HOW WE TEST
ROAD TEST SCORING
CAR’S road-test section is one of the pillars of the magazine. That’s always been the case, and that’s why we take them seriously. We score each test vehicle out of 100 points, but that’s only the end result of a strenuous process.
Every member of the 10-strong road test team drives each vehicle before completing a detailed scoring sheet that compares the subject vehicle with its main rivals. The scoring sheet includes the following criteria: ride, packaging, comfort, performance, dynamics, fuel efficiency and value for money. The weighting of each category is modified according to the class in which the test vehicle belongs. For example, a supercar is scored more strenuously on performance than fuel consumption, while scoring for a budget vehicle will be the other way round. Each test team members’ score out of 100 is added up and averaged to reach the final score you see in the magazine and so provide a balanced opinion.
What the above does not reveal is the lengthy arguments in the CAR office about test cars before we go to print each month.
CLAIMED vs. REAL FUEL CONSUMPTION
CAR recognises the conservatism of manufacturers’ claimed fuel-consumption figures and therefore adds 20% (then called the CAR fuel index) to be more representative of real-world driving conditions.
Our road tests further feature a fuel-route figure where the test car is driven on a realworld cycle of about 100 km that includes city and extra-urban sections. We recently revised the test route to be even more accurate. The same driver is used and vehicles are tested under similar traffic conditions.
BOOT MEASUREMENT
We use ISO blocks to measure the luggage and utility capacities of test vehicles. Our measurement figures are calculated by adding up the number of eight-litre blocks, each of which is shaped like a large brick, that we can fit in test units. We first stack the blocks into the boot to the top (up to the luggage shelf for a hatchback). Then we fold the rear seats down and stack the blocks to the ends of the vehicle’s front seats and up the roof to calculate the total utility space.
If the rear seat slides, we do additional readings and, for seven- or eight-seaters, we fold down both rear rows to work out the maximum utility volumes.