From: "William Robb"
I guess the questions are:
What are their criteria? Is it initial owner impression or is it long term
reliability?
Are they testing the vehicles to failure or depending on consumer feedback?
Consumer's Union (publisher of Consumer Reports) BUYs the cars they test
anonymously through the dealer networks.
The cars get a couple thousand miles "daily driving" logged, then are
taken to a test facility that has road tracks, skid pans & such for the
various handling tests.
The cars are also given a thorough bumper to bumper examination to
determine quality of fit and finish.
Consumers Union doesn't normally do crash tests - those are done by the
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (non-profit funded by the
insurance companies), so it would not be testing to destruction.
The test results stand alone, but are augmented by surveying Consumer's
Union members.
FWIW, the two vehicle manufacturers who have sued Consumers Union over
product reviews were Suzuki and Isuzu - both Japanese companies. Neither
was able to collect.
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