diff --git a/.github/workflows/main.yml b/.github/workflows/main.yml
index 37d1991a0d..79a9f0982e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/main.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/main.yml
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ jobs:
         chmod a+x e2e-*
         chmod a+x minikube-*
         START_TIME=$(date -u +%s)
-        KUBECONFIG=$(pwd)/testhome/kubeconfig MINIKUBE_HOME=$(pwd)/testhome ./e2e-linux-amd64 -minikube-start-args=--vm-driver=docker -test.timeout=80m -test.v -timeout-multiplier=1.5 -binary=./minikube-linux-amd64 2>&1 | tee ./report/testout.txt
+        KUBECONFIG=$(pwd)/testhome/kubeconfig MINIKUBE_HOME=$(pwd)/testhome ./e2e-linux-amd64 -minikube-start-args=--vm-driver=docker -test.timeout=80m -test.v -timeout-multiplier=1.3 -binary=./minikube-linux-amd64 2>&1 | tee ./report/testout.txt
         END_TIME=$(date -u +%s)
         TIME_ELAPSED=$(($END_TIME-$START_TIME))
         min=$((${TIME_ELAPSED}/60))
@@ -145,6 +145,8 @@ jobs:
         echo "----------------${numFail} Failures----------------------------"
         echo $STAT | jq '.FailedTests' || true
         echo "-------------------------------------------------------"
+        numPass=$(echo $STAT | jq '.NumberOfPass')
+        echo "*** $numPass Passed ***"
         if [ "$numFail" -gt 0 ];then echo "*** $numFail Failed ***";exit 2;fi
   docker_ubuntu_18_04:
     runs-on: ubuntu-18.04
@@ -186,7 +188,7 @@ jobs:
         chmod a+x e2e-*
         chmod a+x minikube-*
         START_TIME=$(date -u +%s)
-        KUBECONFIG=$(pwd)/testhome/kubeconfig MINIKUBE_HOME=$(pwd)/testhome ./e2e-linux-amd64 -minikube-start-args=--driver=docker -test.timeout=70m -test.v -timeout-multiplier=1.5 -binary=./minikube-linux-amd64 2>&1 | tee ./report/testout.txt
+        KUBECONFIG=$(pwd)/testhome/kubeconfig MINIKUBE_HOME=$(pwd)/testhome ./e2e-linux-amd64 -minikube-start-args=--driver=docker -test.timeout=80m -test.v -timeout-multiplier=1.3 -binary=./minikube-linux-amd64 2>&1 | tee ./report/testout.txt
         END_TIME=$(date -u +%s)
         TIME_ELAPSED=$(($END_TIME-$START_TIME))
         min=$((${TIME_ELAPSED}/60))
@@ -218,6 +220,8 @@ jobs:
         echo "----------------${numFail} Failures----------------------------"
         echo $STAT | jq '.FailedTests' || true
         echo "-------------------------------------------------------"
+        numPass=$(echo $STAT | jq '.NumberOfPass')
+        echo "*** $numPass Passed ***"
         if [ "$numFail" -gt 0 ];then echo "*** $numFail Failed ***";exit 2;fi
   none_ubuntu16_04:
     needs: [build_minikube]
@@ -254,7 +258,7 @@ jobs:
         chmod a+x e2e-*
         chmod a+x minikube-*
         START_TIME=$(date -u +%s)
-        KUBECONFIG=$(pwd)/testhome/kubeconfig MINIKUBE_HOME=$(pwd)/testhome sudo -E ./e2e-linux-amd64 -minikube-start-args=--driver=none -test.timeout=70m -test.v -timeout-multiplier=1.5 -binary=./minikube-linux-amd64 2>&1 | tee ./report/testout.txt
+        KUBECONFIG=$(pwd)/testhome/kubeconfig MINIKUBE_HOME=$(pwd)/testhome sudo -E ./e2e-linux-amd64 -minikube-start-args=--driver=none -test.timeout=50m -test.v -timeout-multiplier=1.5 -binary=./minikube-linux-amd64 2>&1 | tee ./report/testout.txt
         END_TIME=$(date -u +%s)
         TIME_ELAPSED=$(($END_TIME-$START_TIME))
         min=$((${TIME_ELAPSED}/60))
@@ -286,6 +290,8 @@ jobs:
         echo "----------------${numFail} Failures----------------------------"
         echo $STAT | jq '.FailedTests' || true
         echo "-------------------------------------------------------"
+        numPass=$(echo $STAT | jq '.NumberOfPass')
+        echo "*** $numPass Passed ***"
         if [ "$numFail" -gt 0 ];then echo "*** $numFail Failed ***";exit 2;fi
   none_ubuntu18_04:
     needs: [build_minikube]
@@ -322,7 +328,7 @@ jobs:
         chmod a+x e2e-*
         chmod a+x minikube-*
         START_TIME=$(date -u +%s)
-        KUBECONFIG=$(pwd)/testhome/kubeconfig MINIKUBE_HOME=$(pwd)/testhome sudo -E ./e2e-linux-amd64 -minikube-start-args=--driver=none -test.timeout=70m -test.v -timeout-multiplier=1.5 -binary=./minikube-linux-amd64 2>&1 | tee ./report/testout.txt
+        KUBECONFIG=$(pwd)/testhome/kubeconfig MINIKUBE_HOME=$(pwd)/testhome sudo -E ./e2e-linux-amd64 -minikube-start-args=--driver=none -test.timeout=50m -test.v -timeout-multiplier=1.5 -binary=./minikube-linux-amd64 2>&1 | tee ./report/testout.txt
         END_TIME=$(date -u +%s)
         TIME_ELAPSED=$(($END_TIME-$START_TIME))
         min=$((${TIME_ELAPSED}/60))
@@ -354,6 +360,8 @@ jobs:
         echo "----------------${numFail} Failures----------------------------"
         echo $STAT | jq '.FailedTests' || true
         echo "-------------------------------------------------------"
+        numPass=$(echo $STAT | jq '.NumberOfPass')
+        echo "*** $numPass Passed ***"
         if [ "$numFail" -gt 0 ];then echo "*** $numFail Failed ***";exit 2;fi
   podman_ubuntu_18_04:
       needs: [build_minikube]
@@ -400,7 +408,7 @@ jobs:
           chmod a+x e2e-*
           chmod a+x minikube-*
           START_TIME=$(date -u +%s)
-          KUBECONFIG=$(pwd)/testhome/kubeconfig MINIKUBE_HOME=$(pwd)/testhome sudo -E ./e2e-linux-amd64 -minikube-start-args=--driver=podman -test.timeout=70m -test.v -timeout-multiplier=1.5 -binary=./minikube-linux-amd64 2>&1 | tee ./report/testout.txt
+          KUBECONFIG=$(pwd)/testhome/kubeconfig MINIKUBE_HOME=$(pwd)/testhome sudo -E ./e2e-linux-amd64 -minikube-start-args=--driver=podman -test.timeout=70m -test.v -timeout-multiplier=1.3 -binary=./minikube-linux-amd64 2>&1 | tee ./report/testout.txt
           END_TIME=$(date -u +%s)
           TIME_ELAPSED=$(($END_TIME-$START_TIME))
           min=$((${TIME_ELAPSED}/60))
@@ -432,6 +440,8 @@ jobs:
           echo "----------------${numFail} Failures----------------------------"
           echo $STAT | jq '.FailedTests' || true
           echo "-------------------------------------------------------"
+          numPass=$(echo $STAT | jq '.NumberOfPass')
+          echo "*** $numPass Passed ***"
           if [ "$numFail" -gt 0 ];then echo "*** $numFail Failed ***";exit 2;fi
   # After all 4 integration tests finished
   # collect all the reports and upload
diff --git a/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go b/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go
index 01f27f68c4..b466d51d7e 100644
--- a/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go
+++ b/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go
@@ -123,6 +123,7 @@ const (
 	hostOnlyNicType         = "host-only-nic-type"
 	natNicType              = "nat-nic-type"
 	nodes                   = "nodes"
+	preload                 = "preload"
 )
 
