245 RATINGS & THE TRUTH ABOUT MazMdiaa tMaX-5 10 TOP REVIEWS SELF-DRIVING TECH PICKS 2017 Annual AUTO ISSUE SMARTER CHOICES FOR A BETTER WORLD BEST & WORST New & Used Cars GREAT VALUES across brands 2017 Honda CR-V SMALL SUVs THE PERFECT CAR? APRIL 2017 CR.ORG Find just what you need. Right when you need it. SEARCH ALL PRODUCTS A - Z Get instant access to 7,000+ product reviews Consumer Reports Digital is ready when you are. Wherever you are. Always find reviews and ratings you can trust. No stressing. No second-guessing. • Get unlimited access to reviews, ratings, and product and service comparisons all in one place • Check out ratings on the go with mobile access • Take a virtual look inside our tests with exclusive 360° videos cr.org/digital Go to now to subscribe CRM0317C2 Contents APRIL 2017, VOL. 82 NO. 4 2017 Annual Auto Issue RATINGS AND MORE 40 New Car Ratings 10 Driving Into the Future By the numbers, our Will self-driving cars ever 4 Why Our Car independent evaluations of live up to the promise of Testing Is Unique 245 brand-new vehicles. safer, simpler transport? Rigor and independence RATINGS make our track testing tops. 17 Where the Rubber 49 Used Car Winners Meets the Road 22 10 Top Picks & Losers Take your tire tread This year’s outstanding Which secondhand rides are seriously, for safety’s sake. vehicles, according to most and least reliable? Plus, pick a top performer. CR’s comprehensive and RATINGS RATINGS stringent criteria. ABOUT THE COVER 52 New Car Profiles 20 Proceed With Caution 30 Best & Wors t Lists The all-new 2017 Honda Our vivid and detailed Automatic shifters are causing CR-V reflects the continuing Which vehicles are hits and descriptions of 260 models. confusion—and crashes. evolution of the small SUV which are misses? RATINGS segment. Our cover car was R ATINGS IN EVERY ISSUE shot by Nigel Cox, whose 86 New & Used Car strong signature lighting showcases the vehicle’s bold 36 Brand Report Card Reliability 5 From the President: angles. Learn more about the Find out which manufac- Our reliability survey Steering You Right CR-V on page 65, and go to turers consistently make reveals which new and used We at CR continue to work CR.org/cr-v to see our “First Drive.” Watch for full ratings high-performing cars across autos go the distance—and to make sure automotive in coming months. model lines. which lag behind. advances put safety fi rst. RATINGS RATINGS 6 Building a Better 38 10 Cars Worth INSIGHTS World, Together Waiting For CR’s recent vehicle victories— These intriguing new entries 7 The People’s Choice and new challenges for 2017. are coming soon. SUVs are now America’s best- selling vehicles. Here’s what 99 Selling It 39 Cars Your Way makes them worthy. Goofs and gaff es. APRIL 2017 CR.ORG 3 2017 Annual Auto Issue Burning Rubber insights from We evaluate factors our car experts including acceleration, braking, and handling on various courses at our 327-acre test center in Connecticut. Cars with an “eco” label aren’t always more fuel efficient. See our fuel-economy ratings to know for sure. —Jake Fisher, director of auto testing Why Our Car Testing Is Unique Don’t rely on blind- spot detection in bad weather. Snow or rain CR’s car team drives nonstop and digs deep into data so you can can hinder its function. make a fully informed choice on your next auto purchase. —Jennifer Stockburger, test center director of operations TO REALLY PUT an automobile engineers, editors, statisti- that includes a 4,400-foot-long through its paces, you have cians, technicians, photog- main straight, a 3,500-foot to cover a lot of ground. Good raphers, videographers, and handling course, an accident- thing the Consumer Reports support staff , to keep the Auto avoidance course, a 33-degree Auto Test Center sprawls across Test Center running. rock hill, and a brake-test 327 acres in rural Connecticut, Most automotive publica- straightaway to gauge stopping where we push the cars and tions evaluate cars and trucks distances on dry and wet pave- trucks we test to their limits to lent to them by manufacturers. ment. To evaluate ride comfort, For added safety, make get all of the information and But we purchase every vehicle we use surrounding public sure any pre-2012 car insights you need to make a we test from a dealership, roads that are studded with the you buy has electronic smart auto purchase. just like you do. (Last year type of bumps and ruts that stability control The cars team tests about we spent $2.1 million buying drivers encounter every day. by checking our used- 60 vehicles per year, driv- cars.) That way, we can Because your safety is car ratings. ing them a total of about maintain our independence always our fi rst priority, we —Gabe Shenhar, 900,000 miles. We also churn and test cars with the trim evaluate headlights on moon- program manager, through reams of reliability and options people actually less nights and use carlike tar- vehicle dynamics and satisfaction survey data buy rather than the special gets to check automatic braking collected from our subscribers versions that manufacturers systems. We also use infotain- to supplement the analysis, want to showcase. ment systems thoroughly and evaluations, and ratings from Here’s something else that share our experience. the track. It takes a full-time sets us apart: We’re thorough. In addition to testing cars, staff of almost 30, including The staff at most publications we also operate an extensive S R spends a day to a week getting child-seat program at our Auto WE to know a car. We drive each ve- Test Center. For our current A pricey tire with a long PO Go to CR.org/video to hicle we rate for 2,000 break-in ratings, we crash-tested 580 tread life may actually OHN watch car videos, which miles over several weeks before seats. Plus we’re the only be a better value than a S: J include Top Picks and we even start formal testing. organization that provides less expensive choice. AIT WATCH “ltaCohTtRoar oo.klokuu airrgng tthg /eh a stCohutwa tetorr iwsrat .epc”e ska Fpt,oc .ugerto s ac t aor s A5mst0faet ffeta eress urttshrs e auumtss,e iewn nage tt sedttosoato -tmtlesr-.aoo Ocrf-ekut htfrahe tca-rainalrii ttn ye d icatnhobdanoenuspu t1 em56n00ed 0rmes nt.o itEdr etaeiscrl seha. nryadet airnra gtwes e mf otoer srte —atiurReto ytmaensot P ttisevzcech aznnoidlcki oawnski, HOTOS, PORTR P 4 CR.ORG APRIL 2017 F rom the President President and CEO Marta L. Tellado Steering Senior Vice President, Brand & Strategy Leonora Wiener Editor in Chief D iane Salvatore You Right Executive Editor K evin Doyle Senior Editor Jessica Branch Design Director M atthew Lenning FOR MORE THAN a century, Associate Design Director M ike Smith through countless trends, Manager, Art Operations S heri Geller triumphs, and innovations, Art Directors T ammy Morton Fernandez, Janice Hogan, Ewelina Mrowiec, Lisa Slater, Tracy Stora, Joseph Ulatowski, Sarah Viñas the central premise of the Photo Editors E milie Harjes, Karen Shinbaum relationship between Vice President, Content Gwendolyn Bounds humans and cars has always Vice President, Publishing & Marketing Operations B rent Diamond remained the same: We are Vice President, Chief Digital Officer J ason Fox in the driver’s seat. Should Vice President, Consumer Policy & Mobilization L aura MacCleery self-driving vehicles someday Vice President, Research, Testing & Insights Liam McCormack replace the model we’ve always Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer K im Miller known, it would arguably Director, Content Development Glenn Derene be the most significant step off the line and onto our streets, Senior Director, Product Testing M ark Connelly forward in the automotive there is so much potential to Director, Content Impact & Corporate Outreach J en Shecter field since the advent of the look forward to. After all, here Director, Special Projects S andy Keenan Deputy, Special Projects J oel Keehn internal combustion engine. at CR we’re as excited as anyone Associate Director, Content Development S cott Billings As exciting, daunting, or