Talking Cars with Consumer Reports #109 - Honda CR-V and Volkswagen Golf Alltrack
The Ideal Jetta TDI Replacement Under $15,000: A Search for Sport and Reliability
For those currently owning a Jetta TDI and looking to replace it with something new under $15,000, there are several options worth considering. Since a new VW may not be the best choice due to past issues with diesel technology, let's explore alternative vehicles that offer sportiness and good looks.
The BMW 1 or 3 Series is definitely a viable option for those who want a fun-to-drive car. Both models drive well and get great mileage, making them an attractive choice for anyone looking for a reliable vehicle with a sporty twist. The A4, on the other hand, may be preferred by those who like the feel of a more premium vehicle, but it's ultimately up to personal preference.
When it comes to finding a replacement for the Jetta TDI, one should also consider factors such as maintenance costs and reliability. As mentioned earlier, BMWs can break the bank when it comes to maintenance, especially if they're not driven by someone with experience. Mazda 3 is another option that may seem like a sacrifice in terms of driving pleasure, but it's actually a great choice for those who prioritize reliability over sportiness. The Mazda 3 drives better than one would expect from an economy car and offers plenty of features at an affordable price.
One notable exception to the Mazda 3 is the 6-series model, which may offer more substantial and quieter ride compared to the compact 3. However, it's essential to keep in mind that a newer model might be out of budget, so a slightly older version could still provide excellent value for money.
For those who are looking for an alternative to the BMW 3 Series, there are other options worth considering. A Honda Accord, for instance, can offer similar reliability and features at a lower price point. However, one should also be aware that the power shift transmission in certain Civic models has proven to be problematic, so it's crucial to choose a different model or generation.
As the search continues, another option to consider is the Ford Fusion. Its reliability record is generally better than some other models in its class, and it offers a more spacious interior compared to the Mazda 3. However, like any car, maintenance costs should still be taken into consideration.
Finally, for those looking for an all-wheel-drive vehicle, the Subaru Impreza is worth considering. Its Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system provides excellent traction in snowy conditions, making it an ideal choice for drivers who live in areas with harsh winters.
Ultimately, the best car for this scenario will depend on individual preferences and priorities. As a general rule of thumb, Mazda 3 remains a great option for those prioritizing reliability over sportiness, while Honda Accord or Ford Fusion may offer more value for money without sacrificing too much driving pleasure.
"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enwe cover the 2017 Honda CRV recap our Volkswagen Golf all track testing and answer viewer questions next on talking cars hi everyone and welcome to another episode of talking cars with Consumer Reports I'm John linov I'm Gabe shenhar and I'm Mike Quincy and as you can see behind us we've got a very highly anticipated 2017 model the Honda CRV and I think it's it has a chops that possibly knock off some vehicles from the top of our ratings of small SUVs what do you think gab it's totally conceivable it's too early to know that yet but still yeah exactly but it has a lot of potential the car is roomy it's uh well equipped it's uh we we got an LX and an ex uh so we have the two powertrains the normally aspirated one and the turbocharged one right so so can you elaborate a little bit on the on the two different on the versions of that so sure uh the base l has the 2.4 L engine a normally aspirated engine totally regular engine uh the ex uh uplevel model comes with a smaller 1.5 lit engine that's turbo and is designed to suck in more air to make it uh quicker and more fuel efficient although horsepower is pretty similar between the two but it's kind of like uh with the Civic that there's one regular engine one turbo engine so we'll see uh which one's better which one gets the better fuel economy and I mean I think uh these are pretty promising cars right well I mean Mike they're they're they use a CVT um and we've put on I think you know we put on almost our our test break in mileage at this point what have you felt with both of them have you seen one that's a little little more enjoyable one a little noisier a little quieter what do you think I mean c certainly cvts have a LoveHate relationship with us there's some manufacturers that do it well some manufacturers that don't do it well uh it's it's pretty unobtrusive in my experience uh it's probably one of the better ones out there it still doesn't kind of compete as it's just not nice and satisfying as the the I guess the sixspeed unit in the in the Rev 4 T of hold revs is that what you're saying exactly and and you know there's a reason though that the CRV is is one of the most popular uh models searched for on consumer ports online I mean that the Subaru Forester this is always the vehicle that that that young families always interested in in finding out more well what do you think they've done well I was going to say what do you think they've done differently in this one you know with a redesign on top of that search vehicle you know we we know it's been one of the most popular sales models out there it's had average to very good reliability over the years you know ups and downs what about this one what do they change well I think they're they're smart to go a little bit bigger because because that's kind of the trend that was once a small SUV and now it's it's kind of growing a a lot a lot larger they're they're doing better with some of their infotainment systems I think but they're still not as good as some of the best ones