be used for long trips through areas of poor charging infrastructure, along with EV range that is often sufficient for regular daily commuting or errands.
Strength AND weaknesses… (guessing) not if done right. I’m intrigued by the rotary engine PHEV from Mazda… MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV (& its successors).
Agree, but they may be the bridge and the Ramcharger looks interesting based on the way they are designing the motive force.
weaknesses of EV is charging.
PHEV does not need to be charged up.
but if you want they can. best of both in my opinion,.
If you keep a BMW once it is out of warranty, then you will pay a fortune to keep it running. That these guys would put a BMW as a top pick is idiotic. It is a fall-apart luxury toy that is horrible for the environment because it falls apart early. Who is reaching these guys to make them give awful advice?
Congrats Alex for hosting. It is commonly believed in business that copying your boss is a path to success, but it is OK to have longer hair than Jake. :)
+1.. Too funny. .. Herr Jake is a good egg!
I absolutely love my 2016 Subaru Forester XT. It is a fun, practical, and reliable car.
I wish new versions still had a turbo, but more powerful hybrid versions should be coming down the line.
The hybrid Forester is the big news. Curious how Subaru will integrate the boxer engine into Toyota's hybrid system.
Maverick is not the only domestic manufacturer on the list. TESLA is made in America.
Yh that’s true
Do you have shares in Tesla ?
Aside for the ones made in china lol
@@TATTEDGAY - All the Telsa cars sold in the US are made in the US.
@@Oliviacole03 Did you short Tesla?
I believe she was talking about the just the Hybrid top pick, which Tesla was not one of.
Glad I bought a Subaru Forester last November. Excellent visibility and its easy to live with in a winter storm. I love it.
Every situation is different, here in British Columbia Canada our gasoline costs US$5.00/USG and our electricity charging at home costs US$0.075/KWh. EVs make a lot of sense.
I'm getting a hybrid next. The only reason I'm not getting a plug-in is price
Have you considered getting a Tesla?
Or even having shares with them ?
Yes boss
You say the Ford Maverick is the only domestic on the list, but the Tesla Model Y is a domestic, and according to studies it is the most domestic car sold in the USA
Were they talking the only hybrid domestic ?
She was talking Hybrids.
Wow, I do have an issue the ford maverick recommendation. I'm 70 years old. I've been buying Toyota's for over 40 years. I bought my first Toyota in 1979. CR recommended it. I do still have that issue of CR and everyone after that. I was a mechanic back then. That's why I started buying Toyota's. My experience with ford was never positive. I've watched their reliability over the years through CR. I also have a brother in law who has been buying fords for decades.I hear about his problems with fords which verifies CR's findings. ford is marginal AT BEST. My suggestion is wait for Toyota to come out with their version of this type of truck. It will be soon.
The Toyota small truck, if it ever comes out, is rumored to be named the Stout. The unfortunate thing about the Maverick (other than lack of inventory) is the hybrid version has been less reliable than the non-hybrid. One would think it would be the other way around.
Why does no one talk about the crazy recalls and defects of Maverick. Especially the cracking injector that could cause fire, only fix they have is to reprogram computer to notify you…that’s it. No real fix. Now there is another recall 3 or 4th. The front axles are so cheep and defective you will replace them before 30k mile. Soon as Honda, Toyota,Mazda make similar truck I will trade in my Maverick.
The recommendation of the two Subaru's a recommended models to buy surprised me. My neighbor had a new Subaru CrossTrek and the 2.0 liter flat four used oil at a quart a month which Subaru said was normal. He later had to sell it for a loss and got a different brand of vehicle. After that, I was very hesitant to even consider any of these newer Subarus. What did CR research come up with on the oil consumption of the smaller Subaru engines?
Get to the frickin point!!!!
Speaking of charging....
We drove our i3 on a 400 mile journey to Vancouver BC last week. We found:
- broken chargers
- vandalized
- occupied
- requiring credentials
- network apps disabled
- iced chargers
- off limits, behind gates.
Thank heavens for the onboard REx 2 cylinder 650cc generator, we *never* have had a ruinded road trip in 4 years of ownership.
No wonder Tesla is valued so highly! They make it seamless for their customers.
