As you can see, Consumers Union has from its beginning placed a high priority on safety. Today, drivers rely on our monthly magazine more than any other publication to provide them with unbiased information on a car's performance, safety, value, and reliability. Every year, our auto engineers review manufacturer specs for the new model year before deciding which new models to test and which existing models warrant retest. We shop around and bargain for the best price, just like consumers do. Our staff at the auto test division break in the cars with several thousands miles of everyday driving, then tune the cars to manufacturers' specs and put the cars through formal tests at our auto track and test facility in Connecticut.
Safety is a major theme of the tests.
A vehicle's ability to avoid a crash is one of the most important attributes we measure. Acceleration, braking and emergency handling are tested. A car that handles well communicates information about the road surface and lets you swerve around obstacles without undue drama. Braking tests tell us how quickly and straight the vehicle can stop, wet or dry. Drivers should be able to reach and use controls without taking their eyes off the road.