Consumer Reports 02.2022

ROAD NEWS & EXPERT
REPORT ADVICE TO
KEEP YOU
AHEAD OF
THE CURVE™

TREND TIP FROM THE TEST TRACK THE VITAL STATISTIC

Car Part Thefts Make Sure Your Car Comes With All 23%
Rise Sharply the Features It’s Supposed to Have Overall reduction in
automobile CO2 emissions
Catalytic converter thefts Your new car might not have all of the features you’ve since 2004. “It’s clear that
are on the rise, from about been promised. Some automakers are leaving the EPA’s strong greenhouse
100 a month on average out equipment due to the ongoing chip shortage. gas emissions standards
in 2018 to more than 1,200 For example, heated seats and steering wheels are work,” says Chris Harto,
a month in 2020. The trend not available in some Chevrolets, some Cadillacs have senior policy analyst at CR.
is fueled by rising prices been sold without Super Cruise active driver assist, and “Now the EPA must finalize
for the precious metals BMW says the availability of wireless phone charging is
platinum, rhodium, and temporarily limited. Check that any new car you buy its next round of standards
palladium in this emissions- has the features it’s supposed to have, or that they to cut emissions further.”
scrubbing equipment found will be installed free when the shortages are over.
on all gasoline-powered Source: Environmental Protection Agency.
vehicles. Some hybrid models,
such as the Toyota Prius, RECALL
are at greater risk due
to the high scrap value of Toyota
their converters, which can
exceed $1,000, according Toyota is recalling more than
to the marketplace website 227,000 Camry sedans from
AutoCatalystMarket.com. To the 2018 and 2019 model
deter theft, park in a secured years to fix a faulty part in
garage or a well-lit area. If you the vehicles’ braking system
park overnight in a driveway, that could cause a sudden
install motion-sensitive loss of braking power and
lights. A catalytic converter potentially lead to a crash.
shield can thwart thieves, Although the brakes will still
but some cost $300 or more work if the part malfunctions,
and require a pro to install. they may require increased
force to engage.
ASK OUR EXPERTS WHAT TO DO: Toyota dealer-
ships will repair or replace
Should I pay extra for synthetic oil? the faulty part free of charge.
For more information, owners
Probably not. Synthetic oil owners don’t need it. He adds, and it can better address may contact Toyota directly
can add $30 or more to the however, that switching from the demands those driving at 800-331-4331.
cost of an oil change. CR’s chief conventional motor oil to conditions put on the engine.
mechanic, John Ibbotson, says synthetic can make sense But if your car came from the
you should use the type of oil for people who drive in extreme factory with conventional oil
your owner’s manual calls for. hot or cold climates or do a and your driving isn’t demand-
Since most cars don’t require lot of towing. Synthetic oil is ing, save the money and stick
synthetic oil, he says, most designed to improve lubrication, with regular oil.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY MATTHEW HOLLISTER FEBRUARY 2022 CR.ORG 51

ROAD 2
REPORT 3

Staying
Safer in
the Back
Seat

Introducing CR’s new Rear-
Seat Safety Score, which
reveals the cars that work
hardest to prevent injuries for
those who sit in the back.

by Keith Barry

AR BUYERS HAVE across 35 popular new vehicles. Later perform better in the new crash
this winter, the Insurance Institute for tests. The new focus addresses a
C studied safety Highway Safety (IIHS), an independent safety imbalance that can leave some
ratings for years safety-research group sponsored by passengers at greater risk depending
to determine the auto insurance companies, plans to on where they’re sitting in a car,
issue results from its new rear-seat crash says Emily Thomas, PhD, automotive
level of protection tests—the first time results of frontal- safety program manager at Consumer
crash tests with a dummy in the rear seat Reports. “The rear seat has to take into
a vehicle offers will be published for U.S. car buyers. account all kinds of passengers who
sit there, from infants and teens, to
occupants in a These developments will make it adults and ride-hailing passengers of
easier for car buyers to determine all ages,” she says. “But our analysis
crash. Until recently, those ratings largely which vehicles are best at protecting shows that many automakers don’t
passengers and also encourage include the same safety features for
focused on the people sitting up front. automakers to improve rear-seat rear seats as they do for the front.”
safety so that future vehicles might
Safety groups and crash testers

have recently turned their attention

to the rear seat. In September 2021,

Consumer Reports released its first-

ever rear-seat safety ratings, so car

buyers can compare rear-seat safety

52 CR.ORG FEBRUARY 2022 ILLUSTRATIONS BY SEÑOR SALME

1
4

ICONS BY ELIAS STEIN CR’s THESE ARE SOME of the flat, some rear head lives for front-seat passen- occupants seated on the
Rear-Seat features CR’s engineers restraints can be stowed gers. We also award points side of the vehicle oppo-
Safety evaluate to calculate our or removed when the rear for belts with height- site the crash impact, fea-
Score Rear-Seat Safety Score: seat is not in use. But adjustable upper anchors, tures that are not yet
seats without head which can improve belt fit. available in most main-
1. Head Restraints restraints put passengers stream vehicles.
The restraints can prevent at an increased risk of 3. Rear Airbags
whiplash and other neck injury. So we give points to As part of our advanced 4. Belt Minders
injuries during rear-end vehicles that make it dif- rear-restraint evaluation, Nearly all new cars
collisions. We give points if ficult for anyone to sit in a we award points to vehi- remind front-seat occu-
restraints are tall enough rear seat without a prop- cles with airbags that offer pants to buckle up, but
to provide sufficient pro- erly positioned or installed side-impact torso and pel- only some provide that
tection to adult passen- head restraint. vis protection to rear occu- same warning for rear-
gers, including those who pants. Only about a quarter seat passengers. We give
sit in the middle seat. 2. Advanced Restraints of new vehicles have these the most points to
Head restraints that don’t We award points to cars features today. In the reminder systems that
require adjustment with rear seat-belt preten- future, our ratings will add persist until a belt is buck-
score better. sioners and load limiters, points for rear airbags led and that start to
which have been found to designed for frontal chime if a passenger
To improve rearward reduce injuries and save impact or that protect rear unbuckles during a trip.
visibility or help a seat fold

