consumer reports
Latest
EVs are way more unreliable than gas-powered cars, Consumer Reports data indicates
Consumer Reports has published an extensive ranking of vehicle reliability, and the results pour cold water on EVs and plug-in hybrids. The survey says electric vehicles suffer from 79 percent more maintenance issues than gas- or diesel-powered ones, while plug-in hybrids have 146 percent more problems.
Consumer Reports finds hybrid cars are more reliable than gas-only models
Consumer Reports says hybrids are more reliable than gas-only cars, but the same isn't always true for EVs.
Ford's Mustang Mach-E ousts the Tesla Model 3 as Consumer Reports' top EV
Consumer Reports now says the Ford Mustang Mach-E is its top EV pick, besting the Tesla Model 3.
Consumer Reports now rewards driver monitoring, but only Ford and GM pass muster
Starting this year, Consumer Reports will add an additional two points to a car’s overall score if its included driver assistance system encourages safe driving.
Consumer Reports study finds reliability issues with some EVs
It will no longer recommend certain EVs from Audi, Kia and Porsche.
Consumer Reports says Tesla Autopilot is a 'distant second' to GM's tech
Tesla's Autopilot was a 'distant second' to GM's Super Cruise in a Consumer Reports study due to driver attention tech and notifications.
Electric cars really do cost less to own than gas-powered vehicles, report says
A Consumer Reports study has found that most electric cars are less expensive to own than gas-powered vehicles thanks to efficiency and low maintenance.
Study says road deaths could be cut in half if more safety tech were standard
Consumer Reports has released a study estimating that road deaths could be halved if automatic braking and other safety features were standard on every car.
Tesla's Model 3 and S are (once again) recommended by 'Consumer Reports'
Two Tesla sedans are back in Consumer Reports' good graces. Model 3 and the Model S have regained the organization's recommendation after their reliability scores got a boost from CR's latest annual reliability survey of current owners. Tesla and Consumer Reports have some sort of love-hate relationship going on, with the latter awarding and revoking recommendations for the automaker's cars based on its survey's results.
Consumer Reports finds Tesla's Smart Summon 'glitchy'
Consumer Reports and Tesla have had a rocky relationship over the years, and it doesn't look like they're about to patch things up any time soon. CR has declared Tesla's Smart Summon feature "glitchy" after several days of testing both at its own facility and in parking lots. The drive-to-you feature only works "intermittently," the publication said, sometimes confusing a parking lot for a public road and shutting off. And while Smart Summon appears to drive the car at cautious speeds, it also wanders "like a drunken or distracted driver" and sometimes veers into the opposite lane.
A sixth of ridesharing cars have unfixed safety recalls
It's not just ridesharing drivers that merit some safety concerns -- the car might be a risk as well. Consumer Reports has conducted a study indicating that 16.2 percent of the nearly 94,000 ride hailing cars it identified in New York City and King County (including Uber, Lyft and smaller outfits like Juno), Washington had at least one unaddressed safety recall. About 1.4 percent of total rides had Takata's faulty airbags, while 25 had "at least" five open recalls.
Tesla Model 3 loses Consumer Reports recommendation
The long-simmering tussle between Tesla and Consumer Reports over car reviews took a fresh turn Thursday, after the publication said it could no longer recommend the Model 3. Tesla had finally claimed the distinction last May after it was able to reduce the car's braking distance. Previously, Consumer Reports declined to recommend the car due to that issue, along with "stiff" ride quality and a "distracting" touchscreen.
Apple comes out on top in Consumer Reports tech support ratings
Consumer Reports has announced that Apple has come out on top again -- and bested its previous score -- in providing consumer tech support to its users. The company scored far higher than the other big companies for the elements that make for successful online and phone support: ease of contacting staff, clarity of advice, technical knowledge, patience and time for follow-up. The annual survey found that 88 percent of of customer problems were solved at an in-store Genius Bar, compared to only 70 percent at Best Buy's in-store Geek Squad bars. Consumer Reports also notes that Apple was able to resolve 82 percent of computer problems across all its support lines (in-store, phone, etc.). Overall, Apple scored 86 our of 100 in the survey -- the highest of any computer manufacturer. The next best was Lenovo, which scored a 63 out of 100.
