CR: Bronco Sport one of "Most Satisfying" SUVS

[sajohnson]

Compact SUVs:

"Most Satisfying: 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime, 2022 Hyundai Tucson, and 2022 Ford Bronco Sport"

(May be a paywall):
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/suvs/most-and-least-satisfying-suvs-a1910850668/

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[jkeaton]

I trust nothing consumer reports "reports".

 

[Escape2Bronco]

These change like the wind. One year they are the best thing on the road, the next, they are the biggest pos.

Buy it, drive it, if you don't like it, sell it. Needless to say, I'm keeping mine.

 

[sajohnson]

Damn, CR can't win for losin'.

It's understandable that people get upset when CR trashes their favorite car/truck and shoot the messenger.

In this case, it's positive. They are just reporting the results of their survey.

If there was a survey here on the BS Forum, would the response be the same?

 

[sajohnson]

It’s not you it’s them

Thanks. I have to admit I'm surprised by the animosity some have towards CR.

I don't care either way, I just don't understand it.

Criticism is predictable from owners of vehicles that CR rates poorly. But at least in the past, the reverse was also true -- if CR had something positive to say then suddenly they were 'knowledgeable experts' who clearly knew what they were talking about.

Trashing them over a complimentary article is a new one.

Oh well.

 

[Escape2Bronco]

Thanks. I have to admit I'm surprised by the animosity some have towards CR.

I don't care either way, I just don't understand it.

Criticism is predictable from owners of vehicles that CR rates poorly. But at least in the past, the reverse was also true -- if CR had something positive to say then suddenly they were 'knowledgeable experts' who clearly knew what they were talking about.

Trashing them over a complimentary article is a new one.

Oh well.

The issue I have with them is they have different ratings for the same items in multiple years. Their testing is based on a statistical quantity of one typically. It’s more the opinion of the tester than objective facts based on data.

 

[jkeaton]

They get paid to compliment by the highest bidder. Their testing methods are junk. It's just their opinion.

 

[Mark S.]

They get paid to compliment by the highest bidder. Their testing methods are junk. It's just their opinion.

Hmmm. I don't believe CR accepts any advertising money. Do you have a link with evidence to the contrary?

I agree with you regarding their reviews; people always bring some bias with them, so a "review" will always have an element of subjectivity. That said, the data regarding reliability, satisfaction, etc. is not based on CR reviews; it's all survey based. I realize the surveys have some problems (there was a recent discussion whether reported problems included recalls), but I don't think it's fair to say there is no value in the data.

 

[jkeaton]

CR is probably fine on toasters and small appliances but their vehicle ratings are a laugh. They are enamoured with certain brands even when underpowered and overpriced.

They can be a self serving so-called nonprofit organization. Pro Publica reported the following executive salaries from tax forms: MARTA L TELLADO (PRESIDENT & CEO)$762,624. LEONORA WIENER (SR. VP & COO)$504,384. MICHAEL HUBNER (VP, GENERAL COUNSEL)$433,339. JASON FOX (VP, CHIEF DIGITAL OFFICER)$414,194.

Looks like a pretty good gig. Just take their ratings with a grain of salt.

 

[Mockyngbyrd]

Non-profit is a tax classification, not a qualifier of legitimacy. The NFL was a non-profit in 2015. Salaries are irrelevant. CR may not perfect, but it may be the best available information at the moment. It's always a good idea to get information from multiple sources, such as forums, Carcomplaints.com and vehicle reviews by trusted authors.

 

[sajohnson]

CR is probably fine on toasters and small appliances but their vehicle ratings are a laugh. They are enamoured with certain brands even when underpowered and overpriced.

They can be a self serving so-called nonprofit organization. Pro Publica reported the following executive salaries from tax forms: MARTA L TELLADO (PRESIDENT & CEO)$762,624. LEONORA WIENER (SR. VP & COO)$504,384. MICHAEL HUBNER (VP, GENERAL COUNSEL)$433,339. JASON FOX (VP, CHIEF DIGITAL OFFICER)$414,194.

Looks like a pretty good gig. Just take their ratings with a grain of salt.

Well, those salaries are discouraging. Non-profit executive compensation is an interesting subject, but unrelated to the quality of information CR provides.

It turns out CR is rated 100%, a perfect score, at Charity Navigator. That's almost unheard of:
https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/131776434

One thing to consider about any rating/review (by any person or group) is the weight which the reviewer gives certain features. For example, you mentioned "underpowered" cars. As a life-long 'car guy' hp and torque (and overall performance) has always been important to me, so when I look at reviews of vehicles, I pay attention to those specs.