 var (
@@ -175,11 +176,12 @@ func initMinikubeFlags() {
 	startCmd.Flags().Bool(autoUpdate, true, "If set, automatically updates drivers to the latest version. Defaults to true.")
 	startCmd.Flags().Bool(installAddons, true, "If set, install addons. Defaults to true.")
 	startCmd.Flags().IntP(nodes, "n", 1, "The number of nodes to spin up. Defaults to 1.")
+	startCmd.Flags().Bool(preload, true, "If set, download tarball of preloaded images if available to improve start time. Defaults to true.")
 }
 
 // initKubernetesFlags inits the commandline flags for kubernetes related options
 func initKubernetesFlags() {
-	startCmd.Flags().String(kubernetesVersion, "", "The kubernetes version that the minikube VM will use (ex: v1.2.3)")
+	startCmd.Flags().String(kubernetesVersion, "", fmt.Sprintf("The kubernetes version that the minikube VM will use (ex: v1.2.3, 'stable' for %s, 'latest' for %s). Defaults to 'stable'.", constants.DefaultKubernetesVersion, constants.NewestKubernetesVersion))
 	startCmd.Flags().Var(&config.ExtraOptions, "extra-config",
 		`A set of key=value pairs that describe configuration that may be passed to different components.
 		The key should be '.' separated, and the first part before the dot is the component to apply the configuration to.
@@ -480,10 +482,10 @@ func selectDriver(existing *config.ClusterConfig) registry.DriverState {
 		if vmd := viper.GetString("vm-driver"); vmd != "" {
 			// Output a warning
 			warning := `Both driver={{.driver}} and vm-driver={{.vmd}} have been set.
-			
+
     Since vm-driver is deprecated, minikube will default to driver={{.driver}}.
 
