This week we share our first impressions of the 2022 Volkswagen Taos small SUV; its variety of powertrains, driving characteristics, and quality of cabin materials. NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) updated its recommendations regarding the Tesla Model 3's camera-based AEB system, and we provide an update on CR's scoring of the vehicle. Other topics include: the best new or used cars for under $25k; how to diagnose your car battery's health; and what (if anything) consumers can do about rising destination fees.
I drive a 2022 Taos SE for business and spend many hours behind the wheel. I find it a fairly nimble vehicle that likes the twisty roads with ups and downs. The engine provides plenty of torque for climbing and merging with confidence. I found the jack rabbit starting very good as well once the car gets started. There is the DSG lag, not a turbo lag that I learned how to drive with and can now operate the car quite satisfactorily. The downshifting for hill descents is noticeable but tolerable. On the downside, the hard plastic dashboard is a bit odd, as is the gauge cluster which could stand a refresh. The SEL has a better dashboard gauge setup than the S or SE trim. The seats are tall and comfortable if not a bit hard. I use a seat cushion which solves that nicely. The options are odd with things like a heated steering wheel, rain sensitive wipers coupled with manual HVAC controls. The entertainment unit failed early on in the car and the replacement is so-so. It's hard to pair with my cellphone and when two phones are hooked up, it will prefer one over the other at startup. The radio also when starting up has trouble loading my Sirius subscription stations in as well as all the other terrestrial radio stations. Also with CarPlay, the radio has to be turned on to operate the system which is a pain. While in CarPlay navigation, the display won't show the radio station which diverts to the gauge cluster display. All in all, the entertainment unit is not up to par with other automobile brands. The rear seats are roomy but the read doors don't swing fully to 90 degrees. Ride is a bit noisy and stiff, but comfortable on the highway. In town parking and turning circle space is good as is the rear view backup camera. The mirrors are sized right and the visibility is good out the front. In a nutshell, my VW Taos is an eager little car with plenty of pep and fun to drive.
To each their own. I test drove a Taos SE FWD. It felt very lively, though the steering was a bit too light. I also drove a Mazda CX-5. Love the way the Mazda looks and handled, but it actually felt more cramped on the inside, even though it’s slightly larger physically. And the visibility in the Taos was much better. Overall, I preferred the Taos.
A clear bra and a vinyl wrap are not the same thing. A clear bra is made of polyurethane and serves the function as described in the episode. A vinyl wrap is made out of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and is much thinner than a clear bra. While a vinyl wrap offers some protection from rock chips and such, that is not its primary purpose. The intent of a wrap is to change the appearance of the vehicle and offers limited protection.
I seems that almost 100% of automobile journalists only want a car if it has a manual transmission, but what percent of the general public wants to drive a manual transmission? I loved driving a manual transmission when I started driving and I swore that a manual would always be my choice. It used to be that automatics were only three speeds, they robbed fuel economy and they took away all of the power and the fun of driving. Times have changed, automatic transmissions are incredible! We don't all live where the roads are flat. It all went downhill for me when I moved to San Francisco, I stopped enjoying driving a manual.
I drove manuals for forty years; 3, 4, and 5-speed, but went to auto about twelve years ago. When I needed a new car, I tried a Mazda3 with a manual and was totally incompetent at driving it. So I'm staying with automatics now. I got a 6 and the transmission is great.
Electrify America is far from the only public charging network. As it happens, EVgo went public this very day… as in NASDAQ. The CR team’s familiarity with the speed and efficiency of public charging networks is, uh, a bit dated. And using the network costs a fraction of what I paid Shell and Exxon in bygone days.
@@apache-yaquibrown4060 I call BS. A versa? Basically the most unreliable car Nissan ever made? Vs a Vw which have been known, especially in diesel forms of the past to push over a million miles?
Former Alfa Romeo Giulia driver here. The 2017-2018 Giulias had battery manufacturing defects resulting in premature failure. Some early 2019s like mine also had random battery discharging issues. There are several powertrain and body control module updates available for 2018 models, and a TSB for re-torquing the battery negative ground eyelet in the trunk to prevent it from coming loose and discharging the battery.
"I have an Alfa with a battery issue and I have an older Tacoma thats fine"... This is truly comedy gold... You'll go trough 10 Alfas before anything meaningful happens to that Tacoma..
Re Taos:. I think the FWD setup, with the conventional transmission and 18" wheels sounds much easier to live with than the DSG and 19" rims on the all wheel drive.
Most electric vehicle owners charge at home or work 90% of the time. EV owners need to get away from the gasoline "fill up" mentality. It is best to keep the battery between 20 and 80% for most daily drives. It is OK to go above or below on road trips. Stopping to charge on the road should not be a problem since most people want to stop every 2.5 or 3 hours for a bathroom break or to get something to eat. EVs are now coming with range of 300 miles or more which makes road tripping easy.
My spouse needs a bathroom break about every 1-2 hours anyway, so ~20 minutes to get back to 80% is about right. That being said, our next car is likely to be a hybrid or PHEV, because when we take roadtrips we like to meander around off the main highways. A PHEV with about ~35-40mi of range would get us to 80-90% EV driving without needing to think about charging on trips.
I think CR needs a new EV expert. Both because he painted EVs with too broad a brush and didn't get into the specifics of the exact question. I agree that most EVs are great a road trips. While he said Tesla was the best he didn't include them as easy to road trip since they have a robust network and are fast to charge with a long range. Finally, the MachE SHOULD be a good long distance car because it has better range than the Model Y but the network isn't the best but more importantly it's charging profile is bad so it's not workable as a long distance EV.
@@vinnytube1001 Exactly. And what happens if there's a pile-up on a major highway and you're sitting still for 1-2 hrs waiting for emergency crews to clear the lane? The anxiety of watching your battery loose it's charge.
Obviously, I'm not most people. EV's are fine for daily commutes but on road trips, I drive, drive drive...up to 14-16 hours in a day...5 min bathroom/fill-up stops only. I carry sandwiches/drinks in an ice chest...I just want to get to my destination. Until EV's can charge as fast as a petrol fill-up, I'll either pass or own both types of vehicles, which kind of defeats the purpose, right?
I guess I have the ideal car, a 2016 Mazda 3 I-Touring with a manual. I bought it new for $24,500 OTD. A great car, I just wish it wasn’t so noisy on the highway.
Driving cross country in an EV is very practical. Everyone should stop every 2 hours or so and stand up and walk around a bit just for safety purposes. You need this to maintain alertness and to avoid medical problems from being inactive. In the time you take to walk to the bathroom and return, you can get enough charge to get to the next stop. I drive cross country frequently and take the same time for trips in a Tesla as I do in a Toyota.
Always wanted a e39 m5. I have a e39 530i and it's amazing but may have to sell it for something newer. Feel like I'm gonna regret it. :/ they are amazing cars
~25k recommendations For someone that doesn't care about "driving" it's hard to escape recommending a Prius. Dead reliable, insane efficiency, hatchback. Otherwise Civic Hatch, Mazda 3 hatch, and Subaru Crosstrek are hard to pass up, as you already stated. The real interesting newcomer here is the upcoming Ford Maverick. A base model with a few options will be in that ~25k zone, 40mpg city, and really be good for a small family. But I doubt it will be fun to drive.
@Kinky Streets No kidding. At least the 2.5L is a modified MZR (tried and true) and Ford has an 8 year, 100,000 mile warranty on the hybrid drivetrain. But looking at other recent Fords, the powertrain hasn't been the issue.
I hope Toyota will sell the hybrid version of the Corolla Cross in the USA. Since the Prius V is gone, there is a need for something with the Prius powerplant that's a little larger, and not the 2.5 liter.
Wow! A really harsh evaluation of the AWD/DSG Taos. I don't always agree with CR's evaluations of vehicles (Who does?) But I trust CR to be honest and objective. So the unanimous negative judgment about the Taos is very disappointing. That's especially true considering that the Taos is, in reality, the North American replacement for the venerable basis Golf in an SUV costume.
Well!!!!! I have test driven the new Taos (FWD) twice and it feels zippy to me. Plenty of power to merge onto traffic or pass a car. I thought the exterior looks great. Was just disappointed that the interior didn't impress me. Seemed cheap.
Alex, Get the Corolla hatch with a proper independent rear suspension, you really don't want to settle for the ox cart (torsion beam) rear suspension on the Mazda 3.
These guys all missed the point of the Taos. They complain about the one thing a buyer in this segment wouldn’t care about. They’re not out to race and take off fast. They want a roomy, tech filled, gas sipping Awd vehicle that can handle generally any weather situation, at a low price point. Every single other review seems to be mostly positive except these guys. Turbo leg is pretty common on all vehicles now that have a small turbo. Totally livable. Again, not built to race anyone with.
According to Consumer Reports own reliability ratings, the 2019 Mazda3 is average and the 2019 Volkswagen Golf is EXCELLENT. The Golf is a beautiful, time-tested design while the Mazda3 (and Honda Civic) hatchbacks are extremely ugly. You can get the Golf in manual, but since I have an s2000 I went with the 8 speed automatic with start-stop. I wish CR would correct their fuel economy numbers for the 2019 Golf which were based on the previous 1.8L not the 1.4L with 8 spd and not with start-stop. This combo got 34 mpg in the bigger and heavier Jetta. Also, the Golf with 8 spd has to be one of the most efficient cars at Autobahn speeds. Hybrid and electric cars are heavier due to larger batteries and there isn't much regeneration going on when going on a long road trip at 85mph in the Western US.
@7:52 when Gabe started saying "reliable, practical has AWD.." I thought he was going to say Camry LE AWD. I love sedans with AWD trend now especially for here in CO.
I am on my 3rd Jetta, 2020 bought on New Years eve. No problems. I think the Taos will do well for VW but if I had to buy again I would get the Tiguan.
I live in rural VA and there are EVs all around me. They are most people's second or third vehicles so they have a truck/SUV to haul stuff and people and for long trips. The EV is strictly for commuting and in town trips (ie daily driving)
What would I buy for $25k? well, every car I've bought was under $10k, so to answer the question honestly, a Honda Insight, a VW GTI (would not do that one again, it ended up eating $8k in repairs in 2 years), and a toyota echo with a stick. but if I had to pick something under $25k right now, the Kia Forte GT with a stick. I know it's missing a lot of what allows CR to recommend it, but it's a warm hatch at civic prices. In my book that makes it pretty good.
Ahhhh..... ahhhhh..... ahhhhh. Sooooo..... ahhhhh..... Gabe, please stop!! Typically half-baked powertrain tuning with the VW Taos dual-clutch. Wondering how long the DCT will survive with the unnerving turbo boost delivery. I foresee a Christnas tree of VW warning lights on the dash..... my Jetta turbo had similiiar drivability issue which led to premature CV joint failure from powertrain shock....
I am on my third battery in my 2017 Subaru Outback. I am about to hit 50000 miles. Two Subaru batteries did not work well. Now on a NAPA/Deka battery. Hope it works for a while.
The Mazda3 is the sweet spot. Honda Civic would be second choice due to road noise and material quality vs Mazda. I had an Accord from 2008 and I still remember how much I hated Honda’s lack of sound insulation!!!
I would like a discussion on electronics phones etc., so many places w. paid endorsements except here. oh and wishing everyone here and those in the background a safe and blessed 4th of July celebration and be aware of our veterans that are dealing with PTSD yes it is real I've gotten some very nasty comments about this, and don't forget to thank the veterans as well and those who are wearing the uniforms and also think about this, as we celebrate the holidays here be thankful that we can still celebrate them as American holidays.
CR has an idea in their heads about long stops ("twice the time") that isn't true. I hope they take a new EV and drive on a 2000 mile loop so they get real information and experience beyond circling a test track. Normal people, especially those with young kids, always stop for at least 20 minutes to stretch your legs, bio break, a meal. Unless you're doing the Cannonball Run, long distance in a new EV isn't much of an issue with a little planning. Scout it out first using A Better Route Planner and you can see your stops and how long you'll need to be at each one, based on the car you tell it you're using.
Look at the video "VW Sells Teslas? | In Depth" by UA-camr "Now You Know" starting at 17:30. Electrify America will never be the network that the Superchargers already are. The issue isn’t how well EA works NOW, the question is how committed is VW to maintaining and expanding EA in the future and what happens when the Dieselgate money runs out. The reason EA exists is not because VW thought making a charging network for EVs was a good idea or they thought it was good for the environment. The reason EV exists is only because VW was sued by the US and reached an agreement to create EA as a big mea culpa for the VW Dieselgate scandal.
Double the time to drive from Connecticut to Washington DC? I call BS! You guys need to stop the EV disinformation campaign. Why don't you get people who really understand EVs instead of pretending to expertise?
They claim to be EV experts, but seem to be lost in the woods here. Tesla V3 superchargers will easily add 200 miles of range in about 20 minutes, often charging at speeds up to 250 kW. Many people are road tripping their Tesla's and certainly does not double the time. Many good videos on this.
Incredibly wrong comments about EV road trips. The next time you visit your sister in DC take the Tesla. You can make that trip from Conn without charging although for peace of mind youll want to make a 15 minute stop to top up while you take a leak and get a donut. Charging stops take less time than gas stops because you can go to the bathroom in parallel with charging. With gas you have to fill the tank first then move your car and then you can go to the bathroom. You can't just put a hose in the tank and walk away because of the danger of burning down the gas station. Charging is inherently save so you can plug in and then do something else while it charges. With a Tesla you can add about 150 miles in the time it takes to go to the bathroom. I do day trips every weekend that range from 300 miles to 450. Our stops are to go to the bathroom, charging the car at the same time is a benefit of having to a Tesla. We make the same number of stops as we always did and the stops take the same time.
Gas pumps fill up tanks at a rate of 10 gallons per minute. Assuming 20 mpgs, you get 200 miles per minute. EVs are not there yet. A 20 gallon tanks fills up in 2-3 minutes. On top of that you add the 🚽 time but how long does that take?
@@ItsAlive111 Gas pumps require that you stand there and hold the hose or at very least be there to make sure the gas doesn't overflow. You can't do something else while you wait. With charging you can go to that bathroom or get a snack while the car charges. Something that people who don't own EVs don't realize is that you don't fill your battery to the top when you charge, you only add enough to get comfortably to your destination. Adding 150 miles takes about 15 minutes in a Tesla, the same time as it takes to go to the bathroom. Fast chargers are only used for road trips, not for regular charging. After 3 hours of driving you should stop anyway to stretch your legs and go to the bathroom. There is no equivalent to the weekly trip to the gas station, EVs are charged at home. You park your car and grab the cord and plug in, takes an extra 10 seconds out of your day. Your car charges overnight while you sleep, you always start every day with a full tank.
This week we share our first impressions of the 2022 Volkswagen Taos small SUV; its variety of powertrains, driving characteristics, and quality of cabin materials. NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) updated its recommendations regarding the Tesla Model 3's camera-based AEB system, and we provide an update on CR's scoring of the vehicle. Other topics include: the best new or used cars for under $25k; how to diagnose your car battery's health; and what (if anything) consumers can do about rising destination fees.
I think CR should use the Comments section to chide their viewers ;-)
alex is a good speaker. direct and to the point and does his research.
I drive a 2022 Taos SE for business and spend many hours behind the wheel. I find it a fairly nimble vehicle that likes the twisty roads with ups and downs. The engine provides plenty of torque for climbing and merging with confidence. I found the jack rabbit starting very good as well once the car gets started. There is the DSG lag, not a turbo lag that I learned how to drive with and can now operate the car quite satisfactorily. The downshifting for hill descents is noticeable but tolerable.
On the downside, the hard plastic dashboard is a bit odd, as is the gauge cluster which could stand a refresh. The SEL has a better dashboard gauge setup than the S or SE trim. The seats are tall and comfortable if not a bit hard. I use a seat cushion which solves that nicely. The options are odd with things like a heated steering wheel, rain sensitive wipers coupled with manual HVAC controls. The entertainment unit failed early on in the car and the replacement is so-so. It's hard to pair with my cellphone and when two phones are hooked up, it will prefer one over the other at startup.
The radio also when starting up has trouble loading my Sirius subscription stations in as well as all the other terrestrial radio stations. Also with CarPlay, the radio has to be turned on to operate the system which is a pain. While in CarPlay navigation, the display won't show the radio station which diverts to the gauge cluster display. All in all, the entertainment unit is not up to par with other automobile brands.
The rear seats are roomy but the read doors don't swing fully to 90 degrees. Ride is a bit noisy and stiff, but comfortable on the highway. In town parking and turning circle space is good as is the rear view backup camera. The mirrors are sized right and the visibility is good out the front.
In a nutshell, my VW Taos is an eager little car with plenty of pep and fun to drive.
As a former 3 times VW owner, miss what they used to be, but I've gladly moved on to Mazda 👍
To each their own. I test drove a Taos SE FWD. It felt very lively, though the steering was a bit too light. I also drove a Mazda CX-5. Love the way the Mazda looks and handled, but it actually felt more cramped on the inside, even though it’s slightly larger physically. And the visibility in the Taos was much better. Overall, I preferred the Taos.
Subaru Crosstrek ✔️ Not sexy but practical.
It used to drag its feet but now with the 2.5 engine it’s decent, not fast, just OK
If you out some AT tires on them they look amazing
A clear bra and a vinyl wrap are not the same thing. A clear bra is made of polyurethane and serves the function as described in the episode. A vinyl wrap is made out of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and is much thinner than a clear bra. While a vinyl wrap offers some protection from rock chips and such, that is not its primary purpose. The intent of a wrap is to change the appearance of the vehicle and offers limited protection.
I seems that almost 100% of automobile journalists only want a car if it has a manual transmission, but what percent of the general public wants to drive a manual transmission? I loved driving a manual transmission when I started driving and I swore that a manual would always be my choice. It used to be that automatics were only three speeds, they robbed fuel economy and they took away all of the power and the fun of driving. Times have changed, automatic transmissions are incredible! We don't all live where the roads are flat. It all went downhill for me when I moved to San Francisco, I stopped enjoying driving a manual.
I drove manuals for forty years; 3, 4, and 5-speed, but went to auto about twelve years ago. When I needed a new car, I tried a Mazda3 with a manual and was totally incompetent at driving it. So I'm staying with automatics now. I got a 6 and the transmission is great.
Electrify America is far from the only public charging network. As it happens, EVgo went public this very day… as in NASDAQ. The CR team’s familiarity with the speed and efficiency of public charging networks is, uh, a bit dated. And using the network costs a fraction of what I paid Shell and Exxon in bygone days.
VWs aren't fun to drive any more? Too bad. I had two, years ago, that were fun to drive. However, they were both very problematic.
My VW's sucked 🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋. One went 40k miles the other died at 50,007 miles. Never again VW, my 2012 Versa runs circles around them.
@@apache-yaquibrown4060 I call BS. A versa? Basically the most unreliable car Nissan ever made? Vs a Vw which have been known, especially in diesel forms of the past to push over a million miles?
You can get a 2012 Jaguar XK with a 5l for under 25 thousand with under a hundred thousand miles that's a lovely car right there classic
Former Alfa Romeo Giulia driver here. The 2017-2018 Giulias had battery manufacturing defects resulting in premature failure. Some early 2019s like mine also had random battery discharging issues. There are several powertrain and body control module updates available for 2018 models, and a TSB for re-torquing the battery negative ground eyelet in the trunk to prevent it from coming loose and discharging the battery.
Reliable based on CR, fun, and great all rounder, 2017+ 320i xDrive under $25K. With a tune it's a lot of fun.
"I have an Alfa with a battery issue and I have an older Tacoma thats fine"... This is truly comedy gold... You'll go trough 10 Alfas before anything meaningful happens to that Tacoma..
Re Taos:. I think the FWD setup, with the conventional transmission and 18" wheels sounds much easier to live with than the DSG and 19" rims on the all wheel drive.
Most electric vehicle owners charge at home or work 90% of the time.
EV owners need to get away from the gasoline "fill up" mentality. It is best to keep the battery between 20 and 80% for most daily drives. It is OK to go above or below on road trips. Stopping to charge on the road should not be a problem since most people want to stop every 2.5 or 3 hours for a bathroom break or to get something to eat. EVs are now coming with range of 300 miles or more which makes road tripping easy.
