CONSUMER REPORTS-AUGUST 2021

ELEMENTS OF A

PERFECT SALAD

Toss With Dressing

Control calories and sodium
by sticking with 2 tablespoons.

TRY Periodically measure
2 tablespoons of your favorite
dressing so you know what
a serving looks like.

Top With
Something Crunchy

Texture makes a salad more
interesting; use 2 tablespoons.

TRY Sunflower seeds, pumpkin
seeds, walnuts, pecans,
almonds, or roasted chickpeas.

Make It a Meal

Adding 3 ounces of protein,
a half-cup of whole grains, or both
will help you stay fuller longer.

TRY Beans, edamame, grilled chicken,
canned tuna, hard-boiled eggs, or tofu.
TRY Farro, quinoa, freekeh,
barley, or bulgur.

Throw in Some
Nonstarchy Veggies

They’re low-cal, nutrient-packed,
filling, and flavorful. Add three
or four for a total of one cup.

TRY Cucumbers, tomatoes,
mushrooms, onions, peppers, avocado,
carrots, cauliflower, sugar snap peas,
snow peas, celery, beets, or radishes.

Add a Sweet or Salty Extra

Fruit, olives, or cheese provide
a flavor contrast. Include one
or more—¼ cup for cheese or olives
and up to ½ cup for fruit.

TRY Apples, strawberries, blueberries,
peaches, nectarines, grapes, oranges,
olives, Parmesan cheese, cheddar
cheese, goat cheese, or blue cheese.

Use Dark Greens

Dark equals more vitamins, minerals,
and antioxidants. Aim for 2 cups.

TRY Kale, arugula, spinach, mesclun,
or romaine.

“Eating a salad goes a long way The dressing landscape is changing, with some PHOTO, PREVIOUS SPREAD: FOOD STYLING BY JAMIE KIMM
toward helping you get the 2 to 4 cups brands using high-quality ingre-
of vegetables you should have in a day— landscape is dients and limiting the added sugars
something just 1 out of 10 Americans and sodium that can downgrade a
does,” says Amy Keating, RD, a changing, with dressing’s nutrition profile.
nutritionist at Consumer Reports.
“And you can build a tasty meal without some brands But not all dressings are created
relying on less-nutritious toppings.” equal. CR’s testers thought most of
using high-quality the vinaigrettes tasted good, but we
More good news: Nutritionists are recommending only one, Annie’s
actually recommend salad dressing— ingredients and Organic Lite Raspberry Vinaigrette.
provided you pick the right one. “A It had the least sodium—just 55 mg
dressing that tastes good and is good limiting added in 2 tablespoons—and was among
for you will encourage you to eat more those with the least added sugars:
veggies,” says Su-Nui Escobar, RDN, at sugars and sodium. 4 grams per serving, or a teaspoon’s
Nova Southeastern University in Fort worth. Others had up to 7 grams of
Lauderdale, Fla. just one multistate outbreak related added sugars. (The American Heart
to leafy greens, in the fall of 2020. It’s Association advises consuming no
CR’s nutrition and food-tasting team unclear exactly why contamination more than 25 grams of added sugars
zeroed in on ranch and raspberry appears to be on the decline, although a day for women and 36 grams for
vinaigrettes—two of the most popular the Food and Drug Administration men.) But some did score low on taste,
types of dressing—and scouted the recently noted that the industry has in part because they didn’t have
supermarket for brands. improved how it grows, harvests, and much berry flavor.
packages the greens.
They found that while many salad More ranch dressings earned CR’s
dressings are loaded with added Food nutrition and safety experts recommendation. On the whole, they
sugars and sodium, there are others also say you should keep the risk in had more sodium than the vinaigrettes,
with lower amounts to choose from. perspective. Donald Schaffner, PhD, ranging from 150 mg to 260 mg in
a distinguished professor of food 2 tablespoons. That’s more than
Nor do you need to be overly science at Rutgers University in New 10 percent of the recommended daily
concerned about calories or fat in Jersey, says that “while foodborne maximum of 2,300 mg per day for
dressings. The fat is mostly the heart- disease outbreaks can be devastating,” adults and, Keating says, “considering
healthy unsaturated type, and a little the number of people getting sick the small serving size, it’s a lot.”
fat helps you absorb more of the from them each year is actually quite
salad’s nutrients. “Greens and other small, while the benefits of regularly Still, none of the ranch versions had
vegetables offer a lot of nutrition,” consuming leafy greens are substantial. more than a gram of sugar, and they
Keating says, “so as long as you’re also were surprisingly low in unhealthy
mindful of salad add-ons and dressing You can also take a few safety saturated fat. Compared with
portion sizes, the dressing shouldn’t steps yourself. Washing greens with vinaigrettes, where most of the fat comes
weigh you down too much.” water won’t get rid of bacteria, but a from olive or other vegetable oils and
10-minute soak in white vinegar might is unsaturated, creamy dressings often
SAFETY FIRST help. (Rinse afterward to remove the contain dairy, and that can bump up
vinegar taste.) And to stay informed on their saturated fat content. But none of
Not too long ago, reports of leafy greens outbreaks, follow @FDAfood and the ranches had more than 2.5 grams.
contaminated with the type of E. coli @USDAFoodSafety on Twitter, or sign Bolthouse Farms Classic Ranch Yogurt
bacteria that can make you sick were up for email alerts from both agencies. Dressing has less than a gram and just
common. Between 2006 and 2019, 45 calories, and got high marks for taste.
romaine lettuce and other greens were NICELY DRESSED
involved in at least 46 multistate E. coli The ranch dressings tended to taste
outbreaks, according to the Centers for It hasn’t always been easy to find a better than the vinaigrettes. Many had
Disease Control and Prevention. One store-bought dressing that’s both that traditional ranch combo of creamy
likely reason: Most commercial leafy delicious and good for you. But the and tangy, but some went in a more
greens grown in the U.S. come from unusual but still flavorful direction—
areas where cattle—a main source of creamy but with lemony, mustardy,
E. coli—are also raised. or nutty undertones.

But in the past two years there’s been

52 CR.ORG AUGUST 2021

Dressed-Up L A BEL S ON S A L A D DRESSING BOT TLES can be full of health claims.
Labels They may also tout ingredients with a reputation—deserved or
not—for being healthy, giving the impression that you’ll be pouring
something extra good on your greens. Here, our dressing label
decoder for some common tricky terms.

Lite Cage-Free Eggs

A dressing labeled “lite” or This means the hens weren’t
“light” must have half the fat or raised in a cage, but they
less of the original version. still could have been packed
Dressings with this claim often into a building with thousands
have water or vinegar in place of other birds. There’s no
of some of the oil and tend to nutritional difference between
have more added sugars. cage-free eggs and others.

Contains No Artificial Flavors
Avocado or
Avocado Oil Natural flavors must come
from a plant or animal but can
Both have healthy fat—but so be extracted in a lab with
do most oils. What’s more, chemicals. They can be made
even when an ingredient, like from many components, which
avocado, is called out on a don’t have to be identified in
label, there may be very little the ingredients list.
of it in the product. If it’s not
high on the ingredients list, Plant-Based
it’s not a main component.
While there’s no official
Keto definition, this term should tell
you that there are no animal
This typically means the products such as cheese or
dressing is higher in fat and buttermilk in the dressing. To be
lower in carbohydrates. But sure, read the ingredients list.
“high-fat, low-carb” describes
practically any salad dressing. Expeller-Pressed

No Artificial This means the oil was
Preservatives extracted with a mechanical
press, not by using the solvent
Some experts advise avoiding hexane, like most oils. It’s
certain artificial preservatives, unclear if trace amounts of
such as sodium benzoate, hexane in oil is unhealthy.
BHA, and BHT. So look for this But the chemical may pose
claim if you want to avoid those a risk to the environment and
preservatives. Or read the to workers if they inhale it.
ingredients list. Many dressings
without preservatives don’t
note their absence on the label.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY CEYLAN SAHIN EKER

Ratings   Toss It Together If the dressing you like isn’t the most nutritious, limiting your
portion size to 2 tablespoons per serving can help rein in the dietary damage.