that we've tested Honda just as a corporation makes me wonder what's going on we don't recommend any of their Acura sedans uh the Civic isn't recommended by Consumer Reports anymore relability so you know has as the CRV a sign that Honda is waking up from their Slumber Gabe what do you think of that well by the way the uh CRV is the most popular car among our readers uh I mean there are tons of uh our subscribers that have a a CRV and why not I mean why wouldn't you want a CR in your model car right it's reflected in our owner survey because we get a lot of data of satisfaction as well as reliability data exactly so um but uh yeah Mike is uh is right with his Impressions uh both cars uh work well I think the CVT is kind of like uh it's pretty palatable when you're just loafing around I mean if you're really in a hurry it's got some some of the uh the symptoms of a CVT with the rubber band kind of feel and that's true for both of uh the turbo and the non-turbo yeah um I mean I I spent couple hundred miles about 300 miles in in the ex that we have and it's a cloth seat one and I was shocked at just how nice that vehicle is with the cloth seats even the touchscreen I know they that their their touchcreen infotainment system the big flat panel it looks nice it's reliability has been up and down this one seems to be a little faster a little snappier um some of the Logics changed a little bit still it's nice to have a volume KN I'd rather have a tuning knob you know things like that this this LAX back here it's a great vehicle it it works it's super comfy it's got the roominess you talked about and then the the infotainment system I mean it's a real basic basic setup it's darn good yeah actually I wish that this normally aspirated uh engine would be available with the other trim lines so you get the better or the I don't know if better but the more elaborate infotainment system and the power seat and the heated seats right right the sunroof and such things you get on the ex but you don't get on the LX sure sure that's what's frustrating to me is like the CRV that I would want they don't make I mean I want the better engine I want the better seats but I want the simpler controls and all and all the safety equipment also you know it doesn't seem like you can get exactly that that is that's a key thing to mention you know that uh Honda sensing system is available on this uh throughout the line so you know you're getting forward collusion warning you're getting automatic emergency braking and you finally have a conventional blind spot system we don't have the lane watch with the weird screens thank God that's gone right right so you know we're gonna we're gonna put the final miles on that get that through testing you know in this this late winter Springtime and get get that score out to everyone because again it's a popular vehicle huge among our readers absolutely and it's a pretty good deal too I mean 24,000 for the LX and you got a pretty large car which you know a lot of room T of room D drives reasonably well y uh they totally improved the handling it's much more agile now uh the ride is is better the less road noise as well mhm uh the ex uh at 29 and change is also a pretty good deal you get par seats four-way Lumber supports I mean but you don't even get that in any Acura yeah you don't even get that in a lot of big Toyotas or Le exactly yeah heated seats and all the active safety features you mentioned yeah yeah I mean and the one the one thing you know to wrap up on on the CRV we didn't even get the EXL which is a popular level those seats are fantastic those cloth seats they're high quality it's not as if you you went Lev Leather by the way right the EXL was the leather we got the ex um I I was shocked at that so it's really really great so another I'm with you about the knob by the way um I don't need the volume knob because I do that with a steering wheel yeah and you do need T tuning knob tapping and tapping and tapping is as frustrating as anything I know um the other vehicle that a lot of people have asked us about and we we publish our ratings recently Volkswagen Golf all track um so Mike why don't you just give a little bit overview on what that is and and what we thought about it it to me it's one of those almost perfect vehicles I love the all Trak I love how the visibility is is outstanding the seats are comfortable the engine is really responsive uh it has kind of a a burlier mus more muscular look to it with a little fender flares little slightly elevated ride height it has excellent steering I mean all the all the things that we love about how Volkswagens drive it is is Incorporated in the all TR the problem that I having with the all track is the reli ility is such a crap shoot with Volkswagen I mean you almost want to say I want I want how I want everything that's good about the alt track the way it drives but I want like Subaru's corporate reliability instead of Volkswagen that's that's just that's my one kind of pause would that be a kicker for you would you go Outback over all track just because of that well I mean my heart says all track my head says Subaru Outback uh I I think if I was really going to consider something like this I'd lease the Volkswagen because at the end of the lease maybe when stuff starts breaking falling apart or you've had a good experience you know depending on how it goes you could kind of walk away from it if you're going to keep a vehicle for a really long time uh I would definitely go with the Subaru so reliability over performance the the quality interior not that subra is a bad interior or anything like this but the all track is almost like a you know affordable Audi Allroad to some ways yeah I mean it's very substantial it's very sophisticated drives beautifully uh you kind of feel like you're in an Audi um with the ult Trak um despite the uh raised ride height it doesn't really uh compromise anything about the ride or the handling yeah you don't feel Tippy or any that anything like that so easy to live with you know