-    If vm-driver is set in the global config, please run "minikube config unset vm-driver" to resolve this warning.			
+    If vm-driver is set in the global config, please run "minikube config unset vm-driver" to resolve this warning.
 			`
 			out.T(out.Warning, warning, out.V{"driver": d, "vmd": vmd})
 		}
@@ -577,12 +579,12 @@ func validateSpecifiedDriver(existing *config.ClusterConfig) {
 
 	out.ErrT(out.Workaround, `To proceed, either:
 
-1) Delete the existing "{{.name}}" cluster using: '{{.command}} delete'
+1) Delete the existing "{{.name}}" cluster using: '{{.delcommand}}'
 
 * or *
 
 2) Start the existing "{{.name}}" cluster using: '{{.command}} --driver={{.old}}'
-`, out.V{"command": mustload.ExampleCmd(existing.Name, "start"), "old": old, "name": existing.Name})
+`, out.V{"command": mustload.ExampleCmd(existing.Name, "start"), "delcommand": mustload.ExampleCmd(existing.Name, "delete"), "old": old, "name": existing.Name})
 
 	exit.WithCodeT(exit.Config, "Exiting.")
 }
@@ -1065,13 +1067,15 @@ func autoSetDriverOptions(cmd *cobra.Command, drvName string) (err error) {
 func getKubernetesVersion(old *config.ClusterConfig) string {
 	paramVersion := viper.GetString(kubernetesVersion)
 
-	if paramVersion == "" { // if the user did not specify any version then ...
-		if old != nil { // .. use the old version from config (if any)
-			paramVersion = old.KubernetesConfig.KubernetesVersion
-		}
-		if paramVersion == "" { // .. otherwise use the default version
-			paramVersion = constants.DefaultKubernetesVersion
-		}
+	// try to load the old version first if the user didn't specify anything
+	if paramVersion == "" && old != nil {
+		paramVersion = old.KubernetesConfig.KubernetesVersion
+	}
+
+	if paramVersion == "" || strings.EqualFold(paramVersion, "stable") {
+		paramVersion = constants.DefaultKubernetesVersion
+	} else if strings.EqualFold(paramVersion, "latest") {
+		paramVersion = constants.NewestKubernetesVersion
 	}
 
 	nvs, err := semver.Make(strings.TrimPrefix(paramVersion, version.VersionPrefix))
diff --git a/cmd/minikube/cmd/start_test.go b/cmd/minikube/cmd/start_test.go
index ef7e4b7403..0a443aa507 100644
--- a/cmd/minikube/cmd/start_test.go
+++ b/cmd/minikube/cmd/start_test.go
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/minikube/pkg/minikube/constants"
 )
 
-func TestGetKuberneterVersion(t *testing.T) {
+func TestGetKubernetesVersion(t *testing.T) {
 	var tests = []struct {
 		description     string
 		expectedVersion string
@@ -55,6 +55,16 @@ func TestGetKuberneterVersion(t *testing.T) {
 			paramVersion:    "v1.16.0",
 			cfg:             &cfg.ClusterConfig{KubernetesConfig: cfg.KubernetesConfig{KubernetesVersion: "v1.15.0"}},
 		},
+		{
+			description:     "kubernetes-version given as 'stable', no config",
+			expectedVersion: constants.DefaultKubernetesVersion,
+			paramVersion:    "stable",
+		},
+		{
+			description:     "kubernetes-version given as 'latest', no config",
+			expectedVersion: constants.NewestKubernetesVersion,
+			paramVersion:    "latest",
+		},
 	}
 
 	for _, test := range tests {
diff --git a/deploy/iso/minikube-iso/board/coreos/minikube/linux_defconfig b/deploy/iso/minikube-iso/board/coreos/minikube/linux_defconfig
index ebf694f191..40c43c77ce 100644
--- a/deploy/iso/minikube-iso/board/coreos/minikube/linux_defconfig
+++ b/deploy/iso/minikube-iso/board/coreos/minikube/linux_defconfig
@@ -380,6 +380,7 @@ CONFIG_SERIAL_8250_SHARE_IRQ=y
 CONFIG_SERIAL_8250_DETECT_IRQ=y
 CONFIG_SERIAL_8250_RSA=y
 CONFIG_HW_RANDOM=y
+CONFIG_HW_RANDOM_VIRTIO=y
 # CONFIG_HW_RANDOM_INTEL is not set
 # CONFIG_HW_RANDOM_AMD is not set
 CONFIG_NVRAM=y
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index 3f4a02bf9f..29a5ac30d5 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ require (
 	github.com/hooklift/iso9660 v0.0.0-20170318115843-1cf07e5970d8
 	github.com/imdario/mergo v0.3.8 // indirect
 	github.com/intel-go/cpuid v0.0.0-20181003105527-1a4a6f06a1c6 // indirect
-	github.com/johanneswuerbach/nfsexports v0.0.0-20181204082207-1aa528dcb345
+	github.com/johanneswuerbach/nfsexports v0.0.0-20200318065542-c48c3734757f
 	github.com/juju/clock v0.0.0-20190205081909-9c5c9712527c
 	github.com/juju/errors v0.0.0-20190806202954-0232dcc7464d // indirect
 	github.com/juju/loggo v0.0.0-20190526231331-6e530bcce5d8 // indirect
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index 70ea938169..d7d0bc3a61 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -423,6 +423,8 @@ github.com/jmespath/go-jmespath v0.0.0-20180206201540-c2b33e8439af/go.mod h1:Nht
 github.com/joefitzgerald/rainbow-reporter v0.1.0/go.mod h1:481CNgqmVHQZzdIbN52CupLJyoVwB10FQ/IQlF1pdL8=
 github.com/johanneswuerbach/nfsexports v0.0.0-20181204082207-1aa528dcb345 h1:XP1VL9iOZu4yz/rq8zj+yvB23XEY5erXRzp8JYmkWu0=
 github.com/johanneswuerbach/nfsexports v0.0.0-20181204082207-1aa528dcb345/go.mod h1:+c1/kUpg2zlkoWqTOvzDs36Wpbm3Gd1nlmtXAEB0WGU=
+github.com/johanneswuerbach/nfsexports v0.0.0-20200318065542-c48c3734757f h1:tL0xH80QVHQOde6Qqdohv6PewABH8l8N9pywZtuojJ0=
+github.com/johanneswuerbach/nfsexports v0.0.0-20200318065542-c48c3734757f/go.mod h1:+c1/kUpg2zlkoWqTOvzDs36Wpbm3Gd1nlmtXAEB0WGU=
 github.com/jonboulle/clockwork v0.1.0/go.mod h1:Ii8DK3G1RaLaWxj9trq07+26W01tbo22gdxWY5EU2bo=
 github.com/json-iterator/go v0.0.0-20180612202835-f2b4162afba3/go.mod h1:+SdeFBvtyEkXs7REEP0seUULqWtbJapLOCVDaaPEHmU=
 github.com/json-iterator/go v1.1.6 h1:MrUvLMLTMxbqFJ9kzlvat/rYZqZnW3u4wkLzWTaFwKs=
diff --git a/pkg/drivers/kic/kic.go b/pkg/drivers/kic/kic.go
index 2055f91931..6e05e2de05 100644
--- a/pkg/drivers/kic/kic.go
+++ b/pkg/drivers/kic/kic.go
@@ -121,6 +121,10 @@ func (d *Driver) Create() error {
 		return errors.Wrap(err, "prepare kic ssh")
 	}
 