Product Overall Pricing Test Nutritional Information Flavor & Texture Description
Score
Results

Per package/
package size,
fl. oz.
(price per
serving)
Nutrition
score
Sensory
score
Calories
Total fat (g)
Saturated
fat (g)
Sodium (mg)
Added
sugars (g)

RANCH

Primal Kitchen Ranch 73 40 40$6.00/8 oz. More like a vinaigrette than a traditional
72 120 13.0 2.0 210 0 ranch. Tart and lemony with onion, garlic, and
!0 Dressing & Marinade with 72 (75 cents)
70 slight black pepper and dill flavors.
Avocado Oil

Organicgirl Organic 40 40$5.00/8 oz. 60 5.0 2.5 240 1 Tangy with big sharp cheese and dairy flavors.
Well-blended spices. Tastes freshly made.
!0 White Cheddar Ranch (63 cents)

Style Vinaigrette

!0 88 Acres 40 40$8.00/8 oz. 170 16.0 2.5 150 0 Big dill flavor, with a salty, nut butter element
Garden Ranch Dressing Oily, grainy, and very thick. Good as a veggie dip.
($1.00)

!0 Bolthouse Farms Classic 40 40$3.50/14 oz. 45 3.0 0.5 230 1 Creamy and smooth with dairy flavors and mild,
Ranch Yogurt Dressing balanced spices.
(25 cents)

!0 Tessemae’s Organic 70 40 40$6.00/10 oz. More like a mustard dressing than a ranch.
Avocado Ranch Dressing 160 18.0 1.5 220 0 Creamy and thick. Lots of spices with
(60 cents)
black pepper notes. Moderately salty and sour.

Marzetti Simply Dressed 65 40 30$4.00/12 oz. 130 13.0 1.0 180 0 Big sour vinegar taste and slight citrus and
Avocado Ranch Dressing avocado flavors. Flavors don’t blend well together.
(33 cents)

Hidden Valley 63 40 30$3.00/12 oz. 110 12.0 1.5 240 1 Slightly thick. Big mayonnaise taste with
Simply Ranch Dressing mild onion, garlic, dill, and pepper flavors.
(25 cents)

Hidden Valley Ranch 63 30 40$6.00/16 oz. 90 9.0 2.0 220 1 Smooth. Slight avocado and mayonnaise
Avocado Topping & Dressing flavors with dill and other herbs. Slightly sour.
(38 cents)

Newman’s Own Avocado 62 40 30$5.50/8 oz. More like an Italian dressing than a
Oil & Extra Virgin Olive Oil 160 18.0 2.5 220 0 traditional ranch. Tastes mostly of lemon,
Dairy-Free Ranch Dressing (69 cents)
mustard, and spices.

Healthy Choice 55 30 30$3.50/12 oz. 45 1.5 0.0 260 2 Very sour and vinegary. Spices taste dehydrated.
Plant Powered Garden Cauliflower adds a slight sulfur note.
Ranch Dressing (29 cents)

RASPBERRY VINAIGRETTE

!0 Annie’s Organic Lite 74 50 305.00/8 oz. 45 3.0 0.0 55 4 Slightly thick. Sour and slightly sweet berry flavor,
Raspberry Vinaigrette with a hint of honey and mustard. Tastes lower-fat.
(63 cents)

Marie’s Raspberry 66 30 40$4.00/11.5 50 3.0 0.0 100 6 Creamy. Balanced sweet-tart flavor and
Vinaigrette mildly seasoned.
oz.
(36 cents)

Newman’s Own Raspberry 65 30 40$3.00/16 oz. 70 5.0 0.5 120 6 Slightly thick. Walnut and sweet raspberry flavors
Walnut Vinaigrette 53 with distinct cracked black pepper.
52 (19 cents)
Ken’s Lite Raspberry 41
Walnut Vinaigrette 30 40$2.50/16 oz. Thin. Sweet and slightly sour. Tastes of raspberry
Dressing & Marinade 80 6.0 0.5 130 7 and other fruit, with a hint of walnut. Well-blended
(16 cents)
Briannas Home Style seasonings.
Raspberry Poppy Seed
Dressing, Sauce & Dip 30 40$4.00/12 oz. 150 13.0 1.0 200 7 Thick with some crunch from poppy seeds.
Flavorful and fruity raspberry dressing with hints
Kraft Sweet Raspberry (33 cents) of sweet mustard. Good as a veggie dip.
Vinaigrette
20 30$2.00/14 oz. 70 5.0 1.0 330 5 Thin with an oily mouthfeel. Tastes of fruit but
not raspberry.
(14 cents)

Wish-Bone Light Raspberry 39 20 20$2.50/15 oz. 70 4.0 0.5 280 4 Slightly thick. Fruity with a little walnut flavor.
Walnut Vinaigrette Dressing Very slightly bitter. Tastes lower-fat.
(17 cents)

HOW WE TEST: CR’s food experts total fat, saturated fat, sodium, and added the dressings straight and on lettuce. of the Overall Score. For full ratings,
tested dressings for nutrition and taste. sugars. Sensory is based on the objective We also considered the ingredients Digital and All Access members can go to
Nutrition is based on calories per gram, opinion of experts who blind-tasted and whether they were organic as part CR.org/saladdressing.

54 CR.ORG AUGUST 2021 10 20 30 40 50 !0

POOR EXCELLENT RECOMMENDED

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

ASK OUR EXPERTS TRENDS 38THE VITAL STATISTIC

Should you buy How to Find a Rental Right Now Number of states where
a dealership self-driving test vehicles are
‘loaner’ car? Travel demand is surging as COVID-19 restrictions allowed on public roads.
ease, according to AAA. But a shortage of new cars Given the risks to the public,
Dealers often end up selling due to a microchip supply disruption has prevented CR wants strong safety
the cars they set aside car rental companies from restocking their fleets, standards for these vehicles.
as “loaners” for customers leading to a tight supply and higher prices. Hertz
who need to leave their says it expects the situation to last at least through Source: AAA.
vehicles overnight for repair. the summer. If you need a rental car, CR has tips: Book
We think it’s okay to buy one of and pay as soon as you can—even up to six months in RECALL
these used cars as long as advance—to lock in a rate; avoid airports and try other
you take some precautions. locations; and consider services like Turo or DriveShare, Mercedes-Benz
We recommend an inspec- where people offer their personal vehicles for rent.
tion from an independent Mercedes-Benz is recalling
PHOTO: JOHN POWERS/CONSUMER REPORTS mechanic, and avoiding The redesigned 2022 Pathfinder responsive due to limited body about 340,000 coupes,
any used car with signs of is a user-friendly, highly func- lean and fairly quick steering. convertibles, sedans, and
extreme wear, such as tional SUV. Its generously sized CR’S TAKE: Our rented Platinum- SUVs from the 2019 through
average annual mileage of three-row cabin seats up to trim Pathfinder was a big 2021 model years because of
more than 15,000. The sale eight and can fit three child step up from the lackluster faulty software that may
price on a loaner will likely safety seats in the second row. previous generation. We’ll buy prevent backup camera video
be lower than a regular used The 284-hp, 3.5-liter V6 engine the more popular SL trim and feeds from displaying.
car of the same make and is paired with a smooth-shifting put it through our full testing. Customers have reported that
model year. “There can be nine-speed automatic trans- when they put their vehicles in
substantial cost savings,” mission. The ride is supple and PRICE RANGE: $33,410-$48,090 Reverse, the display remained
says John Ibbotson, CR’s controlled, and handling is DESTINATION CHARGE: $1,150 blank. That creates an
chief automotive services PRICE AS DRIVEN: $50,290 increased risk of backing over
manager. “Just make sure the a person or into an object.
dealership fixes anything WHAT TO DO: Mercedes-Benz
that’s wrong before signing will update the multimedia/
the paperwork.” infotainment system in
affected vehicles either over
FIRST Nissan the air or at a dealership at
no cost to owners. For more
DRIVE information, call customer
service at 800-367-6372.
Pathfinder

ILLUSTRATION BY MATTHEW HOLLISTER AUGUST 2021 CR.ORG 55

ROAD
REPORT

What’s
Next
in Car
Safety?