FEBRUARY 2022 CR.ORG 53

ROAD
REPORT

Evaluating Rear-Seat Kids in Rear-Seat Risks
Reminders the Back
When researchers from IIHS
Even though nearly all new cars have CHILDREN 12 AND UNDER examined typical rear-occupant
audible alarms that remind front-seat injuries from real-world crashes, they
occupants to buckle up, only about should always sit in the back found that the most common ones
30 percent of CR-rated vehicles have seat. Here’s how CR’s Rear- involved the chest. Although serious
those reminders for rear-seat occupants, Seat Safety Score takes their chest injuries are relatively uncommon,
according to a National Highway Traffic needs into account. technology is available to reduce
Safety Administration (NHTSA) database. the risk even further. This includes
There are many reasons why rear REAR-OCCUPANT ALERT pretensioners, which pull the seat belt
passengers might not buckle up, but a tighter at the beginning of a crash,
dinging chime might encourage them to On average, 39 children die and load limiters, which let the seat
rethink the decision. That’s why CR and each year in hot cars, belt spool out a little during a crash
IIHS are now evaluating vehicles to see according to the advocacy to lower the risk of chest injury by
if they have rear-belt reminder systems group KidsAndCars.org. We reducing the force the belt applies to
and to judge how well they work. evaluate warning systems the occupant’s chest.
that help prevent these
Our ratings tell you which vehicles deaths. Some cars can even Although these features are common
have the reminders. To get full credit, a sense if a person is left behind in front seats, only about 40 percent of
reminder system must have an audible when the car is locked. mainstream 2021 model year vehicles
warning that escalates if a rear passenger have pretensioners and load limiters in
fails to buckle up after a trip starts. IIHS CAR-SEAT FIT the back seat, based on CR’s tally from
expects its ratings to be out soon. NHTSA’s public database of vehicle
An improperly installed car safety features.
Wear Your Seat Belt seat may not fully protect a
child, so we rate every vehicle Despite the importance of the
Any improvement to rear-seat safety we test on ease of installation equipment, it can be difficult for
starts with simply wearing your seat for infant and convertible consumers to tell if a vehicle comes
belt—your first line of defense in a crash, seats. We check LATCH with pretensioners or load limiters.
no matter where you sit or what level accessibility, see how many CR’s rear-seat safety ratings make it
of safety technology a vehicle has. But seats can fit across a vehicle’s clear if one or both are present in the
in a 2016 IIHS survey, only 72 percent second row, and evaluate the new vehicles we evaluate.
of passengers reported always wearing installation instructions in
their belts in the rear seat, compared the vehicle owner’s manual. Concerns for Older Adults
with 91 percent in the front passenger
seat. The problem is worse in for-hire BOOSTER SEATS Rear-seat passengers over the age of
vehicles, such as Uber, Lyft, and taxis, 55 are especially susceptible to chest
where only 57 percent of rear-seat We also check to see how injuries in a crash. That’s because
passengers reported always buckling easy it is to fit a high-back their bones may break more easily
up. It’s a sobering statistic considering booster seat, whether it compared with younger, healthier
that in a crash, unbelted rear occupants blocks access to the belt in an occupants, says Jingwen Hu, associate
have nearly an eight times higher risk adjacent seat, if it stays in director at the University of Michigan
of suffering a serious injury than belted place, how easily kids can Transportation Research Institute.
rear-seat occupants, according to a 2015 buckle themselves, and if the “If you add the same force to the chest,
study sponsored by IIHS. rear head restraint interferes older occupants may have several
with installation. rib fractures.”
In a crash, unbuckled passengers
can also become dangerous projectiles In frontal crashes, rear-seat
and put others in the car at risk, says occupants are also susceptible to
Jessica Jermakian, vice president for “submarining,” which is when a
vehicle research at IIHS. “Even if you’re passenger slides beneath the lap belt,
buckled but the passenger next to you sometimes causing injuries to the soft
is not buckled, that can add risk to tissue above the pelvis. This can be
everyone in the vehicle,” she says. due to seat design, but it also can result
from wearing a seat belt improperly.

54 CR.ORG FEBRUARY 2022

How You Can THERE ARE SOME things all so look for one and adjust it ■ Adjust your head restraint
Maximize passengers can do to make for the best fit. CR gives so that its top lines up with
Safety the most of any vehicle’s credit in our Rear-Seat the top of your head or at
rear-seat safety features. It Safety Score to vehicles that least the top of your ears.
starts with buckling up, even have this feature. “You don’t When adjusting the seat-
on short trips or in a for-hire want to be unbelted or back, leave no more than 4
vehicle, says Emily Thomas, leaning away from a belt inches between the back of
PhD, automotive safety because it’s uncomfortable,” your head and the restraint.
program manager at CR. “All Thomas says.
the safety technology in the ■ When choosing where
world is useless if you’re ■ Your lap belt should be low to sit, passengers should
unbelted,” she says. enough to hug your hip bones, find the seat where the
which are stronger than the belt has the most
■ Make sure your belt fits softer areas of your abdo- comfortable fit, and then
properly. Your shoulder belt men. In a crash, a proper —if possible—make any
should cross the center of lap-belt fit can prevent “sub- adjustments. “Sit where you
your collarbone. Some cars marining”—when a vehicle can wear your belt properly
have an adjustable upper- occupant’s body slides for- throughout the entire car
belt anchor on the door pillar, ward and under the lap belt. ride,” Thomas says.

Better Tests, Safer Cars crash tests, which reflect what happens Pick” designation.
when a car has a partial head-on In the short term, experts at IIHS
Until recently, only side impact crash collision with a barrier or another
rating tests in the U.S. were conducted vehicle. Small SUVs were tested first, and CR hope that the new safety ratings
with a dummy sitting in the rear, and midsized SUVs are next. By 2024, will encourage car manufacturers
leaving car buyers in the dark about after more categories of vehicles are to make simple changes to improve
how rear-seat passengers might fare tested, IIHS plans to start using rear- safety. Jermakian expects load
in a frontal crash. Now IIHS has added seat crash-test results as one of the limiters and pretensioners to become
a dummy in the rear seat of its latest qualifying factors for its “Top Safety commonplace in rear seats as
round of moderate overlap frontal automakers deploy existing technology

