Behind the scenes at Consumer Reports Auto Test facility

Here's a peek at what goes into Consumer Reports automobile ratings and what makes its testing uniquely valuable for car buyers. Watch more behind the scenes footage on our website: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/how-we-test/introduction/how-we-test-...

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Consumer Reports
• testing
• cars
• autos
• vehicles
• handling
• off road
• fuel economy

[LTF85199]

what a sweet job, are you guys hiring?

[blurglide]

Testing cars is my dream job. I'm a mechanical engineer & have read CR since age 13. How do I apply? Also, where is your test track location?

[KyleOutrage]

I've become jaded by all the "typical" automobile magazines. Their writers are wined and dined on international trips by the manufacturers. The reviewed vehicles are all provided directly by the manufacturers. Many of their tests are conduced under closely controlled environments which favor the vehicles' specific attributes. How can one expect an unbiased opinion under such circumstances?

[yummy1234098]

wonder what they do when they get done with the cars...??

[hehh543]

This is my future job, and I'm only a teenager.

[MrKulCars]

this is the ONLY nonbiased source of automotive testing when i tcomes to BUYING a car.

[gergert3]

@blurglide test track is in cenetikut, if i spelled it right, dont know precisely where.

[zakyum]

@blurglide I believe there test track & such is located in CT

[blurglide]

BTW- their are several reasons you might not get the same acceleration numbers as other sources

1) You're not getting "ringer" specially prepped test cars

2) You probably don't include a 1' rollout like at the strip. Edmunds publishes accel numbers with and without this factored

3) Your track might not be as grippy as a drag strip

4) You're less likely to abuse a car, and drive it more like a typical owner would. E.g., no side-stepping the clutch in an AWD at 5k rpm; no big brake-stands