Consumer Reports News

EVs, Plug-In Hybrids’ Reliability Concerns Ease But Still Lag Gas-Powered Peers, Survey Shows

Electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids are seeing concerns over their reliability easing but they still lag gas-powered vehicles, a survey by an influential U.S. non-profit organization showed on Thursday. EVs now have 42% more problems than their gas-powered counterparts, down …

Consumer Reports: Electric Vehicles Less Reliable, on Average, than Conventional Cars and Trucks

DETROIT (AP) — Electric vehicles have proved far less reliable, on average, than gasoline-powered cars, trucks and SUVs, according to the latest survey by Consumer Reports, which found that EVs from the 2021 through 2023 model years encountered nearly 80% …

Consumer Reports, Insurance Safety Institute to Rate Vehicle Driver Automation Systems

Two nonprofit bodies, Consumer Reports and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), said separately on Thursday they are reviewing safeguards put in place by automakers for vehicles with partial automation. The announcements come amid scrutiny of Tesla’s driver assistance …

Consumer Reports Drops ‘Top Pick’ Rating for Tesla Model 3

WASHINGTON — Tesla’s decision to remove radar sensors from two of its U.S. vehicles has cost it top safety ratings from a widely followed insurance industry group and the influential Consumer Reports magazine. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) …

Tesla Autopilot ‘a Distant Second’ To GM’s Super Cruise In Hands-Free Test

DETROIT — General Motors Co’s Super Cruise once again edged Tesla’s Autopilot in an evaluation of 17 vehicles equipped with active driving assistance systems (ADAS) by Consumer Reports, the testing organization said on Wednesday. A Tesla Model Y fitted with …

Residents Seek Backup Power as Storms, Fires Cause Blackouts

NEW YORK — Climate change has led to deadlier wildfire seasons in the American West and more severe hurricanes and storms barreling up the Southern and Eastern coasts. The dramatic weather frequently knocks out power, leading some residents of storm-ridden …

Tesla Subpoenas May Presage Formal Probe, Ex-Official Says

Freshly disclosed records suggest the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration may be preparing a formal investigation into Tesla Inc.’s driver-assistance system Autopilot, a former agency official said. The agency has issued at least five subpoenas since April 2018 for information …

Trump Safety Pitch for Easing Car Standards Rebutted by Study

President Donald Trump’s plan to freeze U.S. vehicle efficiency standards would result in higher costs for motorists without doing anything to boost highway safety, according to an analysis by Consumer Reports that undermines the administration’s chief talking points in favor …

Consumer Reports Thinks Tesla Should Drop Autopilot Name

Consumer Reports said Thursday that Tesla Motors is misleading car owners by calling its semi-autonomous driving system “Autopilot,” potentially giving them too much trust in their car’s ability to drive itself. The influential magazine said Tesla should drop the Autopilot …

Toyota Camry Regains Top Safey Pick Status After Insurance Crash Test

Toyota Motor Corp.’s Camry, headed for its 12th consecutive year as the best-selling car in the U.S., returned to Consumer Reports’ recommended list after showing improvement on an insurance-industry crash test. The Yonkers, New York-based magazine excluded Camry in October …