about visionary products that Cars Editors: J eff S. Bartlett, Jonathan Linkov, Mike Monticello, unwelcome as that prospect exceed our expectations. But Michelle Naranjo, Jeff Plungis might be for American we’ll also be keeping our eyes Auto Test Center: J ake Fisher, Jennifer Stockburger, Directors Product Testers: M ike Bloch, John Ibbotson, Chris Jones, Anita Lam, Tom drivers, one thing is certain: on the road ahead, riding Mutchler, Gene Petersen, Ryan Pszczolkowski, Mike Quincy, Gabe Shenhar, Breakthroughs in autonomous alongside you to ensure that, Shawn Sinclair, Emily A. Thomas, Joe Veselak, Seung Min “Mel” Yu technology are opening up as new technologies shake Electronics J erry Beilinson, Content Lead Editors: T ercius Bufete, Michael Gikas, Christopher Raymond, entirely new sets of questions up the auto market and stoke Terry Sullivan, James Willcox and concerns when it comes our imaginations, they always Product Testers: M aria Rerecich, Testing Lead; Elias Arias, Claudio Ciacci, to keeping consumers safe live up to the standards of Charles Davidman, Richard Fisco, Dean Gallea, Richard Sulin, Maurice Wynn Health & Food E llen Kunes, Content Lead on the road. safety and performance that Editors: O rly Avitzur, M.D.; Trisha Calvo; Julia Calderone; Lauren F. Friedman; This month, as we reveal consumers demand. Chris Hendel; Jeneen Interlandi; Marvin M. Lipman, M.D.; Catherine Roberts; Diane Umansky our 10 top vehicle picks and Product Testers: M axine Siegel, Testing Lead; Amy Keating, Ellen Klosz our best and worst lists of Health Ratings D oris Peter, Director new and used cars, we’re Best Buy Drugs Lisa Gill, Deputy Editors: T eresa Carr, Ginger Skinner also bringing you up to speed Consumer Safety and Sustainability Doris Sullivan, Henry Akinleye on the state of self-driving Home & Appliance E ric Hagerman, Content Lead vehicles. We’re breaking Editors: D aniel DiClerico, Mary Farrell, Paul Hope, Kimberly Janeway Marta L. Tellado, Product Testers: J ohn Galeotafiore, James Nanni, Testing Leads; Peter down the complex technology President and CEO Anzalone, John Banta, Susan Booth, Tara Casaregola, Lawrence Ciufo, to let you know exactly where Follow me on Twitter Enrique de Paz, Bernard Deitrick, Cindy Fisher, Emilio Gonzalez, Ginny Lui, Joan Muratore, Joseph Pacella, Christopher Regan, Peter Sawchuk, things stand, from astonishing @MLTellado Frank Spinelli, David Trezza, Michael Visconti innovations on the software Money M argot Gilman, Content Lead side to sensors that can Editors: J effrey Blyskal, Anthony Giorgianni, Nikhil Hutheesing, Lauren Lyons Cole, Donna Rosato, Tobie Stanger replicate and outperform the Content Systems & Operations Strategy P eter Meirs, Director nuances of human sight. As Content Operations D avid Fox, Director; William Breglio; Anthony Terzo autonomous features and self- Production E ric W. Norlander; Letitia Hughes, Terri Kazin driving cars continue to roll Imaging F rancisco Collado, Mark Linder Content Coordination Nancy Crowfoot; Diane Chesler, Aileen McCluskey Copy Editing Leslie Monthan, Copy Chief; Noreen Browne, Alison France, Wendy Greenfield Fact Checking D avid Schipper, Manager; Kathleen Adams, Tracy Anderman, Kevin Garnett, Sarah Goralski, Sharon Riley Administration D ecarris Bryant, Elizabeth Scotton FOLLOW US Consumer Engagement Testing Charu Ahuja, Director; Linda Greene, Adam Kaplan FACEBOOK TWITTER Statistics M ichael Saccucci, Director; fb.com/consumerreports @consumerreports Keith Newsom-Stewart, Martin Romm, Andrew Cohen Survey Research Steven Witten, Director; Karen Jaffe, fb.com/SomosCR @SomosCR Simon Slater; Mei Fong, James David Gopoian, Kendra Johnson, DUNEA ADdebmrian Kisatlreantsiokny, J oMhanr tMinc LCaocwhetenr , Olufemi Olu-Lafe, Adam Troy /YcOoUnTsuUmBEerreports /PcIoNnTsEuRmEeSrTr eports NIE Consumer Insight Monica Liriano, Associate Director; Frank Yang; Chris OTO: MELA NPHroeowlmcsuesrste,a mRndaecn Mht eaOlr pkLeeyrntaicnthgio, PnTaset nS rietceiisvahe Man TcSShcohormilaevayos, nAes,s