FEBRUARY 2022 CR.ORG 55

ROAD CR’s New Rear-Seat Safety
REPORT Ratings, Explained

to improve rear-seat crash-test scores. FIGURING OUT WHICH cars have various safety features
If dummies submarine during crash in the back seat can be difficult—if not impossible—for
tests, automakers might redesign seat consumers, says Emily Thomas, PhD, CR’s automotive
structures that prevent those kinds safety program manager. So she and other engineers at
of injuries in real-world collisions. CR’s Auto Test Center performed detailed evaluations,
“These are all things that haven’t been tapped data sources, and worked with automakers to tally
addressed by frontal-crash programs in which cars offer certain rear-seat safety features.
the past, so automakers haven’t had to
focus on them,” Jermakian says. From that tally, and the results of our child-safety tests,
we developed CR’s new Rear-Seat Safety Score. As we
In the longer term, she and CR’s collect more data, our ratings will expand to include more
Thomas say car buyers should expect vehicles. The current list of vehicles we’ve scored is on
to see new technologies emerge the facing page.
that specifically address rear-seat
passenger safety. For example, “The message from our new rear-seat safety testing
our analysis shows that just over is not that vehicles with lower scores are unsafe, but
25 percent of new vehicles have side that they do not offer the same comparative margin of
airbags specifically designed to protect protection as those vehicles that earn higher marks,”
the pelvis and torso of rear occupants, Thomas says.
a figure Thomas expects will grow.
A handful of vehicles already have Winners and Losers
inflatable seat belts, which Hu says
may help prevent chest injuries by SO FAR, NO NEW VEHICLES get top advanced rear restraints and
spreading out the force the belt puts ratings across all of our scored “are committed to making these
on the chest during a crash. And categories for rear-seat safety. features standard.”
Mercedes already has made a rear- That will likely change, says Jennifer
seat airbag available on the S-Class Stockburger, director of operations ■ Some vehicles designed to carry
sedan. “It’s likely that these advanced at CR’s Auto Test Center, who lots of passengers scored poorly,
technologies will show up first as oversees the program. “Automakers including the Jeep Grand Cherokee L,
options on higher-priced vehicles but often update their vehicles in order the Hyundai Santa Fe and Hyundai
will eventually end up in mainstream to meet more stringent safety Tucson SUVs, and the Kia Carnival
cars,” Thomas says. evaluations,” she says. minivan. None of these newly
redesigned vehicles has advanced
Changes at the Top In our first review, a few results and rear restraint systems or rear-belt
vehicles were particularly noteworthy: reminders. Spokespeople for Jeep and
As groups such as IIHS and CR focus Kia said their companies would not
on rear-seat safety, the added attention ■ The Genesis brand lags behind. discuss plans for their cars.
could spark stronger federal policies. Although the GV70 SUV features
Currently, NHTSA has yet to add a first-of-its-kind radar-based ■ Some affordable and popular
rear-seat safety ratings to its five-star rear-occupant alert, it fails to vehicles scored well. The Toyota
crash-test program, the results of offer more basic rear-occupant Sienna minivan, Honda Civic sedan,
which are printed on new-vehicle protection. For example, no and Nissan Rogue, Nissan Pathfinder,
window stickers. Genesis sedan or SUV has advanced and Ford Bronco Sport SUVs all
rear restraints. A spokesman get very good rear-seat scores. So
“It’s long overdue for NHTSA to for Hyundai and Genesis told CR does the popular Ford F-150 XLT
strengthen its five-star safety ratings, that the automakers are reviewing pickup truck.
which haven’t seen major updates in
more than a decade,” says William
Wallace, CR’s manager of safety policy.
“NHTSA should seize the opportunity
presented by new technologies. When
the agency updates its ratings, it should
fully account for how well a car protects
people’s safety in the rear seat.”

56 CR.ORG FEBRUARY 2022

Ratings   Getting Safer in the Back Our new score includes which safety features come standard
on the new cars, trucks, and SUVs that we have recently tested for rear-seat safety.

Make + Model Model Year Rear-Seat Child Safety Rear-Occupant Protection

Tested Safety Score

Child-seat fit
Booster use
Rear-occupant
alert
Rear-belt
minder
Advanced rear
restraints
Rear head
restraints