+	// If preload doesn't exist, don't both extracting tarball to volume
+	if !download.PreloadExists(d.NodeConfig.KubernetesVersion, d.NodeConfig.ContainerRuntime) {
+		return nil
+	}
 	t := time.Now()
 	glog.Infof("Starting extracting preloaded images to volume")
 	// Extract preloaded images to container
diff --git a/pkg/drivers/kic/oci/oci.go b/pkg/drivers/kic/oci/oci.go
index df5117164f..5885b0e1cf 100644
--- a/pkg/drivers/kic/oci/oci.go
+++ b/pkg/drivers/kic/oci/oci.go
@@ -156,12 +156,13 @@ func CreateContainerNode(p CreateParams) error {
 		if s != "running" {
 			return fmt.Errorf("temporary error created container %q is not running yet", p.Name)
 		}
+		glog.Infof("the created container %q has a running status.", p.Name)
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	// retry up to up 5 seconds to make sure the created container status is running.
-	if err := retry.Expo(checkRunning, 13*time.Millisecond, time.Second*5); err != nil {
-		glog.Warningf("The created container %q failed to report to be running in 5 seconds.", p.Name)
+	// retry up to up 13 seconds to make sure the created container status is running.
+	if err := retry.Expo(checkRunning, 13*time.Millisecond, time.Second*13); err != nil {
+		return errors.Wrapf(err, "check container %q running", p.Name)
 	}
 
 	return nil
diff --git a/pkg/minikube/assets/vm_assets.go b/pkg/minikube/assets/vm_assets.go
index c3f30a667d..e3b4678544 100644
--- a/pkg/minikube/assets/vm_assets.go
+++ b/pkg/minikube/assets/vm_assets.go
@@ -120,7 +120,10 @@ func (f *FileAsset) GetLength() (flen int) {
 // GetModTime returns modification time of the file
 func (f *FileAsset) GetModTime() (time.Time, error) {
 	fi, err := os.Stat(f.AssetName)
-	return fi.ModTime(), err
+	if err != nil {
+		return time.Time{}, err
+	}
+	return fi.ModTime(), nil
 }
 
 // Read reads the asset
diff --git a/pkg/minikube/bootstrapper/kubeadm/kubeadm.go b/pkg/minikube/bootstrapper/kubeadm/kubeadm.go
index a6c1bbe3dd..5de297a003 100644
--- a/pkg/minikube/bootstrapper/kubeadm/kubeadm.go
+++ b/pkg/minikube/bootstrapper/kubeadm/kubeadm.go
@@ -524,17 +524,22 @@ func (k *Bootstrapper) UpdateCluster(cfg config.ClusterConfig) error {
 		return errors.Wrap(err, "kubeadm images")
 	}
 
-	if cfg.KubernetesConfig.ShouldLoadCachedImages {
-		if err := machine.LoadImages(&cfg, k.c, images, constants.ImageCacheDir); err != nil {
-			out.FailureT("Unable to load cached images: {{.error}}", out.V{"error": err})
-		}
-	}
 	r, err := cruntime.New(cruntime.Config{Type: cfg.KubernetesConfig.ContainerRuntime,
 		Runner: k.c, Socket: cfg.KubernetesConfig.CRISocket})
 	if err != nil {
 		return errors.Wrap(err, "runtime")
 	}
 