it is and um so I think it's a pretty uh pretty compelling uh proposition for $30,000 if you don't need all the room that the Outback affords you and uh me that's almost and you appreciate right and you appreciate the uh the driving characteristics of the golf then uh there is then you're going to go with the golf I mean even knowing that you might have some based on the regular golf uh according cor survey you know reliability is not Stellar right but you know you might be in for C problems here and there yeah here's here's and exactly and the Outback is uh not really excellent like it used to be it's average yep here's two kickers so first of all FCW and a optional right you know so you're you're cracking $30,000 in in here and and we didn't even get one you could get even higher higher level um and then you can't get blind spot in the all track get it in the golf Sport Wagon so whereas with Subaru it it may be optional some of the packages but you're getting eyesight you can get it no matter what right that's uh yeah that lack of BL blind spot is really inexplicable in the old track uh but yeah with the subar you get the eyesight uh option and it's available pretty much on on all trims nowadays right it is it is so I I was really happy driving the all track had it for a nice long weekend and you know the family wife two little kids I had the whole BJ's Wholesale Club you know load in the back of it it's perf and it was great you know and I wasn't worried about you know climbing up and down you know sometimes little kids climbing in out of the SUVs is annoying um it it was really great it's it's a nice vehicle the the the lack of blind SP was really surprising there were a couple times I just expected it you know and you're driving the different Vehicles all the time you do expect it so if You' had it in in a vehicle before all of a sudden like what what's going on I haven't been in that all track for months I mean I can never get into it there's always some name on oh gosh yeah I'll bet at the end when we're done with this vehicle it has some high high miles because it's always being signed out I wonder if the Q7 or the all TR will have higher miles that Q is pretty high um so we've got a couple really good questions that have come on to uh to our YouTube site from the past episodes and and wanted to get you guys get some feelings on this first one off is what about your best recommended cars just for regular people who want something under $25,000 with forward Collision protection cruise control with automatic braking Lane departure blind spots that's what people can afford yeah um actually nowadays you have choices uh I mean you can get a Toyota Corolla for 20,000 hours and and you get all this stuff standard you can get a rsia you can gets for 16 17,000 right mm but it's pretty much Toyota I mean I was looking at one of our lists that we have online about cars that are available with all the stuff and and it's you know it's Toyota Corolla it's it's IM it's IIA it's Prius sure and because because as Gabe says it's all you don't have to think or what which trim line do I have to get it it's it's standard on all of them so really that for the for for for the most safety for the money you you just got to go to Toyota I'm pretty sure you can do a Mazda 3 with some options and still come in on y some level of the Mazda 3 um super Impreza new Impreza is going to have eyesight availability as well yeah our Impreza we' got is 23 and change and it's got all that stuff it's it's one thing it's not going to trickle into the used car market as quickly you know you're still going to have to get a used luxury car which is going to be a higher priced uh model but I would say within two years probably we're going to start seeing these these cars drop in what do you what do you think of that is is that where we're going to see them is that when people who are looking in the $20,000 ceiling are going to find these vehicles yeah in two three years you're going to get all kinds of pre-owned um used cars uh back in the US car market and uh some of them not all of them are going to have uh this kind of stuff but as you said I mean it's it's it's the trickle down theory of of new automotive technology it's going to anti-lock brakes show showed up the more expensive cars first stability controls sort of expensive cars first and then it it comes down to be so common and it just it's what I was thinking about when you said I'm driving the all track and there's no blind spot you almost get you almost get so used to having all this high-tech stuff not that it's Frills I mean it's really essential or useful and I and as Gabe says the the the the cheaper models are going to get more of this stuff as time goes on I think more more new cars are going to have it as well uh and affordable ones too because since we um give more points to cars that have uh automatic emergency braking a uh I think that's going to be an incentive for manufacturers to equip their cars that way it's a fantastic point is that you know we've seen manufacturers talk about adding it across the line since we started take deducting points and adding points deducting if you don't have adding points if you have it standard across your entire model line and not just on those trims where it's like well you can get it on the ex Platinum touring level and you have to buy you know that that $20,000 car is all of a sudden 32 Grand so and and that was Honda's Mo when stability control came out you had to get the highest trim line to get stability control right you know and so some of these you know they still don't offer it on the lowest level they still have that and they claim Honda says you know oh there's that owner just wants nothing on it but it's going to come soon hopefully it's not through uh they're not forced into a mandate it would be much better to see them just do it because it's what's good business so our next question is going to be about the BMW 330 uh you review on the BMW 330i seemed to be quite a strong improvement