A consumer review (CR) of a car is an opinionated report that reviews the vehicle. Ratings are based upon several factors. These factors are based on real-life car ownership experiences, as well editors' feedback. Members complete surveys to find out more about their car's reliability, and how satisfied they are with it. Ratings are created based on the results of these surveys. 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.
CR's rating system
Consumer Reports' rating system for car reviews is based on their research and extensive testing. They evaluate a car's performance and reliability, owner satisfaction, and overall safety. The road test consists of 50 rigorous trials in Colchester, Connecticut, and the editors give a car an overall score based on the feedback they receive. For example, they ask test drivers if they were satisfied with their car's ride quality, usability, and noise. Safety scores also take into account whether the vehicle has various driver assistance features or other safety equipment. They also give extra points to vehicles with advanced safety systems.
Brand rankings
According to consumer reviews, the Honda Civic is a good choice for practicality and reliability. The Civic's Magic Seat arrangement allows for plenty of cargo space, despite its low overall score. The Civic is ranked third for reliability and sixth in MPG. Its lowest marks come in the infotainment category, with poor ratings for sensitivity and the balance of touchscreen and physical controls.
Individual model ratings
Consumer car reviews often highlight individual model ratings. These ratings are often based only on the average score of each owner. Edmunds does not present these individual ratings for every model. It is a shame, as it makes the ratings appear artificial and meaningless. To fix this, Edmunds should show error bars with each model rating. If this were done, the ratings would be more representative of the true experience of owners. Consumer guides could also include ratings for individual trim packages, models, and vehicle classes.
Detailled buying guides
For those looking to buy a car, detailed consumer buying guides are still a great resource. Consumer Guide provides comprehensive guides for all types of vehicles. These guides are a great place to start when narrowing down the choices. These guides give an overview of all the benefits and drawbacks of each class. They also list all Consumer Guide-classified vehicles along with a brief description about what makes them unique.