My spouse needs a bathroom break about every 1-2 hours anyway, so ~20 minutes to get back to 80% is about right. That being said, our next car is likely to be a hybrid or PHEV, because when we take roadtrips we like to meander around off the main highways. A PHEV with about ~35-40mi of range would get us to 80-90% EV driving without needing to think about charging on trips.
I think CR needs a new EV expert. Both because he painted EVs with too broad a brush and didn't get into the specifics of the exact question. I agree that most EVs are great a road trips. While he said Tesla was the best he didn't include them as easy to road trip since they have a robust network and are fast to charge with a long range. Finally, the MachE SHOULD be a good long distance car because it has better range than the Model Y but the network isn't the best but more importantly it's charging profile is bad so it's not workable as a long distance EV.
Imagine, these are the same people who go into a bar and ask to charge their phones.
@@vinnytube1001 Exactly. And what happens if there's a pile-up on a major highway and you're sitting still for 1-2 hrs waiting for emergency crews to clear the lane? The anxiety of watching your battery loose it's charge.
Obviously, I'm not most people. EV's are fine for daily commutes but on road trips, I drive, drive drive...up to 14-16 hours in a day...5 min bathroom/fill-up stops only. I carry sandwiches/drinks in an ice chest...I just want to get to my destination. Until EV's can charge as fast as a petrol fill-up, I'll either pass or own both types of vehicles, which kind of defeats the purpose, right?
For 25k I'm going to get a used newer A3, A4,A6, A7 or if lucky S3...
I guess I have the ideal car, a 2016 Mazda 3 I-Touring with a manual. I bought it new for $24,500 OTD. A great car, I just wish it wasn’t so noisy on the highway.
Isn’t the civic worse on road/tire/wind noise?
Driving cross country in an EV is very practical. Everyone should stop every 2 hours or so and stand up and walk around a bit just for safety purposes. You need this to maintain alertness and to avoid medical problems from being inactive.
In the time you take to walk to the bathroom and return, you can get enough charge to get to the next stop. I drive cross country frequently and take the same time for trips in a Tesla as I do in a Toyota.
Under 25K? Ford Maverick Pickup base model with the steelies! Practical and a hybrid.
Besides the high delivery fees, another ridiculous trend is the upcharge for paint colors.
Gabe you stole my pick on the M5! Preferably blue in my case…
Always wanted a e39 m5. I have a e39 530i and it's amazing but may have to sell it for something newer. Feel like I'm gonna regret it. :/ they are amazing cars
~25k recommendations
For someone that doesn't care about "driving" it's hard to escape recommending a Prius. Dead reliable, insane efficiency, hatchback.
Otherwise Civic Hatch, Mazda 3 hatch, and Subaru Crosstrek are hard to pass up, as you already stated.
The real interesting newcomer here is the upcoming Ford Maverick. A base model with a few options will be in that ~25k zone, 40mpg city, and really be good for a small family. But I doubt it will be fun to drive.
@Kinky Streets No kidding. At least the 2.5L is a modified MZR (tried and true) and Ford has an 8 year, 100,000 mile warranty on the hybrid drivetrain. But looking at other recent Fords, the powertrain hasn't been the issue.
I hope Toyota will sell the hybrid version of the Corolla Cross in the USA. Since the Prius V is gone, there is a need for something with the Prius powerplant that's a little larger, and not the 2.5 liter.
Wow! A really harsh evaluation of the AWD/DSG Taos. I don't always agree with CR's evaluations of vehicles (Who does?) But I trust CR to be honest and objective. So the unanimous negative judgment about the Taos is very disappointing. That's especially true considering that the Taos is, in reality, the North American replacement for the venerable basis Golf in an SUV costume.
Well!!!!! I have test driven the new Taos (FWD) twice and it feels zippy to me. Plenty of power to merge onto traffic or pass a car. I thought the exterior looks great. Was just disappointed that the interior didn't impress me. Seemed cheap.
Alex, Get the Corolla hatch with a proper independent rear suspension, you really don't want to settle for the ox cart (torsion beam) rear suspension on the Mazda 3.