over the previous version you tested which was the 328i how close are the 330i and the new A4 that you really really like throw this again yeah um both of these cars are really good I mean I find myself alternating between these two you know one day I go then I get exactly so uh I'm happy commuting in either of these cars like for the rest of the Year by the way so PMW changed uh some things you know we harped kind of harp but we we found the steering deficient in the last one so uh yeah after the freshening 417 the car the three series now steers better it uh the engine sounds so much better better now and uh it so it's more the suspension is more tied down and uh the ride got a little firmer um it can be a little choppy they also improved the eye drive by the way so uh the whole car is uh is improved and I agree with everything G said except for the engine I think the engine sounds terrible the four-cylinder direct injection thing is just it sounds like a diesel I gave a couple people and stuff like that I gave people a couple rides in our 330 and and and one guy said is this a diesel and I said no actually it's a gas engine I mean I think I think it sounds Dreadful it's not like the six-cylinder uh engines of of past BMWs which I love right that's silky smooth right but once once once you're once you're once you're going it's it's unobtrusive certainly uh but if you're if you're standing outside of the car just when it's idling especially when it's cold it just it sounds wretched still it's better than 328 uh always sounded like a diesel and it's kind of a common almost within the industry you know now with direct injection you hear that tapping you know it's only the the quietest vehicles with the by quietest I mean on the most sound deadening uh by the firewall that's keeping that out you're hearing it on on so many things so A4 or 328 330i excuse me you know i' i' I I I love both of them you got to choose one you got I've had I've had time do long drives in both the A4 and in the BMW 3 Series and I'm leaning towards the A4 okay I think it's a little quieter I think it's a little bit more comfortable I think the controls are a little less daunting uh I think visibility is a little bit better I mean it it's not drastically better you somebody drops a 330 in my driveway said here I'm happy I'm I'm not complaining at all but but for me to choose the two i' I'd get the A4 and I'm a freak of nature I'd actually order one with a manual transmission oh yeah which you can still get with the A4 and and I I really that's that car that car hits me right so the Audi Camp Gabe so yeah I mean it's really a matter of uh personal choice here I mean Personal Taste I mean they're so close uh the Audi rides a little better and is a little quieter than the BMW true um personally I don't know I'm uh be draw to the BMW probably yeah I I find I find the BMW comfortable I like the Audi a little more the Audi gives me it gives you touch more space I feel a little more in the rear seat and just a little more in the cockpit so I like that even with their their um the the display screen in the G dash for the gauges you know is a little convoluted at times you know it's popping out it's going narrow you have the gauges it's it's cool I tend to just use the center screen and leave it at that um I I just like to feel and I think the a little bit lower not as much of a tight cockpit as the of the A4 they both Drive really well they both get great mileage they're fun to drive can't go wrong with you you can't go wrong you know if if you're currently own an A4 stick with that if you like the 328 go with that 330 I think the A4 has a little bit more of a a touch of a Hightech feel to it than the BMW it might be a little more well-rounded but BMW is more fun there we are so the last question we've got looking for advice on a Jetta TDI replacement under 15,000 we don't want another VW so they had bad experience apparently with with the diesel situation uh something sporty and good-looking thought about an older used BMW 1 or 3 Series or a 1 to 2year Old Mazda 3 BMW's drivve better Mazda is more reliable we'll throw the mic where are we there so Mazda Mazda 3 Mazda 3 don't don't kid yourself older BMWs uh BMW break my wallet I mean forget it I in terms of keeping it going routine oil changes routine maintenance uh as as delightful as as an older BMW would be to drive uh I would be very nervous about buying one out of warranty uh but I especially 6 years old or something they're talking about I and I but I tend to to I I'll give up some driving pleasure for for better reliability that's just me that's where I'm going to going to go toward just cuz I've had unreliable cars that have costly in the past and I've had really reliable ones that really cheap to maintain and we don't know if it's if the driver if uh needs rear wheel drive you know if they live in a you know Sunny warm area that's a good point climbs but you can have fun with the Mazda 3 withont Drive I don't I don't think you're you're making a lot of sacrifice to getting getting a Mazda 3 no it doesn't drive like a BMW but it but it drives better than you'd think a kind of an economy car would drive uh lots of features pretty good good controls depending on whether or not you got the center controller thing and and a good reliability history I mean a lot of Mazda hold up very well over the long term and have pretty decent owner satisfaction according to our surveys uh so I mean you know maybe a three series if you're if you're retired and you can don't have to worry about it so much yeah it's someone younger but no no no so yeah I think the fun or the you know practicality no nothing wrong with the Mazda 3 you can't go wrong there but uh I think you if you want to expand your uh choices there I think uh maybe by uh dropping uh uh a year or two uh you might want to if you want something a little more substantial and quieter than the Mazda 3 you might want to look at Honda Accord maybe or or even the Mazda 6 or a Ford Fusion right good point the