#299 2021 Buick Envision First Impressions; The Rise of Destination Fees

This week we share our first impressions of the 2021 Buick Envision, and discuss where it’s built and how that affects its driving dynamics in comparison to other luxury compact SUVs like the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLC. We also examine vehicle destination fees, discuss why these ballooning delivery charges may add to the cost of your new car, and point out which manufacturers are the biggest offenders of driving up the cost. Other topics include: the discrepancy between a tire pressure gauge and the car's TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system); differences between CR's brand report card and J.D. Power's brand rankings, and how to interpret all that data; and we explain how CR compensates for rain, air, and ground temperatures during brake-distance testing.      ----------------------------------- Have a question for our experts? Leave a comment on this episode, or reach out to us directly!   From your iOS device, iMessage us at [email protected] to send a photo, video, or text directly to the Talking Cars team!   We love to feature our viewers on the show, so submit video questions at https://www.consumerreports.org/cars-talking-cars/   Subscribe to Talking Cars on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Jr8wJRJyN9v8T6LC1fQQ6     SHOW NOTES ----------------------------------- 00:00 - Intro 01:23 - Rise of Destination Fees 09:04 - 2021 Buick Envision First Impressions 17:47 - Question #1: What is the the difference between CR’s Brand Report Card and J.D. Power’s Brand Ranking? 20:45 - Question #2: Why is there a discrepancy between a tire pressure gauge and the car’s TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) 23:27 - Question #3: How does CR compensate for rain, air, and ground temperatures during brake-distance testing? 26:01 - Question #4: Which small SUV would be a suitable replacement for a Mazda6 in order to improve driving in wintery weather conditions?     ----------------------------------   Sticker Shock: The Truth About Destination Fees https://www.consumerreports.org/buying-a-car/the-truth-about-destination-fees/   2021 Buick Envision https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/buick/envision/   2016 Buick Envision Quick Drive https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1ffB9ZA4GU   Which Car Brands Make the Best Vehicles? https://www.consumerreports.org/cars-driving/which-car-brands-make-the-best-vehicles/   10 Top Picks of 2021: Best Cars of the Year https://www.consumerreports.org/cars-best-cars-top-picks-2021/   Winter Driving Tips https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLtakpDFGtU   Car Maintenance and Repair Guide https://www.consumerreports.org/car-maintenance/car-maintenance-and-repair-guide/   Wet Tire Testing at CR’s Track https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTNMhBiflLc   4K Review: 2017 Mazda CX-5 Quick Drive https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmTVgcuD2V4   Coronavirus Resource Hub https://www.consumerreports.org/coronavirus/coronavirus-covid-19-updates/     ----------------------------------- Check out http://www.ConsumerReports.org for the latest reviews, tips, and recommendations and subscribe to our YouTube Channel: http://bit.ly/1Nlb1Ez    Follow Us on Social: Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1IQ2w5q Twitter: http://bit.ly/1Yf5Fh2 Pinterest: http://bit.ly/1P37mM9 Instagram: http://bit.ly/1I49Bzo Google+: http://bit.ly/1Md3gfQ