Toyota Sienna 2021 69 40 30 30 40 40 40

Nissan Pathfinder 2022 66 40 30 30 40 30 5

Honda Civic 2022 66 50 40 30 40 30 30

Nissan Rogue 2021 66 50 40 30 40 30 30

Ford Bronco Sport 2021 61 40 30 30 40 30 30

Cadillac Escalade 2021 61 50 40 30 40 10 5

Ford F-150 XLT 2021 61 40 40 30 40 30 30

Ford Mustang Mach-E 2021 61 40 40 30 40 20 40

Toyota Venza 2021 57 40 30 30 40 10 40

Mitsubishi Outlander 2022 52 30 30 30 40 30 40

Toyota RAV4 Prime 2021 50 20 30 30 40 30 30

Acura MDX 2022 48 40 40 30 10 30 40

Lexus IS300 2021 48 30 40 10 40 30 20

Chevrolet Tahoe 2021 47 50 40 30 10 10 5

Chevrolet Suburban 2021 46 50 40 30 10 10 5

Chevrolet Trailblazer 2021 43 50 30 30 10 10 20

Kia K5 2021 42 50 40 30 10 10 30

Kia Sorento 2021 41 30 40 40 10 10 5

Buick Envision 2021 41 50 40 30 10 10 30

Polestar 2 2021 41 30 40 10 20 30 40

Genesis GV80 2021 41 40 30 40 10 10 30

Jeep Grand Cherokee L 2021 40 40 40 30 10 10 5

Kia Carnival 2022 38 30 30 40 10 10 5

Hyundai Santa Fe 2021 38 40 30 30 10 10 30

Chevrolet Bolt EUV 2022 36 40 40 30 10 10 20

Genesis GV70 2022 35 30 30 40 10 10 30

Kia Seltos 2021 35 40 30 30 10 10 40

Hyundai Tucson 2022 33 30 30 30 10 10 40

Hyundai Santa Cruz 2022 32 30 40 30 10 10 40

Mercedes GLA 2021 32 30 30 10 10 30 40

Volkswagen Taos 2022 31 30 40 30 10 10 40

Hyundai Elantra 2021 31 30 30 30 10 10 40

Hyundai Ioniq 2021 30 40 30 10 10 10 30

Acura TLX 2021 28 30 30 10 10 20 30

Genesis G80 2021 24 30 30 10 10 10 30

10 20 30 40 50 FEBRUARY 2022 CR.ORG 57

WORSE BETTER

TRACK RECOMMENDATIONS
INTELLIGENCE FROM CR’S TEAM OF
AUTO EXPERTS

How to Get a Fair Deal on a Car

AR SHOPPING over the sought-after Kia Telluride, for example, but it starts at over $85,000. Other models—
has sold, on average, at about 17 percent such as the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, the BMW
C past year has been a wild above MSRP for the past several months, X2, and the Volvo S90—are also selling at a
ride. Pandemic-related according to CR’s most recent data. The Kia discount but are not recommended by CR.
supply chain problems Sorento, Chevrolet Trailblazer, and new
Ford Maverick are among the many other While you’re not likely to get a great deal
have thinned the selection models that have recently been selling at on most cars these days, relative savings
prices 15 percent or more above sticker. can still be found on some worthy choices.
of vehicles on dealer CR data show that a handful of models
Several models on the market were have been selling at or close to MSRP and
lots and driven prices higher than usual— recently being purchased for less than are comparable to some of the cars people
MSRP, but these are usually not as sought- are paying far too much for (see “Smart
sometimes well above the manufacturer’s after or are expensive to begin with, or Choices Can Lead to Big Savings,” on the
are lacking in performance or other key facing page). Let somebody else shell out
suggested retail price (MSRP). Even used characteristics. For example, the BMW thousands over sticker for a Telluride while
740i xDrive, recommended by CR, is being you avoid paying that hefty premium by
cars aren’t a bargain these days, with discounted by up to 5 percent on average, choosing a comparable Honda Pilot instead.
(Model prices can fluctuate from month to
sales prices at record levels. month depending on consumer demand.)

Why are deals so hard to find? It all comes The key is to be flexible and, above all,
informed. To help you get a fair price on a
down to supply and demand: Some people good car—and avoid falling for a great deal
on a bad car—remember these three tips.
can’t put off buying a new car and are
Don’t expect awesome deals. There
willing to pay more than the sticker price aren’t enough cars to satisfy demand these
days, so the great deals that were common
to get what they want. The highly rated and early in the pandemic are over. Now a
good price is measured by how close the
transaction number is to MSRP. But if you ILLUSTRATION: MATTHEW HOLLISTER
do your research, you can get a price that’s
at or maybe even slightly below MSRP.

Beware of discounts. Most of the cars
with the deepest discounts right now are
either very expensive to begin with or are
not very good cars. Don’t get stuck with
something you’ll regret buying.

Use CR’s expert reviews and ratings.
Consumer Reports’ expert reviews and
reliability data can steer you toward
competitive models that are least likely
to give you problems in the future. And
our online model pages (at CR.org/
cars0222) give you local transaction
prices that you can use as a guide. Make
the whole process even easier by using
CR’s Build & Buy car buying service (at
CR.org/buildandbuy0222) to lock in a
competitive price from home.

58 CR.ORG FEBRUARY 2022 10 20 30 40 50

WORSE BETTER

SMART CHOICES CAN LEAD TO BIG SAVINGS

Many popular models today are selling at far above sticker price. You can
save by buying a comparable car that isn’t being sold at a premium.

THE POPULAR CHOICE THE SMARTER CHOICE

2022 KIA TELLURIDE EX AWD 2022 HONDA PILOT SPORT AWD

+17% MSRP +2%
AVG. PRICE
$46,705 $39,723
$39,790 PAID $38,830

97 MSRP 76

50 OVERALL 30
SCORE

RELIABILITY

2022 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 LTD CREW CAB 4WD 2022 RAM 1500 LONE STAR CREW CAB 4WD

+11% MSRP +2%
AVG. PRICE
$50,372 $46,383
$45,300 PAID $45,400

46 MSRP 75

10 OVERALL 30
SCORE

RELIABILITY

2022 AUDI Q5 PRESTIGE S 2022 ACURA RDX SH-AWD A-SPEC

+9% MSRP -1%
AVG. PRICE
$49,548 $46,846
$45,600 PAID $47,150

79 MSRP 71

40 OVERALL 30
SCORE

RELIABILITY

2022 KIA K5 GT 2022 HONDA ACCORD EX-L

+16% MSRP +2%

$36,102 AVG. PRICE $32,331
PAID $31,790

$31,090 MSRP 88

76 OVERALL 40
SCORE

30 RELIABILITY

Note: Similar savings can be found on other trims. Based on November 2021 transaction data from TrueCar, a CR partner. FEBRUARY 2022 CR.ORG 59

ROAD EXCLUSIVE RATINGS & REVIEWS
TEST BASED ON TESTING AT CR’S
327-ACRE AUTO TEST CENTER

ELECTRIC CARS ROAD-TEST SCORE 88 MIDSIZED PICKUPS ROAD-TEST SCORE 67

Tesla HIGHS Acceleration, braking, Nissan HIGHS Braking, transmission, controls
Model S quietness, hatchback versatility, no Frontier
tailpipe emissions, low running costs LOWS Ride, tight rear seat, no
Confounding Controls Brawny, but the telescoping steering column
Spoil a Superb EV LOWS Odd steering wheel shape, Ride Is Too Stiff
controls, access, long charging time POWERTRAIN 310-hp, 3.8-liter
60 compared with fueling a gas car 54 V6 engine; 9-speed automatic
transmission; four-wheel drive
OVERALL POWERTRAIN 670-hp, dual electric OVERALL
SCORE motors; 1-speed direct drive; AWD SCORE FUEL 18 mpg on regular

RANGE 405 miles PRICE

PRICE $27,840-$37,240 base price range
$40,630 as tested
$94,990-$129,990 base price range
$92,690 as tested