Consumer Reports ranks iPhone 5 below several Android phones
Consumer Reports hasn't been kind to the iPhone in previous years and 2013 seems to be no different. BusinessInsider has clipped a graphic that shows Consumer Report's smartphone rankings that are to be published in its February issue. As you can see from the clipping, the iPhone 5 has come in dead last among smartphones. The magazine rates phones like the LG Optimus G, the Samsung Galaxy S3 and the Motorola Droid RAZR above Apple's latest phone. As of now there's no reasoning behind these results. When the February issue of CR hits newsstands later this month, we assume we'll get a breakdown of why Consumer Reports feels the iPhone 5 is losing out to Android phones.
AT&T declared worst wireless service by Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports has published its ranking of cell carriers and AT&T is dead last. The publication surveyed 60,000 cell phone subscribers about their experiences. Unfortunately for AT&T, it did not win a single category. Its overall score was 62 out of 100. The carrier has been crowned worst major carrier by Consumer Reports in 2009, 2010 and 2011. So there you go.
Consumer Reports: iPhone 5 is "best iPhone yet"
If Siri on an iPhone 5 had feelings, it would probably be channeling Sally Field right now and shouting "I can't deny the fact that you like me, right now, you like me!" Consumer Reports, the magazine that would not recommend the iPhone 4 just two short years ago, is now calling the iPhone 5 "among the best smart phones in our Ratings and the best iPhone yet." Consumer Reports had previously given the iPhone 5 a thumbs-up, but was awaiting the result of full testing of the device. The magazine gushes over the larger display, the "thinner and lighter profile," 4G LTE, and even the new and improved Siri. Despite repeated complaints by iPhone 5 owners about the lens flare problem, Consumer Reports says that "excluding the phenomenal 41-megapixel camera we tested on the Nokia 808, the iPhone 5's 8-megapixel camera is the best we've seen on a smart phone." Consumer Reports testers also found the turn-by-turn directions of the Maps app to be better than they initially reported, saying that "it generally provides clear guidance, including voice and on-screen directions." As many of us here at TUAW have noted, the testers "expect the Map app to improve in time." Subscribers to the magazine can look at the full test results online.
Consumer Reports likes iPhone 5
Consumer Reports has posted its initial review of the iPhone 5, and it's mostly positive. Testers liked the display, calling it "crisp and bright," as well as LTE connectivity, noting that the iPhone 5 downloaded web pages faster than previous models. The complaints shouldn't be a surprise to those who've been reading iPhone 5 reviews. The testers at Consumer Reports found the Maps app to be unreliable, both in search mode and turn-by-turn. They also found the camera to be comparable to that in the iPhone 4S, and not a major leap forward. You can read the full report here. The group plans to publish more in-depth information soon.
Consumer Reports puts iPad at top of the list, despite heat issue
A few weeks ago, Consumer Reports caused a stir when it claimed the new iPad ran twelve degrees hotter than its predecessor and reached 116 degrees. Now the consumer watchdog company is back to say the heat problem is not a cause for concern. Consumer Reports acknowledges the iPad gets warm, but says this heating only occurs under select circumstances. The group noted that the heat climbed when the device was used on full brightness while playing a graphics-heavy, CPU-intensive game. Despite the occasional heat issue, Consumer Reports gave the iPad a top rating and said it was impressed with the Retina display and the 4G LTE connectivity on Verizon. [Via Reuters]
Consumer Reports' Fisker Karma gets fixed, testing resumes, for now
Remember Consumer Reports' bought a Fisker Karma that broke down while on the test track? Well after it had made the 200-mile round-trip to the dealership, it turned out the inverter cable and battery were both faulty and replaced them, before fully recharging the vehicle. The car has now been returned to the test track where a full review can begin -- give it a week, and we'll start taking bets on if it actually gets that "recommended" rating.
Fisker Karma breaks down in CR test, risks that 'recommended' rating (video)
Consumer Reports splashed out $107,850 to buy its own Fisker Karma, but before the car had traveled 200 miles, it had broken down. Partway through calibration testing on the CR Track, the car's dashboard began issuing warnings, but when tester Tom Mutchler pulled over to identify the issue, it wouldn't get going again. Mutchler was forced to call the dealership, located 100 miles away, to collect it on a flatbed for repair. It's the first time in memory that the testing organization can recall a vehicle breaking down partway through testing, but when it comes to the Karma, you can only be sure that nothing's too calamitous.