Ford Fusion I was going say you know reliability you know being the issue you could get a Civic you know a couple year old Civic not a bad car not the sportiest out there um but going to do do that split screen Civic thing well and that's the thing you're falling into that previous generation Civic you know forward Focus again you know the power shift transmission is so problematic but it's the fun sporty car you know I would lower lower repair price at the per hour but you're going to be having Rel stay away from the focus and i' stay away from the Civic as well yeah so so at that point you know you we're left with you know not a lot of choices um you know the Hyundai's Hyundai offerings aren't really the sportiest ones out out there you know and maybe maybe an Impreza you know if you need it for the winter weather you know you just want the security of all-wheel drive and again I'm not going to say for sportiness I'm saying for winter you know you can look at an empreza as well or even the Legacy might year older right and it depends you know if you can in the $155,000 range you could find an older Legacy which should be a solid car and it wouldn't be too big but Gabe's totally on the money with a 2-year-old Accord that's a it's a great use car a lot of car for the money excellent suggestion so Legacy Accord uh the Maza 3 definitely a good choice stay away from the BMW 3 Series the use BMW is a bad idea well that's it for this episode of talking cards with Consumer Reports as always see you next timewe cover the 2017 Honda CRV recap our Volkswagen Golf all track testing and answer viewer questions next on talking cars hi everyone and welcome to another episode of talking cars with Consumer Reports I'm John linov I'm Gabe shenhar and I'm Mike Quincy and as you can see behind us we've got a very highly anticipated 2017 model the Honda CRV and I think it's it has a chops that possibly knock off some vehicles from the top of our ratings of small SUVs what do you think gab it's totally conceivable it's too early to know that yet but still yeah exactly but it has a lot of potential the car is roomy it's uh well equipped it's uh we we got an LX and an ex uh so we have the two powertrains the normally aspirated one and the turbocharged one right so so can you elaborate a little bit on the on the two different on the versions of that so sure uh the base l has the 2.4 L engine a normally aspirated engine totally regular engine uh the ex uh uplevel model comes with a smaller 1.5 lit engine that's turbo and is designed to suck in more air to make it uh quicker and more fuel efficient although horsepower is pretty similar between the two but it's kind of like uh with the Civic that there's one regular engine one turbo engine so we'll see uh which one's better which one gets the better fuel economy and I mean I think uh these are pretty promising cars right well I mean Mike they're they're they use a CVT um and we've put on I think you know we put on almost our our test break in mileage at this point what have you felt with both of them have you seen one that's a little little more enjoyable one a little noisier a little quieter what do you think I mean c certainly cvts have a LoveHate relationship with us there's some manufacturers that do it well some manufacturers that don't do it well uh it's it's pretty unobtrusive in my experience uh it's probably one of the better ones out there it still doesn't kind of compete as it's just not nice and satisfying as the the I guess the sixspeed unit in the in the Rev 4 T of hold revs is that what you're saying exactly and and you know there's a reason though that the CRV is is one of the most popular uh models searched for on consumer ports online I mean that the Subaru Forester this is always the vehicle that that that young families always interested in in finding out more well what do you think they've done well I was going to say what do you think they've done differently in this one you know with a redesign on top of that search vehicle you know we we know it's been one of the most popular sales models out there it's had average to very good reliability over the years you know ups and downs what about this one what do they change well I think they're they're smart to go a little bit bigger because because that's kind of the trend that was once a small SUV and now it's it's kind of growing a a lot a lot larger they're they're doing better with some of their infotainment systems I think but they're still not as good as some of the best ones that we've tested Honda just as a corporation makes me wonder what's going on we don't recommend any of their Acura sedans uh the Civic isn't recommended by Consumer Reports anymore relability so you know has as the CRV a sign that Honda is waking up from their Slumber Gabe what do you think of that well by the way the uh CRV is the most popular car among our readers uh I mean there are tons of uh our subscribers that have a a CRV and why not I mean why wouldn't you want a CR in your model car right it's reflected in our owner survey because we get a lot of data of satisfaction as well as reliability data exactly so um but uh yeah Mike is uh is right with his Impressions uh both cars uh work well I think the CVT is kind of like uh it's pretty palatable when you're just loafing around I mean if you're really in a hurry it's got some some of the uh the symptoms of a CVT with the rubber band kind of feel and that's true for both of uh the turbo and the non-turbo yeah um I mean I I spent couple hundred miles about 300 miles in in the ex that we have and it's a cloth seat one and I was shocked at just how nice that vehicle is with the cloth seats even the touchscreen I know they that their their touchcreen infotainment system the big flat panel it looks nice it's reliability has been up and down this one seems to be a little faster a little snappier um some of the Logics changed a little bit still it's nice to have a volume KN I'd rather have a tuning knob you know things like that this this LAX back here