THE UPDATED MODEL S In some cases the steering AFTER 16 YEARS without a just maneuvering around a PHOTOS: JOHN POWERS/CONSUMER REPORTS
probably would have garnered wheel simply slipped out of major update, the Frontier parking lot. On the plus side,
the highest road-test score the test driver’s hands. has finally gotten a redesign. the Frontier posted a higher
we’ve ever recorded if it The new version benefits from speed through our avoidance
weren’t for its new yoke-style Possibly even more egregious a strong powertrain and a maneuver than its rivals (other
steering wheel. The yoke— is that Tesla eliminated the modern infotainment system, than the Ridgeline) due to
similar to the half steering turn-signal and wiper stalks, but it still suffers from a rough strong tire grip and a well-
wheel pilots use to control replacing them with touch- ride. It’s no match for the tuned ESC, and it stopped
airplanes—brings major sensitive buttons on the yoke. Honda Ridgeline or Hyundai much shorter in our braking
compromises in usability, We always had to look down at Santa Cruz when it comes to tests than all of them.
maneuverability, and comfort. the wheel to activate them. comfort and refinement.
It’s a shame, because the The Frontier still doesn’t
Model S is otherwise a truly FCW, AEB with pedestrian The Frontier’s pairing of have a telescoping steering
amazing car. detection, LDW, and LKA a brawny V6 with a smooth- column, an omission that
are standard. Instead of a shifting nine-speed automatic irritated our taller test drivers.
It’s the quickest car we’ve typical BSW system that is the truck’s best aspect. The We otherwise appreciated
ever tested, accelerating from grabs the driver’s attention engine feels meatier and has the roomy driving position,
0 to 60 mph in just 3.2 seconds. by flashing an icon in the more readily available power although the old-school
It also handles superbly, side mirror or at the base of than the Ford Ranger’s turbo lumbar adjustment lever on
snaking through our avoidance the windshield pillar, the four-cylinder. the driver’s seat didn’t work
maneuver with outstanding Model S displays images of very well. Don’t think about
agility, thanks to quick steering cars in adjacent lanes on the It rides slightly better than sitting in the rear seat for
and hardly any body roll. instrument cluster screen—a the old model but still feels more than a quick jaunt
poor substitute. And despite very “trucky,” with a stiff because of the uncomfortably
But the yoke was a constant the names of its standard and jittery character that upright seatback. At least the
nuisance during daily driving. Autopilot and optional $10,000 causes the rear end to bounce controls are super-easy to use.
Turns that required hand- “Full Self-Driving Capability” around on rougher roads.
over-hand movements—such features, the Model S doesn’t Our drivers also were put off FCW and AEB with
as pulling into a driveway or drive itself, making the yoke by the Frontier’s unusually pedestrian detection come
parking—left one hand without steering wheel design that heavy steering at low speeds. standard, but BSW and RCTW
part of the wheel to hold onto. much more ill-advised. Their biceps got a workout are optional.

60 CR.ORG FEBRUARY 2022 Safety Term Glossary: AEB automatic emergency braking; BSW blind spot warning; FCW forward collision warning;
LDW lane departure warning; LKA lane keeping assistance; RCTW rear cross traffic warning.

Ratings   Missing the Mark The Nissan Frontier redesign makes only moderate improvements,
while the updated Tesla Model S goes for sizzle over usability.

Make + Model Overall Survey Road-Test Results Active Safety
Score Results Features

Predicted reliability
Owner satisfaction
Road-test score
Overall mpg
Seat comfort
front/rear
Usability
Noise
Ride
Fit + finish
Routine handling
Avoidance-maneuver
speed, mph
Acceleration,
0-60 mph, sec.
Dry braking,
60-0 mph, ft.
Suitcases + duffels/
Cargo volume, cu. ft.
FCW
AEB, pedestrian
AEB, highway
BSW

PICKUP TRUCKS $25,000-$45,000

!0 Honda Ridgeline 3.5L 82 40 50 83 20 40 / 30 40 40 40 40 30 53.5 7.3 134 NR S S S O
!0 Ford Ranger 2.3T 62 40 30 55 20 30 / 30 30 30 20 30 30 47.0 7.4 143 NR S S S O
59 20 40 77 24 40 / 30 50 40 40 40 40 51.5 6.6 132 NR S S O O
Hyundai Santa Cruz 2.5T 54 20 40 67 18 30 / 20 50 30 20 30 30 52.0 7.5 128 NR S S S O
Nissan Frontier 3.8L 51 30 30 42 19 20 / 20 40 20 20 20 20 46.0 8.2 146 NR S S S O
Toyota Tacoma 3.5L 45 20 10 61 18 20 / 30 50 30 20 30 30 48.5 7.5 132 NR O – – –
Chevrolet Colorado 3.6L 45 20 10 61 18 20 / 30 50 30 20 30 30 48.5 7.5 132 NR O – – –
GMC Canyon 3.6L 44 20 10 60 24 20 / 30 50 20 20 30 30 49.0 10.3 134 NR O – – –
Chevrolet Colorado 2.8D 44 20 10 60 24 20 / 30 50 20 20 30 30 49.0 10.3 134 NR O – – –
GMC Canyon 2.8D 38 20 40 52 18 30 / 30 40 20 30 30 20 49.5 7.8 135 NR O – O O
Jeep Gladiator 3.6L

ELECTRIC VEHICLES $45,000-$55,000

!0 Ford Mustang Mach-E E L 80 40 50 78 90 ⁄ 40 / 40 30 50 30 40 50 52.0 5.3 136 29.5 S S S S
!0 Tesla Model 3 E L 79 30 50 82 130 ⁄ 50 / 20 10 30 20 40 50 55.0 5.3 133 2+2 S S S –
L 59 10 50 90 121 ⁄ 50 / 40 10 40 20 40 50 54.5 4.7 121 25.0 S S S –
Tesla Model Y E L 57 20 40 72 92 ⁄ 40 / 20 10 40 20 40 40 55.5 4.4 123 3+0 S S S S
Polestar 2 E

ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND LUXURY SEDANS OVER $75,000

!0 BMW 750i 4.4T 84 30 40 99 21 50 / 50 30 50 50 50 40 52.5 5.3 131 2+4 S S O S

!0 Audi A8 3.0T 83 30 30 96 21 50 / 50 30 50 50 50 40 53.5 6.1 133 2+3 S S S O

Lexus LS500 3.5T 66 30 20 72 20 50 / 40 10 50 40 50 40 51.5 6.0 136 2+1 S S S S

Porsche Taycan E L 61 20 40 86 77 ⁄ 50 / 30 20 50 40 40 50 52.5 4.0 130 1+3 S S S O

Tesla Model S E L 60 10 50 88 120 ⁄ 40 / 30 10 50 40 40 30 58.0 3.2 125 4+3 S S S –

Jaguar I-Pace E L 59 20 30 82 76 ⁄ 40 / 40 20 50 30 50 50 52.0 4.3 136 25.5 S S S S

Audi E-Tron E L 49 10 30 90 74 ⁄ 50 / 50 30 50 50 50 40 49.5 6.3 131 28.0 S S S S

Digital and All Access members can find the latest, complete ratings at CR.org/cars. When you’re ready to buy, configure the
vehicle and find the best price in your area by clicking the green “View Pricing Information” button on the model’s dedicated page.