Aocssiaotcei aDteir eDcitroerctor @INcSoTnAsGuRmAeMrreports /cLcoIoNnmKsuEpmDaIneNry- /reports H P APRIL 2017 CR.ORG 5 B uilding a Better World, Together     Join with us to make a safer, healthier marketplace protection from future spikes in gas prices. Automakers are already beating fuel-economy standards even as they enjoy record sales. And though new EPA leadership may seek to reverse the standards, CR will continue to work hard to protect them. Fairness for Fraud Victims AFTER VOLKSWAGEN WAS exposed for intentionally installing software to circumvent emissions control systems, CR vehemently called for a settlement that ensured that Volkswagen owners got restitution. The final agreement did give them the choice of what to do with their faulty cars while getting significant cash compensation regardless of their decision. We also commend Rolling Back the Year the Justice Department for its ongoing investigation In 2016, Consumer Reports’ policy and mobilization experts of executives. fought hard to help ensure that you and your loved ones But in the wake of this settlement, the EPA accused would be safe on the road. We campaigned for protection Fiat Chrysler of installing from faulty cars, fought for tougher tests, and championed similar software in 2014-2016 Jeep Grand Cherokees and stricter accountability for companies that were intentionally Dodge Ram 1500 trucks with deceiving consumers. Here are highlights of our efforts and 3.0-liter diesel engines sold in the U.S. Consumer Reports victories throughout this past year, as well as a review of our will be watching this troubling ongoing work on your behalf. case of déjà vu. More Challenges for 2017 THE PROTECTION OF our Making Recall Reform Real announce a plan to bolster its creating a powerful incentive personal data is now a critical AS RECENTLY AS early 2016, New Car Assessment Program, for automakers to make the element of motor vehicle safety, it was still legal for car-rental or NCAP, which evaluates latest lifesaving technology particularly as cars come to rely companies to let customers new automobile designs for available on more vehicles on electronics and software- drive off the lot in vehicles with performance against various more quickly. We commend based systems. CR submitted open recalls. That changed on safety threats. NHTSA for hearing the comments to NHTSA as it June 1, when the Raechel and In recent years, a high criticism and taking action, sets guidelines for car-based Jacqueline Houck Safe Rental percentage of vehicles have and urge the agency to finalize cybersecurity. Car Act of 2015 took effect. received four or five stars in the changes. What’s more, emerging As part of the legislation, the NCAP five-star safety ratings. technology now allows cars to rental cars under a safety As a result, we expressed Fuel-Efficiency Victory drive themselves or operate recall must be repaired before concern to NHTSA that THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY the semi-autonomously. This a customer is handed the keys. these ratings were no longer Environmental Protection technology may be promising Consumer Reports was an meaningful to consumers and Agency (EPA) finalizing the in the long term, but in the aggressive advocate for the encouraged the agency to make fuel-economy standards for immediate future, without law, working with members the program more rigorous. passenger cars and trucks proper oversight, it raises of Congress and allied safety The government’s proposed through model year 2025 serious safety concerns. And groups to generate support. changes would be the most is a big win for consumers. new federal guidelines on significant enhancements to With these strong, achievable automated systems are neither Tougher Safety Scores the program since its creation targets, consumers can expect comprehensive nor mandatory. CR WAS PLEASED to see the in 1979 and would make the a significant reduction in Turn to page 10 to read more National Highway Traffic ratings easier for consumers fuel expenses, more choice about how CR is pushing for Safety Administration (NHTSA) to understand, all while in fuel-efficient vehicles, and better answers. 