Survey: Vast majority of Americans want higher mpg in new vehicles

2020 Hyundai Ioniq (European spec)There was a time when freezing federal vehicle emissions and fuel economy standards was something that automakers, a wide range of companies, and a very significant portion of the American public might have backed. But that isn’t the case today. A new nationally representative survey from Consumer Reports, conducted in June but released last...

Consumer Reports pans Kia Niro EV, suggests a Hyundai Kona Electric instead

Consumer Reports 2019 Kia Niro EV test carIn its first drive of the eagerly awaited Kia Niro EV, Consumer Reports was not impressed. On paper the Niro EV looks like the Goldilocks of electric cars, not too big, not too small, not too expensive, and with a long range rated at 239 miles by the EPA. While Consumer Reports agrees that the Niro is a "pleasant and practical" way to go electric...

Consumer Reports Top Picks show hybrids have come a long way

2019 Toyota AvalonCarbuyers no longer have to give up space, comfort, features, or reliability to make a difference in saving gas. That's the message of Consumer Reports' latest list of 10 top picks for 2019, published in its Autos Spotlight, and April Auto Issue Thursday. Out of CR's 10 Top Picks, three are hybrids, one is available as a plug-in hybrid, and one is...

Tesla Model S loses spot on Consumer Reports’ recommended list

2018 Tesla Model SThe Tesla Model S has slipped back off Consumer Reports recommended list, due to a dip in reliability, as the consumer organization assesses it. Suspension problems are to blame, reported CR. In 2017 Tesla made its air suspension standard on the Model S, and all versions were dual-motor (all-wheel drive). DON’T MISS: Tesla tops Consumer...

Tesla Model S climbs back to top of Consumer Reports safety ratings

2017 Tesla Model SThe Tesla Model S has retaken its spot as the luxury sedan that gets the highest ratings from Consumer Reports after the electric car gained back automatic emergency braking that works at all legal road speeds. Some may remember Tesla restored the automatic braking during an update to vehicles earlier this year, but the system only worked at...

Tesla tops Consumer Reports’ customer satisfaction index

2016 Tesla Model SConsumer Reports' enthusiasm for Tesla electric cars has fluctuated, but owners' enthusiasm has apparently remained steady. The magazine that once declared the Tesla Model S to be the best car it ever tested, but more recently it has raised concerns over reliability, and criticized the automaker's Autopilot driver-assist system. Nonetheless, Tesla...

Consumer Reports’ view of Tesla Model X: ‘fast but flawed’

2016 Tesla Model XConsumer Reports has an interesting relationship with Tesla electric cars: it's complicated. The magazine initially praised the Tesla Model S, but pulled its "recommended" rating after reliability issues cropped up. It has also become one of the loudest critics of Tesla's Autopilot system, criticizing the name and its beta status among other...

EPA gas-mileage labels accurate, helpful, unlike 2005: Consumer Reports

EPA gas-mileage label (window sticker), design used starting in model year 2013Car buyers remain aware that the real-world fuel economy of new vehicles may not match the ratings on their window stickers. The year-old Volkswagen diesel scandal has also shown the vulnerability of laboratory emissions tests to deliberate cheating by manufacturers. But the news isn't entirely bad. DON'T MISS: EPA reports show automakers meeting...

Tesla falls even further as Consumer Reports ranks reliability

2016 Tesla Model XThe Tesla Model S was once the darling of Consumer Reports, garnering high ratings in the magazine's initial tests. But more recently, Consumer Reports has found fault with the initial build quality of the Model X crossover, and criticized Tesla's Autopilot system. That build-quality problems meant Tesla's first appearance as a brand in the...

Tesla Autopilot 8.0 better, still needs improvement, says Consumer Reports

2016 Tesla Model SThe magazine Consumer Reports has been one of the most vocal critics of Tesla's Autopilot driver-assistance system. It has called for Tesla to disable Autopilot's automated-steering feature, calling the technology "too much, too soon." It also called on Tesla to stop using the "Autopilot" name, claiming it could be misleading. DON'T MISS: Consumer...