HOW WE TEST: Recommended models advanced safety, which includes emergency braking, pedestrian detection, S means that the feature is standard on
did well in our Overall Score, which crash-test results and the availability all trims. We deduct points if a model’s
factors in road-test results, predicted of crash-prevention features, such as and blind spot warning. A – means no such gear selector lacks fail-safes to prevent
reliability, owner satisfaction, and forward collision warning, automatic the vehicle from rolling away.
safety system is offered; O means that

it’s optional on at least some trim levels;

10 20 30 40 50 !0 L ⁄ Miles-per-gallon equivalent (MPGe).

WORSE BETTER RECOMMENDED GREEN CHOICE

Index THIS INDEX LISTS ALL THE ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN THE MAGAZINE OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS
(INCLUDING THIS ISSUE). FOR INDEXES COVERING THE PAST FIVE YEARS, GO TO CR.ORG/5YEARINDEX.

A RVs................................................................ Aug 21, 16 Exercise mats ............................................ Nov 21, 14 R–S
Safety systems Fast-food breakfasts, healthier.............. Dec 21, 14
Air fryers........................................................ Jul 21, 17 Financial tips during coronavirus Ranges
root vegetable recipes ........................ Nov 21, 13 coming soon.......................................... Aug 21, 56 ratings ..................................................... Sep 21, 34
Small trucks ............................................... Nov 21, 62 credit scores...................... Mar 21, 46; Jun 21, 16 shopping ................................................Aug 21, 46
Air purifiers ................................................ Aug 21, 21 SUV alternatives ....................................... Dec 21, 59 Fitness at home ........................................ Sep 21, 42
ratings ................................ Aug 21, 25; Nov 21, 34 Theft prevention ...................................... Sep 21, 62 “Forever chemicals” Recalls, urging reforms ............................ Aug 21, 7
Tire sealants ............................................... Jun 21, 59 Refrigerators
Air travel, COVID-19 safety .................... Oct 21, 50 Tires ............................................................. Dec 21, 54 in food packaging .................................. Mar 21, 7
Alcohol-free drink recipes .......................Jan 22, 17 in water ...............May 21, 34; Jul 21, 7; Nov 21, 7 ratings ..................................................... Sep 21, 33
Amazon Echo Show 10 speaker ............ Aug 21, 17 Goodyear G159 danger....................... Sep 21, 56 Furniture safety...................... Jun 21, 7; Aug 21, 19; shopping ................................................Aug 21, 46
Antennas, TV.............................................. Dec 21, 16 ratings ..................................................... Dec 21, 56 Rice, stovetop cooking............................ Feb 22, 18
Antibiotics, Top Picks for 2021 .................................... Apr 21, 10 Sep 21, 7; Nov 21, 7 Right to repair .............................................. Sep 21, 7
chain restaurant use.................Oct 21, 7; Feb 22, 7 Trucks timeline............................................ Jul 21, 14 Generator ratings .................. Jul 21, 49; Nov 21, 35 Robocalls ....................................................... Jan 22, 7
Appliances Used cars ............................... Apr 21, 82; Nov 21, 56 Genetic testing .......................................... Mar 21, 34 Router ratings........................................... May 21, 23
under $10,000...................................... Nov 21, 61 Rugs, outdoor.............................................Aug 21, 14
Brand Reliability Rankings................ Aug 21, 48 privacy...................................................... Dec 21, 7 RVs................................................................ Aug 21, 16
replace or repair .................................. Aug 21, 42 B–D Gift baskets................................................. Feb 22, 13 Goodyear G159 tire danger ............... Sep 21, 56
shopping for..........................................Aug 21, 46 Gifts, Father’s Day......................................Jun 21, 18 Salad ........................................................... Aug 21, 50
Arsenic in tap water ............................... May 21, 34 Baby food safety ....................... May 21, 7; Jan 22, 7 Green timeline ........................................... Sep 21, 14 dressings
Backpacks for travel .................................Feb 22, 17 Grills.............................................................. Jun 21, 24
AUTOMOBILE RATINGS Banking online......................................... Nov 21, 44 labeling .............................................. Aug 21, 53
Acura MDX .................................................Aug 21, 64 Bathroom scales ......................................... Jun 21, 13 ratings ...................................................... Jun 21, 34 ratings ................................................ Aug 21, 54
Acura TLX ................................................. Mar 21, 60 Beard trimmers ....................................... Mar 21, 20 Grocery delivery services ......................... Jul 21, 15 timeline ...................................................Aug 21, 14
Buick Envision ..........................................Aug 21, 64 Salmonella in chicken............................. Sep 21, 48
Cadillac Escalade...................................... Oct 21, 64 ratings ..................................................... Mar 21, 23 H–K Scales, bathroom........................................ Jun 21, 13
Chevrolet Bolt EUV.................................. Oct 21, 64 Blenders....................................................... Aug 21, 17 Self-care .......................................................Jan 22, 24
Chevrolet Corvette................................... Sep 21, 64 Bluetooth speakers ................................... Jun 21, 24 Headphones, noise-canceling ...............Jun 21, 20 Sheet pans.................................................. Feb 22, 14
Ford Bronco Sport ..................................... Jul 21, 63 Bread ............................................................Oct 21, 36 ratings ...................................................... Jun 21, 23 Shopping tips ............................................. Oct 21, 26
Ford F-150................................................... Jun 21, 60 Sink filters ................................................... Jan 22, 18
Ford Mustang Mach-E ............................. Aug 21, 63 ratings ..................................................... Oct 21, 40 Healthy eating ............................................ Jan 22, 32 Sleep ...................................... Mar 21, 24; Feb 22, 24
Genesis G80................................................. Jul 21, 64 timeline ................................................... Oct 21, 14 Hearing aids............................................... Dec 21, 48 mattress ratings................Mar 21, 31; Feb 22, 32
Genesis GV70 ........................................... Dec 21, 60 Broadband internet ................................Aug 21, 26; pillow ratings ................... Mar 21, 33; Feb 22, 33
Genesis GV80 ............................................ Jun 21, 60 problems & fixes .................................... Jun 21, 14 trackers................................................... Jan 22, 40
Honda Civic............................................... Nov 21, 64 Oct 21, 7; Feb 22, 7 Heating system reliability ...................... Feb 22, 15 Smart thermostats .................................... Jan 22, 14
Hyundai Elantra .................Mar 21, 60; May 21, 59 provider ratings ................................... Aug 21, 35 Holiday lights.............................................. Dec 21, 15 Smartphones
