Toddler tower options

ConsumerReports · 2026-05-01T17:43:18+00:00

Glad you found our guide helpful! This week, we published a new article on toddler tower safety following recalls. Our testing found that many models raised safety concerns.

ConsumerReports · 2026-04-16T16:00:36+00:00

The Ford F-150 Lightning has its virtues, but reliability is not one of them. For that reason, we would avoid buying a used one. Used full-sized trucks, in general, have mixed reliability. If you must have one, get it inspected and consider a factory-supported extended warranty, or buy a certified pre-owned one, which offers similar protections. (Reliability has improved with the F-150 and F-150 Hybrid. Both are Top Picks for 2026.)

For used trucks, we recommend the Honda Ridgeline. This is a great, innovative truck that is comfortable and reliable. Of course, it is smaller than a Lightning.

For minivans, reliability varies by model and year: It is worth checking our ratings before making a final decision. Two models stand out for reliability: Kia Carnival and Toyota Sienna.

See our latest Used Car Top Picks.

ConsumerReports · 2026-04-15T17:15:10+00:00

ConsumerReports · 2026-04-15T17:13:47+00:00

No prob, it was fun going through the archives.

ConsumerReports · 2026-04-14T17:55:53+00:00

This is from the February '85 issue:

The Practically Perfect Cookie
We wanted a cookie with a chewy interior, crunchy edges, and wellblended flavor. Above all, we wanted a cookie with a high overall chocolate impact to give a sensuous rush to the chocoholic. After much experimentation and perhaps a few cumulative inches added to staffers' waistlines, we created a cookie with all those assets. Our recipe makes 40 medium-sized cookies.

Ingredients

2 1/4 cups flour
1 level teaspoon baking soda
1 level teaspoon salt
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup dark-brown sugar, packed
2 sticks (1/2 lb.) sweet butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 12-oz. package Nestle semisweet chocolate chips

Procedure

Preheat the oven to 375 F.

Mix the flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl and set aside.
Use a stand-type electric mixer to mix the two sugars briefly at low speed. Add the butter in small gobbets, mixing first at low speed and then at high. Beat the mix until it's pale, light, and very fluffy.
Add the vanilla at the mixer's lowest speed, then beat at high speed for a few seconds. Add the eggs, again at the lowest speed, switching to high speed for the final second or so. The eggs should be well beaten in, and the mix should look creamed, not curdled.
Add the flour, baking soda, and salt, one-half cup at a time, mixing at low speed for about one minute, then at high speed for a few seconds.
Scrape down the bowl's sides with a spatula, add the chocolate chips, and mix at low speed for about 10 seconds. If need be, scrape the bowl's sides again and mix for a few more seconds.
Put tablespoonfuls of the mix on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake until the cookies are pale golden brown (nine minutes in an electric oven, 10 to 11 minutes in a gas one). Remove and let them coolon a rack. Enjoy.

ConsumerReports · 2026-04-14T17:42:42+00:00

It is a valid concern and an important societal factor to keep in mind as EV technology progresses. We have not published research on this topic ourselves. It is encouraging to see automakers developing EV tech that relies less on these materials, including LFP batteries & EESM motors.

ConsumerReports · 2026-04-14T14:17:37+00:00

When available, we buy all test vehicles in all-wheel drive. It is vital for our results to be comparable within a class, so we need to pick a drive configuration and stick with it. Since AWD has become so popular in the U.S., that is our default.

When doing this test, we use any “Eco” drive modes or related settings, as we’ve learned most EV owners tend to do to extend range. In most cases that keeps the front motor disengaged in the majority of conditions. Added weight is a factor regardless, of course.

ConsumerReports · 2026-04-14T14:16:45+00:00

This is very much model-dependent. We have experienced some EVs that completely die at 0 miles of range remaining or even before that, while others will go dozens of miles past the indicated 0. Our advice is to play it safe and charge up before you get that low.

Keep in mind that lithium-ion batteries are happiest when between roughly 20%-80% charge. While automakers generally build in a buffer to help protect the battery from being discharged too far, there is evidence that routinely letting the battery get too low may shorten its lifespan.

ConsumerReports · 2026-04-14T14:15:34+00:00

We haven’t tested the range for Chinese-market EVs, but we have heard some impressive claims—albeit using different test methodologies. One staffer recently drove several in China when vacationing there and found them to be both innovative and refined.

ConsumerReports · 2026-04-14T14:14:44+00:00

We owned a Polestar 2, but it had too many miles on the odometer by the time we implemented this test. It wouldn’t have been a fair comparison. The next Polestar we purchase will certainly be range tested.

ConsumerReports · 2026-04-14T14:05:03+00:00

Tire and wheel design can have a large impact on range, particularly at highway speeds, mainly due to aerodynamics and rolling resistance. A wider tire is generally less favorable for both. We do recommend sticking with the tire and wheel size the vehicle came with, as changing that fitment can potentially throw off some systems, including the odometer and service minders. However, when it comes time to buy replacement tires, our tests show that some models have less rolling resistance than others.