They are opening their network to other customers. Canada is worse off than the US, from what I hear.
Looking for a PHEV to step in where the Honda Clarity left off. Maybe a Camry Prime someday?
CR should reevaluate it's gas centric reliability criteria: is it time include oil changes timing belt change and other service that gas cars need, EVS don't. EVs can charge at home or work with just the time to plug-in versus going to a gas station, more time on long trips.
Is it cost? that should include total cost of fuel and service.
Warranteed vs owner $
Also it's ok to mention vastly reduced pollution from EVs.
Plugging in is not a chore, it's nice to not go to gas stations, even if it takes more time in some situations, we say that time on the daily Drive
I find it incredibly annoying to call a PHEV a “new” technology. I also find it correspondingly annoying that CR does not give proper credence to the Chevy Volt, the concept of which was copied (stolen) by Toyota.
I own a 2016 Chevy Volt and it is incredibly reliable-it was a car that ran for over a decade beginning in 2010 - so not a new technology. I still own it and my last annoyance is the fact that GM took a proven technology loved by dealers and customers alike and threw it into the garbage, like the EV1.
I also own a 1997 Toyota 4Runner, and I wish I had a RAV4 Prime - which is a marrying of two of my favourite vehicles. Perhaps one day.
It really is a head scratcher how reviewers seemingly can't get enough of the new Prius Prime, yet the 2011 Volt was universally panned when it debuted.
I love not going to the gas station with our EV6. Cost savings isn't there since we are paying more for the car, but it's the convenience of no gas station and quiet and powerful car.
Yet they would call it less reliable? Time & $ - waiting for oil changes, time at gas station, etc, gas isn't free. EV save time daily, take a little more on long trips.
Regarding Prius vs. Corolla Hybrid: one-hundred percent agree with the host who said that the Corolla is more practical for a delivery driver who gets in and out of the car dozens of times per day. That new Prius has very tight door openings and headroom. Like, shockingly tight.
Probably the best car I have owned was a 2012 Volt EREV. Drove it for 10 years. The only issue that related to its plug in feature that caused an issue was the EVSE which had to be replaced due to where it plugged in to the 110/120 outlet. A complicated powertrain can potentially cause issues, but mine was faultless and provided the same battery range as when new even as I traded it (foolishly) for a new Model 3. If the complication of the power train resulted in a unreliable car I would agree that it is not the way to go. But the first Volts were pretty damn good. GM's second Volt was NOT as reliable because they decided to cheap out and weakened the overall system..BIG MISTAKE.
I dumped the 23 Model 3 because Tesla did not give me a compete car. I waited 5 months for the software to run the cameras to assist in parking. The auto pilot and FSD software were plain scary too and quite unsatisfactory. I hated it. I now have a Maverick Lariat Hybrid and a Prius Prime on order. The Prime is almost as good a 4 door hatch as the Volt and I will have to be patient as although it was ordered 5 months ago, mine may not get delivered until early 2025. I installed a real Tesla charger at great expense, so someday, I may attempt full EV again. But I want a real car that I can use and not be the somewhat willing participant in a lunatic's experiment.
Has CR ever survey Subaru owners after 250k miles on their cvt. I just believe it can go over 200k miles without a catastrophic failure, upper transmission. They call a lifetime cvt. My 03 outback die before 200k miles
I can't find the gas/hybrid/phev/ev calculator on the website. I'm a subscriber and I'm logged in. thx
Would prefer CR include sample size when reporting reliability. (How many CR consumer surveys are returned per car.)
Interesting the beloved Kia Telluride is not on the list as it has been for several years in a row. PS-CrossTreck is too small and underpowered. The engine is loud. But my friend owns one she loves it.
Who is selling a new forrester for $25k???
James wanted an efficient gas-powered car with an opening moonroof. I don't think either the Corolla Hybrid nor the new Prius have that option. I think the new Prius has a glass roof option, but I don't think it opens. My last-gen Prius (the ugly one) does have an opening moonroof as an option. He may be able to find a used Prius with an opening moonroof and have a somewhat easier time getting in and out of the car.
Alex, you did a great job presenting and moderating. Very businesslike and professional. I have a feeling you’ll be a rising, next generation star at CR.
Sad.
