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    Talking Cars 460: Consumer Reports' 2025 Automotive Report Card

    With fresh data and new insights, we discuss the best and worst in car reliability, owner satisfaction, and road tests

    Main theme: CR’s latest automotive survey data is in, and it shows how automakers rank in terms of reliability, owner satisfaction, and testing. Our podcast panel gives details on some surprising movement among the brands this year and provides an update on how reliability differs for hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric vehicles. We also highlight the latest changes to CR’s website, which will further empower shoppers.

    More on Cars by Brand
    Which Car Brands Make the Best Vehicles?
    Most and Least Loved Car Brands
    Who Makes the Most Reliable New Cars?
    Which Car Brands Have the Highest Road-Test Scores?
    Which Brands Make the Best Used Cars?
    Who Owns Which Car Brands?

    Audience Questions
    • Is it true that the luxury counterparts to mainstream brands tend to be more reliable? If so, why?
    • Are CR’s car reliability ratings useful for older vehicles?
    • Do you miss any features from older vehicles that aren’t in new cars, like ashtrays or vent windows?

    Talking Cars 460 panel
    “Talking Cars” panelists (from left): Alex Knizek, Jake Fisher, and Steven Elek.

    Photo: Consumer Reports Photo: Consumer Reports

    How to Listen

    “Talking Cars With Consumer Reports” episodes are available through Apple Podcasts (audio or video), audio on Spotify (log-in required), video on YouTube, and on CR’s video hub.

    Engage in the “Talking Cars” community.

    Recent Episodes

    Driving the 2025 Hyundai Sonata, episode 459
    Driving the 2025 Jeep Compass, episode 458
    • Driving the 2025 Mini Cooper S, episode 457
    • Driving the Chevrolet Traverse, episode 456
    • We Bought a Tesla Cybertruck, episode 455

    Have a Question?

    Send a text or video message to TalkingCars@iCloud.com. Please include your first name and where you’re from, and we might feature it in a future episode.

    Talking Cars

    Browse the complete podcast archive for past shows.


    Alex Knizek

    Alex Knizek is an automotive engineer at Consumer Reports. He has been with CR since 2020 and works on the vehicle testing program, technical reporting, and tracking automotive trends and technology. Alex earned a master’s degree in automotive engineering from Clemson University, where he led a team that designed and built a fully functional prototype vehicle. Previously, he was an ergonomics engineer at Ford Motor Company.