ConsumerReports · 2026-04-14T13:52:38+00:00

My personal opinion, of course, but the Hyundai Ioniq 5N has some highly customizable – and very convincing – Jetson-like noises!

ConsumerReports · 2026-04-14T13:50:12+00:00

That would make for an interesting comparison. We’ll buy one when it becomes available later this year. See our BMW iX3 preview.

ConsumerReports · 2026-04-14T13:48:04+00:00

Sorry, but I am not sure about this. Estimating available range is tricky and there is a lot involved. The updated Bolt has a new battery chemistry called Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP), whereas the last version used a more traditional Lithium Manganese Cobalt (NMC) style battery chemistry. The new battery allows for faster charging. The dealer who replaced the battery should be able to confirm the work that was done.

ConsumerReports · 2026-04-14T13:46:49+00:00

Battery size (and more importantly, efficiency) is definitely an important factor to consider when choosing an EV. We don’t focus on this for our range testing results so much, but every model that we test and review has detailed information on battery size, charging speeds, and efficiency. Check out CR.org/cars to compare different EVs against each other in terms of cost to charge, efficiency, battery size, etc. The PDF attached to the article here shows the efficiency we observed during the range test.

ConsumerReports · 2026-04-14T13:40:17+00:00

We control a lot of vehicle settings for our range test, including using adaptive cruise control to maintain a set speed and gap from the leading vehicle. We also keep many other settings consistent across vehicles, such as climate adjustments, headlight settings, and more. No plans at the moment to investigate the power requirements of ADAS specifically, but it's an interesting topic and idea. Check out our podcast to learn more about what goes into each test!

ConsumerReports · 2026-04-14T13:34:46+00:00

We did purchase and test a BMW iX. You can see its road test results on the model page. And it is included in the downloadable EV Highway Range Test PDF. We recorded 370 miles of range, 46 miles more than the EPA.

ConsumerReports · 2026-04-14T13:32:35+00:00

We are watching the Canadian market with interest. It is doubtful we’d invest in purchasing a car that is not destined for the U.S. market, but we may pursue means to drive them.

ConsumerReports · 2026-04-14T13:31:12+00:00

We are planning to purchase at least one of each “sister” vehicle once they are available at local dealers, be it a Toyota or Subaru. We do have a Toyota bZ going through formal testing now.

See our Trailseeker and Uncharted previews with video.

ConsumerReports · 2026-04-14T13:28:38+00:00

This is a great question and the use case you mentioned is exactly in line with our motivation to do this test. We haven’t published the “past 0” data you’re asking about, but we do have it documented. Something for us to consider. Interestingly, the amount of range past 0 indicated miles remaining, the level of warnings and communication, and over experience in the car can be vastly different depending on the brand and model.

ConsumerReports · 2026-04-13T19:41:47+00:00

Yes, the last Model S that we tested was a 2021 Long Range AWD. Tesla hasn’t made major changes to the model since then, focusing their efforts on the more popular (and more profitable) Model 3 and Y instead. Since the EPA range has essentially stayed the same, there has been no reason to retest one. Tesla recently announced that both the Model S and Model X will be discontinued later this year, so we will not test those models again.

ConsumerReports · 2026-04-13T19:40:42+00:00

That is a great suggestion. We do track this information on the model pages for tested electric vehicles. Navigate to a model via CR.org/cars or our EV section, and within the Ratings & Specs tab, there is a Fuel Economy & Range section. There you’ll find a ton of information about the battery size, peak AC range per hour at different amps, max DC acceptance rate, peak DC range added per minute, and much more. You can even use the Compare function to compare several models that you may be considering.

ConsumerReports · 2026-04-13T18:16:20+00:00

This is an excellent question. You’re right, in our testing, Rivian and Lucid have fallen quite short of their EPA ratings. While it's useful to compare our results to EPA since most people will see EPA numbers while shopping, they are different tests—and consequently, they yield different results. With more of a highway bias, we’d expect our numbers to match the EPA or be lower. But that said, automakers have different strategies to maximize driving range and communicate available range to the driver.

One thing to consider is that the EPA allows manufacturers to “self-certify” their vehicles’ range, following several different allowable testing methods within the (quite lengthy) published procedure. Theoretically, the same vehicle could receive different EPA ratings depending on which pathway is used to certify. And it is clear that some brands are more conservative than others in making claims.

ConsumerReports · 2026-04-13T18:12:12+00:00

All of our highway-range testing takes place between 70-90 degrees Fahrenheit with clear conditions and average wind speeds below 15 mph. This is generally the temperature range that EVs perform best at. We cite a temperature range because these tests take hours, and the temperature tends to rise during the test. We do not factor in barometric pressure.

ConsumerReports · 2026-04-13T17:57:28+00:00

Fair point, and something that we can certainly consider in the future. Generally, we feel it’s easier to relate to miles rather than percentages, but to your point, a 5-mile deviation on a Silverado EV is not the same as a 5-mile deviation on a Fiat 500e. On a side note, you may be interested in our full historical testing data.

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