Bright headlights that don’t shine in other drivers’
eyes, and sensors that can “see” children left
behind in hot cars: These are just two lifesaving
innovations coming soon to a dealership near you.

B Y K E I T H B A R R Y ILLUSTRATIONS BY SINELAB

N THE NOT-TOO-DISTANT PAST, advances in car SEE WITH
COMPUTER VISION
I safety focused on keeping drivers and passengers
protected in a crash. Today’s vehicles go a step WHEN IT’S COMING: SOME
beyond, using cameras, radar, and computing VEHICLES SOLD IN EUROPE
power to prevent crashes and other tragedies ALREADY HAVE VERSIONS OF AUGMENTED
from happening in the first place. As a result, REALITY DISPLAYS. WE EXPECT SIMILAR
modern safety systems protect not only those inside vehicles but FEATURES IN THE U.S. SOON.
also other drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists.
Features such as automatic emergency braking (AEB) and blind
spot warning (BSW) are already preventing crashes, but we’re still
only starting to realize the benefits of how technology can make
roads safer, says Jake Fisher, senior director of CR’s Auto Test
Center. Soon, more powerful processors and sensors will usher in
the next generation of safety advances, which will go even further
to save lives and prevent injuries.
“Cars are benefiting from the explosion in computer processing
power, and automakers are using that technology to make cars
smarter and safer,” Fisher says. It’s also likely that new safety
features will become more commonplace on vehicles as new
federal policies encourage automakers to install them on the
vehicles they sell.
CR has tried early versions of many of these emerging features,
and we’re confident that they will prevent crashes. “These
technologies can help us eventually get to a point where road
fatalities are a thing of the past,” Fisher says.

56 CR.ORG AUGUST 2021

WHAT IT IS HOW IT WORKS look or how far they sit from CR’S TAKE
the steering wheel. In its
Augmented reality is designed The technology is currently in research of its own prototype We like it. “These systems put
to blend human and computer development at multiple system paired with automated vital information in the
vision, projecting 3D holo- automakers and suppliers, driving, Continental says it driver’s sight and don’t direct
graphic animations into the such as Continental, GM, and found that drivers are quicker their eyes away from the road
driver’s field of view to show Panasonic. It will use a to react to augmented reality like standard gauges and
exactly where a navigation head-up display that can track warnings than to the usual other visual warnings,” says
system says to turn, highlight a driver’s eye movements to chimes and dashboard Kelly Funkhouser, CR’s
a pedestrian waiting to cross, ensure that vital information lights alone. program manager for vehicle
or warn of a stopped car is projected in their line of interface testing.
ahead, among other things. sight no matter where they

AUGUST 2021 CR.ORG 57

ROAD
REPORT

STOP THE ‘DOORING’ DANGER HOW IT WORKS
Hyundai (the parent company of
WHO HAS IT: SAFE EXIT ASSIST IS ALREADY AVAILABLE ON Genesis) and Kia’s Safe Exit
SOME HYUNDAI, KIA, AND GENESIS VEHICLES. Assist system uses electronic
child safety locks and the same
WHAT IT IS vehicle, sometimes after falling. vehicle will sound and/or flash bumper-mounted radar that
To prevent dooring—which in a warning, or keep the door powers other active safety sys-
“Dooring” is when a parked some cities is responsible for from unlatching. Some Hyundai, tems. If Safe Exit Assist
motorist opens a door directly close to 20 percent of cycling Kia, and Genesis vehicles detects oncoming traffic, it
into the path of a bicyclist, and crashes—some current Audi and actively prevent rear-seat locks the rear doors to prevent
it’s most common when cars Mercedes-Benz vehicles and occupants from exiting the an incident. The driver can over-
parallel park alongside where the upcoming 2022 Lexus NX vehicle until it’s safe by locking ride this system momentarily
cyclists ride. A doored cyclist use built-in sensors to detect the rear doors. That means with a press of a button, or even
may be injured after colliding oncoming bicycle or vehicle added peace of mind for deactivate it entirely. Some sys-
with the door itself. Or they traffic from behind. If it isn’t parents with kids out of tems from other automakers
could veer into traffic and safe to open the door, the reach in the back seat. display a visual warning for the
potentially be struck by a front and rear doors instead.
Lexus says its upcoming NX
SUV will also be able to detect
traffic—including cyclists—
approaching from the rear. If
there’s a risk of a crash, it will
emit visual and audio warnings
and disable the front and rear
doors’ electronic latches.

CR’S TAKE
We’re fans of any safety system
that can protect people both
inside and outside a vehicle.
Some current AEB setups can
stop cars when they detect
cyclists, a step in the right
direction for sharing the road.
Features such as Safe Exit Assist
go even further. “It’s an obvious
safety benefit to use a vehicle’s
existing sensors to create an
additional layer of protection for
kids in the back seat and cyclists
on the road,” says Fisher at CR’s
Auto Test Center.

PROTECT WHAT IT IS past decade. In 2020,
‘INVISIBLE’ 6,721 pedestrians were killed in
PEDESTRIANS Unlike vision-based cameras the U.S., according to
that have problems seeing in preliminary data from the
WHEN IT’S COMING: THERMAL poor lighting conditions, Governors Highway Safety
CAMERAS MAY BE AVAILABLE ON thermal cameras are very good Association, which represents
NEW VEHICLES AS SOON AS 2025. at detecting pedestrians in the state and territorial highway
dark—even when they’re not safety offices in the U.S. Typical
58 CR.ORG AUGUST 2021 visible to the naked eye. They AEB with pedestrian detection
could be key to reducing has struggled to “see” in low
pedestrian fatalities on U.S. light. That’s a problem because
roads, which are up 80 percent of pedestrian
by 46 percent over the

PREVENT HOT CAR TRAGEDIES sensors, which can be tricked by
external vibration or noise.
WHO HAS IT: THE GENESIS GV70 HAS RADAR-BASED
MOTION DETECTION. OTHER HYUNDAI, GENESIS, AND CR’S TAKE
KIA VEHICLES USE ULTRASONIC SYSTEMS. “Automakers should use every
technology available to prevent
WHAT IT IS HOW IT WORKS radar-based detector is more kids dying in hot cars, and this
precise than ultrasonic provides yet another avenue for
On average, 38 children younger If the system senses that a sensors that are already in them,” says Emily Thomas, PhD,
than 15 die of heatstroke in passenger or pet has been place in some vehicles, and automotive safety engineer at
parked cars each year, according left behind or gained access can scan the entire car— CR’s Auto Test Center. “Many
to the National Safety Council. To to the vehicle, it will set off a including the cargo area—for parents assume they would never
prevent these fatalities, multiple series of visual and audio movement. In addition, radar leave a child behind in a vehicle,”
vehicle manufacturers have warnings. Drivers can also systems are not as she says. “But research shows
already put rear-seat reminder sign up to be alerted on their susceptible to false that anyone can forget a young
systems in place. These systems cell phone. The automaker activation as some ultrasonic child in a car.” That’s especially
remind drivers to check the back says that Genesis’ true if there has been a change in
seat after a trip. Others have the driver’s routine, if the driver is
ultrasonic sensors inside the car sleep-deprived, or if they’re under
that look for motion and sound additional stress. CR supports
an alarm if the sensors detect legislation that would make
someone left behind in a locked similar systems standard
car. Genesis is the first on all vehicles.
manufacturer to use radar for
motion detection, which makes
its system sensitive enough
to detect the smallest
movements of a child’s chest as
they breathe, says a
spokesperson at Hyundai, the
parent company of Genesis. It
can sense children sleeping in
the back seat or pets left in the
cargo area. Other manufacturers
have expressed interest in using
similar technology.

fatalities take place after dark, for automotive at Teledyne Flir, a that automakers will combine more and more effective at
the National Highway Traffic company that makes thermal- data from multiple sensors and preventing the kind of crash
Safety Administration says. imaging cameras. The cameras to take advantage of scenarios that happen most
company’s internal testing their strengths and optimize frequently,” says William
HOW IT WORKS shows that prototype thermal what a vehicle can “see,” a Wallace, CR’s manager of safety
An infrared heat sensor can AEB systems can detect process known as sensor fusion. policy. CR is calling for NHTSA to
detect people in the dark or in pedestrians 100 percent of the incorporate tests of AEB with
low-light situations, even when time in the darkness, as CR’S TAKE pedestrian detection into its
pedestrians are wearing dark opposed to existing systems, “Pedestrian detection is star ratings and to mandate
clothing. “Thermal cameras see which fail to see moving advancing really quickly, and in minimum requirements for the
people as heat,” says Chris pedestrians in low light more the near future we’re going to systems’ effectiveness in
Posch, director of engineering often than not. Posch predicts see these systems become various conditions.

AUGUST 2021 CR.ORG 59

LIGHT THE WAY, NOT THE WINDSHIELD

WHEN IT’S COMING: SOON, WE HOPE—BUT ADAPTIVE DRIVING BEAM TECHNOLOGY
IS NOT YET APPROVED FOR USE IN THE U.S.

WHAT IT IS (ADB) headlights. Also called can beam a spotlight to draw vehicle without any more glare
smart headlights, they shine as extra attention to pedestrians for oncoming or followed
If you’ve ever had trouble brightly as traditional high or cyclists, or project virtual drivers than traditional low
seeing clearly on a dark, beams and improve a driver’s lane lines on a snow-covered beams. Smart headlights are
winding road or been long-range visibility. They also road. A 2019 AAA study showed available in other countries, but
temporarily blinded by bright use technology to keep extra that ADB lights provided up to NHTSA has yet to approve a
headlights from oncoming glare from shining into the eyes 86 percent better illumination proposal from 2018 that would
traffic, you’ll appreciate of other drivers. Some systems in the presence of an oncoming allow them in the U.S.
adaptive driving beam

QUICK Not all safety improve- weather, says CR ROLLAWAY already do. CR deducts ICONS: ELIAS STEIN
SAFETY ments require tech- automotive engineer points from a model’s
FIXES nological leaps. The Alex Knizek. We think a PREVENTION. Overall Score if it
experts at CR’s Auto vehicle’s headlights A driver doesn’t automatically
Test Center say should automatically shouldn’t be able to walk shift into Park or
automakers can—and turn on when a driver away from a vehicle engage the brake when
should—make these turns on the wipers, accidentally left in gear, the engine shuts off in
updates today. just like some vehicles says Jake Fisher, senior Drive or Reverse.
from Ford, Honda, director of auto testing
WIPERS ON? Subaru, and others do. at CR. We believe a car AUTOMATIC ENGINE
LIGHTS ON. Twenty states already should auto-shift into SHUTOFF. Leaving a car
Headlights make have “wipers on, Park whenever the running in an attached
a car more visible in bad lights on” laws. driver turns off the garage can cause carbon
engine, as some vehicles

60 CR.ORG AUGUST 2021

ROAD
REPORT

HOW IT WORKS KEEP AN EYE ON THE DRIVER
Some ADB headlights use
shutters within the headlight WHO HAS IT: GM VEHICLES WITH SUPER CRUISE CAN SLOW
assembly to shade oncoming DOWN AND CALL FOR HELP IF A DRIVER IS UNRESPONSIVE.
cars, like an umbrella blocking
the sun. Others contain WHAT IT IS braking and steering auto- problem or intoxication. Based
multiple LEDs, some of which Automakers are increasingly mation to stop safely and may on data collected from
turn off if a car is approaching adding advanced driver call emergency services using NHTSA’s National Motor Vehicle
or you’re following another monitoring systems to a built-in or paired cellular Crash Causation Survey from
vehicle, so the light doesn’t make sure drivers pay connection. Already, GM July 2005 to December 2007,
shine directly at other drivers’ attention to the road. Some vehicles equipped with Super an estimated 20,000 drivers
windshields or rearview can also detect whether a Cruise can slow to a stop in a annually crashed as a result
mirrors. Systems with driver is unresponsive— travel lane, put on hazard of a medical emergency, such
spotlight illumination, such as because of either a medical lights, and call for help if the as a heart attack, seizure, or
Lexus’ BladeScan, use cameras emergency or another driver stops responding. The blackout behind the wheel.
to detect pedestrians, problem—and safely slow the upcoming 2022 Lexus Drivers older than 65 are
cyclists, or animals, and direct vehicle and call for help. LS500h’s optional Emergency more likely than younger
a beam of light directly at Driving Stop System will be drivers to have medical
them. A few cars sold in the HOW IT WORKS able to pull the car to a stop on emergencies while driving.
U.S.—including some Audis— Some vehicles that automate the shoulder in some cases. In an August 2020 CR survey
already have ADB hardware steering, braking, and of 2,236 American adults,
installed, but it isn’t active. acceleration use infrared CR’S TAKE 81 percent of respondents
The automaker tells CR that cameras to ensure that a Monitoring should at least be said it was at least somewhat
dealerships will activate the driver’s eyes are open and active when both speed and important to them that their
feature once regulatory looking at the road; additional steering assistance are in use, next vehicle come with a
approval is received. sensors monitor whether because the driver is at risk of system that can stop the car
the driver is having trouble becoming complacent, says and call for help if they are
CR’S TAKE steering or staying in a lane. If Kelly Funkhouser, CR’s program unable to drive. “These
“You’re getting the benefits of the car’s built-in software manager for vehicle interface systems could combine new
high-beam lights without the detects these or other signs testing. But that technology and existing technology to help
glare for everyone else,” says that the driver has become can also be used to detect drivers when they need it
Jennifer Stockburger, director impaired, it will use its existing behavior indicative of a health most,” Funkhouser says.
of operations at CR’s Auto Test
Center and head of its
headlight test program. She
has used ADBs and says they
are especially helpful at higher
speeds, when low-beams can’t
light the road far enough ahead
for you to react in time.

monoxide to seep into ADJUSTABLE SEAT automotive safety “All cars should have an bright sunlight. Kelly
the home, putting those engineer at CR. alert system to aid Funkhouser, CR’s
inside at risk of exposure. BELTS. Some proper filling of tires,” program manager for
CR supports proposed occupants avoid BETTER TIRE WARNINGS. says Gene Petersen, tire vehicle interface testing,
legislation that would wearing a seat belt if it Underinflated tires can program manager at CR. says the Land Rover
mandate technology to doesn’t fit comfortably, cause premature wear, Defender comes with an
shut engines off but some cars lack waste gas, and worsen BIGGER VISORS. extra visor that sits
automatically if a vehicle height-adjustable belts. handling. Some Nissan According to a behind the rearview
is left idling in Park for Simply adding an vehicles beep the horn 2017 study mirror and really works.
too long. Ford and GM adjustment feature when the tires reach the published in the journal “Sun glare is distracting,
introduced a shutoff could save lives. “If your correct pressure during Medicine, the risk of a and more vehicles should
feature in 2012; Toyota belt is comfortable, it’s inflation. It’s a lot simpler life-threatening crash is come with similar
added one last year. more likely you’ll wear it,” than a pressure gauge. 16 percent greater in features,” she says.
says Emily Thomas, PhD,

AUGUST 2021 CR.ORG 61

TRACK RECOMMENDATIONS
INTELLIGENCE FROM CR’S TEAM OF
AUTO EXPERTS

How to Get the Best Car Insurance

INSURANCE ISN’T THE most exciting
facet of car ownership, but it’s one of the
most important. Your policy is designed
to protect you from financial calamity
in the event of a car crash that may result
in costly property damage and medical
expenses. Plus, insurance is required by
nearly all states. Companies use certain
variables when calculating your monthly
premium, including your driving record,
your credit history, and the overall
frequency of traffic-related incidents in
the area where you live. So if you have
racked up a lot of speeding tickets,
have a low credit score, or live in a region
with a high rate of crashes that lead to
insurance claims, you can expect to pay
higher premiums than someone without that
baggage. Regardless of your history, CR
has strategies you can use as you shop
for the best coverage at the lowest price.

PREMIUMS WAYS TO SAVE WHEN TO PAY MORE WHAT TO SKIP

In addition to your driving record, CR has found that some insurers Nearly all states set minimum Collision and comprehensive
insurance premiums can depend increase premiums because limits for liability auto insur- insurance are a must with any
on miles driven each year, your they know consumers won’t ance, which covers injuries new car, but you can forgo it
car’s value, and a variety of bother switching companies. and property damage in a crash. for an older model as its value
personal circumstances, such The practice has been banned in But those minimums might not declines. That’s because you
as education and occupation, nearly half of states. Collisions be enough for your situation. might end up paying more in
says Bob Hunter, director and speeding tickets can prompt premiums each year than you
of insurance for the Consumer insurers to raise rates, but WHAT TO DO: Experts recommend would ever recover if the car
Federation of America (CFA). they also might be counting greater coverage if you have were totaled.
on your complacency. assets—a home or other
WHAT TO DO: Ask your agent if it investments—that could be at WHAT TO DO: The CFA advises
matters who in your household WHAT TO DO: Always drive risk in a lawsuit. Hunter advises canceling collision and
drives certain vehicles. It might safely, and shop around auto liability coverage of comprehensive insurance
help save on your premiums periodically for better deals. $300,000 for bodily injury and when your annual premium
if the family member with Raising your out-of-pocket the same for property damage. for it exceeds 10 percent
the longest commute drives deductible also can reduce Homeowners, especially those of your car’s value. Consult
the least valuable car. Even so, rates. Hunter says increasing with significant wealth, should the car value estimator at
Jack Gillis, CFA’s executive it to $1,000 from $500 can consider an umbrella policy CR.org/tradein to see what
director, cautions that teens cut premiums an average of for broader coverage above and your vehicle is worth. You can
and other less experienced 11 percent. Be sure to consult beyond their auto and home also skip the added premium
drivers “should be paired with our latest insurance company insurance policy limits. (Note: cost of rental reimbursement
the vehicles they are most ratings at CR.org/carinsurance. State minimums are always coverage if you have a second
comfortable driving.” better than no coverage.) car you can use.

62 CR.ORG AUGUST 2021 ILLUSTRATION BY MATTHEW HOLLISTER

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

ELECTRIC VEHICLES ROAD-TEST SCORE 78 ELECTRIC VEHICLES ROAD-TEST SCORE 72

Ford Mustang HIGHS Acceleration, handling, Polestar 2 HIGHS Acceleration, braking,
Mach-E quietness, no tailpipe emissions handling, no tailpipe emissions
An Unimpressive
Fun to Drive but LOWS Fussy door handles, controls, First EV Effort LOWS Ride, controls, cramped
Reliability Concerns modest range, long charging times interior, modest range, long
57 charging times
62 POWERTRAIN 290-hp dual electric
motors; 1-speed direct drive; OVERALL POWERTRAIN 408-hp dual electric
all-wheel drive SCORE motors; 1-speed direct drive;
all-wheel drive
RANGE 270 miles (extended range)
RANGE 233 miles
OVERALL PRICE
SCORE PRICE
$42,895-$59,900 base price range $59,900-$64,900 base price range
$55,800 as tested $62,400 as tested

PHOTOS: JOHN POWERS/CONSUMER REPORTS THE MUSTANG MACH-E is take the Mach-E through fast THE POLESTAR 2, a tall avoidance-maneuver test,
Ford’s first dedicated, from- corners. Although the ride hatchback from Volvo’s which simulates swerving
the-ground-up electric vehicle is rather firm and gets choppy electric vehicle sub-brand, quickly to avoid a vehicle or
for the U.S market. Unlike on rougher roads, it’s not failed to impress with its bone- obstacle on the road. The stiff
the Mustang muscle car, the punishing like the Model Y. jarring ride, tight interior, ride is one of its worst aspects,
Mach-E is a five-passenger and confusing controls, which however, with bumps striking
SUV. Its combination of style, Taking a page from the more than overshadowed the through even on relatively
practicality, and a fun-to-drive Tesla playbook, the Mach-E positives of zippy acceleration smooth highways.
nature makes it one of the dashboard is dominated by a and agile handling. Plus,
most enjoyable EVs on the 15.5-inch vertical touch screen the Polestar 2’s EPA-rated Unlike typical Volvo models,
market. Its less-than-stellar that provides for audio, phone, driving range of 233 miles is the interior is drab. Much of the
Overall Score is largely due to and climate functions. It takes less than the much cheaper fabric and many of the plastic
worse-than-average predicted time to get familiar with all the Chevrolet Bolt, not to mention surfaces have a somewhat
reliability from the Ford brand. menus, and even popping Tesla models that get more cheap appearance and feel. The
the power liftgate is a three- than 300 miles. It took more driving position is cramped
Like most EVs, the Mach-E step adventure. We don’t like than 10 hours to charge because of the tall plastic
is quick off the line, even if it the two-step process required on a 240-volt connection. center console, and the tight
has a bit less of a snap-your- to open the Mach-E’s door rear seat lacks thigh support.
head-back sensation than a handles, which are a bit fussy Much of the usual EV
Tesla Model Y. The version and gimmicky to use. goodness is still present, The extremely unintuitive
we purchased, with an however. The hatchback scoots controls—which garnered the
88-kilowatt-hour extended- The driving position is off the line when you push lowest score we’ve ever given—
range battery and all-wheel roomy, aided by a low center hard on the accelerator pedal, are the final dagger. Interacting
drive, has an EPA-rated console and well-padded sprinting from 0 to 60 mph with the infotainment screen
270-mile range. That’s decent armrests. The front seats are in 4.4 seconds, admirable for is a distracting affair due to
for an EV but short of the plush, but they would benefit any vehicle. Handling is also the convoluted menu struc-
Model Y’s 326-mile range, from larger side bolsters and impressive, thanks to quick ture, hidden functions, and
its most direct rival. more underleg support. steering and limited body roll. confusing icons and text.
It achieved near sports-car
Handling is taut and agile, All Mach-Es come with FCW, levels of speed through our FCW, AEB with pedestrian
which makes it good fun to AEB with pedestrian detection, detection, BSW, and RCTW
BSW, and RCTW. all come standard.

Safety Term Glossary: AEB automatic emergency braking; BSW blind spot warning; FCW forward collision warning; AUGUST 2021 CR.ORG 63
LDW lane departure warning; LKA lane keeping assistance; RCTW rear cross traffic warning.

ROAD
REPORT

LUXURY MIDSIZED SUVs ROAD-TEST SCORE 77 LUXURY SMALL SUVs ROAD-TEST SCORE 79

Acura MDX HIGHS Smooth powertrain, front- Buick HIGHS Ride, quietness, braking,
and rear-seat comfort, fit and finish Envision infotainment system
Great Powertrain,
Difficult Controls LOWS Controls, braking, must get Lots of Comfort, LOWS Gear selector, low dash vents,
top trim for some luxury features Short on Sport front wheelspin
61
POWERTRAIN 290-hp, 3.5-liter 78 POWERTRAIN 228-hp, 2.0-liter
OVERALL V6 engine; 10-speed automatic turbocharged 4-cylinder engine;
SCORE transmission; all-wheel drive OVERALL 9-speed automatic transmission;
SCORE all-wheel drive
FUEL 20 mpg on premium
FUEL 23 mpg on regular
PRICE
$46,900-$60,650 base price range PRICE
$55,125 as tested $31,800-$42,200 base price range
$43,180 as tested

THE REDESIGNED MD is a an occasional sharp impact BUICK HAS ADDRESSED through corners. There’s little
functional three-row luxury punching through. wind or road noise, but the
SUV with a potent powertrain some of the flaws of the engine sounds wheezy at low
and a well-finished cabin The wide front seats are first-generation Envision with revs and loud when pushed.
priced lower than German comfortable and supportive, this redesign, a comfortable,
rivals. But the distracting and removing the center seat quiet, mildly upscale SUV The Envision’s interior
infotainment system and in the roomy second row that’s pleasant to drive. space is generous for a small
Acura’s shaky reliability of late lets owners create an aisle SUV, and it’s easy to get in
should give buyers pause. between the two outboard The only available engine is and out of, but side and rear
positions. The tight third row a 228-hp turbo four-cylinder visibility are hampered due
All MDXs currently come is low and flat, best suited paired with a nine-speed to the lack of a third side
with a 290-hp V6 that makes for small children. automatic. We found it smooth window. The controls are
lots of usable power and and responsive, with enough a mixed bag. The touch-
generates invigorating sounds The biggest knock against power for most situations. screen infotainment system
the higher it’s revved. But the MDX is the infotainment The transmission works is user-friendly, but the
the now larger MDX is about system’s touchpad. Drivers smoothly, marred only by an gear selector—which uses a
a half-second slower from must press it in a specific occasional bumpy downshift. combination of push and pull
0 to 60 mph, and fuel economy place that corresponds with Even with our tested model’s buttons—is difficult to operate
regressed by 1 mpg compared the dashboard screen, and optional all-wheel drive, the without taking your eyes off
with the previous model. it’s tricky to hit the right spot Envision has a tendency to the road. Also, the low center
on the first try, requiring a briefly spin the front tires dashboard vents can make it
We found the handling long glance away from the when taking off quickly from a challenging to send cool air to
mundane out on the road, road. Plus, scrolling between stop, which can be unnerving the driver’s upper body.
held back by mushy, artificial menus and within lists is the in slippery conditions.
steering. But the MDX came opposite of conventional touch The Envision comes
alive when pushed to its limits controllers. At least it includes The suspension absorbs all standard with FCW, AEB with
around our track, exhibiting wireless Android Auto and but the biggest bumps nicely, pedestrian detection, BSW, and
a well-balanced attitude that Apple CarPlay. and the body remains steady, RCTW. Getting adaptive cruise
made it easy to make mid- giving the cabin a relaxed feel. control requires choosing
corner adjustments. The ride FCW, AEB with pedestrian Handling is less impressive the top Avenir trim plus an
is firm but pliant, with only detection, BSW, and RCTW because of overly light steering expensive options package.
all come standard. and noticeable body lean

64 CR.ORG AUGUST 2021 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   Touch-Screen Trouble Confusing controls continue to plague many new vehicles,
including three models we tested this month. Also, two new EVs challenge Tesla.

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

SUVs $45,000 $55,000

!0 Lexus NX300 2.0T 82 50 20 74 24 40 / 40 30 40 30 40 40 49.5 7.5 132 28.5 S S S S
!0 Buick Envision 2.0T 78 30 30 79 23 40 / 40 40 40 40 40 30 55.0 7.5 127 28.0 S S O S
!0 Audi Q5 2.0T 78 30 30 83 24 40 / 40 30 40 40 40 40 52.5 6.8 130 27.0 S S O S
!0 Mercedes-Benz GLC300 2.0T 75 30 30 79 22 50 / 40 10 40 40 50 40 50.0 6.8 132 28.0 S S S S
69 20 40 92 24 50 / 40 30 50 40 50 40 50.5 7.7 128 32.0 S S O S
BMW X3 2.0T 65 20 30 82 22 50 / 40 20 40 30 40 40 52.0 7.0 127 33.0 S S S O
Acura RDX 2.0T 61 20 10 77 22 40 / 40 20 40 30 50 30 55.5 7.2 129 30.5 S S S S
Infiniti QX50 2.0T 60 20 30 79 23 50 / 40 20 40 30 50 40 52.0 8.0 124 34.0 S S S S
Volvo XC60 2.0T 53 10 50 82 23 40 / 40 20 40 40 50 40 54.5 7.2 128 27.5 S S S S
Lincoln Corsair 2.0T 52 10 20 78 23 50 / 30 40 30 30 40 40 55.0 7.6 128 26.5 S S O O
Cadillac XT4 2.0T

3-ROW SUVs $55,000 $75,000

!0 Lexus RX350L 3.5L 82 40 40 80 20 50 / 40 30 50 50 50 30 51.5 7.7 136 31.0 S S S S
!0 Buick Enclave 3.6L 76 30 30 87 18 40 / 50 30 50 40 40 40 53.5 7.4 130 48.5 O O O O
65 20 40 92 20 50 / 50 30 50 40 50 40 50.5 7.0 133 35.5 S S S S
Audi Q7 3.0T 62 20 30 84 20 50 / 50 20 40 30 50 30 52.5 7.7 126 35.0 S S S S
Volvo XC90 2.0T 61 20 40 77 20 50 / 50 10 40 40 50 40 53.5 7.4 139 37.0 S S S S
Acura MDX 3.5L 55 10 30 82 18 40 / 40 40 50 40 40 40 51.0 7.1 134 40.5 S S O O
Cadillac XT6 3.6L 45 10 50 82 19 40 / 40 20 50 40 50 40 52.0 6.2 138 49.0 S S S S
Lincoln Aviator 3.0T

ELECTRIC VEHICLES $45,000 $65,000

!0 Tesla Model 3 E L 75 30 50 82 130 ⁄ 50 / 20 10 30 20 40 50 55.0 5.3 133 2+2 – – – –
L 62 20 50 78 90 ⁄ 40 / 40 30 50 30 40 50 52.0 5.3 136 29.5 S S S S
Ford Mustang Mach-E 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 L 47 10 50 90 121 ⁄ 50 / 40 10 40 20 40 50 54.5 4.7 121 25.0 – – – –
Tesla Model Y E

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 gear
factors in road-test results, predicted of crash-prevention features, such as and blind spot warning. – means no such selector lacks fail-safes to prevent the
reliability, owner satisfaction, and forward collision warning, automatic 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 Repair Eyeglass lens coatings............................ Sep 20, 28 R–S
certified shops ................................... Jan 21, 16 Father’s Day gifts........................................Jun 21, 18
Air fryers................................... Oct 20, 44; Jul 21, 17 DIY dent fixes.................................... Aug 21, 15 Financial tips during coronavirus Recalls, urging reforms ............................ Aug 21, 7
ratings .....................................................Oct 20, 54 savings................................................. Jun 21, 52 Refrigerators
credit scores...................... Mar 21, 46; Jun 21, 16
Air mattresses .............................................. Jul 21, 14 RVs ........................................................... Aug 21, 16 Food features.................................................. Sep 20, 46
Air purifiers ................................................ Aug 21, 21 Safety systems shopping ................................................Aug 21, 46
extending shelf life.............................. Mar 21, 14 upcycling ............................................... May 21, 17
ratings ..................................................... Aug 21, 25 back seat............................................Oct 20, 56 labeling..................................................... Oct 20, 7 Rice cookers ................................................ Jan 21, 17
Air travel, COVID-19 safety ........................ Jan 21, 7 coming soon..................................... Aug 21, 56 pesticide in ............................................Oct 20, 24 Router ratings........................................... May 21, 23
Amazon Echo Show 10 speaker ............ Aug 21, 17 as standard equipment ................... Oct 20, 7 Rugs, outdoor.............................................Aug 21, 14
Appliances Smartphone integration ..................... Feb 21, 15 produce health risks ......................Oct 20, 28 RVs................................................................ Aug 21, 16
Tire sealants........................................... Jun 21, 59 “Forever chemicals” Salads.......................................................... Aug 21, 50
Brand Reliability Rankings................ Aug 21, 48 Tires ....................................................... Dec 20, 52 dressings
countertop............................................ Oct 20, 44 ratings ............................................... Dec 20, 54 in food packaging ...............Nov 20, 7; Mar 21, 7
Top Picks for 2021 ............................... Apr 21, 10 in water ........... Nov 20, 26; May 21, 34; Jul 21, 7 labeling .............................................. Aug 21, 53
ratings ................................................ Oct 20, 52 Trucks timeline ....................................... Jul 21, 14 Fruit juice labeling................................... May 21, 18 ratings ................................................ Aug 21, 54
replace or repair .................................. Aug 21, 42 Used cars................................................ Apr 21, 82 Furniture safety....................... Jun 21, 7; Aug 21, 19 timeline ...................................................Aug 21, 14
retailer ratings ..................................... Dec 20, 45 under $10,000 ................................Nov 20, 62 Furniture shopping ................................. Feb 21, 34 Saving money ........................................... Dec 20, 32
shopping for..........................................Aug 21, 46 store ratings .......................................... Feb 21, 40 Scales, bathroom........................................ Jun 21, 13
B–D Generators Sheet ratings.............................................. Mar 21, 33
online ............................................... Dec 20, 40 home standby....................................... Sep 20, 16 Sleep ............................................................ Mar 21, 24
timeline .................................................... Jan 21, 14 Baby food safety ......................................... May 21, 7 ratings .................................. Sep 20, 16; Jul 21, 49 mattress ratings.....................................Mar 21, 31
Arbitration clauses...................................... Jun 21, 7 cereal ....................................................... Nov 20, 7 Genetic testing .......................................... Mar 21, 34 pillow ratings ........................................ Mar 21, 33
Arsenic in tap water ............................... May 21, 34 Gifts sheet ratings.......................................... Mar 21, 33
Bathroom scales ......................................... Jun 21, 13 $50 and under...................................... Dec 20, 13 timeline .................................................. Mar 21, 14
AUTOMOBILE RATINGS Beard trimmers ....................................... Mar 21, 20 Father’s Day ............................................Jun 21, 18 Slow cookers............................................. Oct 20, 44
Grills.............................................................. Jun 21, 24 ratings ..................................................... Oct 20, 52
Acura MDX ............................................Aug 21, 64 ratings ..................................................... Mar 21, 23 ratings ...................................................... Jun 21, 34 Smart home products .............................. Jan 21, 24
Acura TLX............................................. Mar 21, 60 Bedroom setups for better sleep ......... Mar 21, 24 Grocery delivery services ......................... Jul 21, 15 privacy and security .............................Jan 21, 27
Audi Q7.................................................. Oct 20, 63 Bike helmets .................................................. Jan 21, 7 ratings ....................................................... Jan 21, 31
BMW 228i Gran Coupe......................Nov 20, 63 Blenders................................. Oct 20, 44; Aug 21, 17 H–K Smart speaker privacy............................ Oct 20, 16
Buick Encore GX................................. Sep 20, 64 Smartphones
Buick Envision......................................Aug 21, 64 ratings ..................................................... Oct 20, 53 Hair coloring kits..................................... Nov 20, 16 camera ratings........................................ Jul 21, 54
Cadillac CT4 .........................................Nov 20, 63 Blood pressure monitors ....................... Oct 20, 16 Headphones, noise-canceling ...............Jun 21, 20 car integration....................................... Feb 21, 15
Cadillac CT5 ......................................... Oct 20, 63 Bluetooth speakers ................................... Jun 21, 24 photo tips.................................................. Jul 21, 21
Chevrolet Suburban............................ Feb 21, 60 Boom boxes ................................................ Feb 21, 16 ratings ...................................................... Jun 21, 23 ratings ..................................Sep 20, 45; Jul 21, 54
Chevrolet Tahoe ................................... Jan 21, 59 Broadband ................................................. Aug 21, 26 Healthcare, race adjustments.............. Dec 20, 46 service providers ................................ Sep 20, 38
Chevrolet Trailblazer........................ Nov 20, 64 Hearing aid problems & fixes..................Jun 21, 14 ratings ............................................... Sep 20, 44
Ford Bronco Sport................................. Jul 21, 63 provider ratings ................................... Aug 21, 35 Holiday season timeline .........................Dec 20, 16 Smartwatches.............................................. Jan 21, 13
Ford F-150.............................................. Jun 21, 60 Carpet cleaner ratings ........................... May 21, 33 Home innovations timeline..................... Jan 21, 14 Snow blowers ............................................. Jan 21, 20
Ford Mustang Mach-E ........................ Aug 21, 63 Cell phones Hot wings, cooking at home .................... Jul 21, 17 Soda makers .............................................. May 21, 13
Genesis G80 ............................................ Jul 21, 64 Housecleaning ......................................... May 21, 24 Space heaters ............................................. Feb 21, 13
Genesis GV80 ....................................... Jun 21, 60 ratings .................................................... Sep 20, 45 Humidifiers .................................................. Jan 21, 16 Speakers, Bluetooth ............. Jun 21, 24; Aug 21, 17
Honda CR-V Hybrid........................... Dec 20, 60 service providers ................................ Sep 20, 38 Infant sleeper safety............... Sep 20, 7; Aug 21, 7 Steam mop ratings.................................. May 21, 33
Hyundai Elantra.............Mar 21, 60; May 21, 59 Insect repellents .......................................... Jul 21, 21 Student loans ............................................. Dec 20, 7
Hyundai Santa Fe .................................. Jul 21, 64 ratings ............................................... Sep 20, 44 Sunscreens .................................................... Jul 21, 21
Hyundai Sonata Hybrid .................... Dec 20, 59 Cleaning products timeline................... May 21, 14 ratings ....................................................... Jul 21, 24 ratings ....................................................... Jul 21, 23
Kia K5....................................................... Jan 21, 59 Cleaning tips Instant Pot add-ons.................................. Mar 21, 16 Super Bowl, how to watch...................... Feb 21, 18
Kia Sorento........................................... May 21, 60 Knife sharpening ........................................ Jun 21, 17 Supplements
Land Rover Defender ......................... Feb 21, 60 around the house ............................... May 21, 24 dangerous ............................................. Mar 21, 40
Lexus IS ................................................. May 21, 59 mattresses.............................................. Oct 20, 14 L–P FDA oversight ................ Sep 20, 30; Mar 21, 40