+	if err := r.Preload(cfg.KubernetesConfig); err != nil {
+		return errors.Wrap(err, "preloading")
+	}
+
+	if cfg.KubernetesConfig.ShouldLoadCachedImages {
+		if err := machine.LoadImages(&cfg, k.c, images, constants.ImageCacheDir); err != nil {
+			out.FailureT("Unable to load cached images: {{.error}}", out.V{"error": err})
+		}
+	}
+
 	for _, n := range cfg.Nodes {
 		err := k.UpdateNode(cfg, n, r)
 		if err != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/minikube/cruntime/containerd.go b/pkg/minikube/cruntime/containerd.go
index 67beb710a7..89a2e3912a 100644
--- a/pkg/minikube/cruntime/containerd.go
+++ b/pkg/minikube/cruntime/containerd.go
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 	"k8s.io/minikube/pkg/minikube/bootstrapper/images"
 	"k8s.io/minikube/pkg/minikube/config"
+	"k8s.io/minikube/pkg/minikube/download"
 	"k8s.io/minikube/pkg/minikube/out"
 )
 
@@ -313,5 +314,8 @@ func (r *Containerd) SystemLogCmd(len int) string {
 
 // Preload preloads the container runtime with k8s images
 func (r *Containerd) Preload(cfg config.KubernetesConfig) error {
+	if !download.PreloadExists(cfg.KubernetesVersion, cfg.ContainerRuntime) {
+		return nil
+	}
 	return fmt.Errorf("not yet implemented for %s", r.Name())
 }
diff --git a/pkg/minikube/cruntime/crio.go b/pkg/minikube/cruntime/crio.go
index fff4a8c270..5678a9d6a4 100644
--- a/pkg/minikube/cruntime/crio.go
+++ b/pkg/minikube/cruntime/crio.go
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 	"k8s.io/minikube/pkg/minikube/bootstrapper/images"
 	"k8s.io/minikube/pkg/minikube/config"
+	"k8s.io/minikube/pkg/minikube/download"
 	"k8s.io/minikube/pkg/minikube/out"
 )
 
@@ -230,5 +231,8 @@ func (r *CRIO) SystemLogCmd(len int) string {
 
 // Preload preloads the container runtime with k8s images
 func (r *CRIO) Preload(cfg config.KubernetesConfig) error {
+	if !download.PreloadExists(cfg.KubernetesVersion, cfg.ContainerRuntime) {
+		return nil
+	}
 	return fmt.Errorf("not yet implemented for %s", r.Name())
 }
diff --git a/pkg/minikube/cruntime/docker.go b/pkg/minikube/cruntime/docker.go
index 8641092573..843c7529f8 100644
--- a/pkg/minikube/cruntime/docker.go
+++ b/pkg/minikube/cruntime/docker.go
@@ -290,6 +290,9 @@ func (r *Docker) SystemLogCmd(len int) string {
 // 2. Extract the preloaded tarball to the correct directory
 // 3. Remove the tarball within the VM
 func (r *Docker) Preload(cfg config.KubernetesConfig) error {
+	if !download.PreloadExists(cfg.KubernetesVersion, cfg.ContainerRuntime) {
+		return nil
+	}
 	k8sVersion := cfg.KubernetesVersion
 
 	// If images already exist, return
diff --git a/pkg/minikube/download/preload.go b/pkg/minikube/download/preload.go
index 09e0d8d35e..44b2f81749 100644
--- a/pkg/minikube/download/preload.go
+++ b/pkg/minikube/download/preload.go
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ import (
 	"io/ioutil"
 	"net/http"
 	"os"
-	"path"
+	"path/filepath"
 
 	"cloud.google.com/go/storage"
 	"google.golang.org/api/option"
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/golang/glog"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/go-getter"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
+	"github.com/spf13/viper"
 	"k8s.io/minikube/pkg/minikube/localpath"
 	"k8s.io/minikube/pkg/minikube/out"
 )
@@ -59,14 +60,14 @@ func targetDir() string {
 	return localpath.MakeMiniPath("cache", "preloaded-tarball")
 }
 
-// PreloadChecksumPath returns path to checksum file
+// PreloadChecksumPath returns the local path to the cached checksum file
 func PreloadChecksumPath(k8sVersion string) string {
-	return path.Join(targetDir(), checksumName(k8sVersion))
+	return filepath.Join(targetDir(), checksumName(k8sVersion))
 }
 
-// TarballPath returns the path to the preloaded tarball
+// TarballPath returns the local path to the cached preload tarball
 func TarballPath(k8sVersion string) string {
-	return path.Join(targetDir(), TarballName(k8sVersion))
+	return filepath.Join(targetDir(), TarballName(k8sVersion))
 }
 
 // remoteTarballURL returns the URL for the remote tarball in GCS
@@ -76,6 +77,13 @@ func remoteTarballURL(k8sVersion string) string {
 
