Consumer Reports: Chevy Imapal tops 'large sedan' category.

I think it might be because of a categorization difference. That CNN article says:

Only two cars now score better than the Impala: the electrically powered Tesla Model S, which is classified as a hatchback by Consumer Reports...

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(emphasis mine)

So to CR, the S is a hatchback, not a sedan it seems...

The Model S is categorized as a hatchback, not a sedan.

"The influential consumer magazine said the redesigned 2014 Impala was not only
the top large sedan, with a score of 95 of a possible 100 points, but also among
the top-rated vehicles it has tested. Only Tesla's Model S hatchback (99 points)
and BMW's 135i coupe (97) scored higher."

To clarify, Consumer Reports divides sedans into four categories: Family, Upscale, Large, and Luxury. There is no separate category for hatchbacks, in spite of what CNN/Money says.

The Impala is at the top of the Upscale category and the Model S at the top of the Luxury category. The opening sentence of the article should have read... "the best new sedan the magazine has tested in the upscale category."

Both cars did well. Why the angst?

montgom626 said:

Both cars did well. Why the angst?

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The CNN article was misleading, especially the opening line, given that the Model S was deemed the best car CS ever tested.

ToddRLockwood said:

The CNN article was misleading, especially the opening line, given that the Model S was deemed the best car CS ever tested.

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The press is always misleading.

There's nothing misleading about it. CR counts Tesla as a hatchback. Therefore, Impala is the best sedan.



Anyway, for the patriotic brag we get to say this: Two of the best three cars on earth are American cars. Booyah!!!

And Tesla fan or not, one has to be impressed with the culture change at GM. They really are racking up the awards. They did really well in the JD Power Initial Quality Survey with two nameplates in the Top 5, and 8 segment notices. They just won 4 JD Power APEAL Awards. And the Cadillac ATS is picking up awards left and right. Then you add this recognition, and they've got to be feeling great.

As much as I like Tesla, I still like seeing other American automobile companies do well too. And maybe one day, twenty years in the future, following in Tesla's footprints they'll put out an Impala with a 500 mile range.

Interesting, because Tesla considers it a sedan......

Robert1969 said:

There's nothing misleading about it. CR counts Tesla as a hatchback. Therefore, Impala is the best sedan.

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No. ToddRLockwood already provided the correct answer:

Model S is in the Luxury Sedans category (with the Jaguar XF that was also part of this batch of tests with a score of 79), while the Impala is in the Upscale Sedans category.

Robert1969 said:

There's nothing misleading about it. CR counts Tesla as a hatchback. Therefore, Impala is the best sedan.



Anyway, for the patriotic brag we get to say this: Two of the best three cars on earth are American cars. Booyah!!!

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More accurately: Two of the best three cars on earth as judged by an American magazine are American cars. Booyah!!!

The "best" car varies by marketplace. In India, the Tata Nano might be judged to be one of the best cars, in China the same might be true of some car with a long wheel-base. In Europe, the most recent "best car of the year" award went to the VW Golf.

It's not surprising that car companies tend to make cars intended for the domestic market, and then try to sell them elsewhere, so naturally it is not unusual for awards to go to car companies based in the same region as the organisation handing out the award.

That said, I think the Model S deserves the acclaim it has received, it is a truly revolutionary car. I don't know about the Impala, though, as far as I know it isn't sold in Europe. It seems like a niche car for the US market.

They are also not counted in the same year? Impala is new, Model S is old news. (seen the stock prices lately)

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Yggdrasill said:

That said, I think the Model S deserves the acclaim it has received, it is a truly revolutionary car. I don't know about the Impala, though, as far as I know it isn't sold in Europe. It seems like a niche car for the US market.

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GM does not do niches, billions in tooling costs (vs .5 billion for Model S) does not lend itself to a niche!

jeffhre said:

GM does not do niches, billions in tooling costs (vs .5 billion for Model S) does not lend itself to a niche!

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You say that like GM makes all the right choices and hasn't been bankrupt and bailed out by numerous countries around the world.

Let's see, GM will be delivering a niche Spark EV... so niche, that it will have a DC charge port with no place to plug in.

TonyWilliams said:

Let's see, GM will be delivering a niche Spark EV... so niche, that it will have a DC charge port with no place to plug in.

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If it's a CHAdeMO plug, there's one a couple of miles from where I live and others scattered about Ontario as well. Having said that, I'm not sure if the Spark EV is even coming to Canada or whether it's just a California compliance vehicle. It does also have a J1772 though.

What to do?

My New car is a Model S.
My other (older) car is a BMW 135i.

Consumer Reports #1 and #2.
Guess I traded up?
:smile: