Real car testing, plain-spoken buyer advice.
Talking Cars brings CR voices around specific new vehicles, owner questions, and real test results. The tone is conversational, but the judgments stay focused on daily use: controls, comfort, fuel costs, range, value, and small annoyances that matter.
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Talking Cars is an automotive panel show with a strong test-track sensibility and a low tolerance for nonsense. It sounds casual, but the evaluation is specific. Recent episodes move through the 2026 Subaru Outback, 2026 Mazda CX-5, 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander, 2026 Nissan Sentra, and 2026 Audi A6 with the same basic question in mind: what is this thing like to own and drive? Performance matters. So do seat comfort, interior materials, screen placement, phone integration, cargo space, fuel cost, and whether a control can be used without irritation. The show is at its best when a seemingly small detail becomes a practical verdict. Subaru gets credit for lined door pockets and soft-touch trim. Mazda gets pushed hard on touchscreen-only infotainment, nonstandard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and paid Google built-in access. Nissan's Sentra discussion turns a low purchase price into a broader argument about why an affordable car without a hybrid can cost more over time. The Mitsubishi Outlander episode slows down to explain a 48-volt mild hybrid system in plain terms. The EV range episode does the same for CR's highway testing, including trained drivers, controlled conditions, and 70 mph Connecticut routes. There is also room for auto-show floor chatter, meet-up stories, viewer mail, and questions about fuel-efficient speeds, jump starters, and timing belts. The pace is relaxed. The conclusions are not mushy. The rotating contributors often start by finding what worked, then circle into what will annoy someone in daily driving. That gives the show a useful rhythm: banter, evidence, complaint, comparison, advice. Talking Cars suits shoppers who want to know whether a new model's redesign, screen, engine, trim, or price actually helps the person behind the wheel.
Made for: For car shoppers, owners, and automotive regulars who want grounded impressions before trusting a redesign, feature change, or spec-sheet promise. It especially fits people who care about usability as much as horsepower.
What sets it apart: The show stands apart by turning CR-style testing and panel disagreement into concrete ownership advice. It notices the boring details other car talk skips, then explains why they matter.
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Based on 6 episodes we listened to · September 2026
Detailed panel testing turns vehicle interfaces, powertrains, safety systems, and cabin choices into practical guidance grounded in daily driving.
Talking Cars (MP3) treats a new vehicle as a collection of decisions that have to survive ordinary use. Three-person discussions move from powertrains and fuel economy to seat comfort, touchscreen controls, storage, driver-assistance behavior, and charging.
A touchscreen gets cross-examined as seriously as a powertrain, and your next car is better for it.
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Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.
A grounded trim comparison of the redesigned Outback, with the Touring XT's price premium at the center.
Talking Cars looks at the 2026 Subaru Outback through a clear identity shift: the familiar wagon has been redesigned as something much more plainly SUV-like, while keeping the same dimensions as the 2025 model.
Mazda's touchscreen shift clears out an old annoyance, but the usability tradeoffs still matter.
The 2026 Mazda CX-5 reads as a familiar small SUV with a real shift in how it is used, while still holding onto the sporty character that has long set it apart.
A low-priced Sentra, a carryover drivetrain, and no hybrid.
The discussion frames the redesigned 2026 Nissan Sentra as a careful update rather than a clean-sheet rethink, with Mike Monticello, Emily Thomas, and John LeCove grounding the conversation in a simple reality: Nissan's lowest-priced car now has to stand on its own now that the…
The A6's turbo V6 gives it real charm, but the cabin does not feel special enough.
Talking Cars treats the 2026 Audi A6 Premium Plus as Audi's latest answer to the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class, and the discussion finds its clearest enthusiasm under the hood.
A faster LEAF still leaves the regen and driver-assist setup to learn.
Talking Cars uses the new Nissan LEAF to highlight where EV progress is easiest to see: the car now has a North American charging standard port instead of CHAdeMO, charges about three times faster than the previous LEAF, and Steph Schrader says it rides a lot better.
A grounded look at the Traverse's cabin comfort and turbo-four change.
PlayNext frames the redesigned 2024 Chevrolet Traverse as a practical three-row midsize SUV, and the review stays focused on the version bought anonymously from a local dealer for the test program.
Mazda's softer ride matters, but the touchscreen and missing basics drive the real debate.
The 2026 Mazda CX-5 reads as a familiar compact SUV with a few clear updates: it is longer and a bit wider, and it still tends to be seen as the sportiest of the small SUVs. In the top-trim Premium Plus borrowed here, the price lands at $41,080.
Car reviews with the fine print left in.
Garage talk meets new-car judgment.
Fast car talk with lived-in opinions.
Car reviews with garage-floor honesty.
Consumer Reports experts Mike Monticello, Emily Thomas, and Steve Ellick share first impressions of the newly redesigned 2024 Chevrolet Traverse, which they purchased for $49,460.
The Consumer Reports team reviews the 2026 Mazda CX-5 Premium Plus, priced at $41,080.
The hosts discuss the 2025 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, covering its price, features like adaptive cruise control, specifications including a 2-liter twin-turbo engine, and how it differs from other models.
The Talking Cars crew compares two 2026 Subaru Outbacks: a Premium with the base 2.5-liter engine for $40,098 and a Touring XT with the turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder for $50,290.
The panel takes on the 2026 Mazda CX-5 with a top-trim Premium Plus borrowed from Mazda on the table.
The hosts discuss their experiences and observations at the 2026 New York International Auto Show, highlighting themes like the presence of EVs, SUVs, and off-road vehicles, while noting some manufacturer absences.
The hosts discuss their first impressions of the 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander, highlighting its new 1.5L turbocharged mild hybrid powertrain and Yamaha audio system.
The episode discusses Consumer Reports' real-world highway EV range test results, with automotive engineers explaining the testing methodology and findings.
This episode is a listener mailbag where the hosts answer automotive questions, including topics like portable jump starters, fuel-efficient driving speeds, and timing chains versus timing belts.
Mike Monticello, Emily Thomas, and John LeCove open with three things to know about the redesigned 2026 Nissan Sentra.
["Talking Cars reviews the redesigned 2026 Audi A6 Premium Plus and asks whether its turbo V6 justifies a $73,000 price.", "Alex Nizek and Ryan Polakowski host with Jeff Bartlett, Cars' managing editor, who has been with CR for over 20 years.", "The A6 is measured against the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class as a full-new-generation midsize luxury sedan.", "Jeff says the turbo V6 is the car's standout because it defines the A6's character."]
Talking Cars welcomes Steph Schrader to the panel.
This episode provides practical advice on when to replace tires, how to check tread depth and condition, and discusses tire safety and maintenance tips.
This live podcast episode discusses the current state of electric vehicles in 2025, covering market trends, consumer considerations, and industry developments.
The hosts discuss their first impressions of the redesigned 2024 Chevrolet Traverse, focusing on its new features, engine changes, and pricing after purchasing a test vehicle.