The stars get stricter
If you've been reading our reviews lately, you may have noticed that we've been getting a bit stingier with the star ratings we give the cars. There's a reason for that. The other Guides and I realized that we were turning out a lot of four- and four-and-a-half star reviews. The fact is that most cars today are pretty good, and our ratings reflected that. That's nice for the car manufacturers, but not much help for readers who are trying to decide what to buy.
So we decided on a new standard for our star ratings. Here's how it goes:
- 1 star: Bottom of the barrel
- 2 stars: Eclipsed by most other vehicles in its segment
- 3 stars: About average in its class
- 4 stars: Stands well above its rivals
- 5 stars: Blows away the competition and sets new standards for its segment
In addition, the writers can assign half-stars at their discretion.
A good example of how it all works is my recent review of the 2007 Hyundai Tiburon. This is a fantastic little car, definitely the best Tiburon ever. It does everything you'd expect of a front-drive sports coupe, and then some; and the low price is a bonus. The way we used to do things, this'd be a four-and-a-half star car.
But let's look at the Tib in comparison to its rivals. Compared to cars like the Honda Civic Si coupe, VW GTI and Chevy Cobalt SS Supercharged, the Tib is superior in power and value-for-money, comparable in road manners and driver appeal, and lagging behind in fuel economy and interior design. It's a solid competitor, not streets ahead nor blocks behind. That makes it a three-star car. And I love the sheer impertinence of a Hyundai that can give the Civic Si and the VW GTI a run for their money. Ergo, three and a half stars.
I think the new star-rating system will make the reviews more meaningful and more enjoyable to both car buffs and car shoppers. As always, your suggestions and feedback are welcome; email me at cars.guide@about.com. -- Aaron Gold
I’d like to suggest that each tester also include the total length of time they had the car in their possesion and exactly how many miles/km they put on it.
Good idea – but like the JD Powers reviews, these are merely “initial” observations as to qualities “perceived”. Like Car & Driver,you could trash a vehicle for 40M miles and then assess the star count.
Nala — Generally the reviewers keep the cars for a week. Our mileage varies; personally I try to get 300 to 500 miles of driving in different conditions – city, curvy roads, and freeway – in each car.
Phildee – A week with a car can teach you a lot, though nowhere near what one can learn in 40,000 miles. Unfortunatey the automakers don’t have the budgets (nor do we have the time) to test every car for so many miles. Would if we had Car and Driver’s number of staffers, budget, or ability to get anything we want from the automakers, right away!