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Forester Hybrid vs EV6 Review Clash · In Wheel Time Podcast

• 0:04
  SPEAKER_01: All right, time now for this hour's car review.
• 0:06
  SPEAKER_01: Mr.
• 0:07
  SPEAKER_01: Mars uh drove the 2025 Subaru Forester and hear his feelings about it.
• 0:13
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, so you did the wilderness last week, so this is a little bit different one.
• 0:17
  SPEAKER_00: It is part of the six gen, but this is new for 2025, and it's the Forester Premium Hybrid All-Wheel Drive.
• 0:24
  SPEAKER_00: It is kind of more of a streetcar versus the wilderness that we had last week.
• 0:28
  SPEAKER_00: So the final assembly locations in Japan.
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_00: There's actually nine different Foresters, but there's only four hybrid premium sport limited in touring.
• 0:37
  SPEAKER_00: And I had the hybrid for the for the week that I drove it.
• 0:40
  SPEAKER_00: Now, this is a small hybrid sport utilities, the way it's classified, fits in between the cross-trek and the outback, fits in between those two different sizes if you're out looking at these.
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_00: Comes with LED headlights with the automatic height adjustance, which I thought was rather different.
• 0:54
  SPEAKER_00: And it also has the automatic on off for the headlights if the windowship wipers come on.
• 0:59
  SPEAKER_00: If you turn them on, you're automatically getting headlights, which is kind of neat.
• 1:02
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it's a lot.
• 1:03
  SPEAKER_00: Heated exterior mirrors with a de-icer.
• 1:06
  SPEAKER_00: You might need that a little up north, not too much down here in Houston.
• 1:10
  SPEAKER_00: Had a panoramic moonroof to get you more of that outside feeling, power rear lift gate with a hands-free foot activated close on it, and we were rolling on the 18-inch alloy wheels that come with that premium package.
• 1:23
  SPEAKER_00: Now, the interior, we had the premium cloth seats, which we know I liked it a lot better than the leather for this kind of vehicle.
• 1:31
  SPEAKER_00: They are heated in the front seats.
• 1:33
  SPEAKER_00: The second row seat is a 6040.
• 1:35
  SPEAKER_00: It does recline and it does fold.
• 1:37
  SPEAKER_00: And up front, we had a 12.3 inch LED digital gauge package all the way across there.
• 1:43
  SPEAKER_00: Nice and big.
• 1:44
  SPEAKER_00: You can see anything and everything.
• 1:46
  SPEAKER_00: And it has 11.6 inch tablet style multimedia touchscreen.
• 1:51
  SPEAKER_00: And that's where you're going to find your navigation and all your infotainment systems.
• 1:54
  SPEAKER_00: It's got plenty of USB-C ports, got a wireless charger on it.
• 1:57
  SPEAKER_00: I will say though, the wireless charger, if you're driving, there's nothing really to hold your phone in place.
• 2:04
  SPEAKER_00: And it will slide on you a little bit.
• 2:06
  SPEAKER_00: So just be aware of that.
• 2:07
  SPEAKER_00: It's got a rear cargo cover on it so that you keep things out of sight, out of mind, whenever you've got cargo back there.
• 2:13
  SPEAKER_00: And up under the hood is a four-cylinder, 2.5 liter flat four boxer type motor with two electric motor generators.
• 2:21
  SPEAKER_00: Now, this is where the hybrid system that comes in.
• 2:23
  SPEAKER_00: Now combined, it puts out 194 horsepower up from 180 on the regular gasoline only engine.
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_00: It is still backed by a CVT, but it does have a six-speed manual mode on it that I kind of didn't mess with much.
• 2:38
  SPEAKER_00: I didn't think it was why.
• 2:39
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_00: It has a tow rating of 1500 pounds.
• 2:43
  SPEAKER_00: Uh MPG in the city, the EPA says you should look for about 35, highway 34, combined 35.