6 CR.ORG APRIL 2017 ILLUSTRATION BY JOHN RITTER I nsights SALES OF SMALL, MIDSIZED, AND LARGE SUVs SURGE SKYWARD* MARKET SHARE ■CAR ■SUV 75% 60 Notable news and smart solutions 45 30 15 0 ’96 ’00 ’04 ’08 ’12 ’16 The People’s Choice SUVs have gone from being trucky, niche vehicles to the nation’s favorite car. Here’s why they’re outselling sedans. by Mike Monticello ILLUSTRATION BY PETER CROWTHER *Sources: Ward’s Automotive Yearbook, Automotiv e News Data Center. 7 I nsights SUVs ARE THE NEW KING of the road. In from electronic stability control, 2016 they outsold sedans for the very a technology proven to prevent Features That fi rst time, knocking that category off rollovers. ESC has been required on its long-held throne and becoming the all vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds Small SUVs combine carlike road manners best-selling segment in America. or less—which includes all passenger Much of the credit for this ascension vehicles—since the 2012 model year, goes to small SUVs. Car buyers greatly increasing their safety. Today’s Generous Cargo Room purchased more than 2 million of them SUVs are also designed to do less An SUV’s tall roofline and expansive last year, including the Ford Escape, damage to cars in a collision. cargo opening provide more Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, Subaru Myth: SUVs perform poorly. luggage space than even most Forester, and Toyota RAV4. Reality: Today it’s common for a large sedans. Split-folding rear seats increase flexibility. What’s the appeal? Unlike old- small SUV to meet or even exceed the school full-sized SUVs, which were performance of a comparably priced built on truck platforms and usually midsized sedan. A couple of examples: had a rough ride to match, today’s The Kia Sportage slices through our small SUVs are built on car platforms, accident maneuver test at 52.5 mph vs. giving them carlike road manners. the Optima’s 51.5 mph, and the Subaru They also off er more cargo room and Forester shot to 60 mph 1.5 seconds versatility than sedans yet are easier quicker than the Legacy yet required to park and maneuver thanks to their 1 foot less to stop from 60 mph. compact footprint. Other selling Myth: Cars are more comfortable points are available all-wheel drive than SUVs. and an elevated ride height that off ers Reality: Because small SUVs are a commanding view of the road you basically tall-roof versions of compact won’t fi nd in a sedan. cars, most have the ride comfort of Here, we bust a few of the more cars and drive much like them. Our persistent myths and off er an SUV top-rated small SUV, the Subaru reality check. Forester, has a spacious interior, a Myth: SUVs are gas hogs. supple ride, and secure handling. The Reality: Small SUVs approach the fuel upscale and inviting cabin of the economy of midsized cars. The current new Honda CR-V, which we’re testing, Toyota RAV4 manages a respectable puts many cars to shame. Apart from 24 mpg overall. The Subaru Forester being taller, it will make you swear Available All-Wheel Drive does even better at 26 mpg, and the you’re in a car. It helps keep a car sure-footed in RAV4 Hybrid gets an impressive 31 mpg. snow and on slick roads. Rare Myth: SUVs aren’t as safe as sedans. on compact and midsized sedans, all-wheel drive is available on Reality: CR has raised concerns We have ratings, full road-test every small SUV. reports, a buying guide, and videos about SUV handling and safety since at CR.org/suvs. the 1980s, but today’s models benefi t LEARN Jeep Wagoneer Jeep Cherokee The Evolution The first family-sized The first unibody (rather of the SUV 4WD SUV, a trailblazer than body-on-frame) SUV. we reported on in our Progress, but it still rode Today’s SUV has June 1963 issue. like a truck. roots dating back to WW II. It did plenty 1941 1963 1980 1984 of shape-shifting Willys MB