The New Consumer Reports Safety Assessment Helps Drivers Compare Vehicle Performance

YONKERS, N.Y.--March 14, 2001--

The CR Safety Assessment provides overall ratings by vehicle type, along with individual ratings for accident avoidance and crash protection

Consumer Reports(R) unveils its new automotive Safety Assessment--a tool designed to help consumers make better-informed buying decisions about the comparative safety of vehicles--in its Annual April Auto Issue. The CR Safety Assessment pulls together data from performance tests and crash tests from three different sources--the Consumer Reports Auto Test Facility, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)--and combines it to rank vehicles by category from safer models to less safe ones. The CR Safety Assessment includes only vehicles for which Consumer Reports has recent CR test data and recent crash-test results. A total of 79 vehicles are covered. "The CR Safety Assessment provides an easier way for car-buyers who want to compare vehicle safety performance," said David Champion, director of Consumer Reports Auto Test Facility in East Haddam, Connecticut. "While there's no test that can assess or guarantee a motorist's safety in all situations, drivers can improve their chances by picking vehicles with better performance in key safety tests. This is where the CR Safety Assessment can be a helpful consumer yardstick." The full report will be available in the free section of Consumer Reports Online at www.ConsumerReports.org - you can access it from the "Auto Hub" or from the auto safety area. Consumer Reports Annual April Auto Issue, which includes profiles of more than 200 new vehicles and much more, goes on sale everywhere beginning March 20. There are many good performers in the CR Safety Assessment. Among the top-ranked models in each of the eight categories, the vehicles below are listed in terms of their respective scores, with the top-ranked vehicle listed first:

-- Family Cars: 2000 Volkswagen Passat GLS V6, 2000 Chevrolet Impala LS, 2000 Toyota Camry LE V6. -- Small Cars: 2000 Volkswagen Golf TDI, 2001 Honda Civic EX, 1999 Volkswagen Jetta GLS. -- Upscale & Large Cars: 1999 Volvo S80 2.9, 2000 Lincoln LS V6, 2000 Toyota Avalon, XLS. -- Minivans: 2001 Honda Odyssey EX, 2001 Toyota Sienna LE, 2001 Ford Windstar SE Sport. -- Small SUVs: 2001 Subaru Forester S, 1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara JLX+, 2000 Honda CR-V EX. -- Midsized SUVs: 2000 Mercedes-Benz ML430, 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited V8, 2000 Nissan Xterra SE V6. -- Pickups: 1999 Ford F-150 XLT 5.4, 1998 Ford Ranger XLT 4.0, 1998 Mazda B4000 SE.

"With today's safety technology and range of choices on the market, there's no reason to accept a vehicle that doesn't perform well in all safety areas," said Consumer Reports' Senior Vice President and Technical Director Dr. R. David Pittle. A person's actual experience, of course, will depend on where and how the vehicle is driven, which varies from individual to individual. The CR Safety Assessment, as well as the accident-avoidance and crash-protection scores, represent the magazine's best judgement and opinion in assessing the safety advantages in a vehicle's design. They are measures of vehicle performance and do not include other factors that can affect driving safety including driver behavior, road conditions, weather, and the actions of other motorists. Neither the crash-protection rating nor the overall safety-assessment score should be used to compare vehicles from different weight groups. They are intended for comparisons within the vehicle categories only. In addition, despite Consumers Union's longstanding requests to NHTSA, the agency has not yet adopted a dynamic method for quantifying a vehicle's rollover propensity. Therefore, a rollover score is not factored into this assessment. Consumer Reports has the most comprehensive auto-test program of any consumer publication in the United States. Unlike other publications, the magazine buys all the cars, trucks, and SUVs that it tests in the retail market and typically evaluates the vehicles for several months. Experienced auto engineers conduct 46 individual tests, ranging from emergency handling, acceleration, and braking, to fuel economy and bumper-impact tests. Throughout the process, accident avoidance is among Consumer Reports' primary concerns. Consumer Reports Online's new Auto Hub debuts in conjunction with the April issue at www.ConsumerReports.org. The April Auto Issue will be available March 20 wherever magazines are sold and will remain on sale until June 20. To subscribe to Consumer Reports, call 1-800-234-1645. Information and articles from the magazine can be accessed online at www.ConsumerReports.org.

HOW CONSUMER REPORTS TESTS CARS:

-- WE BUY all cars we test from dealers, just as consumers do.

-- WE TEST all cars at our own auto test track and on public roads, for performance, convenience, and comfort, with safety in mind.

-- WE SURVEY all our subscribers to provide information on auto reliability, dealer satisfaction, and more.

-- WE ACCEPT NO ADS. Nor do we allow the use of our reports or Ratings for commercial purposes.

The material above is intended for legitimate news entities only; it may not be used for commercial or promotional purposes. Consumer Reports(R) is published by Consumers Union, an independent, nonprofit testing and information-gathering organization, serving only the consumer. We are a comprehensive source of unbiased advice about products and services, personal finance, health, nutrition, and other consumer concerns. Since 1936, our mission has been to test products, inform the public, and protect consumers.

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CONTACT: Consumers Union Douglas Love, (914) 378-2437 lovedo@consumer.org or Jennifer Shecter, (914) 378-2402 shecje@consumer.org