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What Do Certified Pre-Owned Car Programs Cover and How Long Do They Last?

A key advantage of buying a certified pre-owned (CPO) car is the extended warranty, which often gives second owners another year or two of coverage. But warranty benefits vary by manufacturer. . When shopping for a CPO car, you’ll want to make sure you’re getting what you pay for because they do carry a price premium: The average listed price for a CPO vehicle is about 1.8 percent higher than a comparable non-certified used car, acc...
Posted:Sat May 03 06:00:01 EDT 2025

Chinese-Made Cars Are Already Here. We’ve Even Tested a Few.

Tariffs on new cars, which include specific ones on products made in China, have added uncertainty for car buyers. Although no Chinese brands currently sell vehicles in the U.S., you might be surprised to learn that some American and European brands have been selling Chinese-built vehicles for nearly a decade. How these vehicles will be affected by new tariffs remains to be seen. The Buick Envision SUV (shown below) was the first mainst...
Posted:Thu May 01 14:22:12 EDT 2025

Best Used Cars for Teens Under $20,000

Choosing the right car for a teen driver means finding the right balance of cost and safety. This can be challenging, with so many options available with confusing trim and feature lists. To make finding a safe, affordable car easier, Consumer Reports and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety analyzed makes and models to find the best options. In our research, we found that safety is available for reasonable prices. . The used car...
Posted:Thu May 01 00:05:22 EDT 2025

Best New Cars for Teens

Parents want to make sure their child is both safe and responsible behind the wheel. In most cases, that means starting with a good driver’s education program, good car insurance, and the right car.. Picking an appropriate car can be the hardest part, which is why Consumer Reports and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) have teamed up to recommend the best new and used cars for new drivers. Our testing and analysis have ...
Posted:Thu May 01 00:05:07 EDT 2025

Hot Car Fatalities Are a Year-Round Threat to Children and Pets

Heatstroke can be a four-season threat in some parts of the country. About 39 children die each year from vehicular heatstroke, according to Kids and Car Safety and NoHeatstroke.org. Heatstroke is the leading cause of death in vehicles (excluding crashes) for those 14 and younger. . There were 40 hot car deaths in 2024, according to Kids and Car Safety. In most cases, the children were unknowingly left behind in the vehicle. While it ma...
Posted:Wed Apr 30 17:48:39 EDT 2025

Anyone Could Forget a Kid in a Hot Car, Research Shows

No parent thinks they’d forget their child in a hot car. But the tragic truth is that it can happen to anyone.. Since 1998, about 1,011 children have died in hot cars—and more than half of them were left behind unknowingly by their caregiver, according to NoHeatStroke.org. . But recent research shows that the daily stresses parents face can make these memory lapses more likely. Forgetting a child isn’t a negligence problem but a w...
Posted:Wed Apr 30 16:07:46 EDT 2025

Talking Cars 471: Driving the Freshened 2025 Volkswagen Taos

Main theme: For the 2025 model year, Volkswagen gave its Taos compact SUV some freshened styling, updated the interior technology, and significantly improved the powertrain. Gone is the balky dual-clutch automatic gearbox that the SUV debuted with in 2022, which we called in our road test an "obstreperous powertrain that would keep us from buying it." In its place is an eight-speed automatic transmission that is far better suited to th...
Posted:Wed Apr 30 13:32:32 EDT 2025

First Drive: Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupe Is an Elegant Grand Tourer

Once common two-door models are rapidly being relegated to historical anecdotes in this SUV-dominated age. The few that persist are therefore all the more novel, serving as rolling antidotes to the boxy behemoths that rule American roads. Enter the Mercedes-Benz CLE, a fresh model that essentially replaces the previous generation C- and E-Class coupes and convertibles. More on luxury cars CR's Luxury Car Ratings & Buying Guide. .Best Lu...
Posted:Wed Apr 30 13:11:07 EDT 2025

GM Full-Sized SUVs Recalled Due to Potential Engine Failure

General Motors is recalling 597,630 full-sized SUVs equipped with a 6.2-liter V8 for the risk of engine failure. The action includes the 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV; Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe; and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL. more on recalls CR's Car Recall Tracker. .Car Recall Guide: Your Questions Answered. .Who Makes the Most Reliable New Cars?. .Which Brands Make the Best Used Cars?. Ma...
Posted:Tue Apr 29 11:01:53 EDT 2025

Tested: The Best Tires for Teslas and Other Electric Vehicles

The tires that came on your electric vehicle may not be the best for your needs, based on new tests by Consumer Reports. In fact, choosing a conventional, not EV-specific all-season tire can provide improved poor weather performance and longer tread life, and cost less than the original equipment (OE) tires. Our tests once again show that tires are all about compromises, and finding the right balance for your needs and budget.  EV Tire...
Posted:Tue Apr 29 10:00:09 EDT 2025

What the Dashboard Warning Lights Mean in Your Car

Every car has its own language of light-up hieroglyphics on the dashboard. They’re your car’s way of asking for help. But those lights are not always easy to interpret. More on Car Maintenance & Repair 7 Best Car Batteries. .Best Car Tires. .Best SUV and Truck Tires. .Why You Might Not Actually Need Premium Gas. .How to Find a High-Quality Car Repair Shop. Regardless of what a warning light means, most manufacturers color-code them...
Posted:Sun Apr 27 06:00:01 EDT 2025

Preview: Bare-Bones All-Electric Slate Truck or SUV Starts Under $30,000

Slate is a totally new all-electric vehicle brand that’s going to sell only one vehicle: a small electric pickup truck with virtually no factory options. As trucks get bigger, technology gets more complex, and car prices get higher, Slate has taken a different approach. It says the pickup measures about 2 feet shorter than the Ford Maverick, lacks any built-in infotainment, and starts around $27,000. Slate Truck. CR's Take. Outside. I...
Posted:Fri Apr 25 17:01:30 EDT 2025

Measured: Cargo Room for SUVs and Minivans

Many consumers consider a vehicle’s cargo room a key shopping consideration, whether it’s for holding groceries, carting the kids to weekend activities, or taking a long road trip. But manufacturers’ claims of abundant space don’t always reflect real-world utility. Total Cargo Capacity. Room Behind the Third Row Consumer Reports measures and evaluates cargo space differently than automakers. For SUVs, minivans, and wagons, we ...
Posted:Thu Apr 24 15:44:11 EDT 2025

Preview: 2026 Lexus ES Grows, Gets Electrified

The comfortable Lexus ES sedan has been a perennial favorite at Consumer Reports, excelling in our road-test, reliability, and owner satisfaction scores. After seven years without any major updates, the ES is finally getting a full redesign.  Lexus ES. CR's Take. Outside. Inside. What Drives It. Safety and Driver Assistance Systems More on Hybrids and EVs Hot, New Electric Cars That Are Coming Soon. .CR's Hybrid/EV Buying Guide & Ratin...
Posted:Thu Apr 24 11:58:26 EDT 2025

Acura MDX SUVs Recalled to Fix Rear Lights

Acura is recalling nearly 153,000 MDX SUVs from the 2014-2020 model years because their taillights, interior lights, rear position lights, and license plate lights might not work. This is the second time some of these vehicles have been recalled. MORE ON SAFETY Safest New Cars of 2025, According to the IIHS. .We Answer Your Car Recall Questions. .Acura Recalls SUVs Over Brake Light Failure. The problem is due to a water leak that can t...
Posted:Wed Apr 23 11:25:05 EDT 2025