AMC Eagle before becoming the Bred for battle and Half wagon/half truck, largest-selling used by the Army, with full-time 4WD, automotive segment this 4WD light-utility this crossover w as in the country. vehicle started it all. way ahead of its time. 8 CR.ORG APRIL 2017 ILLUSTRATION BY T.M. DETWILER Make a Favorite with added utility. Here are attributes that have made them the most popular type of SUV. Parking-Friendly Size Elevated Driving Position Although small SUVs are often Small SUVs may be compact a good 6 inches to 10 inches taller but they ride high and give a than sedans, they’re the length commanding view of the road. of a compact car, making them Tall windows off er excellent relatively easy to squeeze into front and side views, although tight parking spots. thick roof pillars typically compromise rearview glances. Increased Ground Clearance Easy Cabin Access A taller ride height than the average You have to duck to enter sedans car makes SUVs better at coping and climb up to get into old-school with dirt roads and modest off -road SUVs. But the seat height and tall trails, and provides room to manage roofline of small SUVs make them daily challenges from curbs, potholes, easy to slide in and out of, which is snow, and road debris. one reason they’re a hit with seniors. Toyota RAV4 SUVs Lead Sales This game changer They overtake sedans ushered in the era of the for the first time ever small car-based SUV. in the U.S., led by the Honda CR-V. 1991 1996 1999 2016 Ford Explorer Lexus RX Toyota Popularized the midsized The dawn of the luxury RAV4 Hybrid SUV. “The ride is about as car-based SUV. The RX The most fuel-eff icient quiet as in most sedans,” set a new standard for non-plug-in SUV CR has we reported in 1990. comfort and quiet. tested, at 31 mpg overall. APRIL 2017 CR.ORG 9 I nsights D riving Into the Future The promise of self-driving cars is that they will see better than humans, never get lost, and almost never crash. Solving the technical, legal, and ethical challenges to get us there is more complicated—and fascinating—than most people realize, and the stakes for consumer safety are quite high. by Jeff Plungis IN WHAT WAS ONCE an industrial-age military ground vehicle), Chimp (a And in places like Mountain View, Calif., foundry along the Allegheny River in robot with thumbs that can grasp Pittsburgh, and Phoenix, this is already Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University tools), and Boss (a 2007 Chevy Tahoe happening in the form of on-the-road has created a long-standing hub for the modified to drive itself). testing. Pittsburgh was also the place development of autonomous vehicle Some of the center’s major clients— Uber chose to launch its prototype test technology—the National Robotics including NASA, Caterpillar, Ford fleet of self-driving taxis last year. Engineering Center. Motor Co., John Deere, and multiple Philip Koopman is a computer and The university’s pioneering work arms of the Defense Department— electrical engineering professor at with the government’s Defense are underwriters of advanced Carnegie Mellon who often spots Uber’s Advanced Research Projects Agency autonomous vehicle technology. self-driving taxis while riding a bus dates back to 1984 and has led to the Although much of this technology downtown. These days, his job at NREC creation of many of the vehicles that was originally intended for the is to stress-test the software that guides occupy the facility today. battlefield, it has become increasingly the center’s self-driving car prototypes. The building’s high bay has a crane clear in recent years that self-driving He and his team of computer wizards capable of lifting 10 tons, and the huge cars and trucks—animated by computer throw dilemmas at the vehicles in the open space is littered with prototypes code—will be sharing the roads with form of confounding nuggets of code. with names like Crusher (an unmanned ordinary drivers in the near future. One day they might try to ensure a 10 CR.ORG APRIL 2017