April 2006
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You're in our driver's seat

CU's President Jim Guest.
DRIVEN Our auto team performs dozens of tests to determine a vehicle's score. The results form a basis for our recommendations.
OK, readers, fire off that e-mail, jam those forums, mail those letters. We know what's coming: “Consumer Reports has a bias against American cars.”

We hear it about once a week, so let's set the record straight: Our staff members are as patriotic as anyone. We fully understand the desire to support our domestic auto manufacturers--General Motors, Ford, and the Chrysler division of DaimlerChrysler--and to keep jobs and wages in the U.S.

We also believe strongly in the public's right to know, freedom of information, freedom of choice, and sound consumerism. We're driven by a commitment to inform and protect you, the consumer--our only customer--with expert, independent, test- and survey-based information about cars and other products and services. Our test methods and test center, along with staff members' qualifications, have earned the respect of the auto industry and of our competitors in automotive testing and publishing.

This year all of our Top Picks are Japanese models. How did those 10 lock up the top spots? Overall, they outpointed the competition in our testing and in the reliability information we collect from hundreds of thousands of car owners.

A vehicle's country of origin plays no part in our testing and Ratings. At our auto-test track, it's the results that count, such as braking distance, fuel economy, accident-avoidance capability, comfort, and ergonomics. Statistics from more than 50 tests and evaluations feed into a vehicle's overall score.

A car that gives you trouble is no gem, no matter how well it drives, so we rely on you, our readers, to tell us about your experiences with your vehicles. Our latest Annual Car Reliability Survey has data on more than 1 million vehicles, a first for us. You told us which parts of your car caused problems in the past year, and, as always, we factored that into our recommendations. This year, as in the past, despite improved reliability among American brands, you reported fewer problems with certain Japanese brands--notably Honda and Toyota.

Not only would it be unfair of us to consider where a vehicle is built in our Ratings, but it's also not always clear-cut. Is a Mexican-built Ford Fusion, which is based on a Japanese Mazda6, more American than a Toyota Sienna conceived in California, engineered in Michigan, and built in Indiana? To cash in on lower wages in Canada, Ford builds the Crown Victoria, GM the Impala, and Chrysler the Dodge Grand Caravan there. GM builds the Chevrolet Suburban in Mexico.

On the flip side, most Honda Civics and Accords are built in Ohio. The Toyota Camry and Avalon are built in Kentucky. Those plants employ U.S. workers and support communities by using a network of suppliers. Honda, Nissan, Toyota, and others also employ highly skilled American engineers and executives at research centers and styling studios in the U.S.

Wherever a car is designed, developed, and built, Consumers Union's mission is, and always will be, to provide you with honest, accurate, unbiased buying advice. You deserve no less for your hard-earned dollar.
Jim Guest's signature.

Jim Guest
President