Where do car ratings come from?

Do you trust car ratings on the web? In this issue, we discuss their origins and how they can affect your perception of new and used cars.

Ratings can sway buyers, but understanding them can be overwhelming. So, if you love data, you’re in the right place.

We’d love to hear from you! Has there ever been a review that surprised you? Drop us a comment!

Key Takeaways

Don’t have much time? Here’s the summary of what we’re talking about:

• How car ratings vary: Car ratings vary widely across different platforms, with consumer-based reviews offering a "real-world" perspective, while expert reviews provide controlled, in-depth testing. Sites like Repair Pal focus on technical aspects such as repair costs, offering objective data on maintenance expenses.

• The Ford V10’s best years: though some people consider the Ford V10 an unreliable engine, it’s not the case with all years. However, you should avoid those from the mid-90s.

• If your car doesn’t start when parked on a hill, there could be several reasons. Here are the eight most common and how to fix them, starting with the battery and alternator.
  
  

KERN’S CORNER

Where do car ratings come from?

If you're an FWT reader, you will likely love surfing the web for the next car that piques your interest. However, you might have come across one problem.

Let’s explain with my daily driver, a 2016 Toyota Rav4, and its ratings. 

It's pretty consistent, right? The problem is it doesn't always happen. Here's another example, a 2012 Buick Enclave, and how ratings can change: 

There's a lot of variation in the Enclave's case. J.D. Power gives it an 82 out of 100, with an 86 in the reliability subcategory. However, Consumer Reports gives it 26 out of 100, making it one of the year's lowest-ranked cars. 

Ratings can vary even within the same website. Kelley Blue Book has two ratings, an Expert rating, and a Consumer rating, and the Enclave scored 3.8 and 4.4, respectively, a 16% difference in scoring. 

The list of varied ratings goes on and on. Such variations got us thinking: How do magazines and sites rate their cars? 

Sites such as Cars.com and Kelley Blue Book use a consumer-based review rating system, with a scale of 0 to 5, where 5 is the best and 0 is the worst. 

(BTW, the lowest-rated car I could find was the 2002 Land Rover Freelander, with a 2.7 out of 5, with 29 reviews. Yikes). 

Both sites rate comfort, interior, exterior, performance and reliability. For our 2012 Buick Enclave, both consumer-based ratings are the same, at 4.4. The Rav4 varies slightly, with Cars.com giving it a 4.7 and KBB a 4.4. 

Consumer-based reviews rely on owners. They are entirely voluntary because these sites don't pay consumers for their opinions. That's where the value lies: hundreds of people comment on their ownership with first-hand experience. 

I like them a lot, as they give you a "real-world" view. I would much rather trust a rating with 440 reviews than a standalone test from other sites. 

However, there are some drawbacks. Firstly, not all cars are there; some might have fewer reviews. The fewer reviews a vehicle has, the less normalized it is, and each review has more impact on the final score. 

Then, we can't avoid one thing: they're still opinions, such as this review on a 2019 Kia Forte:

"it will get me from point A to point B. need for fuel economy and purchase price not for what I really want in a vehicle. that is not to say it a bad vehicle just not what I like in a vehicle.(sic.)"

As you can see, there's nothing wrong with the car, but the buyer gave it a 3.0 out of 5. If you get enough of these, you might sway the score one way or another. That's why consumer-based reviews need a lot of thorough reading. 

Another prominent site is J.D. Power, a mix of both worlds. The first big difference is the scale, which goes from 0 to 100.

While the site is based on real owners' opinions, it uses controlled surveys and statistical analysis. However, as the site states, redesigns can be a challenge. 

(...)model redesign ratings should be used with caution. These vehicles have the latest styling, technology and other components, but are unproven in their first year and can be less reliable than their predecessor (...). 

J.D. Power recognizes that while its redesign rating is high, the vehicle could be unreliable. That's where expert-based reviews come in, which include magazines such as Consumer Reports, another 0-100 scale (only in certain aspects).

Many consider Consumer Reports as the go-to magazine for objective and impartial reviews. The company has its own testing track, with more than 50 tests, including everything from acceleration and handling to interior controls and how easy it is to fit a baby seat. 

You might not be as thorough in real life. After all, you don't do a Moose test every weekend, so much detail is valuable, but with caution. 

These tests happen in a controlled environment, which is hard to replicate in real life. Moreover, Consumer Reports rates new cars, which are more reliable than used cars. 

Consumer Reports also adds consumer perception and owner satisfaction, relying on its annual survey, which can sometimes have a smaller sample size.

Finally, sites like Repair Pal don't deal with comfort and features but rather a more focused approach to repair costs. Most of its ratings come from research on spare costs, repair prices, recalls, and a small part from reviews. 

Of all the sites, Repair Pal is the most technical but one of the most objective and the only one providing specific repair costs, if available. So, for the maintenance aspect, it's extremely valuable. 

So, what does this all mean for you, the consumer? It means that the more research you have, the better. We might prefer one site, but exploring other sources helps broaden our perspective. 

If you feel overwhelmed, you don't have to be! At Four Wheel Trends, we're working on our own scale, the FWT rating scale, which will consider all these variables and many more, such as repair costs and depreciation. 

With this scale, you will have a one-stop shop for all your needed ratings. More details are coming soon! In the meantime, check our review for the Toyota Rav4 years to buy and which to avoid! 

BEST AND WORST

What are the best years for Ford V10 engines?

It’s big, loud and powerful. There’s no matching the Ford V10 engine, but which is the best year?

Depending on who you ask, the Ford V10 might have a bad reputation, but it isn’t the case for all the years.

Our article dives into some myths and misconceptions surrounding this peculiar engine. It also explains which are the best years to buy!

TIPS AND KNOW-HOW

Your car won’t start when it’s parked on a hill? Here are eight reasons why it can happen!

The first time it happened to me, it baffled me. My car didn’t start when just minutes before, I had been driving with no issue. The only difference: I had parked on a hill?

This happens more often than people realize, and several possible causes exist. Fortunately, most of them are easy to fix.

Read more to find out what they are!

NEWSBITES

Every week, we scour the web for the most essential news. Here’s what you need to know this week:

• EVs are close to reaching price parity with gasoline counterparts. Here’s why.

• The Hertz chaos continues, and its CEO is gone

• Here are 20 excellent cheap cars!