Carpet cleaner ratings ........................... May 21, 33 Homebuying ..............................................Feb 22, 34 camera ratings........................................ Jul 21, 54
Hybrid......................................................Oct 21, 63 Cell phone service plans ....................... Feb 22, 46 Home inspections ....................................Feb 22, 38 contactless payments ......................... Nov 21, 14
Hyundai Ioniq ............................................Oct 21, 63 ratings .................................................... Feb 22, 50 Home refinancing .................................... Feb 22, 41 photo tips.................................................. Jul 21, 21
Hyundai Santa Cruz................................. Jan 22, 60 Cereal ......................................................... Feb 22, 20 Home revival guide.................................. Nov 21, 26 ratings ....................................................... Jul 21, 54
Hyundai Santa Fe ....................................... Jul 21, 64 ratings ..................................................... Feb 22, 22 Hot wings, cooking at home .................... Jul 21, 17 Snack bars ................................................... Sep 21, 18
Chicken Housecleaning ......................................... May 21, 24 Snow blower problems & solutions........ Dec 21, 18
Hybrid.....................................................Nov 21, 63 contamination ...................................... Sep 21, 48 Soda makers .............................................. May 21, 13
Hyundai Tucson ....................................... Sep 21, 63 Costco ......................................................Jan 22, 34 organizing and recycling ................... Sep 21, 36 Sound bar ratings..................................... Nov 21, 34
timeline ................................................... Jan 22, 14 Humidifiers ............................ Oct 21, 13; Dec 21, 20 Sound systems ............................................Oct 21, 15
Hybrid.....................................................Nov 21, 63 Chocolate Speakers, Bluetooth ............. Jun 21, 24; Aug 21, 17
Jeep Grand Cherokee L.......................... Dec 21, 60 dark .........................................................Feb 22, 42 ratings ..................................................... Dec 21, 23 Spices
Kia Carnival................................................ Sep 21, 64 Infant sleep product safety...... Aug 21, 7; Dec 21, 7 DIY ........................................................... Dec 21, 46
Kia Sorento ............................................... May 21, 60 ratings ................................................Feb 22, 45 Insect repellents .......................................... Jul 21, 21 heavy metals in ................. Dec 21, 38; Feb 22, 7
Lexus IS...................................................... May 21, 59 timeline .................................................. Feb 22, 14 safety ratings .................................... Dec 21, 42
Mitsubishi Outlander .............................. Sep 21, 63 Cleaning tips ratings ....................................................... Jul 21, 24 Steam mop ratings.................................. May 21, 33
Nissan Frontier ........................................ Feb 22, 60 around the house ............................... May 21, 24 Insurance fairness....................................... Jan 22, 7 Student loans, resuming payments ..... Sep 21, 17
Nissan Pathfinder.................................... Nov 21, 64 dishes....................................................... Oct 21, 14 Interior paints Sunscreens .................................................... Jul 21, 21
Nissan Rogue ............................................... Jul 21, 63 pet hair .................................................... Jan 22, 16 ratings ....................................................... Jul 21, 23
Polestar 2.................................................... Aug 21, 63 robotic vacuums .................................. May 21, 16 disposal ................................................... Sep 21, 41 Supplements
Tesla Model S............................................ Feb 22, 60 Clothing, moth protection...................... Sep 21, 17 ratings ..................................................... Nov 21, 35 dangerous ............................................. Mar 21, 40
Toyota Sienna........................................... May 21, 60 Competition in the marketplace............ May 21, 7 Kitchen fire safety .................................... Nov 21, 16 FDA oversight ...................................... Mar 21, 40
Volkswagen Taos ...................................... Jan 22, 60 Computers, desktop................................. Sep 21, 15 Kitchen upgrades ..................................... Sep 21, 26
COVID-19 appliances.............................................. Sep 21, 32 T–W
AUTOMOBILES & AUTO EQUIPMENT housecleaning tips ............................. May 21, 24
Batteries........................................................ Jul 21, 62 lessons learned .................................... Aug 21, 36 shopping............................................Aug 21, 46 Tablets, bargain ..........................................Jun 21, 16
Best & worst lists ....................................... Apr 21, 16 recovery guide....................................... Jun 21, 36 countertops........................................... Sep 21, 30 Tea................................................................ Feb 22, 16
Big trucks...................................................... Jul 21, 56 resuming normal activities ................. Jul 21, 26 Thermostats, smart .................................. Jan 22, 14
Brand Report Card................................... Apr 21, 20 safe air travel ........................................ Oct 21, 50 material ratings ............................... Sep 21, 35 Tianeptine ................................................. Mar 21, 40
Comfort.......................................................May 21, 52 travel tips ............................................... Oct 21, 50 flooring .................................................... Sep 21, 31 Toaster oven cooking............................... Oct 21, 16
vaccine.................................................... Mar 21, 18 Top product picks.................................... Dec 21, 24
ratings ..................................................... May 21, 57 Credit reports............................................... Sep 21, 7 ratings ................................................ Sep 21, 35
Coming in 2021 ......................................... Apr 21, 22 Credit scores........Mar 21, 46; Jun 21, 16; Jul 21, 36 lighting.................................................... Sep 21, 29 timeline ................................................... Dec 21, 14
Deer season safety ..................................... Oct 21, 17 apps ........................................................... Dec 21, 7 storage .....................................................Sep 21, 27 Travel........................................................... Oct 21, 50
Destination fees ........................................ Apr 21, 28 Dark chocolate..........................................Feb 22, 42 Knives ........................................................... Jan 22, 13 Treadmills
Driver assistance systems ratings .....................................................Feb 22, 45 sharpening............................................... Jun 21, 17
Data privacy................................ Jun 21, 7; Sep 21, 7 ratings ..................................................... Sep 21, 47
crash data reporting .............................. Oct 21, 7 dark patterns ............................................. Jul 21, 7 L–P workouts ................................................. Mar 21, 17
