Best and Worst Cars of 2023 | Talking Cars with Consumer Reports #434

I'm So happy to see another Ford Flex lover! I have one, it has almost 250k on it and has been absolutely rock solid! I have driven it all over the US and can't think of a better road car!

Prius should be a Uber friendly car and they made it worse. As a passenger my head hit and my bags from airport barely fit in.

Old boomers hate new things. Same thing, different tech.

Consumer Reports please consider adding decibel meter interior noise reviews on vehicles! This would be very helpful to consumers.

Owners loving it while reviewers not liking the Rivian means the reviewer is out of touch with the intended buyer.

Retirement is an option

Bought a 23 Tesla model Y as far as regeneration on ice. First EV. Was really happy with regeneration using comfort mode also made stoping starting much safer. Get rid of the OEM tires for winter driving.

You can’t get an LX hybrid on the accord. Only sport, ex-l, sport-l and touring

So while ICE cars make up the majority of the cars in use, and the majority being sold, you've got minimal ICE cars....... May to ruin your credibility in the first 30 secs

"EVs are moving to the Tesla plug" as nice as CR can be these people are so ignorant on electrics. Electrics/PHEVs in America are all standardizing to one plug. Tesla is also being asked or politely forced to open up their network since all cars will be on one plug. It doesn't matter what that plug looks like. Everyone will have the one plug, or will be provided a compatible adapter. You won't have to check compatibility before going to a charge station. They will all work. That's what happened. We didn't "go with the Tesla plug". It's like saying "all gas cars use BP gas". There's only one gas.

I can't believe that people still subscribe to CR. Worthless organizaton.

Rivian driving experience is abismal. Couldn't agree more. Now I shall wait no more than a day before a rivian owner comes at me and tells me I don't know how to drive...

The vast majority of rural America...has NO interest in EVs. And very little interest in Hybrids... (Yet we are being forced)

I wonder what happens to the current plug vehicles as they convert to a Tesla plug. Do they become unusable and lose value?

Traverse the best

Think of you how your smart phone or laptop batteries lose their potency as charge cycles pile up over time. The same problem awaits every single EV and we’re looking at multiple thousands of dollars. And what about disposal after millions of these batteries die? EV is a ticking unknown.

I’m now waiting for The Mazda love fest…wait for it.

As predicted, the Toyota thrash fest begins.

There is a psychology of purchasing. The more you spend for an item, the more you force yourself to become satisfied.

I’ve never even seen a Rivian in traffic where I live, yet it’s included in the conversation.

You pick The Nissan Z and answered all the questions why you’re so biased and tunnel visioned.

I’m going to predict that you’re going to find multiple ways to trash or disregard Toyotas.

Let me just put in a layman’s opinion about internal combustion vehicles, they are here to stay.

What is it with crap seats in cars these days? Honda had comfortable seats in 1990s, but not for years since. Sat in a 2017 Accord. Like sitting on wood!

Toyota hybrids are much more efficient.

I’m really surprised by Jen’s pick of the Rivian as her least favorite car especially given how high the customer satisfaction is. It seems to be more of a personal preference rather than an unbiased review.

Governments around the world are phasing out ICE cars so yeah EVs are coming. It’s no longer a question.

How will a multi story parking garage designed for the weight of Ice cars fare in the future when they are filled with much heavier EVs ?

Just bought the 2023 Honda CR-V Sport Hybrid and I love it! Drives really smooth and I'm getting 400+ miles per fill up. Also looks amazing!! I love the new body style! Great car!

I bought a new 2024 Honda Passport Trailsport and I know it probably won’t be as capable off road (yes I watched the TFL videos) as the 2025 Trailsport but I really don’t care. The Honda V6 is awesome and for what I drive on, pavement, gravel and the occasional trek across the prairie across the deer stand, it is perfect for what I want.

I never get this it must have simulated shifts on a -e-cvt or cvt. Dumb ,.

The regen vs brake question was full of misunderstanding and/or straight up misinformation.

If you turn off 1 pedal drive the brake pedal still uses regen first and blends the brakes in as you decelerate faster. So even if you turn off 1 pedal you are not going to use up your brakes unless you are the type to race to the stop sign or light and stop quickly.

