Two newly redesigned Hyundai sedans, the luxurious Genesis and midsized Sonata, highlight episode 37 of “Talking Cars with Consumer Reports.” At first glance, both cars are pretty impressive, although our Sonata SE has already revisited the dealership twice to double-check early-build safety concerns with the steering and brakes. Still, the new Sonata seems like a great value for a now more-practical sedan. While the Genesis is a lot more expensive than earlier versions, it also feels like a substantial upgrade in luxury and content, while remaining something of a bargain.
Episode 34 talked a lot about fuel economy, generating a bunch of viewer comments and questions. In response, we discuss how we measure fuel economy, the role of Eco modes, and take an amusing look at the tendency of online commenters to blame “dumb Americans” for inaccurate fuel economy numbers. American drivers’ preferences also play into a question about Ford’s dual-clutch automated manual transmission.
Finally, we answer two questions from parents shopping for cars for their sons. One buyer wants a luxury sedan for $9,000, while another wants to get a more fuel-efficient, yet upscale, sedan for their tall son. These questions are right up Mike Quincy’s alley; while he joins us on Talking Cars for the first time, Mike fields a lot of similar inquiries on his frequent radio and television appearances.
In response to viewer feedback, we’re working to make Talking Cars a weekly podcast. This will hopefully allow us to answer more viewer questions and discuss automotive news, as well as showcase new cars and testing at the track. Hopefully it doesn’t drive our camera and production crew insane.
Check out the discussion in the video above.
As with the other reports, this episode is also available free through the iTunes store. Subscribe to the video or audio. You'll also find the video on YouTube and the audio via SoundCloud.
Also view:
"Talking Cars" Episode 36: Ford CEO, GM ills
"Talking Cars" Episode 35: Chevrolet Corvette vs. Porsche 911
"Talking Cars" Episode 34: Tesla patents, Ford fuel economy
"Talking Cars" Episode 33: Mini Cooper, German engineering, and more
"Talking Cars" Episode 32: The worst car ever
"Talking Cars" Episode 31: New test cars, from big to small
"Talking Cars" Episode 30: 2014 New York auto show
—Tom Mutchler
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