safety............................................................ Jul 21, 7 genetic testing kits................................. Dec 21, 7 TVs............................................................... Nov 21, 20
Electric vehicles......................Apr 21, 24; Aug 21, 7 Instagram.................................................. Jul 21, 18 Laptops antennas.................................................. Dec 21, 16
Fuel economy.............................................. Nov 21, 7 Decluttering your home......................... Sep 21, 36 M1 MacBooks .........................................Mar 21, 15 ratings ..................................................... Nov 21, 24
Green Choice cars .................................... Apr 21, 32 Desktop computers .................................. Sep 21, 15 shopping for........................ Jul 21, 16; Nov 21, 22
Hybrids, braking........................................Jan 22, 59 Digital divide ............................ Mar 21, 7; May 21, 7 Laundry Under-sink filters....................................... Jan 22, 18
Insurance Dips ................................................................ Jun 21, 15 cost savings ........................................... Sep 21, 22 Unwanted emails...................................... Feb 22, 16
fairness ...................................................... Jan 22, 7 Disaster preparedness .............................. Jul 21, 42 detergent ratings................................. May 21, 33 Vacuum sealers............................................ Jul 21, 13
tips ........................................................... Aug 21, 62 Dishes, hand-washing .............................. Oct 21, 14 green washer ratings .......................... Sep 21, 25 Vacuums ..................................................... Oct 21, 20
Key fobs, replacing ................................... Oct 21, 62 Dishwashers ratings ................................ May 21, 32; Oct 21, 24
Lease deals.................................................. Nov 21, 17 ratings ................................ Sep 21, 34; Nov 21, 34 Lawn care robotic, cleaning tips.......................... May 21, 16
Loans ............................................................ Jan 22, 52 shopping ................................................Aug 21, 46 pesticide dangers & alternatives .... May 21, 44 Washers, green ......................................... Sep 21, 20
New cars Dollar stores ..............................................Nov 21, 48 rehabilitating ....................................... May 21, 48 ratings ..................................................... Sep 21, 25
fair deals................................................. Feb 22, 58 shopping tips ........................................ Nov 21, 54 tools, battery-powered.......................... Jul 21, 19 shopping ................................................Aug 21, 46
reviews, 2021......................................... Apr 21, 48 Door locks ................................................... Dec 21, 13 Water
Owner satisfaction ................................... Mar 21, 52 Dried fruit.................................................... Dec 21, 17 Lead in tap water .................................... May 21, 34 “forever chemicals” in ............................ Jul 21, 7
brand ratings ........................................ Mar 21, 57 Drinking water safety............................. May 21, 34 Mask tips..................................................... May 21, 16 home tap
Packing for travel ...................................... Dec 21, 16 contaminants....................................... May 21, 39 Mattress ratings ....................Mar 21, 31; Feb 22, 32
Ratings, 2021.............................................. Apr 21, 38 filters ...................................................... May 21, 42 Meat safety tips......................................... Sep 21, 53 contaminants .................................. May 21, 39
Rear-seat safety......................................... Feb 22, 52 Dumbbells .................................................... Oct 21, 17 Microwaves, shopping ............................Aug 21, 46 filters.................................................. May 21, 42
ratings ..................................................... Feb 22, 57 Milk, labeling..............................................Aug 21, 18 under-sink.......................................... Jan 22, 18
Reliability .............................. Apr 21, 86; Jan 22, 46 E–G Mixer attachments.................................... Sep 21, 16 safety ................................................. May 21, 34
predictions ............................................ Jan 22, 50 Online banking ........................................ Nov 21, 44 Webcams ..................................................... Aug 21, 13
ratings ..................................................... Apr 21, 88 Earbuds, true wireless.............................Jun 21, 20 Outdoor rugs ..............................................Aug 21, 14 Wellness.......................................................Jan 22, 24
E-bikes......................................................... May 21, 14 Paints, interior, ratings ........................... Nov 21, 35 WiFi............................................................. Aug 21, 30
brands ................................................ Jan 22, 48 Emails, unwanted .................................... Feb 22, 16 Peloton ........................................................ Sep 21, 45 extenders ................................................ Aug 21, 17
Repair Entertaining guests..................................Nov 21, 36 Photography tips, mesh routers.................... May 21, 20; Aug 21, 17
smartphone cameras ................................ Jul 21, 50 ratings ............................................... May 21, 23
dent repair.............................................. Aug 21, 15 timeline .................................................. Nov 21, 14 Pillows
DIY ........................................................... Oct 21, 50
professional............................................Oct 21, 56 adjustable ............................................... Sep 21, 13
savings ..................................................... Jun 21, 52 ratings ................................ Mar 21, 33; Feb 22, 33
Pizza ovens ................................................ Nov 21, 18
Plastics ......................................................... Oct 21, 42
recycling................................................. Oct 21, 44
Price matching ........................................... Jan 22, 15
Printers ....................................................... Jan 22, 20
ratings ...................................................... Jan 22, 22
Product safety ............................................ Jun 21, 44
Projectors .................................................... Jun 21, 24

62 CR.ORG FEBRUARY 2022

Selling It

Don’t Be Fooled by These Signs

Some postings just can’t be believed

Taken to the Cleaners
Who advertises that you’ll be paying full price?
Submitted by Sam Whiting, Seattle

Watch Out for Those Steps! The Discount You Actually Can’t Get
This special airfare can be yours ... when
Not exactly safe for wheelchairs, we’d say. JetBlue invents an eighth day of the week.
Submitted by Jim Metz, as seen in Honolulu Submitted by J LeCapitaine, via email

Good Help Is
Hard to Find
Want room
service or extra
towels? This
may not be the
hotel for you.
Submitted
by Michele Hake,
via email

SHARE Be on the lookout for goofs and glitches like these. Share them with us—by email at [email protected]
or by mail to Selling It, Consumer Reports, 101 Truman Ave., Yonkers, NY 10703—and we might publish yours.
Please include key information, such as your name and location.

FEBRUARY 2022 CR.ORG 63

JAN APR JUL OCT
FEB MAY AUG NOV
MAR JUN SEP DEC

Know When to Shop
and Get the Best Deal

Use our digital Best Time to Buy calendar to
shop for everything from vacuums to grills.

Check it out for FREE at:
cr.org/nsbesttime

CRM22C4N