it's a great vehicle it it works it's super comfy it's got the roominess you talked about and then the the infotainment system I mean it's a real basic basic setup it's darn good yeah actually I wish that this normally aspirated uh engine would be available with the other trim lines so you get the better or the I don't know if better but the more elaborate infotainment system and the power seat and the heated seats right right the sunroof and such things you get on the ex but you don't get on the LX sure sure that's what's frustrating to me is like the CRV that I would want they don't make I mean I want the better engine I want the better seats but I want the simpler controls and all and all the safety equipment also you know it doesn't seem like you can get exactly that that is that's a key thing to mention you know that uh Honda sensing system is available on this uh throughout the line so you know you're getting forward collusion warning you're getting automatic emergency braking and you finally have a conventional blind spot system we don't have the lane watch with the weird screens thank God that's gone right right so you know we're gonna we're gonna put the final miles on that get that through testing you know in this this late winter Springtime and get get that score out to everyone because again it's a popular vehicle huge among our readers absolutely and it's a pretty good deal too I mean 24,000 for the LX and you got a pretty large car which you know a lot of room T of room D drives reasonably well y uh they totally improved the handling it's much more agile now uh the ride is is better the less road noise as well mhm uh the ex uh at 29 and change is also a pretty good deal you get par seats four-way Lumber supports I mean but you don't even get that in any Acura yeah you don't even get that in a lot of big Toyotas or Le exactly yeah heated seats and all the active safety features you mentioned yeah yeah I mean and the one the one thing you know to wrap up on on the CRV we didn't even get the EXL which is a popular level those seats are fantastic those cloth seats they're high quality it's not as if you you went Lev Leather by the way right the EXL was the leather we got the ex um I I was shocked at that so it's really really great so another I'm with you about the knob by the way um I don't need the volume knob because I do that with a steering wheel yeah and you do need T tuning knob tapping and tapping and tapping is as frustrating as anything I know um the other vehicle that a lot of people have asked us about and we we publish our ratings recently Volkswagen Golf all track um so Mike why don't you just give a little bit overview on what that is and and what we thought about it it to me it's one of those almost perfect vehicles I love the all Trak I love how the visibility is is outstanding the seats are comfortable the engine is really responsive uh it has kind of a a burlier mus more muscular look to it with a little fender flares little slightly elevated ride height it has excellent steering I mean all the all the things that we love about how Volkswagens drive it is is Incorporated in the all TR the problem that I having with the all track is the reli ility is such a crap shoot with Volkswagen I mean you almost want to say I want I want how I want everything that's good about the alt track the way it drives but I want like Subaru's corporate reliability instead of Volkswagen that's that's just that's my one kind of pause would that be a kicker for you would you go Outback over all track just because of that well I mean my heart says all track my head says Subaru Outback uh I I think if I was really going to consider something like this I'd lease the Volkswagen because at the end of the lease maybe when stuff starts breaking falling apart or you've had a good experience you know depending on how it goes you could kind of walk away from it if you're going to keep a vehicle for a really long time uh I would definitely go with the Subaru so reliability over performance the the quality interior not that subra is a bad interior or anything like this but the all track is almost like a you know affordable Audi Allroad to some ways yeah I mean it's very substantial it's very sophisticated drives beautifully uh you kind of feel like you're in an Audi um with the ult Trak um despite the uh raised ride height it doesn't really uh compromise anything about the ride or the handling yeah you don't feel Tippy or any that anything like that so easy to live with you know it is and um so I think it's a pretty uh pretty compelling uh proposition for $30,000 if you don't need all the room that the Outback affords you and uh me that's almost and you appreciate right and you appreciate the uh the driving characteristics of the golf then uh there is then you're going to go with the golf I mean even knowing that you might have some based on the regular golf uh according cor survey you know reliability is not Stellar right but you know you might be in for C problems here and there yeah here's here's and exactly and the Outback is uh not really excellent like it used to be it's average yep here's two kickers so first of all FCW and a optional right you know so you're you're cracking $30,000 in in here and and we didn't even get one you could get even higher higher level um and then you can't get blind spot in the all track get it in the golf Sport Wagon so whereas with Subaru it it may be optional some of the packages but you're getting eyesight you can get it no matter what right that's uh yeah that lack of BL blind spot is really inexplicable in the old track uh but yeah with the subar you get the eyesight uh option and it's available pretty much on on all trims nowadays right it is it is so I I was really happy driving the all track had it for a nice long weekend and you know the family wife two little kids I had the whole BJ's Wholesale Club you know load in the back of it it's perf and it was great you know and I wasn't worried about you know climbing up and down you know