TECHNOLOGY and MEDIA

GM wins over ConsumerReports with magic

The 2014 Chevrolet Impala has just received the golden stamp of approval by ConsumerReports which rated it a 95 and the overall top sedan for 2014 – the first time a North American vehicle has won this top spot in over 20 years .

(See ConsumerReports magazine, New Car Ratings & Reviews 2014 Models, December 2013 issue, page p. 15 right sidebar top, 73, and http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2013/07/2014-chevrolet-impala-highest-scoring-sedan-consumer-reports/index.htm and http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2013/08/top-10-vehicle-redesigns/index.htm

Meanwhile, the Buick LaCrosse is rated as a mere 78 points by the magazine in the same category.  (See above CR magazine,  page 67 or above, second website article.)

How there is such a huge difference in ratings is surprising, since the Impala and the LaCrosse use the same chassis and most components and engines.  The Impala has always been a less pricy if slightly longer version of its upscale twin from Buick -- called the Century (1997 to 2005), and now LaCrosse.

The Impala, with 4 inches of extra trunk length and capacity (beloved by taxis), weighs 40 lbs more and gets only 18/28 mpg EPA compared to the LaCrosse’s OUTSTANDING  EPA of 25/36 mpg as listed by ConsumerReport, pages 73 and 67.

Up front leg room is a CR (p. 42 chart) complaint against the LaCross, and as according to GM’s spec. sheets, the LaCrosse has 4.3 inches less front legroom (at 40.5 inches) and  2 inches less front headroom than the Impala. 

These differences would be an issue for only big and tall drivers, and possibly an asset to smaller and especially Chinese drivers which Buick targets.  All other front and rear specs.of the two vehicles are essentially identical.

Furthermore,  as the Washington Post Business review notes, that 40.5 inches is more room than many other large sedans, and the vehicle comes with FOLD-DOWN REAR SEATS giving it a huge trunk carrying option. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2014-buick-lacrosse-refreshed-with-styling-and-luxury-features/2013/10/02/f672aa80-2b7e-11e3-b141-298f46539716_story.htm]
{Yes, the 2014 Impala rear seats also fold down.}

So why such a huge difference in ratings?

The same ‘slight of hand magic’ applies to the Chevy Malibu and Buick clone Regal.  Except that the  Malibu  has a 2 inch longer trunk, all other specifications are identical and the mpg figures are very, very close, but the Malibu gets a rating of 89 and the Regal a mere 79.  (CR magazine, pages 74 and 67.)

So what gives, again?

 

PS: The 2014 Car and Drive magazine review of the LaCrosse was glowing.  See

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2014-buick-lacrosse-first-drive-review-drive-it-like-you-borrowed-it-page-2.