• 2:49
  SPEAKER_00: Now it has a 16.6 gallon tank, so that means you're going to get about a 580-mile range out of this vehicle with it, even in the hybrid.
• 2:56
  SPEAKER_00: Now, I drove it 391.6 miles and got 32.3 miles to the gallon.
• 3:02
  SPEAKER_00: A little bit lower than the rating on it, but I was well pleased with that by all means.
• 3:06
  SPEAKER_00: Now, one of the great things about it is it's got a wide opening doors to make it easy to get in and out.
• 3:11
  SPEAKER_00: You don't have to climb down in it, you don't have to climb up in it like you do some vehicles.
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, it's also got an insulated front windshield that reduces the road noise.
• 3:20
  SPEAKER_00: All the controls are easy to climb down into it.
• 3:22
  SPEAKER_00: Well, you know, some cars you got to kind of fall down into, yeah, and then you got to climb up.
• 3:27
  SPEAKER_01: I just want to make sure that we're correct here.
• 3:29
  SPEAKER_01: You said climb down into it.
• 3:31
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
• 3:31
  SPEAKER_00: Well, I've got to climb, it's either climb or fall, and usually it hurts when I fall at this age.
• 3:36
  SPEAKER_02: Depends on where you're going, too.
• 3:37
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
• 3:39
  SPEAKER_00: Uh and uh it does have a little bit of a firm ride, but that's an all-wheel drive, and and the suspicion that's suspension that's set up for this vehicle, but it's not quite, I don't think as firm as the wilderness ride, but uh you know, you have to be the judge of that.
• 3:54
  SPEAKER_00: Now, the base trim price on this vehicle is$38,015.
• 3:59
  SPEAKER_00: Um the base model price you can get into a Subaruinforcer for$31,415.
• 4:06
  SPEAKER_00: Now, I did note that the premium, the MSRP based on the premium is$34,850.
• 4:13
  SPEAKER_00: But you go to the hybrid, the one that we're driving, and you're back up to that$38015, which means you're paying$32,400 to get into that hybrid to fall into it.
• 4:23
  SPEAKER_00: Just something you've got to count on whenever you're you're calculating, deciding if you want to go that route.
• 4:28
  SPEAKER_00: Competitors, you're gonna find you can go look at the Mazda CX50 hybrid that's$35,499 to start.
• 4:34
  SPEAKER_00: Honda CRV's got a hybrid that starts at$36045.
• 4:38
  SPEAKER_00: Uh the Kia's 40 has a hybrid, but it's$30,185.
• 4:43
  SPEAKER_00: I got a friend that's got a 40 now, and he's looking to buy a new one and he's seriously considering this hybrid.
• 4:49
  SPEAKER_00: I'd like to get my hands on one just so we can kind of test it out a little bit more.
• 4:53
  SPEAKER_00: Uh Toyota's even got a RAM 4 hybrid.
• 4:56
  SPEAKER_00: So there's lots of things to look at, particularly in that small SUV.
• 5:00
  SPEAKER_00: Uh if you're looking for a hybrid, there are plenty to look at there, plenty to choose from there.
• 5:04
  SPEAKER_00: And if you get a chance, drive the Subaru Forrester hybrid.
• 5:08
  SPEAKER_02: There you go.
• 5:09
  SPEAKER_02: Hey, you know what?
• 5:09
  SPEAKER_02: In wheel time car talk show continues right after a quick break.
• 5:21
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, time now for Jeff's Car Culture, how to start a car collection.
• 5:25
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, we talked earlier that we've talked about a lot of the car car collections around the world.
• 5:30
  SPEAKER_02: Catching, isn't it?
• 5:31
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 5:31
  SPEAKER_02: Uh prior to purchasing cars, it's important to ask yourself questions like what type of collectibles can I afford?
• 5:38
  SPEAKER_02: Jay Leno recommends listening to your heart when beginning a car collection, but you don't have his money.
• 5:43
  SPEAKER_02: So determine your storage solution.
• 5:45
  SPEAKER_02: Before you start making any purchases, you want to arrange storage locations, especially if you plan to build a collection of more than four vehicles.
• 5:53
  SPEAKER_02: Square footage location, security, that's all the factors that you really need to consider.
• 5:57
  SPEAKER_02: Despite popular misconceptions, classic car collecting isn't a hobby reserved for the rich and famous.
• 6:02
  SPEAKER_02: You can actually start a collection with hot rods and cars for under 10 grand.
• 6:07
  SPEAKER_02: So there's a market out there.
• 6:09
  SPEAKER_02: Establish your collection theme.
• 6:11
  SPEAKER_02: One of the tips for collecting is what do you want to do?
• 6:14
  SPEAKER_02: Uh it's got to be cohesive.
• 6:15
  SPEAKER_02: What sets your collection apart from the random assortment of vehicles?
• 6:18
  SPEAKER_02: If you're unsure where to begin, start with a muffler.
• 6:21
  SPEAKER_02: Start with a muffler.
• 6:22
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, prior to purchasing cars, it's important to ask yourself like, what am I more interested in?
• 6:26
  SPEAKER_02: Vintage, sports cars, hot rods, what type of collectibles can you afford?
• 6:31
  SPEAKER_02: So that's the main thing before you even get started.
• 6:33
  SPEAKER_02: Network with fellow collectors.
• 6:35
  SPEAKER_02: Be here at the Lupe Tortilla.
• 6:37
  SPEAKER_02: Uh, the car shows here.
• 6:40
  SPEAKER_02: Get guidance, get technical advice, get some things from the network people.
• 6:44
  SPEAKER_02: Uh you know, you're networking with other cars as well.
• 6:47
  SPEAKER_02: It's invaluable.
• 6:48
  SPEAKER_02: Don't forget to set a budget.
• 6:49
  SPEAKER_02: Get caught up with the excitement of the first car, soon to be a collector.
• 6:53
  SPEAKER_02: Could be a reckless purchase with no decision.
• 6:56
  SPEAKER_02: Before buying a collector car, build out your collection wish list.
• 7:00
  SPEAKER_02: Account for maintenance costs.
• 7:03
  SPEAKER_02: Is that car gonna be maintained in that spot?
• 7:05
  SPEAKER_02: So you got to consider that as well.
• 7:07
  SPEAKER_02: And lastly, just ask questions, ask the questions that we uh all want to know about our hot rod.
• 7:13
  SPEAKER_02: So get involved in that, network, find out what you're gonna do, make a list, check it twice, start a collection.
• 7:19
  unknown: Can I do that for that?
• 7:20
  SPEAKER_02: Sure.
• 7:21
  SPEAKER_02: I know guys that have car collections, yeah.
• 7:24
  SPEAKER_01: Right, and his car collection is different, can you use the classic hot rod there up?
• 7:30
  SPEAKER_01: All different kinds.
• 7:31
  SPEAKER_01: He I don't know how many he's got.
• 7:32
  SPEAKER_01: Lots, lots fill up the entire barn.
• 7:34
  SPEAKER_01: I don't know another guy that his car collection is originals, untouched, originals, all original, gotta have the paperwork, yep, numbers matching, the whole line, it's all originals, it's all he's got.
• 7:47
  SPEAKER_01: He's probably got 75.
• 7:50
  SPEAKER_01: All originals.
• 7:51
  SPEAKER_01: One of them is a 4GT, a four GT that still has the original wrap on the seats.
• 8:00
  SPEAKER_01: Oh, yeah, oh wow, you open the door, everything's all still in plastic.
• 8:05
  SPEAKER_01: How much is that worth?
• 8:07
  SPEAKER_01: Wow, yeah.
• 8:08
  SPEAKER_01: Of course, I don't know how much it costs, probably a lot, but those are the kind of things.
• 8:12
  SPEAKER_01: I got a Chevy collection.
• 8:14
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I got a Chevy collection from the 80s, I got a Buick collection from the 90s, yeah.
• 8:20
  SPEAKER_01: Whatever.
• 8:21
  SPEAKER_01: That's the whole collection.
• 8:22
  SPEAKER_01: And that's the point of it.
• 8:23
  SPEAKER_02: You know, you if if you're you're I like the Novas, the Cougars, you know, the Torinos, things like that.
• 8:29
  SPEAKER_02: That would be something that you would collect.
• 8:30
  SPEAKER_02: Oh, the guys do the Ferraris, you know, you got Corvettes.
• 8:33
  SPEAKER_02: How much money you got?
• 8:34
  SPEAKER_02: Exactly.
• 8:35
  SPEAKER_01: All right, time to I'm going to do a review now of the 2025 Kia EV6.
• 8:47
  SPEAKER_01: Are you there's nobody else listening?
• 8:49
  SPEAKER_01: No.
• 8:50
  SPEAKER_01: Are you guys listening?
• 8:50
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, okay.
• 8:54
  SPEAKER_01: The Kia EV6 was assembled in West Point, Georgia.
• 9:00
  SPEAKER_01: Available trim levels include the light, the light long range, wind, GT line, and GT.
• 9:09
  SPEAKER_01: I had the GT line long-range all-wheel drive with 20-inch wheels.
• 9:14
  SPEAKER_01: This is an all-electric, small SUV two-row seats, including the driver, five exterior changes from last model year, refreshed front and rear styling this year.
• 9:26
  SPEAKER_01: Exterior features include radically sloped hood with a short overhang.
• 9:33
  SPEAKER_01: This is a very different-looking vehicle, sharp, distinctive lighting, front and rear, fast back rear design with unique rear sunshade and spoiler, extra large rear hatch door.
• 9:47
  SPEAKER_01: What I liked, this, in my opinion, is one of the sharpest-looking EVs in the market today, and it's in the SUV form.
• 9:56
  SPEAKER_01: What could use improvement?
• 9:58
  SPEAKER_01: I put a big question mark right where I put that question.
• 10:02
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, because I don't know.
• 10:04
  SPEAKER_01: I think it fits a lot of categories.
• 10:07
  SPEAKER_01: Interior highlights, sweeping combination display that stretches almost door to door.
• 10:14
  SPEAKER_01: Attractive, unique center console with a flat phone charger.
• 10:19
  SPEAKER_01: I really liked it.
• 10:20
  SPEAKER_01: It sits right there beside you and it's flat, and you can look down there and go, Who's bothering me right now?
• 10:26
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, attractive, unique center console, comfortable seating with attractive materials, steering wheel controls are easy to understand and use.
• 10:38
  SPEAKER_01: You're thinking, well, now why did he say that?
• 10:40
  SPEAKER_01: Is he just try to fill time?
• 10:41
  SPEAKER_01: No, because I drive a new different car every week.
• 10:46
  SPEAKER_01: And let me tell you something, everybody tries to reinvent the wheel, and there's no reason for that.
• 10:52
  SPEAKER_01: I see slight adjustments, and you know, um, we're gonna do this over here and do that, but why change the whole thing?
• 11:01
  SPEAKER_01: Last week I drove a vehicle that had steering wheel controls that weren't really controls, they were pads to fill in all the blanks.
• 11:12
  SPEAKER_01: No, no, no, no, no.
• 11:13
  SPEAKER_01: You fill in the blanks, I'll tell you whether or not I like it.
• 11:18
  SPEAKER_01: Cargo trunk room, small.
• 11:21
  SPEAKER_01: What I liked the clamshell hatch that keeps cargo limited to accommodate taller items, but it works for this vehicle.
• 11:31
  SPEAKER_01: What could use improvement?
• 11:33
  SPEAKER_01: Nothing.
• 11:34
  SPEAKER_01: It's an electric motor with 225 horsepower and 258 pound feet of torque with a direct drive automatic transmission.
