I've never completely trusted CR's reviews. I quit subscribing years ago.

 

^this, they say not but sponsorship makes more money than readers

 

Nice analysis gregc, my father did the same a few years ago but for 5 years and he canceled after subscribing for years and years and he’s much better off I think / he used to say to me “but CR said this” and I would take it like a grain of salt even then as I didn’t trust their bias ?

 

Some real world opinion: my wife's cousin has owned his own auto repair shop for 20 some years. I recently asked him what he considers the best auto maker based upon how little he sees them in his shop with issues. Without hesitation he said Lexus/Toyota with Honda next.

I asked what are the worst to own in his opinion. Again, without hesitation he said Mercedes Benz and BMW. He said those cars are fine for 5 years but after that they can be nothing but problems.

I've never trusted CR but only used it as an additional source of opinion, not fact, in any type of research I'm doing.

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My two cents. Honda and Toyota have went down in JD Powers Owners Reviews and Consumer Reports Owners Reliability reviews over the last 10 years. Toyota is an example of a manufacturer that cares more about sales than consumers. The Tundra, Tacoma and 4Runner are dated and have old technology which as well has horrible crash test results. Honda as done well but problems with crash test results and owners frustration with Honda Sensing has taken them down in rankings.

 

^ As much as it pains me to say this when the Japanese moved production outside of Japan (e.g., to Mexico, Canada, and USA) the quality went down. That, to me, is part of the reason for the drop in overall quality and reliability over the last 10 years.

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I know what you mean. Just my thought is that it’s not the skill set. It’s all about money. Companies are not giving the same provisions to make them right

 

TBH i think the main focus is that the innovation, Like did they only tweak a little bit? or did they actually change alot of stuff? now days i feel like the innovation is not there anymore people don't see why they should buy a new car...
Like i hate kia and hyundai but from where they started, they are definitely a strong brand competing against everyone. I'm Korean myself and they make the interior like bentley or rolls royce, but the engine quality is like geo metro... so i wouldn't purchase it for a long run.

 

I'm waiting for a reviewer of cars to acknowledge the engine problems with the Honda CRV. Consumer Reports have commented on it for example but have done nothing to reduce their rating of the car. Most other reviewers don't even mention the issue.

I guess I should not be surprised, the lure of advertising money taints reviews but if Consumer Reports were as independent as they claim, they would not recommend the car until its fixed. In the meantime, they still keep downgrading the Pilot and Passport for the infotainment system which is subjective and meaningless when compared to a defective engine.

 

Consumers Reports finished reviewing/Testing the Passport. They bought a EX-L and added a heated steering wheel from the dealer. 73/100 and is recommended! Road test: 76/100.
They loved the V6 but did not like the hard ride.
I thought they were going to tear it apart over the shifter and such, but they didn't.
I do agree with many of you, however, as I also don't think their reviews are very good anymore.

 

Consumer Reports seems to be the buying bible of the uninformed. Yep, get that CRV and store that extra fuel in you crankcase. What could possibly go wrong.

 

One that I rely upon: Car and Driver magazine.

 

I've been reading CR for about 25 years. I used to love reading their annual car buying guides. I've noticed a change of tone over the years especially as the internet grew and products reviews were becoming more readily available and now especially with Youtube videos from ordinary people doing some very compelling comparisons on popular products.

The click bait-esque approach to their content, quality (more subjective than objective data points) and appearance of biases of their overall reviews and findings is becoming more apparent each year unfortunately.

 

So Consumer Reports does another hack job at Honda and the Passport.

It begins by saying there is no reason to buy a Passport when there are two better Honda SUV's, the CRV and Pilot. Of course they fail to acknowledge the serious engine problem with the CRV. Apparently getting gas in your oil isn't a problem worthy of a consumers attention.

Yes that did like the roominess, speed, and visibility but disliked the ride and made some vague statement that you slide around in the seats; what??? After my 1st +700 mile road trip,I didn't slip around in the seat and even though the ride is stiffer than my 2016 Pilot, I did not find it to be uncomfortable in any way. Then they knocked the boot up time of the infotainment system, seriously????

Adding insult to injury, they gave it a neutral reliability even though 90% of it is a Pilot and if you look at the Pilot's reliability in CR's own charts, it is one of the best. In the same chart they rated the Nissan and Hyundai as better predicted reliability; THEY MUST BE CRAZY!!

When my subscription ends, that's it for me after being a 30 year subscriber.

 

So Consumer Reports does another hack job at Honda and the Passport.

It begins by saying there is no reason to buy a Passport when there are two better Honda SUV's, the CRV and Pilot. Of course they fail to acknowledge the serious engine problem with the CRV. Apparently getting gas in your oil isn't a problem worthy of a consumers attention.

Yes that did like the roominess, speed, and visibility but disliked the ride and made some vague statement that you slide around in the seats; what??? After my 1st +700 mile road trip,I didn't slip around in the seat and even though the ride is stiffer than my 2016 Pilot, I did not find it to be uncomfortable in any way. Then they knocked the boot up time of the infotainment system, seriously????