 // PreloadExists returns true if there is a preloaded tarball that can be used
 func PreloadExists(k8sVersion, containerRuntime string) bool {
+	if !viper.GetBool("preload") {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	// See https://github.com/kubernetes/minikube/issues/6933
+	// and https://github.com/kubernetes/minikube/issues/6934
+	// to track status of adding containerd & crio
 	if containerRuntime != "docker" {
 		return false
 	}
@@ -122,7 +130,7 @@ func Preload(k8sVersion, containerRuntime string) error {
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	out.T(out.FileDownload, "Downloading preloaded images tarball for k8s {{.version}} ...", out.V{"version": k8sVersion})
+	out.T(out.FileDownload, "Downloading Kubernetes {{.version}} preload ...", out.V{"version": k8sVersion})
 	url := remoteTarballURL(k8sVersion)
 
 	tmpDst := targetPath + ".download"
diff --git a/pkg/minikube/node/cache.go b/pkg/minikube/node/cache.go
index f1b3ac8f32..ebeb04fdc0 100644
--- a/pkg/minikube/node/cache.go
+++ b/pkg/minikube/node/cache.go
@@ -100,6 +100,7 @@ func doCacheBinaries(k8sVersion string) error {
 
 // BeginDownloadKicArtifacts downloads the kic image + preload tarball, returns true if preload is available
 func beginDownloadKicArtifacts(g *errgroup.Group) {
+	out.T(out.Pulling, "Pulling base image ...")
 	glog.Info("Beginning downloading kic artifacts")
 	g.Go(func() error {
 		glog.Infof("Downloading %s to local daemon", kic.BaseImage)
diff --git a/pkg/minikube/node/start.go b/pkg/minikube/node/start.go
index 204ed14b97..5f7b131a6e 100644
--- a/pkg/minikube/node/start.go
+++ b/pkg/minikube/node/start.go
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/minikube/pkg/minikube/localpath"
 	"k8s.io/minikube/pkg/minikube/logs"
 	"k8s.io/minikube/pkg/minikube/machine"
+	"k8s.io/minikube/pkg/minikube/mustload"
 	"k8s.io/minikube/pkg/minikube/out"
 	"k8s.io/minikube/pkg/minikube/proxy"
 	"k8s.io/minikube/pkg/util"
@@ -320,11 +321,34 @@ func startMachine(cfg *config.ClusterConfig, node *config.Node) (runner command.
 }
 
 // startHost starts a new minikube host using a VM or None
-func startHost(api libmachine.API, mc config.ClusterConfig, n config.Node) (*host.Host, bool) {
-	host, exists, err := machine.StartHost(api, mc, n)
-	if err != nil {
-		exit.WithError("Unable to start VM. Please investigate and run 'minikube delete' if possible", err)
+func startHost(api libmachine.API, cc config.ClusterConfig, n config.Node) (*host.Host, bool) {
+	host, exists, err := machine.StartHost(api, cc, n)
+	if err == nil {
+		return host, exists
 	}
+	out.T(out.Embarrassed, "StartHost failed, but will try again: {{.error}}", out.V{"error": err})
+
+	// NOTE: People get very cranky if you delete their prexisting VM. Only delete new ones.
+	if !exists {
+		err := machine.DeleteHost(api, driver.MachineName(cc, n))
+		if err != nil {
+			glog.Warningf("delete host: %v", err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Try again, but just once to avoid making the logs overly confusing
+	time.Sleep(5 * time.Second)
+
+	host, exists, err = machine.StartHost(api, cc, n)
+	if err == nil {
+		return host, exists
+	}
+
+	out.T(out.FailureType, "StartHost failed again: {{.error}}", out.V{"error": err})
+	out.T(out.Workaround, `Run: "{{.delete}}", then "{{.start}} --alsologtostderr -v=1" to try again with more logging`,
+		out.V{"delete": mustload.ExampleCmd(cc.Name, "delete"), "start": mustload.ExampleCmd(cc.Name, "start")})
+
+	exit.WithError("Unable to start VM after repeated tries. Please try {{'minikube delete' if possible", err)
 	return host, exists
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/minikube/out/out.go b/pkg/minikube/out/out.go
index 9ecb23c053..38c817339b 100644
--- a/pkg/minikube/out/out.go
+++ b/pkg/minikube/out/out.go
@@ -68,6 +68,9 @@ func T(style StyleEnum, format string, a ...V) {
 
 // String writes a basic formatted string to stdout
 func String(format string, a ...interface{}) {
+	// Flush log buffer so that output order makes sense
+	glog.Flush()
+
 	if outFile == nil {
 		glog.Warningf("[unset outFile]: %s", fmt.Sprintf(format, a...))
 		return
diff --git a/pkg/util/utils.go b/pkg/util/utils.go
index fdd38f4f35..37de6085cd 100644
--- a/pkg/util/utils.go
+++ b/pkg/util/utils.go
@@ -38,12 +38,13 @@ func CalculateSizeInMB(humanReadableSize string) (int, error) {
 	if err == nil {
 		humanReadableSize += "mb"
 	}
-	size, err := units.FromHumanSize(humanReadableSize)
+	// parse the size suffix binary instead of decimal so that 1G -> 1024MB instead of 1000MB
+	size, err := units.RAMInBytes(humanReadableSize)
 	if err != nil {
 		return 0, fmt.Errorf("FromHumanSize: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	return int(size / units.MB), nil
+	return int(size / units.MiB), nil
 }
 