Mercedes-Benz GLA............................. Jan 21, 60 robotic vacuums .................................. May 21, 16 schemes..................................................Oct 20, 34
Nissan Rogue .......................................... Jul 21, 63 Coffee makers, quick-brewing............. Nov 20, 18 Laptops
Nissan Sentra ....................................... Oct 20, 64 Competition in the marketplace............ May 21, 7 bargain................................................... Nov 20, 13 T–Y
Polestar 2 ............................................... Aug 21, 63 Computer keyboards M1 MacBooks .........................................Mar 21, 15
Porsche Taycan ................................... Dec 20, 59 & mice, ergonomic.................................. Sep 20, 20 Tablets, bargain ..........................................Jun 21, 16
Ram 1500 Turbodiesel ..................... Dec 20, 60 ratings .................................................... Sep 20, 24 Laundry detergent ratings.................... May 21, 33 Tech company oversight........................... Feb 21, 7
Tesla Model Y................... Sep 20, 64; Jan 21, 60 Consumer Protections ............................. Dec 20, 7 Lawn care Tianeptine ................................................. Mar 21, 40
Toyota Highlander Hybrid ............... Oct 20, 64 COVID-19 Toaster ovens ........................................... Oct 20, 44
Toyota RAV4 Prime ............................. Feb 21, 59 and diabetes........................................... Jan 21, 34 pesticide dangers & alternatives...... May 21, 44
Toyota Sienna ...................................... May 21, 60 free testing.............................................. Nov 20, 7 rehabilitating ....................................... May 21, 48 ratings ..................................................... Oct 20, 52
Toyota Venza ........................................ Feb 21, 59 healthy eating ....................................... Feb 21, 42 tools, battery-powered.......................... Jul 21, 19 reliability ratings.................................. Oct 20, 15
Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport ........ Nov 20, 64 housecleaning tips ............................. May 21, 24 Lead in tap water .................................... May 21, 34 Toothbrushes, electric............................ Oct 20, 18
lessons learned .................................... Aug 21, 36 Mac & cheese.............................................Dec 20, 16 ratings ..................................................... Oct 20, 22
AUTOMOBILES & AUTO EQUIPMENT liability immunity.................................. Oct 20, 7 Mask tips................................Nov 20, 15; May 21, 16 Tortillas ....................................................... May 21, 15
recovery guide....................................... Jun 21, 36 Mattress ratings .........................................Mar 21, 31 Travel mugs ................................................Mar 21, 13
Batteries ................................................... Jul 21, 62 resuming normal activities ................. Jul 21, 26 Meal prep timeline.................................... Feb 21, 14 Treadmill workouts .................................. Mar 21, 17
Best & worst lists................................... Apr 21, 16 safe air travel ............................................ Jan 21, 7 Medical alert systems.............................. Feb 21, 20 TVs...............................................................Dec 20, 20
Big trucks ................................................. Jul 21, 56 safe holiday gatherings ..................... Dec 20, 26 ratings ..................................................... Feb 21, 22 ratings .................................................... Dec 20, 23
Brand Report Card .............................. Apr 21, 20 scams ..................................................... Oct 20, 39 Medical billing shopping for............................................. Jul 21, 16
Comfort ..................................................May 21, 52 supplement schemes..........................Oct 20, 34 surprise bills ........................................... Mar 21, 7 Vacuum sealers............................................ Jul 21, 13
travel tips ............................................. Nov 20, 50 Medical debt .............................................Nov 20, 42 Vacuums ....................................................Nov 20, 34
ratings ................................................ May 21, 57 vaccine.................................................... Mar 21, 18 Medical race adjustments ..................... Dec 20, 46 maintenance tips ................................Nov 20, 39
Coming in 2021..................................... Apr 21, 22 voting safely ......................................... Nov 20, 18 Milk ratings .............................. Nov 20, 40; May 21, 32
Destination fees ................................... Apr 21, 28 winter safety ........................................... Jan 21, 14 labeling....................................................Aug 21, 18 robotic, cleaning tips.......................... May 21, 16
Driver assistance systems.................. Feb 21, 52 Credit scores........Mar 21, 46; Jun 21, 16; Jul 21, 36 Minestrone.................................................. Feb 21, 17 Voting safely ............................................. Nov 20, 18
Data privacy................................ Feb 21, 7; Jun 21, 7 Misinformation online ........................... Nov 20, 19 Wa e maker ratings ...............................Oct 20, 54
ratings .................................................Feb 21, 57 dark patterns ............................................. Jul 21, 7 Money-saving tips ................................... Dec 20, 32 Water
safety ....................................................... Jul 21, 7 health........................................................Sep 20, 7 Multi-cookers............................................ Oct 20, 44 bottled, tested .................................... Nov 20, 30
Electric vehicles .................Apr 21, 24; Aug 21, 7 Instagram.................................................. Jul 21, 18 ratings ..................................................... Oct 20, 53 “forever chemicals” in...... Nov 20, 26; Jul 21, 7
overall costs.......................................... Jan 21, 7 Debt collection............................................. Feb 21, 7 Oatmeal cups............................................... Jan 21, 14 home tap, safety ................................. May 21, 34
Ford Bronco preview..........................Oct 20, 62 Diabetes and COVID-19............................ Jan 21, 34 Online safety guide.................................. Feb 21, 24
Fuel-efficiency ratings....................... Nov 20, 61 Digital divide ............................ Mar 21, 7; May 21, 7 Outdoor fun ................................................ Jun 21, 24 contaminants .................................. May 21, 39
Gas-saving technologies....................Nov 20, 56 Dips ................................................................ Jun 21, 15 Outdoor rugs ..............................................Aug 21, 14 filters.................................................. May 21, 42
Green Choice cars ............................... Apr 21, 32 Disaster preparedness .............................. Jul 21, 42 Pesticide in produce................................Oct 20, 24 Webcams ..................................................... Aug 21, 13
Home EV chargers.............................. Dec 20, 58 Drinking water safety............................. May 21, 34 health risks............................................ Oct 20, 28 WiFi............................................................. Aug 21, 30
Infotainment systems........................ Sep 20, 56 contaminants....................................... May 21, 39 Pet supply shopping extenders ............................ Feb 21, 14; Aug 21, 31
built-in vs. smartphone ................ Sep 20, 59 filters ...................................................... May 21, 42 Amazon vs. Chewy.............................. Dec 20, 17 mesh routers.................... May 21, 20; Aug 21, 31
troubleshooting.............................. Sep 20, 62 Photography tips ratings ............................................... May 21, 23
Insurance tips....................................... Aug 21, 62 E–G for Black skin tones.............................. Jan 21, 44 Yogurt......................................................... Nov 20, 21
New car reviews, 2021........................ Apr 21, 48 smartphone cameras............................ Jul 21, 50 ratings ....................................................Nov 20, 24
Owner satisfaction .............................. Mar 21, 52 Earbuds, true wireless.............................Jun 21, 20 Pillow ratings............................................. Mar 21, 33 timeline ................................................. Nov 20, 14
brand ratings.................................... Mar 21, 57 E-bikes......................................................... May 21, 14 Product safety ............................................ Jun 21, 44
Ratings, 2021 ......................................... Apr 21, 38 Electric toothbrushes.............................. Oct 20, 18 timeline .................................................... Jun 21, 14
Reliability........................... Jan 21, 50; Apr 21, 86 Projectors ............................... Sep 20, 13; Jun 21, 24
ratings ............................ Jan 21, 56; Apr 21, 88 ratings ..................................................... Oct 20, 22 Pumpkin nutrition .................................. Nov 20, 14
Ergonomic keyboards & mice.............. Sep 20, 20

ratings .................................................... Sep 20, 24

66 CR.ORG AUGUST 2021

Selling It Can-Opener Overkill

We’re Not Biting You could buy this fancy electric
opener—or just pull the tab instead.
Craving a good deal? We’re pretty sure you won’t find it here. Submitted by Tom Scott, via email

Just Add ...
Everything?
The question
is, exactly what
ingredients are in
the pouch?
Submitted by
Glen Ginsburg,
via email

This Product The Price

Is Full of Holes Isn’t Right

Perhaps not Imagine what a
the best way whole melon costs!
to get soup Submitted by
into your bowl. Dylan Wojtanoski, as
Submitted by seen in Canfield, Ohio
Elvira Prien,
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 the publication’s name and date.

AUGUST 2021 CR.ORG 67

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