I’d love to see Mazda & Subaru offer a hybrid version of their fleets in the US soon
Considering Subaru's relationship and cooperation with Toyota, it amazes me that they do not already offer them. They say hybrids are coming, but they said that years ago as well. They did offer a hybrid Crosstrek, but it did not save any appreciable amount of fuel and was not a good seller.
They have literally no money for development
@@hondajohn6948exactly like Mitsu
Forrest hybrid should be here sometime in 2026. Sign me up.
Mazda may soon have a CX-50 hybrid (based on the Rav4 drive train). I wish they would hurry.
Gee, no Hyundai? LOL I do love the RAV4 PHEV, but it won't fit in my garage (a must for us) so I may end up with a Corolla Cross Hybrid instead (to join our 2023 Camry in our garage).
Corolla Cross hybrid is a nice size.
They need to go back to the traditional categories like mid-size truck, full-size truck, compact car, etc...
Absolutely the PHEV reliability statistics are being dragged down by certain examples. And I say this as an owner who _loves_ my plug-in Pacifica! But wow has it had a lot of recalls.
Mazda overlooked? It is overpriced
I had a 2015 Subaru Forester and I was disappointed with its long term reliability. The repairs became very expensive and that it was more than my Subaru 's suv re-sale value. On a positive note, Subaru of America helped pay for some of the repairs. Subaru's Customer Advocacy was very good. I have to replace my car with a brand new one from another Japanese auto maker.
15 - 24 almost 10 y difference. Normal you have issues with it
Hybrids are training wheels for an EV.
OK but reliability is going to come from the manufacturer. Not by “training wheels”
not sure why CR pops up on my auto play. CR lost me as soon as it hired Ford person to lead the team. So much conflict of interest.
I used to only listen to Tom and Ray Maggliozzi but they are no longer. Miss them....
The CR Dream Team Panel . All independently add so much to any automotive discussion
Honda CRV HYBRID. #1.🥇
US Sales up 98% 😮 (Feb.)
1:58 In my opinion, percentage isn't a useful measurement for discussing how popular a vehicle type is. You can say a vehicle that sold 2000 units this year compared to 1000 units last year experienced "100% growth" when in reality that's still a very small number. While percentages do make for an interesting talking point, I find that total units delivered is a much more relevant measurement and "paints the fullest picture" so to speak.
2:46 With a Tesla, you _do not_ have to plan your charging stops. The navigation system does all the planning for you. It even tells you what your state of charge will be when you get there and how long each stop will be.
2:50 I'd argue that a full EV is the lazy mans way of electrifying a car, as you don't need to make occasional gas station stops or do any maintenance for an engine, both of which you still need to do with a PHEV. If I drive 50 to 100 miles a day, I'm still going to need to stop for gas. With an EV, all my charging can be done at home.
BMW on the RELIABILITY list? 😂😂😂😂😂😂
Dislike!
BMW are junkies ask any mechanic
Safety features and Hybrids? Give me a break. People want to know cars that are not junk. They want no repair bills. Just got a gas guzzling 4 Runner. Buy a dinosaur 4 Runner b4 they are gone. The End.
Hybrids have the complexity of both a ICE and EV, the worst of both worlds. And they still burn gas. EV's are very affordable with state and federal tax credits, clean, and you'll never go back. Just make sure you get a Tesla until other brands fully convert to the Tesla charging network and you won't have a "slow" charging experience. And their driver assistance and safety are top notch.
'23 Chevy Bolt, I haven't publc charged yet, 7 mo
My wife loves her 2022 BMW X5 45e, and I really like it as well.
So much so that when we give my 2023 BMW 330ex to my daughter next year, I'll probably get a BMW X5 50e for myself.
I think there could be drivers with situations where a plugin hybrid is a good solution…..But for most, a plugin hybrid sits down between two stools and lands on the floor. Go non-plug with a small battery with all the cost packaging and weight savings or go with a full battery electric vehicle and go without an engine and all that comes with it.
Everyone that I know who does sales type jobs in bigger cities..such as Chicago..all have a Prius
What Mazda needs is a hybrid version to compete with the Honda Civic Hybrid and Corolla Hybrids. They need hybrids pretty much across the line, Toyota and Honda have them.
