We purchased a 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander SE for our test program and share our first impressions of the updated compact SUV, including its new 48-volt mild-hybrid turbo engine, improved interior controls, and why the tiny third row and rough ride may give shoppers pause. We also discuss whether a hybrid system may harm the gas engine if short trips prevent it from fully warming up?

Join CR at https://CR.org/joinviaYT to access our comprehensive ratings for items you use every day. CR is a mission-driven, independent, nonprofit organization.

SHOW NOTES

-----------------------------------

00:00 - Introduction

00:16 - Overview: 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander SE

02:10 - What we liked

07:39 - What we disliked

18:16 - Would you buy it?

25:07 - Question: Could the hybrid system harm the gas engine if short trips prevent it from fully warming up?

---------------------------------- 

Test Results: 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander

https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/mitsubishi/outlander/2026/overview/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

Who Makes the Most Reliable New Cars?

https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-reliability-owner-satisfaction/who-makes-the-most-reliable-cars-a7824554938/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

10 Best SUVs You Can Buy Right Now

https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/suvs/10-best-suvs-you-can-buy-right-now-a8518508556/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

Which Brands Make the Best Cars?

https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/cars-driving/which-car-brands-make-the-best-vehicles-a6159221985/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

Hybrids Are Still the Most Reliable Cars

https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-reliability-owner-satisfaction/electric-vehicles-are-less-reliable-than-conventional-cars-a1047214174/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

This week, we share the results of Consumer Reports' EV Range Test. Find out which vehicles have the longest all-electric driving range, how CR's 70-mph highway range test differs from EPA range testing, and what happens when you completely deplete an EV battery while driving. We also explore our range-test methodology and answer a question about the evolution of vehicle headlights.

Join CR at https://CR.org/joinviaYT to access our comprehensive ratings for items you use every day. CR is a mission-driven, independent, nonprofit organization.

SHOW NOTES:

0:00 - Intro

1:30 - Consumer Reports’ 70-mph highway range test

6:04 - Consumer Reports range test vs. EPA range test

8:00 - Test Conditions: EV driving range

13:22 -  How the brands stack up

14:38 -  Recovering GM Ultium vehicles

22:17 - Why vehicle efficiency matters

28:35 - Audience Question: When did turn signals become a design accent?/What’s the deal with all these new-fashioned headlights?

LINKS:

EV Range Test Results: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/hybrids-evs/electric-vehicles-with-the-longest-range-a2189661367/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

Fastest Charging EVs: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/hybrids-evs/fastest-charging-electric-vehicles-a4112188427/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

Complete EV Ratings: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/types/new/hybrids-evs/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

Hybrid & EV Buying Gude: https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/hybrids-evs/buying-guide/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

This week, we go through the mailbag and answer audience questions, including: Is driving 55 mph really more fuel-efficient—even in a 10-speed like the Acura TLX? We break down the science behind highway MPG, explain how regenerative braking affects brake light activation in EVs like the Hyundai Kona Electric, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and Kia Niro EV, compare jump-starting with cables vs. lithium battery boosters, dig into timing chain vs. timing belt replacement costs in models like the Honda CR-V, and help you decide whether to buy or lease a Honda Ridgeline. Plus, we highlight the best used cars for easier entry and exit, including the Toyota Crown and Subaru Crosstrek.

Join CR at https://CR.org/joinviaYT to access our comprehensive ratings for items you use every day. CR is a mission-driven, independent, nonprofit organization.

SHOW NOTES

-----------------------------------

00:00 - Introduction

01:39 - Question #1: Does the old ‘55 mph is best’ rule still work with 10-speed transmissions?

05:51 - Question #2: Can jump-starting hurt electronics—or is a lithium booster safer?

10:08 - Question #3: Timing chain vs. timing belt: why aren’t chains standard?

13:36 - Question #4: Does regen braking trigger the brake lights?

17:54 - Question #5: Keep my Honda Ridgeline or wait for a hybrid version?

21:05 - Question #6: What’s the best used car that’s easy for seniors to get in and out of?

---------------------------------- 

Most Fuel-Efficient Cars

https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/fuel-economy-efficiency/the-most-fuel-efficient-cars-best-mpg-a1198903400/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

Jump Starter Test Results

https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/jump-starters/c37102/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

How to Find a Great Mechanic

https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-repair-shops/buying-guide/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

Brake Lights Can Fail to Provide Fair Warning on Some Electric Vehicles

https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-safety/brake-lights-can-fail-to-provide-fair-warning-on-some-evs-a9533519285/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

How to Make Your Car More Accessible for Aging, Injury, Disability, or Pregnancy

https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/cars-driving/how-to-make-your-car-more-accessible-a9092978287/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

Who Makes the Most Reliable New Cars?

https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-reliability-owner-satisfaction/who-makes-the-most-reliable-cars-a7824554938/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

10 Best SUVs You Can Buy Right Now

https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/suvs/10-best-suvs-you-can-buy-right-now-a8518508556/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

In this episode, we break down everything you need to know about the 2026 Nissan Sentra SV we purchased for our test program. We cover everything that matters: real-world driving characteristics, engine performance, cabin quality, infotainment usability, and the control frustrations. We also address the big question: why there’s still no hybrid version — and whether that’s a dealbreaker in today’s market. Plus, we answer an audience question about those increasingly massive Yeti, Owala, and Stanley tumblers. Where’s the safest place to store them in your car? Are they actually a projectile hazard in a crash? 

Join CR at https://CR.org/joinviaYT to access our comprehensive ratings for items you use every day. CR is a mission-driven, independent, nonprofit organization.

SHOW NOTES

-----------------------------------

00:00 - Introduction

00:16 - Overview: 2026 Nissan Sentra SV

01:40 - What We Liked

09:12 - What We Did Not Like

30:50 - Question: What is the safest place to store large water bottles in your car?

---------------------------------- 

Test Results: 2026 Nissan Sentra

https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/nissan/sentra/2026/overview/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

Who Makes the Most Reliable New Cars?

https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-reliability-owner-satisfaction/who-makes-the-most-reliable-cars-a7824554938/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

Which Brands Make the Best Cars?

https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/cars-driving/which-car-brands-make-the-best-vehicles-a6159221985/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

How Car Brands Stack Up on Repair Costs

https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-maintenance/the-cost-of-car-ownership-a1854979198/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT