April Auto Issue by the numbers

Every year, the Consumer Reports packs as much survey and test data into the April Auto Issue as space and layout creativity allow. With a growing car market now seeing more than 250 models, and expansion of our reliability data to 10 years over 16 trouble spots, CR has fit more information in the magazine than ever.

For us, numbers are everything, whether behind the more than 50 tests conducted on each vehicle or the enormous subscriber response to  our Annual Survey. We thought it would be fun to look at the numbers related to the April issue and our test and survey programs:

0 - Number of models in the Mercedes-Benz lineup that are CR Recommended.
7 of 10 - Number of 2007 Top Picks claimed by Honda and Toyota.
4.2 - Quickest acceleration, in seconds, 0-60 mph (Dodge Viper SRT10).
11 - Problems per 100 for the 2006 model year, for Japanese and South Korean automakers in CR's Annual Survey.
11 - Lowest test overall mpg (Dodge Ram 1500 SLT, 5.7-liter V8).
16 - Problems per 100 for the 2006 model year, for U.S. automakers.
19 - Problems per 100 for 2006 model year, for European automakers.
23.2 - Slowest acceleration, 0-60 mph (Smart ForTwo).
44 - Highest test overall mpg (Toyota Prius).
54 - Recent standout models that have earned our top recommended Rating.
58 - Percentage of owners reporting brake problems on the 2004 Infiniti QX56, the highest problem rate of any trouble spot in our Survey.
81 - Highest average test score for automaker (Volkswagen/Audi).
255 - Number of vehicles CR has recently tested.
327 - Total acres for the dedicated Consumer Reports Auto Test Center.
2,200 - Models across 10 years that are covered the 2006 Annual Car Reliability Survey.
510,000 - Estimated number of miles we drove for 85 test vehicles in the past year.
1,302,575 - Vehicles that were reported on in the 2006 Annual Car Reliability Survey.
$2,849,349 - Amount of money CR spent to buy model-year 2006 test vehicles.

For more facts and figures, visit the 2007 April Autos Issue special section at ConsumerReports.org. 

--Jeff Bartlett