A consumer car evaluation (CR) is an opinionated review of a specific vehicle. These ratings are based a number of factors. These factors include actual car ownership experiences as well as editors' feedback. Members complete surveys to find out more about their car's reliability, and how satisfied they are with it. These surveys result in ratings. CR publishes not only ratings of cars but also Brand rankings and individual model ratings. If you are interested in purchasing a particular model, detailed buying guides can be found.
Rating system CR
Consumer Reports' rating system for car reviews is based on their research and extensive testing. They evaluate the car's performance, reliability, owner satisfaction, overall safety, and overall health. Based on the feedback received, the editors assign a car an overall score. The editors ask test drivers whether they are satisfied with their car's ride quality or usability. Safety scores also take into account whether the vehicle has various driver assistance features or other safety equipment. And for that, they assign extra points if the vehicle has an advanced safety system.
Brand rankings
The Honda Civic's reliability and practicality are well-recognized by consumer car reviews. The Civic's Magic Seat arrangement offers plenty of versatility when it comes to cargo volume, despite the low overall score. The Civic ranks second in reliability and sixth in MPG. Its lowest ratings are for infotainment, which has low scores for sensitivity as well as the balance of touchscreen physical controls.
Individual model ratings
Consumer car reviews often highlight individual model ratings. These ratings are often based on average scores from individual owners. Edmunds doesn't provide individual ratings for each model. It is a shame, as it makes the ratings appear artificial and meaningless. Edmunds should include error bars with every model rating. If this were to be done, the ratings would more accurately reflect the actual experience of owners. Consumer guides might also recommend rating individual trim packages or model models as well as their vehicle classes.
Guides to buying
Detailed consumer car buying guides are still valuable resources for people who are shopping for a new or used vehicle. Consumer Guide offers comprehensive guides on every type of vehicle. These guides can be a great starting point when narrowing down your choices. They offer a high-level overview, pros and cons for each class, and a list Consumer Guide-classified vehicles with brief descriptions of what makes them special.