I did not like the BMW, materials were cheap to me. Underwhelming, but it was just the 2024 ICE.
If this Channel doesn't have as many subscribers as you would expect, I can tell you why : Your videos are loaded with fillers and people don't have patience for it.
boycott USA
and everyone with a bigger than small car
Warren Buffett and Charles Munger talk about this. If you can find it. They say it's all a scam.
Mazda is underrated. I had a 2007 Mazda 3, wagon.., great car. I think it rated highly that year as well. I bought it on Super Bowl Sunday, even though my team was in it.. great stuff. great video. thank you
I know you are not walking the red carpet but maybe next time you should dress professionally for the occasion..
Alex, great job moderating this podcast. Great voice man! I wish you success.
As a big fan of your lists, the magazine and the show i want to politely note that this years is the first i cant really find useful. The problem is the ev's. They are extremely situationally dependent for buyers, even leaving price aside, and as a result the lists aren't something i can point people to as a starting point. I absolutely recommend non nerd level car buyers to start shopping with you guys fwiw, but that's just a frustrating and irrelevant starting point when it's exclusively cars they cannot consider.
Just break the evs out separately and problem solved. Hybrids don't need that treatment, for them it's just a price vs economic gain calculation.
Not a hypothetical btw. A family friend is shopping and I opened with a link to you guys just to get the conversation usefully started. It was not useful, he was very frustrated trying to figure out which cars were buyable for him. If he was a car nerd he'd have been able to instantly decipher which cars are relevant or not, but as a normie his ability to winnow is limited to premium vs mainstream price.
I was always under the impression that the lists are kind of a normie aid. That might be wrong on my end, but that's how they are used in my experience. They aren't very normie friendly now in either case.
I'd replace extremely with slightly.
I do agree they should be in separate categories since their criteria is biased toward gas cars, some seem scared and puzzled by EVs
All the snowflakes in the comments. If EVs are what you like, great. If ICE cars are what you want, fine. Now sit down and shut up.
I had the Camry Hybrid and now have the Maverick Hybrid. Both were good cars. Hated the numb steering on the 2012 Camry Hybrid. Drove me crazy! Hopefully they fixed it The Maverick just had a new battery after the old one being totally dead after a year and a half. They also have battery wiring harness problems. And we've had many recalls on the Maverick. Otherwise a great truck at a great price ($27k with a lot of bells and whistles).
You are telling me that new Maverick has issues and you said it's a great truck? Is that correct?
Correction: Model Y was the best selling EV in the US, and also the best-selling car worldwide in 2023, not Model 3
Toyota prices for the blue collar worker hybrid purchase is unapproachable
g
Hybrids are most expensive than EVs these days
Subarus are the worst cars I have ever driven. CVT s are terrible transmissions.
The top-rated cars for 2024 according to Consumer Reports' Talking Cars segment are the 2024 Toyota Rav 4 Prime SUV, the 2024 Toyota Camry Hybrid, and the ID.7. The stages involved in their decision-making process include evaluating road-test performance, predicted reliability, owner satisfaction, and safety features. They also consider factors such as speed and ease of charging, range, and the overall performance of the vehicles.
A manufacturers duration (years even decades) producing a product such as a hybrid or variant is part and partial of ownership experiance. .. The US dealership networks technical chops is another. .. The dealership Tech often is phoning the manufacturer for guidence. .. The MB service operation knows very little. ..
I.E. 2023 E-450 wagon, ordered new. .. Full spec.
Toyota is the gold standard of vehicle/owner service. .. Bar none. .. Cheers, Vail, Colorado
It's the changing of the guard.
Surprised the Mazda CX-5 which has been made since 2017 in its current form, and 2014 for the powertrain is not on this list but the Mazda 3 is on the list for the gas vehicles. According to their own ratings, the CX-5 is more reliable. Perhaps so that they had a gas sedan that is not a SUV? Tried to buy a hybrid, but the Toyota hybrids near me were about $10,000 over MSRP early this year and you had to wait for them. New used vehicles (with less than 3000 miles) are not available. Or I could buy a Mazda CX-5 with 3000 miles on it for $10,000 under MSRP. The two cars I was comparing were about the same price MSRP. So saving $20,000 in cash on gas would take about 20 years which did not work for me as in 12 years I tend to put 200,000 on a car.