sometimes little kids climbing in out of the SUVs is annoying um it it was really great it's it's a nice vehicle the the the lack of blind SP was really surprising there were a couple times I just expected it you know and you're driving the different Vehicles all the time you do expect it so if You' had it in in a vehicle before all of a sudden like what what's going on I haven't been in that all track for months I mean I can never get into it there's always some name on oh gosh yeah I'll bet at the end when we're done with this vehicle it has some high high miles because it's always being signed out I wonder if the Q7 or the all TR will have higher miles that Q is pretty high um so we've got a couple really good questions that have come on to uh to our YouTube site from the past episodes and and wanted to get you guys get some feelings on this first one off is what about your best recommended cars just for regular people who want something under $25,000 with forward Collision protection cruise control with automatic braking Lane departure blind spots that's what people can afford yeah um actually nowadays you have choices uh I mean you can get a Toyota Corolla for 20,000 hours and and you get all this stuff standard you can get a rsia you can gets for 16 17,000 right mm but it's pretty much Toyota I mean I was looking at one of our lists that we have online about cars that are available with all the stuff and and it's you know it's Toyota Corolla it's it's IM it's IIA it's Prius sure and because because as Gabe says it's all you don't have to think or what which trim line do I have to get it it's it's standard on all of them so really that for the for for for the most safety for the money you you just got to go to Toyota I'm pretty sure you can do a Mazda 3 with some options and still come in on y some level of the Mazda 3 um super Impreza new Impreza is going to have eyesight availability as well yeah our Impreza we' got is 23 and change and it's got all that stuff it's it's one thing it's not going to trickle into the used car market as quickly you know you're still going to have to get a used luxury car which is going to be a higher priced uh model but I would say within two years probably we're going to start seeing these these cars drop in what do you what do you think of that is is that where we're going to see them is that when people who are looking in the $20,000 ceiling are going to find these vehicles yeah in two three years you're going to get all kinds of pre-owned um used cars uh back in the US car market and uh some of them not all of them are going to have uh this kind of stuff but as you said I mean it's it's it's the trickle down theory of of new automotive technology it's going to anti-lock brakes show showed up the more expensive cars first stability controls sort of expensive cars first and then it it comes down to be so common and it just it's what I was thinking about when you said I'm driving the all track and there's no blind spot you almost get you almost get so used to having all this high-tech stuff not that it's Frills I mean it's really essential or useful and I and as Gabe says the the the the cheaper models are going to get more of this stuff as time goes on I think more more new cars are going to have it as well uh and affordable ones too because since we um give more points to cars that have uh automatic emergency braking a uh I think that's going to be an incentive for manufacturers to equip their cars that way it's a fantastic point is that you know we've seen manufacturers talk about adding it across the line since we started take deducting points and adding points deducting if you don't have adding points if you have it standard across your entire model line and not just on those trims where it's like well you can get it on the ex Platinum touring level and you have to buy you know that that $20,000 car is all of a sudden 32 Grand so and and that was Honda's Mo when stability control came out you had to get the highest trim line to get stability control right you know and so some of these you know they still don't offer it on the lowest level they still have that and they claim Honda says you know oh there's that owner just wants nothing on it but it's going to come soon hopefully it's not through uh they're not forced into a mandate it would be much better to see them just do it because it's what's good business so our next question is going to be about the BMW 330 uh you review on the BMW 330i seemed to be quite a strong improvement over the previous version you tested which was the 328i how close are the 330i and the new A4 that you really really like throw this again yeah um both of these cars are really good I mean I find myself alternating between these two you know one day I go then I get exactly so uh I'm happy commuting in either of these cars like for the rest of the Year by the way so PMW changed uh some things you know we harped kind of harp but we we found the steering deficient in the last one so uh yeah after the freshening 417 the car the three series now steers better it uh the engine sounds so much better better now and uh it so it's more the suspension is more tied down and uh the ride got a little firmer um it can be a little choppy they also improved the eye drive by the way so uh the whole car is uh is improved and I agree with everything G said except for the engine I think the engine sounds terrible the four-cylinder direct injection thing is just it sounds like a diesel I gave a couple people and stuff like that I gave people a couple rides in our 330 and and and one guy said is this a diesel and I said no actually it's a gas engine I mean I think I think it sounds Dreadful it's not like the six-cylinder uh engines of of past BMWs which I love right that's silky smooth right but once once once you're once you're once you're going it's it's unobtrusive certainly uh but if you're if you're standing outside of the car just when it's idling especially when it's cold it just it sounds wretched still it's better than 