TLDR: regen is always “on”. Basically you as a driver gets to decide if you want it tied to letting off the go pedal or linked to pushing the brake pedal.

I've been thinking the new Prius, now I'll have to consider the Accord hybrid as well. Thanks guys.

Unless you live on a mountain or want to save some pads i dont see the point ,and its dangerous in traffic to watch that switch all the time

Do you sale the cars you test?

I think one important aspect to speak about regarding EV's is the amount of power they now have and available to the general public where there exists a plethora of terrible, unsafe drivers who don't know how to drive with 150-200hp and near similar torque. Let alone EV's that have 300, 400, 500, 600+ HP and torque! In my opinion, driving education needs to change with more offense and defensive driving skills taught if vehicles with those high power figures are going to remain on the market.

Just list the cars and quit the filler already

I remember how highly rated the teslas initially were. I think customer appreciation has dropped over time.

Their favorite vehicles are boring Honda economy cars…..

"We have now had to have a ev battery removed and a couple modules replaced"....Im willing to bet money it was either a Nissan Leaf or a Volkswagen ID.4

You just lost a ton of credibility 👎🏻

I don’t agree 150% percent with the R1S comments. First I test drove and didn’t even notice the brake regen being difficult to get used to. I found it really smooth because it needs to be in the All Purpose drive. Now I’ve owned a R1S for 2.5 weeks and I love it. Looks and feels like what it was designed for, really luxurious all terrain vehicle that is thrilling and is a step into the future of automobile ownership. All their favorites are really pedestrian cars, plain and stuck in the present.

On the R1S, sounds like the lady is unfamiliar with one-pedal driving. I own an R1S, and I did have the kind of trouble she mentions, when I first test drove it (having had no one-pedal driving experience before-hand). But after delivery and after driving it a few times, I developed the one-pedal driving skill needed for smooth operation. It's kind of like a driver who is used to an automatic transmission in an ICE car driving a stick shift for the first time or two: There will be some lurching, the noise of gears grinding, and likely some stalling. But after awhile, most people will develop excellent skill in driving a manual transmission car.

Further, there are many excellent features and functions in the R1S that I do enjoy, not the least of which is that its driving dynamics improve each month with new software downloads, and new features and functions are provided this way as well--all of which improve the ownership experience. I bought the vehicle for its seven-passenger capability and its ability to wade in excess of three feet of water. I've got a passel of grandchildren to haul around, and I live in a flood-prone area. So far, I like the vehicle very much, and the customer service is very good. It's the best vehicle I've driven or owned.

Need to add Timestamps!

A friend of mine had an older CRV that got the "gas mixed in the oil" problem. She waited a couple years, and a few months ago purchased a '23 CRV-EXL (non-hybrid). She was just told by her mechanic... refused to change oil due to GAS IN THE OIL...!!!
Unreal!!! I was going to buy a 2024 CRV, but have now changed my mind.

Are Hybrid Brake Pads Different than Regular ICE Brake Pads??

What an excellent show! I'm a car nut and these three reviewers really covered the aspects of driving that I consider for long term ownership.

Being on a wait list months and months for a luxury vehicle equals high chance of no sale cuz life changes and the appeal of thr chosen vehicle may diminish so so much. Plus no test drive of the particular take home vehicle!!!

This is perhaps the most irrational evaluation I've ever heard from Consumer Reports. If you're going to evaluate cars by how they feel when you drive them your reviewers out of people who hate driving, nit pone who want drive. Cars are transporttion appliances and should be evaluated using the same criteria as toasters or washing machines. Btw the disliked Rivian regen braking indicates to me that the testers didn't RTFM and set it correctly. The primary demographic for EVs is young males-more aggressive divers than average, and that is what the default settings are tuned to please.

No one wants EV’s or Plug-in Hybrids

Interesting content but the format is not for me. I'd rather like to see (maybe in-depth) tests of the cars which are deemed "best" or "worst" rather than seeing people talking alongside some nice pictures/videos of the car.

This video simply has no upfront structure the viewer can navigate. No clear reasons for why a car is considered good/bad, no list of the cars upfront, no details of these cars - it's essentially a brainstorming session of some competent and friendly people, talking about their impressions.