If a reviewer does not give much weight to performance, then an underpowered -- but otherwise very good -- car (like our '97 RAV4) can do very well. To be fair, three are many people who do not place much/any importance on acceleration and handling (like my wife). So that's not necessarily a "bad" review, the author just had different priorities than I do.

CR has historically placed high value on safety and reliability, but they have also tested some serious performance cars. They break their 'overall score' down so that readers can see how the car did in various categories. Don't care about a category? Give it lower weight or ignore it.

For decades, a criticism of CR was/is that they are biased toward "foreign"/Japanese cars. A) there is no evidence that's true, and B) there are few vehicles that are 100% foreign or domestic anymore. Honda, Toyota, BMW, MB, etc., all have plants in the U.S. Many Bronco Sports are made in Mexico.

When it comes to reliability, owner satisfaction, and 'would buy again', those are all survey questions. CR is simply reporting what their millions of subscribers tell them. So to the extent there is any bias, it is coming from CR subscribers who are almost exclusively American citizens.

Lastly, CR is not getting paid by any car mfrs or other corporations, so they truly have no reason to be biased. Generally, when CR gives a car a low rating, the owners of that car (and/or fanboys of that mfr) start claiming that CR is biased, a bunch of idiots, etc. This is the first time in decades that I've seen people react negatively to a *positive* CR article -- one that is simply repeating what owners of those vehicles said on a survey.

 

[sajohnson]

They get paid to compliment by the highest bidder. Their testing methods are junk. It's just their opinion.

Anything is possible, but I am not aware of any evidence that CR is paid off/bribed.

They actually go out of their way to buy the products anonymously, so that mfrs cannot 'tweak' them.

CR uses the scientific method wherever possible. The only subjective ratings are things like: taste (coffee, wine, etc.); feel; ride quality (may be both measured and subjective).

So it may be true that ratings of coffee are 'just their opinion' (they do use expert tasters) but the vast majority of their ratings are based on features and qualities that are measured.

There is much more here for those interested in CR's explanation of how they operate:
https://data.consumerreports.org/rating-methods/

One section:

Road Tests
Approximately 50 new cars and trucks each year are run through more than 50 tests at CR’s 327-acre test facility in Colchester, Conn.

• Tests include acceleration, braking, emergency handling, fuel economy, usability, fit and finish, noise, ride, and safety systems.
• Ride, quietness, and seat comfort are stressed in road tests. However, it should be noted that sporty cars and trucks have different scoring schemes that put a higher priority on performance and capability.
• While aspects such as acceleration, handling, and steering feel are important in every car, they are weighted much more heavily in sports cars. Towing and hauling capability are emphasized in pickup trucks
• Also scored is fuel economy, or range and energy usage for electric cars. Other aspects of sustainability are currently being considered.

 

[NanaRe]

CR is probably fine on toasters and small appliances but their vehicle ratings are a laugh. They are enamoured with certain brands even when underpowered and overpriced.

They can be a self serving so-called nonprofit organization. Pro Publica reported the following executive salaries from tax forms: MARTA L TELLADO (PRESIDENT & CEO)$762,624. LEONORA WIENER (SR. VP & COO)$504,384. MICHAEL HUBNER (VP, GENERAL COUNSEL)$433,339. JASON FOX (VP, CHIEF DIGITAL OFFICER)$414,194.

Looks like a pretty good gig. Just take their ratings with a grain of salt.

are you jealous of those salaries...???

 

[KidWiff]

CR is probably fine on toasters and small appliances but their vehicle ratings are a laugh. They are enamoured with certain brands even when underpowered and overpriced.

They can be a self serving so-called nonprofit organization. Pro Publica reported the following executive salaries from tax forms: MARTA L TELLADO (PRESIDENT & CEO)$762,624. LEONORA WIENER (SR. VP & COO)$504,384. MICHAEL HUBNER (VP, GENERAL COUNSEL)$433,339. JASON FOX (VP, CHIEF DIGITAL OFFICER)$414,194.

Looks like a pretty good gig. Just take their ratings with a grain of salt.

Honestly, i'm a bit surprised... I would have thought the team occupying the C-Suite at CR would have been making more than that.

 

[Bucko]

are you jealous of those salaries...???

Yes, I am now.

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