As a data guy and CR subscriber for 54 years, I sincerely appreciate the commitment and professionalism of your reviews, testing and videos. I typically keep a vehicle 4-5 years and start my research for my next purchase 2-3 years out. I'm considering replacing my 2021 Honda Ridgeline Black Edition (fabulous truck!) and buying an SUV due to aging issues (sniff). Fuel economy is key on a fixed income. Thank you for your hard work on our behalf. Making your Best of List available to the public is wise. Hopefully it will result in new subscribers. Subscribing to Consumer Reports is the smartest decision I ever made in my 20's!
I'm on Team Civic. Not because I love it, but if it's running well, the payback, even doubling your mpg, will be astronomical if you factor in buying a brand new Prius or Corolla, and then putting 35,000 miles on it every year.
Are you kidding me? Not having to worry is a luxury feature?🤯? I think a new perspective at CR is required…
Great episode! Thank you
The ev ram has its own full engine generator. Put fuel in and keep the elective engine going for over 500 miles. I love the combination
“Best selling EV in the country” 😂 the model Y was the best selling car of any power train in the world for 2023. Just in case some people haven’t heard, I thought I’d share
16:43 “its the only domestic on this list” speaking of the Ford made in Mexico😂 the Model Y is literally the most made in America vehicle on the road
So CR is over looking reliable/quality cars just because they don’t offer certain high end safety features on every trim level? I would much prefer they include a caveat, stating that the features they covet are only available on these trim levels.
How about safety / $. Doesn't help me if it's $40K
I loved the iX1 myself. Best BMW EV.
I strongly disagree with the idea that all cars should have all those safety features! In today's dollars, you could buy the fanciest Cadillac in 1970 for only fifty thousand dollars. Cars with all these bells and whistles make cars too expensive!
Wow CR really has fallen. And that is why I no longer are a CR subscriber mag anymore after two decades with them. Thanks to ICE OEM donation CR are so biases now.
I think at best they judge EVS by gas vehicle criteria
Opps there forgot tesla is US made so maverick not the only home made car on the list
Another consideration is how big you are, bigger people need bigger cars.
sure Tesla has better charging network and route planning.. but in terms of car quality, ride quality and pretty much everything.. Kia/Hyundai and even Porsche has the best EVs out there tbh.
I run a Avis rental and we have some Tesla and no one wants the stupid things. Car rental companies are taking a huge hit with EVs and they are starting to trade them for gas cars now.
I would want 1
When is Honda going to give us the hybrid Ridgeline???
How about minivans? Any good ones out there?
PHEVs are a good transition technology for the short term. But in 5 years, they will be nearly obsolete as EVs and rhe charging network matures
PHEVs are dependent on global oil pricing. They have pumps for oil and coolant, as well as water. They have large radiators that can leak. Multiple belts. 10x more moving parts than an EV.
Unfortunately, many people are getting tax credits, but not charging at home.
Keep it simple.
I agree. I get the bumpy EV transition right now, but it should be much better in 3-5 years. KISS with an EV, instead of 10x more parts with hybrid ICE.
I guess we are outliers and geniuses, CR seems to think it's very inconvenient and confusing to operate an Eevee
Idk what i will do. I just want a simple no fuss reliable car with some headroom and a opening moon roof. Dont need the bells and whistle. I dont wNt to pay that mu h for any car.
2024 Hyundai Venue
1994
Thanks guy, great episode!
Scrap all mandates and subsidies and let the consumers decide, what a radical idea.
Consumers can't choose vehicles that aren't produced. We could be driving cars with steel dashboards & no seatbelts, let alone airbags
I know this is a shot at EVs and I'm all for 'scraping all mandates and subsidies' so long as we scrap the subsidies enjoyed by the gas companies that keep gas/diesel artificially lower than it would be if the free market had to absorb the full cost of production. Out of 169 countries, the US has the 36th lowest gas prices which puts the US in the 21st percentile for cost (many of the lower priced counties are oil producing and have nationalized that sector and are by definition subsidized and well outside any definition of a free market). In Comparing the US average ($3.751/ga) to the EU (roughly the same population and generally similar standard of living), all have higher gasoline prices by a significant amount ranging from $5.474 (Bulgaria) and $8.47 (Denmark) with an average and median of $6.78 and $6.68 respectively; this is what gasoline prices look like with much more limited subsidies from countries that have not nationalized the sector.