 // GetBinaryDownloadURL returns a suitable URL for the platform
diff --git a/pkg/util/utils_test.go b/pkg/util/utils_test.go
index f1fe867c48..55392d7ebc 100644
--- a/pkg/util/utils_test.go
+++ b/pkg/util/utils_test.go
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ func TestCalculateSizeInMB(t *testing.T) {
 		{"1024KB", 1},
 		{"1024mb", 1024},
 		{"1024b", 0},
+		{"1g", 1024},
 	}
 
 	for _, tt := range testData {
@@ -59,7 +60,7 @@ func TestCalculateSizeInMB(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Fatalf("unexpected err: %v", err)
 		}
 		if number != tt.expectedNumber {
-			t.Fatalf("Expected '%d'' but got '%d'", tt.expectedNumber, number)
+			t.Fatalf("Expected '%d' but got '%d' from size '%s'", tt.expectedNumber, number, tt.size)
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/test/integration/aaa_download_only_test.go b/test/integration/aaa_download_only_test.go
index 7cd32410ab..8be373a5dd 100644
--- a/test/integration/aaa_download_only_test.go
+++ b/test/integration/aaa_download_only_test.go
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ import (
 	"runtime"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
-	"time"
 
 	"k8s.io/minikube/pkg/minikube/bootstrapper/images"
 	"k8s.io/minikube/pkg/minikube/constants"
@@ -147,16 +146,16 @@ func TestDownloadOnly(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestDownloadOnlyDocker(t *testing.T) {
-	if !runningDockerDriver(StartArgs()) {
-		t.Skip("this test only runs with the docker driver")
+func TestDownloadOnlyKic(t *testing.T) {
+	if !KicDriver() {
+		t.Skip("skipping, only for docker or podman driver")
 	}
-
 	profile := UniqueProfileName("download-docker")
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 15*time.Minute)
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), Minutes(15))
 	defer Cleanup(t, profile, cancel)
 
-	args := []string{"start", "--download-only", "-p", profile, "--force", "--alsologtostderr", "--driver=docker"}
+	args := []string{"start", "--download-only", "-p", profile, "--force", "--alsologtostderr"}
+	args = append(args, StartArgs()...)
 	rr, err := Run(t, exec.CommandContext(ctx, Target(), args...))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("%s failed: %v:\n%s", args, err, rr.Output())
@@ -178,12 +177,3 @@ func TestDownloadOnlyDocker(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("checksum of %s does not match remote checksum (%s != %s)", tarball, string(remoteChecksum), string(checksum[:]))
 	}
 }
-
-func runningDockerDriver(startArgs []string) bool {
-	for _, s := range startArgs {
-		if s == "--driver=docker" {
-			return true
-		}
-	}
-	return false
-}
diff --git a/test/integration/addons_test.go b/test/integration/addons_test.go
index 313fa01d15..a784f381bf 100644
--- a/test/integration/addons_test.go
+++ b/test/integration/addons_test.go
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ func validateIngressAddon(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, profile string) {
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	if err := retry.Expo(checkIngress, 500*time.Millisecond, Minutes(1)); err != nil {
+	if err := retry.Expo(checkIngress, 500*time.Millisecond, Seconds(90)); err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("ingress never responded as expected on 127.0.0.1:80: %v", err)
 	}
 
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ func validateMetricsServerAddon(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, profile strin
 	}
 
 	// metrics-server takes some time to be able to collect metrics
-	if err := retry.Expo(checkMetricsServer, Seconds(13), Minutes(6)); err != nil {
+	if err := retry.Expo(checkMetricsServer, time.Second*3, Minutes(6)); err != nil {
 		t.Errorf(err.Error())
 	}
 
diff --git a/test/integration/fn_mount_cmd.go b/test/integration/fn_mount_cmd.go
index eedc9e7983..8a3a9f68ee 100644
--- a/test/integration/fn_mount_cmd.go
+++ b/test/integration/fn_mount_cmd.go
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ func validateMountCmd(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, profile string) {
 	}
 
 	start := time.Now()
-	if err := retry.Expo(checkMount, time.Second, 15*time.Second); err != nil {
+	if err := retry.Expo(checkMount, time.Millisecond*500, Seconds(15)); err != nil {
 		// For local testing, allow macOS users to click prompt. If they don't, skip the test.
 		if runtime.GOOS == "darwin" {
 			t.Skip("skipping: mount did not appear, likely because macOS requires prompt to allow non-codesigned binaries to listen on non-localhost port")
diff --git a/test/integration/fn_pvc.go b/test/integration/fn_pvc.go
index 4f97c830ef..785783fd80 100644
--- a/test/integration/fn_pvc.go
+++ b/test/integration/fn_pvc.go
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ func validatePersistentVolumeClaim(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, profile st
 	}
 