328 uh always sounded like a diesel and it's kind of a common almost within the industry you know now with direct injection you hear that tapping you know it's only the the quietest vehicles with the by quietest I mean on the most sound deadening uh by the firewall that's keeping that out you're hearing it on on so many things so A4 or 328 330i excuse me you know i' i' I I I love both of them you got to choose one you got I've had I've had time do long drives in both the A4 and in the BMW 3 Series and I'm leaning towards the A4 okay I think it's a little quieter I think it's a little bit more comfortable I think the controls are a little less daunting uh I think visibility is a little bit better I mean it it's not drastically better you somebody drops a 330 in my driveway said here I'm happy I'm I'm not complaining at all but but for me to choose the two i' I'd get the A4 and I'm a freak of nature I'd actually order one with a manual transmission oh yeah which you can still get with the A4 and and I I really that's that car that car hits me right so the Audi Camp Gabe so yeah I mean it's really a matter of uh personal choice here I mean Personal Taste I mean they're so close uh the Audi rides a little better and is a little quieter than the BMW true um personally I don't know I'm uh be draw to the BMW probably yeah I I find I find the BMW comfortable I like the Audi a little more the Audi gives me it gives you touch more space I feel a little more in the rear seat and just a little more in the cockpit so I like that even with their their um the the display screen in the G dash for the gauges you know is a little convoluted at times you know it's popping out it's going narrow you have the gauges it's it's cool I tend to just use the center screen and leave it at that um I I just like to feel and I think the a little bit lower not as much of a tight cockpit as the of the A4 they both Drive really well they both get great mileage they're fun to drive can't go wrong with you you can't go wrong you know if if you're currently own an A4 stick with that if you like the 328 go with that 330 I think the A4 has a little bit more of a a touch of a Hightech feel to it than the BMW it might be a little more well-rounded but BMW is more fun there we are so the last question we've got looking for advice on a Jetta TDI replacement under 15,000 we don't want another VW so they had bad experience apparently with with the diesel situation uh something sporty and good-looking thought about an older used BMW 1 or 3 Series or a 1 to 2year Old Mazda 3 BMW's drivve better Mazda is more reliable we'll throw the mic where are we there so Mazda Mazda 3 Mazda 3 don't don't kid yourself older BMWs uh BMW break my wallet I mean forget it I in terms of keeping it going routine oil changes routine maintenance uh as as delightful as as an older BMW would be to drive uh I would be very nervous about buying one out of warranty uh but I especially 6 years old or something they're talking about I and I but I tend to to I I'll give up some driving pleasure for for better reliability that's just me that's where I'm going to going to go toward just cuz I've had unreliable cars that have costly in the past and I've had really reliable ones that really cheap to maintain and we don't know if it's if the driver if uh needs rear wheel drive you know if they live in a you know Sunny warm area that's a good point climbs but you can have fun with the Mazda 3 withont Drive I don't I don't think you're you're making a lot of sacrifice to getting getting a Mazda 3 no it doesn't drive like a BMW but it but it drives better than you'd think a kind of an economy car would drive uh lots of features pretty good good controls depending on whether or not you got the center controller thing and and a good reliability history I mean a lot of Mazda hold up very well over the long term and have pretty decent owner satisfaction according to our surveys uh so I mean you know maybe a three series if you're if you're retired and you can don't have to worry about it so much yeah it's someone younger but no no no so yeah I think the fun or the you know practicality no nothing wrong with the Mazda 3 you can't go wrong there but uh I think you if you want to expand your uh choices there I think uh maybe by uh dropping uh uh a year or two uh you might want to if you want something a little more substantial and quieter than the Mazda 3 you might want to look at Honda Accord maybe or or even the Mazda 6 or a Ford Fusion right good point the Ford Fusion I was going say you know reliability you know being the issue you could get a Civic you know a couple year old Civic not a bad car not the sportiest out there um but going to do do that split screen Civic thing well and that's the thing you're falling into that previous generation Civic you know forward Focus again you know the power shift transmission is so problematic but it's the fun sporty car you know I would lower lower repair price at the per hour but you're going to be having Rel stay away from the focus and i' stay away from the Civic as well yeah so so at that point you know you we're left with you know not a lot of choices um you know the Hyundai's Hyundai offerings aren't really the sportiest ones out out there you know and maybe maybe an Impreza you know if you need it for the winter weather you know you just want the security of all-wheel drive and again I'm not going to say for sportiness I'm saying for winter you know you can look at an empreza as well or even the Legacy might year older right and it depends you know if you can in the $155,000 range you could find an older Legacy which should be a solid car and it wouldn't be too big but Gabe's totally on the money with a 2-year-old Accord that's a it's a great use car a lot of car for the money excellent suggestion so Legacy Accord uh the Maza 3 definitely a good choice stay away from the BMW 3 Series the use BMW is a bad idea well that's it for this episode of talking cards with Consumer Reports as always see you next time\n"