Consumer Reports crash tests May 2005: Our Analysis



Yep, it's that time again---Consumer Reports is out with their latest crash test ratings in their May 2005 issue. Read it here.

As usual, there are some questions about the results and, unfortunately, some confusion over CR's work. Here are some headlines:

• Combi Avatar and the Evenflo PortAbout 5 Premier were singled out for poor performance. (See earlier blog entry on the Avatar).

• Britax seats continued to score well, with the Companion infant seat earning top honors and the Roundabout coming in second for convertible seats.

Yet, we are troubled by inconsistencies with Consumer Reports testing---often the very same seat has scored very differently from year to year. Some examples:

1. The Safety 1st Designer 22 car seat (22-325) was given "very good" scores for ease of use in the 2005 report. Yet the same seat (trust us, it hasn't changed) was rated only "fair" in ease of use for 2004. Huh? The same seat earned "excellent" marks for crash protection with a LATCH belt in 2005, yet only "very good" ratings in 2004.

2. Similar confusion reins for the Baby Trend Latch Loc Adjustable Back. It earned "very good" crash test ratings in 2005, up from only "good" ratings for crash protection with LATCH in 2004 (and "excellent" for crash protection with belt in 2004). Same seat, different results?

3. Most puzzling was the Combi Tyro, which earned EXCELLENT crash protection with LATCH in 2004. Yet in 2005 the very same seat earns only average (good) marks for LATCH. Combi confirms the seat has not changed at all. Did CR change the test?

Unfortunately, we don't know. Consumer Reports is tight-lipped about HOW they crash test seats, with only vague comments that "all seats are tested . . . at least once." A bit more transparency (perhaps CR could post more detail on their web site?) would help parents decipher these ratings.

For convertible seats, we noted similar inconsistencies with the Graco ComfortSport. In 2004, it received "very good" ratings for crash protection with belts with an infant dummy. The same seat in 2005 scores only "good".

And while CR is entitled to its opinion, we have to strongly disagree about "ease of use" ratings for the Evenflo Triumph and Cosco Alpha Omega. In our research, both seats score poorly with parents on that very subject. That's why our ratings of those seats have been lower in recent years.

So, that's our take. As usual, CR does valuable work on behalf of consumers. Yet a bit more honesty and openness on HOW they crash test seats (as well as an explanation of inconsistent results) would go a long way toward helping parents pick the best seat for their child.

Posted: Tue - April 12, 2005 at 05:23 PM          

©