A reasonable argument can be made that transportation SHOULD be subsidized as lower transportation costs generally promote higher economic velocity, but if we're going to remove/reduce the subsidies on one, we should remove/reduce the subsidies on the other comparably. If you're OK with gas prices about 80% higher, you should continue arguing for 'scraping all mandates and subsidies' and "let the consumers decide".
What flavored koolaide?
Maverick is made in Mexico
DISIDENTE
It’s time for electric cars.
The time for hybrids has passed. With a hybrid, you get an electric car plus the cost and complexity of a gas engine.
I have an EV that I plug in at home. I start everyday with over 250 miles of range. I only need more than 250 miles in a day for those few road trips I take during the year.
It’s not worth the added expense and long term maintenance costs of an ICE vehicle.
That's great your able to plug in at home and it works good for you, although a good majority of the population doesn't have the option of plugging in an EV at home for various reasons, that's why the Hybrid and ICE vehicles will be necessary at least for the near future!
dumb comment. What about people in cities? How do they plug in at home? Also, that's where the population density is the highest.
@@martyi398 If you’ve own your home with a lock up garage and have a range of at least 700km it would be worth considering. In extremely freezing 13:57 cold parts of Canada there would be problems.
@@martyi398 The majority of the population are home owners which most do have the option to plug in at home.
@@misternordberg3675 Streetside charging exists, as does parking lot/garage charging.
The Model Y was by far the best selling vehicle in the world in 2023 dethroning the Toyota Corolla. Coupled with the incontrovertible fact that Tesla has superior software and engineering in their cars made this a no-brainer top EV pick.
Alex is hot 😍
I learned long ago CR is not trustworthy or capable of reviewing cars. Stick to appliances.
I’m happy to see that CR so far has not bowed to political pressure to trash Teslas simply because Elon Musk is disliked by the left.
It's not just his political leanings journalist Kara Swisher has some very interesting info on this, she knew him personally
We love our ‘23 Lexus NX..
As long as it’s lithium ion, it’s not safe
Far better to drive around with a tank full of a combustable, explosive, liquid.
Gas can explode & exhaust can kill
With all their feel good charts and graphs, there was no mention of EV’s massive carbon footprint.
EVs have a lower lifetime carbon footprint than combustion vehicles. There are several studies done on this that you can find with a quick internet search.
This disinformation has been debunked the information is easy to find online
CR used to be good then they became political. Can't trust their reviews anymore. Very biased.
CR “top pick” is a worthless metric if you mandate safety equipment not required by law or regulation be included on every model. Under this rubric you reject or penalize objectively excellent cars for not complying with your organization’s safety standards. As if auto manufacturers don’t have enough regulations from all over the world to adhere to? Another reason I have lost faith in CR. Ideology is more important now at CR than data and science. Pretty soon they will penalize ICE cars for not being EVs.
Raising the bar is how progress is made.
You egomaniacs seem to think that we are just as fascinated with the evaluation process as we are with the results. I can assure you that this is not the case. Stick to the reviews and spare us the job description. No offense, but it's really not that interesting. Always remember that the vehicles are the stars of the show.
This was a good episode. Can't stand it when Talking Cars goes woke😅 this was not one of those episodes
"Goes WOKE"? .. What does that mean? ... This WOKE nonsense is passee. .. What is Hip - Tower of Power -1973
"What is Hip today just might become passee" .. TOP. .. Cheers, Vail, Colorado
@@michaelschneider- you know what it means gamma.
@@michaelschneider- Sorry, didn't realize you quoted Tower of Power. Now no one can argue with your logic. Please slap yourself so no one else has to.
They can't help it, they're a non-profit LOL
@@michaelschneider-you are so lit bro
What about the pollution, toxicity, and child and slave labor in mining for resources for electrical cars. What about that? Sticking with gas . At least there's some protections there.
This disinformation has been debunked, the information can easily be found online