Consumer Reports tests speed vs MPG & comes to false conclusion about Honda Insight 2

[Frank Lee]

^ Agreed. Totally.

[vtec-e]

The thing about places like Consumer Report is that they regulate the mass movement of people from inefficient cars to efficient cars (and other things). If all fronts of the media came out and told us that the insight was the best thing since sliced bread then we'd more or less all go out and buy one. That would leave the oil producers in serious trouble. And we can't have that now can we?
So what they do is appeal to the sheep in society to keep driving what they are and keep driving the way they are. "Don't hypermile, it' dangerous" they'll say. And the sheep will follow.
We are in a minority and i fear will continue to be, due to the power of the media.
My 2 cent....

ollie

[Jammer]

Disagree. Totally.

I do not feel the people at that magazine really care about what they call a winner or loser, and I do not feel they care what is good or bad for people or the environment. I have my suspicions as to what REALLY motivates them, but I will not accuse them of what I can not prove.

$$$$$$ (oops, stuck key!)

[orange4boy]

I'm going to stand up for Consumer Reports. They are not perfect but they are much better than nothing. Just because a product they panned works fine for you does not prove they are wrong about their ratings. Not every panned product fails, not every car is totally unreliable or reliable for that matter.

Claiming that their motivation is money is silly considering they don't sell advertising.

They ain't perfect but they are better than the paid infomercials that pass for reviews in many other publications.

[Frank Lee]

I maintain that at best they aren't much better than nothing and at worst they are worse than nothing.

[Clev]

Hey Metro.

Looking at the chart, I must reach the conclusion that at some speed, the Yaris will actually get better mileage than the Insight. (The lines are converging.) Now, granted this will happen at probably 100 mph (if the Yaris can even reach that speed).

[Old Tele man]

...what "bothers" me about Consumers' Report is their touted reputation for being "...accurate & fair..." -- fair (or fare?) depends upon your 'hidden agendas' and whether you're good (or bad) about disguising them...accurate (vs. valid?) is truly debatable given such poor articles as this one (Insight-II).

...and, sadly, too many consumers simply assume "...if CR said it's good, it must be true!" So much, for 'consumer' UN-peer reviewed publications.

...bad science? bad mathematics? bad writing? or bad editing? Regardless of the reason, it's still bad!

[tjts1]

In this case the DATA they generated is probably accurate and useful. The headline grabbing conclusion they printed is misleading.

[Old Mechanic]

Moral to the story, if you are going to drive 75MPH all the time, buy a Yaris, if you want to get there cheap.

regards
Mech

[Tweety]

Well, considering the Insight is still beating the Yaris by 2.5 mpg at 75 Mph I'd say nope... I'd still pick the Insight...