As a soon-to-own 2024 Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti, I'm really sad to see it not reliable
These guys all missed the point of the Taos. They complain about the one thing a buyer in this segment wouldn’t care about. They’re not out to race and take off fast. They want a roomy, tech filled, gas sipping Awd vehicle that can handle generally any weather situation, at a low price point. Every single other review seems to be mostly positive except these guys. Turbo leg is pretty common on all vehicles now that have a small turbo. Totally livable. Again, not built to race anyone with.
BMW M5 2003 are very hard to find and if you find one usually they cost more than 25k.
According to Consumer Reports own reliability ratings, the 2019 Mazda3 is average and the 2019 Volkswagen Golf is EXCELLENT. The Golf is a beautiful, time-tested design while the Mazda3 (and Honda Civic) hatchbacks are extremely ugly. You can get the Golf in manual, but since I have an s2000 I went with the 8 speed automatic with start-stop. I wish CR would correct their fuel economy numbers for the 2019 Golf which were based on the previous 1.8L not the 1.4L with 8 spd and not with start-stop. This combo got 34 mpg in the bigger and heavier Jetta. Also, the Golf with 8 spd has to be one of the most efficient cars at Autobahn speeds. Hybrid and electric cars are heavier due to larger batteries and there isn't much regeneration going on when going on a long road trip at 85mph in the Western US.
How do you all feel about the Volkswagen ID 4?
@7:52 when Gabe started saying "reliable, practical has AWD.." I thought he was going to say Camry LE AWD. I love sedans with AWD trend now especially for here in CO.
May need to hook up a tender to the battery.
I'd probably get a 2017 Mazda6 Grand Touring. A little step up from my current 2016 Touring, but a lot more content.
Civic is the solid choice. 💯
I am on my 3rd Jetta, 2020 bought on New Years eve. No problems. I think the Taos will do well for VW but if I had to buy again I would get the Tiguan.
VWs are junk! There’s a reason why they depreciate so quickly.
I live in rural VA and there are EVs all around me. They are most people's second or third vehicles so they have a truck/SUV to haul stuff and people and for long trips. The EV is strictly for commuting and in town trips (ie daily driving)
Scotty Kilmer would’ve love the video about the Alfa and the Tacoma lol
after watching this video i want to have it 👍👍
What would I buy for $25k? well, every car I've bought was under $10k, so to answer the question honestly, a Honda Insight, a VW GTI (would not do that one again, it ended up eating $8k in repairs in 2 years), and a toyota echo with a stick.
but if I had to pick something under $25k right now, the Kia Forte GT with a stick. I know it's missing a lot of what allows CR to recommend it, but it's a warm hatch at civic prices. In my book that makes it pretty good.
Ahhhh..... ahhhhh..... ahhhhh. Sooooo..... ahhhhh..... Gabe, please stop!! Typically half-baked powertrain tuning with the VW Taos dual-clutch. Wondering how long the DCT will survive with the unnerving turbo boost delivery. I foresee a Christnas tree of VW warning lights on the dash..... my Jetta turbo had similiiar drivability issue which led to premature CV joint failure from powertrain shock....
Uhhhh..ahhh.. 😴
I am on my third battery in my 2017 Subaru Outback. I am about to hit 50000 miles. Two Subaru batteries did not work well. Now on a NAPA/Deka battery. Hope it works for a while.
Totally non sensible used Mercedes E Class or Jaguar XF model, or on the more sensible side Chrysler 300 AWD.
The Mazda3 is the sweet spot. Honda Civic would be second choice due to road noise and material quality vs Mazda. I had an Accord from 2008 and I still remember how much I hated Honda’s lack of sound insulation!!!
Alex, Congratulations on getting married! (but don't let your guitars get moved to the closet.)
Can you guys please test and rate the Subaru Crosstrek Sport? I love ❤️ mine.
for 25k i would get a new corolla cross, depending on price it would be an awd le or fwd xle
When will you do a video on wheeled string trimmer’s?
I would like a discussion on electronics phones etc., so many places w. paid endorsements except here. oh and wishing everyone here and those in the background a safe and blessed 4th of July celebration and be aware of our veterans that are dealing with PTSD yes it is real I've gotten some very nasty comments about this, and don't forget to thank the veterans as well and those who are wearing the uniforms and also think about this, as we celebrate the holidays here be thankful that we can still celebrate them as American holidays.
