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Talking Cars 490: Driving the 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid

Main theme: We bought a 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid Calligraphy AWD for our test program, Hyundai’s first model to use its new hybrid system based on a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder. The podcast panelists share first impressions of this three-row family hauler, covering performance, fuel economy, interior space, cabin luxury, and daily usability. Then they discuss how the hybrid stacks up against the gas-only Palisade. . Read...
Posted:Wed Jan 14 06:00:01 EST 2026

What to Keep in a Winter Car Emergency Kit

Winter driving can quickly turn from routine to risky when snow, ice, or frigid temperatures strike unexpectedly. Being prepared isn’t just a convenience—it’s essential for your safety. A well-stocked winter car emergency kit equips you with the necessary tools and supplies to handle common roadside setbacks, including dead batteries, flat tires, getting stuck in snow, and waiting for help in the cold. This guide highlights the ke...
Posted:Sat Jan 10 06:00:12 EST 2026

Proposed Law Takes Aim at Unsafe Electronic Car Door Handles

A new bill aims to address growing safety concerns with electronic car door handles that may not function properly if a vehicle loses power or is involved in a crash. More On Car Safety Tell Automakers: Make Electronic Door Handles Safer. .How to Escape Your Car If the Electronic Door Handle Fails. .Clearing the Confusion About Advanced Car-Safety Feature Names. .Cars and Features to Help You Stay Safe on the Road . U.S. Rep. Robin Kel...
Posted:Wed Jan 07 12:51:04 EST 2026

First Drive: 2026 Nissan Sentra Gets Updated Styling and Tech While Keeping the Same Powertrain

As automakers continue to drop subcompact cars and hatchbacks from their lineups, compact models are now the smallest, lowest-cost cars available. With the Versa’s demise, Nissan’s lowest-priced sedan is now the redesigned 2026 Nissan Sentra, which is available in four trim levels, each starting below $28,000.. Nissan didn’t radically overhaul the Sentra with the redesign. Instead, it’s more of a significant freshening, with the...
Posted:Wed Jan 07 06:00:25 EST 2026

Best Used Cars and SUVs Under $20,000

While buying a pre-owned car is known as a smart way to save money, it can also get you into a model that has the safety, comfort, and convenience features you otherwise might not be able to afford in a new car.. To help you focus your search, we analyzed years of test data and hundreds of thousands of survey responses to find the best used cars that cost $15,000 to $20,000. Small Cars. Midsized Cars. Sports Cars. Small SUVs. Midsized S...
Posted:Tue Jan 06 15:03:45 EST 2026

Best Car Batteries for Cold Weather

Winter is tough on cars—even before they are turned on. Cold weather causes the engine oil to thicken and create resistance, and the chemical reactions in the electrolyte solution in the car battery slow. These factors combine to make it harder for the starter motor to do its job, leading to a slow-cranking start or even the inability to turn the engine over. . For drivers who live in colder climates or plan to travel through them, t...
Posted:Tue Jan 06 09:58:13 EST 2026

Best Rotating Car Seats

At one point or another, every parent has had the awkward experience of bending and twisting to secure a squirmy child into a child car seat. Rotating models are a relatively new innovation that can help make it easier to get kids safely into and out of the car—and potentially save parents a bit of effort and lower back strain in the process. MORE ON CAR SEATS Best Car Seats Under $250. .When Should You Switch Car Seats?. .Best All-in...
Posted:Mon Jan 05 06:00:15 EST 2026

15 Most Common Car Seat Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Most parents think their child’s car seat or booster seat is installed correctly. But nearly half of installations are flawed in some way, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. When your child’s car seat isn’t properly secured, it can come loose in a collision—or potentially even during regular driving—risking injuries or worse. MORE ON CAR SEATS CR's Car Seat Ratings & Buying Guide. .How to Choose t...
Posted:Sun Jan 04 06:05:08 EST 2026

Porsche Recalls 174,000 Cars and SUVs to Fix Backup Cameras

Porsche is recalling some 2019 through 2025 Cayenne and Cayenne E-Hybrid SUVs, 2020 to 2025 911 sports cars and Taycan EVs, 2024 and 2025 Panamera sedans, and 2025 Panamera E-Hybrid sedans to fix faulty backup cameras that might not show an image when the car is in Reverse. MORE ON RECALLS What a Car Recall Notice Means and What to Do. .We Answer Your Car Recall Questions. .Make Sure the Used Car You Want Doesn't Have an Open Recall. I...
Posted:Wed Dec 31 10:01:59 EST 2025

Talking Cars 489: Best & Worst Cars of 2025

Main theme: Following our year-end tradition, we present our own version of "Wrapped" by gathering a wide range of staffers at CR’s Auto Test Center to share their picks for the best and worst cars that Consumer Reports tested in 2025! This goes beyond our usual podcast panelists, sharing a look behind the scenes while giving voice to more experts.. This extended team is key to CR’s evaluation process, driving our test cars in thei...
Posted:Wed Dec 31 06:00:08 EST 2025

Hyundai Tucson Recalled for Tow Hitch Fire Risk

Hyundai is recalling nearly 52,000 Tucson SUVs from the 2022 through 2024 model years because their optional tow hitch wiring harnesses may have been installed incorrectly, which could lead to a vehicle fire. MORE ON car RECALLS Why So Many Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis Vehicles Are Getting Recalled for Fire Risks. .More Hyundai and Kia Vehicles Recalled for Trailer Hitch Fire Risk. .What a Car Recall Notice Means and What to Do. .We Answer...
Posted:Mon Dec 29 12:22:46 EST 2025

Best Infant Car Seats of 2025, Lab-Tested and Reviewed

When you’re shopping for an infant car seat, it’s hard to know which one will work best for your child, car, and lifestyle. To help you narrow it down, here’s what CR’s car seat safety experts recommend you look for when choosing an infant car seat. Plus, find the top-rated infant car seats from our rigorous lab and crash testing.  Which Infant Car Seats Are Safest?. Best Infant Car Seats. When Do Babies Outgrow an Infant Car S...
Posted:Mon Dec 22 11:20:22 EST 2025

How to Keep Your Car From Getting Stolen

Vehicle thefts have decreased by 23 percent in the first six months of 2025, compared with the same period in 2024, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). However, they are still a significant concern, with 334,114 vehicle thefts reported during those six months. Hyundai and Kia thefts have been in the headlines over the past few years, spurred on by social media trends that chronicle how to steal certain models withou...
Posted:Thu Dec 18 11:47:52 EST 2025

Talking Cars 488: Driving the 2026 Toyota RAV4 PHEV

Main theme: In this podcast episode, we share our early driving impressions of the redesigned 2026 Toyota RAV4, which we borrowed from the manufacturer. The big news is that this uber-popular SUV is now offered strictly as a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), and in both front- and all-wheel-drive configurations. Dimensionally, the new model is identical to the previous model, but it does come with standard BSW and RCTW.. The hybrid pr...
Posted:Wed Dec 17 06:00:01 EST 2025

How to Make Your Car Battery Last Longer

You try to turn on your car, and it just won’t start. Maybe the dashboard doesn’t even light up. A likely cause: The 12-volt battery is dead.. All cars lose a little battery power when parked. If you drive the car regularly, its electrical system will charge the battery back up. But if your battery dies after being parked for only a few days, you may have a serious problem that could eventually leave you stranded. More on Car Mainte...
Posted:Sun Dec 14 06:00:01 EST 2025