Main theme: We talk about the all-new versions of the 2020 Ford Escape and 2020 Toyota Yaris hatchback that should be arriving at dealerships later this year. Ford's redesigned compact SUV boasts curvy styling, four different drivetrains (including a plug-in hybrid), and plenty of standard advanced safety features. The new Yaris hatchback looks to be a big improvement over the car it replaces because it will now use the same mechanical underpinnings as the Yaris sedan; that version won a CR Top Pick honor for the subcompact class.
Driven this week: 2019 Mazda3
Audience questions:
- How can I tell whether a gas station uses Top Tier fuel?
- Does CR suggest using nitrogen or air in a car's tires?
- Will higher-octane gasoline improve my car's fuel economy?
- Do you have suggestions for a reliable and fun rear-drive sedan to replace my Infiniti G35?
As with other "Talking Cars" episodes, this one is available free through Apple Podcasts. (Subscribe to the audio or video.) You'll also find the audio on Spotify and video on YouTube.
• Kia Telluride, European Safety, episode 196
• Electric Crossovers From Fisker & Tesla, episode 195
• Tesla News, BMW 3 Series, episode 194
• Volvo Top Speeds, Cadillac XT4, episode 193
• The New Ford Ranger, Fate of CR Test Cars, episode 192
Have a Question?
We'd love to include it in a future show. Click here to upload your video questions to our Dropbox folder. Please send high-definition (1920x1080) MP4 video files with high-quality audio. Or send an iMessage question to our TalkingCars@icloud.com account.