:)
CR has an idea in their heads about long stops ("twice the time") that isn't true. I hope they take a new EV and drive on a 2000 mile loop so they get real information and experience beyond circling a test track. Normal people, especially those with young kids, always stop for at least 20 minutes to stretch your legs, bio break, a meal. Unless you're doing the Cannonball Run, long distance in a new EV isn't much of an issue with a little planning. Scout it out first using A Better Route Planner and you can see your stops and how long you'll need to be at each one, based on the car you tell it you're using.
VW seem like a waste of money to me. Way better and more reliable options out there.
Ok, new host... 🥺
A used Jaguar? The question is "What would you buy if you had 25k" not "what you you buy if you had 25k to spend on repairs" 😆😆
uhhhh, uhhh, uhhh, uhhh.
With all intents and purposes!
uhhh, uhhh, uhhh, uhhh 😔😔and uhhh!
He could make Happy Birthday into a 30 minute snooze fest and suck the life out of everything.
Way annoying
Look at the video "VW Sells Teslas? | In Depth" by UA-camr "Now You Know" starting at 17:30. Electrify America will never be the network that the Superchargers already are. The issue isn’t how well EA works NOW, the question is how committed is VW to maintaining and expanding EA in the future and what happens when the Dieselgate money runs out. The reason EA exists is not because VW thought making a charging network for EVs was a good idea or they thought it was good for the environment. The reason EV exists is only because VW was sued by the US and reached an agreement to create EA as a big mea culpa for the VW Dieselgate scandal.
Double the time to drive from Connecticut to Washington DC? I call BS! You guys need to stop the EV disinformation campaign. Why don't you get people who really understand EVs instead of pretending to expertise?
They claim to be EV experts, but seem to be lost in the woods here. Tesla V3 superchargers will easily add 200 miles of range in about 20 minutes, often charging at speeds up to 250 kW. Many people are road tripping their Tesla's and certainly does not double the time. Many good videos on this.
Incredibly wrong comments about EV road trips. The next time you visit your sister in DC take the Tesla. You can make that trip from Conn without charging although for peace of mind youll want to make a 15 minute stop to top up while you take a leak and get a donut. Charging stops take less time than gas stops because you can go to the bathroom in parallel with charging. With gas you have to fill the tank first then move your car and then you can go to the bathroom. You can't just put a hose in the tank and walk away because of the danger of burning down the gas station. Charging is inherently save so you can plug in and then do something else while it charges. With a Tesla you can add about 150 miles in the time it takes to go to the bathroom. I do day trips every weekend that range from 300 miles to 450. Our stops are to go to the bathroom, charging the car at the same time is a benefit of having to a Tesla. We make the same number of stops as we always did and the stops take the same time.
Gas pumps fill up tanks at a rate of 10 gallons per minute. Assuming 20 mpgs, you get 200 miles per minute. EVs are not there yet. A 20 gallon tanks fills up in 2-3 minutes. On top of that you add the 🚽 time but how long does that take?
@@ItsAlive111 Gas pumps require that you stand there and hold the hose or at very least be there to make sure the gas doesn't overflow. You can't do something else while you wait. With charging you can go to that bathroom or get a snack while the car charges. Something that people who don't own EVs don't realize is that you don't fill your battery to the top when you charge, you only add enough to get comfortably to your destination. Adding 150 miles takes about 15 minutes in a Tesla, the same time as it takes to go to the bathroom. Fast chargers are only used for road trips, not for regular charging. After 3 hours of driving you should stop anyway to stretch your legs and go to the bathroom. There is no equivalent to the weekly trip to the gas station, EVs are charged at home. You park your car and grab the cord and plug in, takes an extra 10 seconds out of your day. Your car charges overnight while you sleep, you always start every day with a full tank.
After owning 5 VWs, no more. Awful reliability!!!!!!
And you realized this after 5?
He could make Happy Birthday into a 30 minute snooze fest and suck the life out of everything.
Who?
The CX-5 has a huge blind spot on the A pillar. Why don’t you nix this on your rating?