• 11:42
  SPEAKER_01: There's no transmission, there's direct drive electric motors.
• 11:45
  SPEAKER_01: The tow rating 2700 pounds, which kind of surprised me.
• 11:49
  SPEAKER_01: Well, you know, it's it's not gonna overkill or anything, but 2700 pounds, that's a percentage.
• 11:59
  SPEAKER_01: Pardon me just a minute.
• 12:02
  SPEAKER_01: Hello?
• 12:05
  SPEAKER_01: Hi.
• 12:15
  SPEAKER_01: You can listen and hear us on the air.
• 12:18
  SPEAKER_01: I know.
• 12:19
  SPEAKER_01: Love you and talk to you soon.
• 12:21
  SPEAKER_01: Bye.
• 12:22
  SPEAKER_00: That was his stock broker he's talking to on a Saturday, yeah, right.
• 12:27
  SPEAKER_01: Actually, actually, it was the parole department, and uh they were uh checking to see my location.
• 12:34
  SPEAKER_01: Your ankle monitor fell off.
• 12:36
  SPEAKER_01: Manufacturers miles per gallon E-rating is 128 city, 101 highway for a range of 318 miles.
• 12:46
  SPEAKER_01: And from what I could gather, without trying to do the math and overcomplicate things, it probably gets about in realistic terms, about 275 miles in a regular everyday drive.
• 12:59
  SPEAKER_01: I drove it for 502 miles.
• 13:02
  SPEAKER_01: What I liked about it was the power.
• 13:03
  SPEAKER_01: What could use improvement?
• 13:05
  SPEAKER_01: More range and finding a damn Tesla charger.
• 13:08
  SPEAKER_01: Did I see that?
• 13:09
  SPEAKER_01: I'm sorry.
• 13:10
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, uh what riding handling smooth, although it is heavy, it doesn't feel heavy.
• 13:15
  SPEAKER_01: It's 4502, uh 45 4,520 pounds.
• 13:21
  SPEAKER_01: It's heavy.
• 13:22
  SPEAKER_01: It is heavy, it's big base trim price 58.9 prices tested 6740.
• 13:28
  SPEAKER_01: Base model price 42.9 competitors Hyundai Ionic 5 for 35,000, Chevy Equinox EV for 35.1 and the Nissan Area for 39.7.
• 13:41
  SPEAKER_01: Next week, the Ford Expedition.
• 13:44
  SPEAKER_01: If the area is not being produced anymore, well, it's not going to be produced anymore.
• 13:48
  SPEAKER_01: Yes, that's correct.
• 13:49
  SPEAKER_01: EVs are out, gasoline hot rods are in.
• 13:54
  SPEAKER_01: Well, hybrids are the thing, and I I can't encourage you enough to look at the hybrids because I think that you're going to be very impressed because it gets gas mileage and power all at the same time under one roof.
• 14:10
  SPEAKER_01: Under one roof.
• 14:11
  SPEAKER_00: Well, and range anxiety shouldn't be an issue with the hybrid either.
• 14:15
  SPEAKER_01: And neither should find a damn plug-in charger.
• 14:18
  SPEAKER_01: That's true.
• 14:18
  SPEAKER_01: And don't get me started on get them started.
• 14:21
  SPEAKER_01: Well, go ahead, get me started because I could go the next hour and a half to tell you about EVs.
• 14:26
  SPEAKER_01: Mars, have you had any of those?
• 14:28
  SPEAKER_01: EVs?
• 14:29
  SPEAKER_01: Uh-huh.
• 14:30
  SPEAKER_01: Well, you know what?
• 14:31
  SPEAKER_01: I'm gonna make a request that you get them back to back to back.
• 14:35
  SPEAKER_01: I'm I'm pretty well.
• 14:37
  SPEAKER_02: You can use all the electricity in in that area.
• 14:40
  SPEAKER_02: Hey