Adding insult to injury, they gave it a neutral reliability even though 90% of it is a Pilot and if you look at the Pilot's reliability in CR's own charts, it is one of the best. In the same chart they rated the Nissan and Hyundai as better predicted reliability; THEY MUST BE CRAZY!!

When my subscription ends, that's it for me after being a 30 year subscriber.

Gregc,
I agree with your assessment of CR's dismissive review of the PP. They did not seem interested in reviewing it, it was simpler to just refer their readership to the CRV or the Pilot. I'm also a many year subscriber to CR and I was most disappointed in their review. My interest and disappointment are not based on being a PP owner, it's based on, what I heretofore thought was their nonbiased approached to product assessment. Disappointed.

 

I find it hard to trust any reviews on CR when they pull this crap. I just bought a washer and dryer based an their recommendation. Maybe I should have bought their last place set rather then the first place set???

 

I've NEVER subscribed to CR and will NEVER, it sounds like a number of things there are rating low are the EXACT same in the Pilot, which means they are uniformed, lazy, illogical and biased.

On a somewhat related note: have you see the Kelly Blue Book list of the 14 best 2019 vehicles?
https://www.kbb.com/car-news/best-buy-awards/2100000577/

Strange how Honda won in 6 different categories! Ford and Hyundai in 2 each and not a Nissan, Toyota, Mazda or Subaru on their list..

 

And KBB also also had the CRV as one of the best. WTF????

 

CR is a joke now a days. Dismissed.

 

^ Pretty much what Fatties said.

 

x3, I tried but many reviews of 1 item may be #1 one month, 6 months later negative reviews and back and forth. All naysayers say no way are they bought and paid for but I beg to differ, as Trump says.....Rigged!

 

CR actually scored it pretty well (73, which is high enough to make the “Recommended” list). WALDT, and it’s hard to to find a single review source that gives the same weight to factors as I do.

My ideal reviewer, for example, would be 6’4”, live in a southern climate, and spend 2 hours commuting in moderate to heavy traffic. I always keep that in mind when reading anyone’s reviews.

 

I think you are right GM-J.

Whether they admit it or not, ALL vehicle reviewers are BIASED in some way. A bias for or against Auto Makers, a bias for or against the vehicle type (Car-truck-SUV, etc). Preconceived notions of engine types (4cyl, 6cyl, V-8, turbos, ect.) They all drive their own personnel vehicle to and from work everyday.

So the best comparisons (for me) is when a group of guys, test a group of vehicles, otherwise that bias extends through to the final rating and article.

 

CR, C&D, R&T, Edmunds and others all have different criteria when they rate cars. I don't rely on any one of them but use the whole of all the ratings. My take is CR has always been focused on reliability as opposed to performance. They only recommend vehicles with at least an average reliability rating. I've filled out the surveys often to add my $0.02. Honda and especially Acura have slipped over the years. This CR rating of the PP isn't bad, as there is no reliability data, just initial performance.

 

CR is a bunch of idiots! Apparently they had a falling out with Honda.
Granted my 2017 CR-V was a GREAT vehicle, but I had Oil delusion, wouldn’t heat up during a Minnesota winter, So I dumped it and bought a Passport.
The reason I bought the Passport is that it had what I liked about my 2016 Pilot, and lett out the things I didn’t like.
I would think that the Passport would had a similar review as the Pilot. Both are GREAT vehicles, I consider them as being “Identically Different “.

 

Honda Passport - Consumer Reports

Get in-depth unbiased information on the Honda Passport from Consumer Reports including major redesigns, pricing and performance, and search local inventory

www.consumerreports.org

CR has removed the Passport from its list of reliable vehicles, based on consumer ratings, especially related to climate and entertainment system issues. They also red flag the recall of one PP ?. Honda's are not bulletproof. This is our 7th Honda and all have been solid. I disagree with CR. They did this to the Civic a few years ago and it may be they are tougher on a new model. The following year, it was recommended again.

We've had a couple minor issues, fixed immediately. I'd still recommend it.

 

CR has had a hard-on for Honda for many years, most of which were undeserved. BUT given the issues with the 1.5L turbo engines, systemic issues across models with Apple carplay, and infotainment crashes, I'm beginning to side with them.

I have a 16 Pilot, 06 Civic, and 19 Passport, all have been great vehicles for me BUT too many others seem to be circling the drain.

 

Ford had problems for years with the 1st and 2nd generationa of their entertainment system "Sync" program. I don't know if that gave them a lower CR rating. If enough Apple car play users complain a vehicle gets a "Not Recommended" rating. While the vehicle may be a totally reliable vehicle mechanically, but since you can't play with your phone through the entertainment system its not recommended. BS! I stopped trusting Consumer Reports years ago,

 

I just received the above edition yesterday. On page 59 is an article "Reliability Predictions for 2020 Models". In the "Midsized SUV's" section, the PassPort is rated an 18 out of 100 points! How can they predict such a low score for a vehicle that has not, to my knowledge, been offered for sale yet? Does this smack of possible bad blood between Honda and CR? I wonder . . . .

 

18 for the 2020 model...YIKES...sure glad I got a 2019...!