2007 Automotive Annual Just Out

The 2007 Consumer Reports Annual Auto Issue is on the newsstands. Not that we want to push the Consumer Reports Auto Issue, but there are interesting tidbits to be found in it.

In an earlier blog I gave their Top Picks the reasonableness test...and they did pretty good! Their picks weren't identical to mine, but they were pretty close. Certainly they passed the reasonableness test.

Now lets look at their losers and see if we agree there.

Some categories don't leave a lot of room for argument. MPG numbers and 0-60 mph times can just be looked up. others are more subjective.

Least Comfortable Vehicles - Yeah, That's What They are All About!

CR says the Least Comfortable vehicles are the Dodge Viper, Jeep Wrangler, Lotus Elise and Smart For Two. Well who the hell cares? That's NOT what these vehicles are all about. I own a Wrangler, and yes, in a technical sense CR is right: it is uncomfortable, on road and off. But it is VERY capable off-road, and lots of fun. I don't own a Viper - wish I could afford one. And the ride quality wouldn't put me off at all. It probably gets poor fuel mileage too, but "worst" in this sense is completely meaningless.

Avoidance Maneuverability - Of Course, Sports Cars Shine and SUVs Don't... DUH

The same goes for CR's Avoidance Maneuver category. Of course sports cars like the Porsche 911 Carrera S, the Dodge Viper SRT10 and Lotus Elise score better than SUVs like a Tahoe and FJ Cruiser! The CR numbers are correct...but either misleading, or completely irrelevant.

Back to the Drawing Board - Lots of Meat Here... What Were They Thinking?

On the other hand, I think CR did a great job of identifying some of the "Back to the Drawing Board" opportunities. The cup holders in a Pontiac Solstice (or Saturn Sky) are in an awful location. Visibility from an FJ Cruiser really is limited. I too prefer a radio with rotary knobs, one on the left for volume, one on the right for frequency. And the third seat arrangement in the Ford Expedition/Lincoln Navigator (with IRS) is much better than that in the Tahoe/Suburban/Yukon (with live rear axle). What was GM thinking? I've never tried folding the 3rd row seat on a Cadillac SRX, but if the CR instructions are right, it must be a major undertaking. Again somebody just wasn't thinking.

Most Disappointing. CR give the disappointing award to the Dodge Caliber, Jeep Compass, Toyota Yaris, Dodge Nitro, and Chrysler Sebring. Some good candidates there, but I wouldn't be quite so hard on either the Caliber or the Nitro. My Most Disappointing list would have to include the Mercedes-Benz CLS (unacceptable rear seat package and visibility for an expensive, but beautiful, 4-door car) and the Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon/Isuzu pickup. I can't think why these pickups sell at all! Virtually no redeeming qualities that come to mind.

So, on balance, the CR losers list is reasonable? Maybe not the same as mine, but I'd say it is reasonable.

Is Consumer Reports Biased?

This issue (no pun intended) comes up every year. And my answer is YES. Consumer reports IS biased. Not against "Detroit", as if frequently claimed, but rather they are biased in favor of brands that have consistently produced reliable, durable vehicles, and they are biased against manufacturers with a poor or even mixed quality, reliability, durability record. Is this fair? Generally, yes. Sort of like the cops being biased against convicted felons. Works for me. But it can be misleading. For example, the Titan got off to a poor start with respect to product quality, no doubt about it. But, I genuinely believe that those initial problems are behind them, and that the Titan is now fully competitive with respect to quality, reliability and durability. But the CR system will take years to forgive them. They may now be unfairly tarred with a "Not Recommended" tag on a very good vehicle. That happens. Might not be fair, but that's they way the world works. Some unfairly benefit from good luck, some are unfairly struck with bad luck. The CR system is pretty good, but it may not be entirely fair. Neither is the real world.