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Their revenue is subscribtion based. You have to pay to read most of their reviews.
Credibility, trustworthiness of Consumer Reports
- Thread starter Cropduster172
- Start date
AZjeff
$50 Site Donor 2023
CR is another data point to consider. Has to be more valid than all of the fake review websites that you never heard of. Many have a bias against CR because of the dominance of Japanese cars for reliability etc for years instead of their favorite domestic brands. You could certainly see trends of trouble areas as cars aged in the annual car issue. Haven’t looked at it in years.
I believe their reliability ratings are from JD Power
As others have stated, its a data point to consider and depending on the item that you are shopping for, it could be a good data point. But we all have some bias, some level of knowledge and experience and sources of experts in the field. If I'm going to buy a new computer, I have a friend that I trust his opinion. Same with a smoker, or home appliance. Vehicles, I would jump on a board (here and others).
Take it for what it's worth, but do not consider their work a scientific method.
The data comes from subscribers, which is a captured group.
They group things together and call it "reliability". Definitions are poor to non-existant.
The data comes from subscribers, which is a captured group.
They group things together and call it "reliability". Definitions are poor to non-existant.
- Joined
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I'm guessing their reviews on Tesla aren't that good?
At first, CR gave their Tesla the highest rating of any car they had ever tested. Then is was not recommended. Up and down... TBT, I haven't read CR in years. I used to have a subscription, but that was a long time ago.
A very illustrative thing is looking at the CR midsized truck reviews. They pretty much echo what the automotive writers and actual owners say- that the Honda Ridgeline is fantastic for the vast majority of midsized truck users.
But Honda themselves notes in their comments about the 2nd Gen Ridgeline that truck buyers are more concerned with things like the look of the truck- what it looks like in terms of styling, ground clearance, etc... and in the metrics like payload and towing capacity. Which 90% of them never use, but they put a lot of value on for some perplexing reasons. And the Ridgeline isn't real great in any of those categories.
I think a lot of people (myself included) see these reviews that prioritize different things, and we (best case) relegate them to another data point in our analysis, or (worst case) decide they're not worth squat because their priorities are clearly out of whack for whatever they're buying.
(and for full disclosure, I'm a CR subscriber, and I'm the proud owner of a 2024 Honda Ridgeline. Which is as fantastic as they say, IMO)
Hermann
Site Donor 2023
Awaiting Krapstorm, I agree with you, may God have mercy on your post.
They may be helpful in guiding you in what to avoid. Their car ratings are biased. I remember reading their critique of the newer Honda Pilot. They said it was like driving an apartment building on wheels. Now how objective is that statement? Have also seen raving reviews because they like the dash layout on a certain model.
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After they changed their established testing methods to try and achieve the bad results they wanted to report regarding certain SUV rollovers, I realized it wasn't worth the paper it was printed on.
They were no longer legitimately and impartially testing products. They were just propagandists with an agenda.
They were no longer legitimately and impartially testing products. They were just propagandists with an agenda.
I like that in one place you can compare all physical characteristics of a complete product category. The CR opinions are, IMO, taken with the pinch of salt necessary.
My biggest problem with CR is, the survey is done by a captured group; their subscribers. Highly un-scientific.
If you look they are reliant on responses. Sometimes they don't have alot of responses so it's difficult to pinpoint if there is a manufacturing problem or were the owners not well informed about how to use their vehicles or products.
Exactly. Small survey numbers alone negate qualitative results.
My problem is not that I think they are biased because someone bribed them. My problem is I don't think they are the expert in what they are testing against and they are not reviewing things that are the most concerning to me.
Obviously as to who should I trust instead, for me today would be the internet forums of things that hobbyist and experts hang out in, like BITOG for oil. There are plenty out there for everything. I would also trust the opinion of people using things they buy for a living more than those who only buy things because that's the right things to do (like construction workers instead of men who think men should drive pick up trucks).
I don't know, depends on what you value you should ask people with similar value and opinion as you I guess? and find where they hang out and ask them?
I agree there not the greatest. Of course one could argue there is nowhere better, which may be true, because there really is no other source.
For example - on auto's - the reliability results are a survey. Surveys are what they are, but there generally not all that accurate due to bias or general lack of knowledge. For example a bad dealer experience is likely going to result in a poor rating, which may have little to do with the actual car.
With other things I do think they test, but the problem with consumer goods is they change so quickly that by the time CR is published, whatever they reviewed is likely no longer available or has already been value engineered inside.
For example - on auto's - the reliability results are a survey. Surveys are what they are, but there generally not all that accurate due to bias or general lack of knowledge. For example a bad dealer experience is likely going to result in a poor rating, which may have little to do with the actual car.
With other things I do think they test, but the problem with consumer goods is they change so quickly that by the time CR is published, whatever they reviewed is likely no longer available or has already been value engineered inside.
If they have only a small number of responses they don't provide a report. In their reports on autos, they sometimes report on some years and leave out some years due to insufficient numbers. They don't report at all on rare brands (eg Ferrari, Bentley, Rolls Royce). I don't know what their minimum number is.
I think CU is most useful where the report is overwhelmingly positive or overwhelmingly negative. Then its pretty safe to buy or wise to stay away. I don't think fine gradations are especially meaningful.
One observation is that the first year after a model change the repair record is often quite a bit worse than for the last year of the preceding model, then improves in the second and third year, which all makes sense (and also demonstrates the effectiveness of their system).
Certain models have problem areas which are relatively consistent from year to year - which is good to know if you're considering buying one. And some vehicles or some years have problems with major components (engine, major or transmission) - in which case it is probably smart to stay away.
To me it is no different then some of the posts on this site of using this or that or not using it,,,,I take it with a grain of salt...
