Shop Smarter With Consumer Reports Used Car Rankings

It is not a stretch to suggest used vehicles are an outsized part of the economy in this country. At last count, it was estimated nearly 40 million used cars and trucks change hands per year these days. Given those types of numbers, it’d be nice to have someone in your corner, right? Perhaps someone with decades of experience in the auto industry and who is completely unbiased in their assessments.

It isn’t too good to be true now that Consumer Reports has decided to bring its expertise to the used car market. The organization is now evaluating used cars in a bid to help even more drivers purchase vehicles which are safe, reliable, and affordably fit a family budget. Many folks turn to used cars when considering a replacement for their current machine – often a sensible decision if a vehicle is well cared for and has a reputation for reliability.

Having the experts at Consumer Reports on your side will help immensely while navigating the minefield of used cars. After all, CR has tested new cars for decades at a rate of about 50 per year which means it can apply similar rigor to pre-owned models. In fact, their team drives over 500,000 miles a year to gain valuable and unbiased insights into safety, performance, and efficiency.

Prices of vehicles may be at a historical high-water mark but drivers mustn’t sacrifice safety, reliability, or economy to stay within a budget. CR incorporates its own testing data plus reliability stats sourced from over five million subscribers, giving you a valuable combination of expert findings and accurate data from real world owners.

The strategy for ranking used cars place an emphasis on value. Don’t be surprised if some highlighted or recommended second-hand models may not have scored the highest when tested as new cars. In some instances, a vehicle may be a good car in the long term which also happened to depreciate more than others in its class. Remember, as a used car shopper, you want a vehicle in which another owner has already taken the depreciation hit.

Instead of scrolling through pages of material across the internet, you can let CR do the heavy lifting of research and statistic-laden testing. Experts drive each new vehicle for 2,000 break-in miles over several weeks before they even start testing, helping reduce scientific variables. After that, CR conducts more than 50 tests at its state-of-the-art Auto Testing Center, a 300+ acre facility with many of the same tools used by major carmakers in their own development including a 1.5-mile drive loop designed to stress even the most advanced driver assistance systems.

Consumer Reports independently tests and evaluates a wide range of products, from baby products and family care to household appliances and automobiles. Families have long relied on its decades of testing experience as an assurance they are getting the straight facts on items they are purchasing for their home – whether that’s baby formula, a new refrigerator, or a used car. Last year, they spent over $2 million on vehicles alone, purchased from dealerships by secret shoppers to ensure they’re testing the same cars that you get.

Becoming an annual member of the Consumer Reports family of digital readership amounts to $39/year, which breaks down to just $3.25/month. Those who prefer print can have a year’s worth of CR issues, plus the annual Auto Issue and CR’s full magazine archive, delivered for just $35. As a nonprofit, Consumer Reports uses these funds for operating costs such as purchasing vehicles to undergo rigorous analysis at CR’s state of the art track. In addition to testing new and used cars, CR’s experts identify issues with technology, evaluate features like autonomous driving tools, EV charging stations, and push both policymakers and manufacturers alike to make everything you buy safer. 

Beyond digital and print resources, CR’s podcast features scientists and engineers who are experts in their field, passionate about their subjects, and very consumer centric. No question is too obscure or off-the-wall. The experts on CR’s Talking Cars kindly and patiently guide listeners through the issue at hand in a manner designed to make consumers feel confident and prepared. 

With over 85 years of experience evaluating items to help foster intelligent purchasing decisions, Consumer Reports can help you on the way to making a smart and safe used car purchase. Let’s drive.

NOTE: This is sponsored content produced in partnership with Consumer Reports