 	// Ensure the addon-manager has created the StorageClass before creating a claim, otherwise it won't be bound
-	if err := retry.Expo(checkStorageClass, time.Second, 90*time.Second); err != nil {
+	if err := retry.Expo(checkStorageClass, time.Millisecond*500, Seconds(100)); err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("no default storage class after retry: %v", err)
 	}
 
diff --git a/test/integration/fn_tunnel_cmd.go b/test/integration/fn_tunnel_cmd.go
index a21b9350c3..e4598b3da7 100644
--- a/test/integration/fn_tunnel_cmd.go
+++ b/test/integration/fn_tunnel_cmd.go
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ func validateTunnelCmd(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, profile string) {
 		}
 		return nil
 	}
-	if err = retry.Expo(fetch, time.Millisecond*500, Minutes(2), 6); err != nil {
+	if err = retry.Expo(fetch, time.Millisecond*500, Minutes(2), 13); err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("failed to contact nginx at %s: %v", nginxIP, err)
 	}
 
diff --git a/test/integration/functional_test.go b/test/integration/functional_test.go
index ec4ce69051..5111590fe6 100644
--- a/test/integration/functional_test.go
+++ b/test/integration/functional_test.go
@@ -725,7 +725,7 @@ func validateMySQL(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, profile string) {
 		rr, err = Run(t, exec.CommandContext(ctx, "kubectl", "--context", profile, "exec", names[0], "--", "mysql", "-ppassword", "-e", "show databases;"))
 		return err
 	}
-	if err = retry.Expo(mysql, 5*time.Second, 180*time.Second); err != nil {
+	if err = retry.Expo(mysql, 2*time.Second, Seconds(180)); err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("mysql failing: %v", err)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/test/integration/main.go b/test/integration/main.go
index 04c22da305..b6c5a3916f 100644
--- a/test/integration/main.go
+++ b/test/integration/main.go
@@ -68,6 +68,11 @@ func HyperVDriver() bool {
 	return strings.Contains(*startArgs, "--driver=hyperv") || strings.Contains(*startArgs, "--vm-driver=hyperv")
 }
 
+// KicDriver returns whether or not this test is using the docker or podman driver
+func KicDriver() bool {
+	return strings.Contains(*startArgs, "--driver=docker") || strings.Contains(*startArgs, "--vm-driver=docker") || strings.Contains(*startArgs, "--vm-driver=podman") || strings.Contains(*startArgs, "driver=podman")
+}
+
 // CanCleanup returns if cleanup is allowed
 func CanCleanup() bool {
 	return *cleanup
diff --git a/test/integration/start_stop_delete_test.go b/test/integration/start_stop_delete_test.go
index 38ca1d9b9a..e948f4b6ef 100644
--- a/test/integration/start_stop_delete_test.go
+++ b/test/integration/start_stop_delete_test.go
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ func TestStartStopWithPreload(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), Minutes(40))
 	defer CleanupWithLogs(t, profile, cancel)
 
-	startArgs := []string{"start", "-p", profile, "--memory=2200", "--alsologtostderr", "-v=3", "--wait=true"}
+	startArgs := []string{"start", "-p", profile, "--memory=2200", "--alsologtostderr", "-v=3", "--wait=true", "--preload=false"}
 	startArgs = append(startArgs, StartArgs()...)
 	k8sVersion := "v1.17.0"
 	startArgs = append(startArgs, fmt.Sprintf("--kubernetes-version=%s", k8sVersion))
@@ -191,6 +191,7 @@ func TestStartStopWithPreload(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("%s failed: %v", rr.Args, err)
 	}
+
 	// Restart minikube with v1.17.3, which has a preloaded tarball
 	startArgs = []string{"start", "-p", profile, "--memory=2200", "--alsologtostderr", "-v=3", "--wait=true"}
 	startArgs = append(startArgs, StartArgs()...)
@@ -200,8 +201,6 @@ func TestStartStopWithPreload(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("%s failed: %v", rr.Args, err)
 	}
-
-	// Ensure that busybox still exists in the daemon
 	rr, err = Run(t, exec.CommandContext(ctx, Target(), "ssh", "-p", profile, "--", "docker", "images"))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("%s failed: %v", rr.Args, err)
diff --git a/test/integration/version_upgrade_test.go b/test/integration/version_upgrade_test.go
index e9c655a9b4..a03676a335 100644
--- a/test/integration/version_upgrade_test.go
+++ b/test/integration/version_upgrade_test.go
@@ -75,8 +75,8 @@ func TestVersionUpgrade(t *testing.T) {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	// Retry to allow flakiness for the previous release
-	if err := retry.Expo(r, 1*time.Second, Minutes(30), 3); err != nil {
+	// Retry up to two times, to allow flakiness for the previous release
+	if err := retry.Expo(r, 1*time.Second, Minutes(30), 2); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("release start failed: %v", err)
 	}
 
@@ -120,14 +120,8 @@ func TestVersionUpgrade(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	args = append([]string{"start", "-p", profile, fmt.Sprintf("--kubernetes-version=%s", constants.OldestKubernetesVersion), "--alsologtostderr", "-v=1"}, StartArgs()...)
-	rr = &RunResult{}
-	r = func() error {
-		rr, err = Run(t, exec.CommandContext(ctx, tf.Name(), args...))
-		return err
-	}
-
-	if err := retry.Expo(r, 1*time.Second, Minutes(30), 3); err == nil {
-		t.Fatalf("downgrading kubernetes should not be allowed: %v", err)
+	if rr, err := Run(t, exec.CommandContext(ctx, tf.Name(), args...)); err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("downgrading kubernetes should not be allowed. expected to see error but got %v for %q", err, rr.Args)
 	}
 
 	args = append([]string{"start", "-p", profile, fmt.Sprintf("--kubernetes-version=%s", constants.NewestKubernetesVersion), "--alsologtostderr", "-v=1"}, StartArgs()...)