TOP CAR BRANDS OF 2019; HOW WE CHOOSE OUR TOP PICKS | TALKING CARS WITH CONSUMER REPORTS #191

EV Channels Review

Consumer Reports' "Talking Cars" episode #191 delves into their 2019 Top Picks and brand rankings, emphasizing the evolving criteria for vehicle evaluation. A significant update is the inclusion of automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection as a mandatory standard feature for Top Pick consideration, reflecting a push for advanced safety. The episode highlights the confusion surrounding safety feature nomenclature and packaging, even for industry insiders. Reliability data has also been updated more dynamically, moving beyond a single annual release. Notably, the Tesla Model 3, previously average, has lost its recommendation due to a significant increase in reported issues, particularly with trim, paint, and glass, observed in later production models. This data, sourced from real owners, underscores the importance of continuous reliability monitoring. Other vehicles like the Acura RDX saw recommendations dropped due to infotainment issues, while the BMW X3 regained its recommendation after fixes. The episode also reveals Subaru as the top-ranked brand for 2019, a surprising result attributed to their consistent performance in reliability, driving dynamics, and practicality across models like the Ascent and Forester, irrespective of price.