5 Products on Deep Discount in March

5 Products on Deep Discount in March You might think that because you faithfully compare prices online before buying, dutifully download coupons to your phone, and vigilantly watch for deep discounts on yesterday’s inventory as new models appear in stores, you’re getting the best deals you possibly can. Still, for some products, deep discounts go by the calendar. Consumer Reports product research experts, who track prices all year long, have compiled a list of items that are typically discounted most deeply in March.  Price Cuts on Boxed Chocolates It’s not every day that our expert tasters find themselves saying things like “smooth melt, "milky and caramelized,” “amazing,” “artistic-looking,” “sophisticated,” and “ultra-smooth.” But those are exactly the words they used to describe some of the excellent chocolate bars and boxed chocolates in our Ratings. Use our chocolates buying guide to discover which flavors, textures, and other characteristics are most important to consider. We’ve found boxed chocolates can be very different. Among the more traditional choices are Candinas and La Maison du Chocolat. People willing to try new tastes might like Christopher Elbow, Vosges, and Xocolatti. Whatever your choice, enjoy it soon: Prices often drop between Valentine’s Day and Easter. And the shelf life of most candy is 10 days to two weeks. Shopping tips Shipping is expensive. For the candy in our Ratings, standard overnight or one-day shipping to New York added from about $17 to $45 to the total cost. Note that we ordered in the summer, when shipping costs can be higher than they are in winter.  Nutrition pluses and minuses. Eating a little dark chocolate occasionally might be healthful, as some research links it to lower blood pressure and certain other health benefits. But as with all good things, moderation is key: The tested chocolates that reveal nutrition information have about 200 calories and 8 to 17 grams of fat per 1.4-ounce serving. Digital Camera Discounts Whether you’re looking for a basic digital camera (simple point-and-shoots with just the features you need for routine shots), or an advanced model (feature-laden and sophisticated cameras that let you change lenses), now is a good time to shop. Our digital camera buying guide and Ratings give you the details on different models, as well as information on features and brands. Shopping tips Do your research. Buying a digital camera can be confusing. There are hundreds of models available at many different types of retail outlets (online and in traditional stores), with prices ranging from $75 to several thousand. Some cameras are small enough to fit in a shirt pocket. Others are large and can weigh up to two pounds. Some are easy to use. Others look like you need an engineering degree to operate them. Take the next steps. After you consider the type of camera you want and the number of megapixels you need, but before you dive into specific models, be sure to check out our brand profiles, which outline many of the most popular camera product lines and their particular character traits. Deals on Ellipticals The moving hand grips and adjustable resistance on an elliptical machine allow you to turn this cardiovascular exercise into a full-body workout.   Shopping tips Consider your workout intensity. The more expensive ellipticals in our Ratings tend to feel more solid, operate more smoothly, and have more features than the under-$1,000 models. You might also get superior ergonomics, a wider range of features, and a more generous warranty. Beware of trials. A “30-day money-back guarantee” sounds good, but returning the product might not be easy. Some of the machines are heavy or bulky or both, and you might have to pay for return shipping, which could cost $90 or more. Before signing up for a trial, verify with the company the proper return address and how soon you can expect a refund if you send the device back. A scan of online complaints about home fitness equipment revealed that problems with returns, including lack of a valid return address or exorbitant shipping charges, were commonly reported. Whether you want to shop online or purchase a machine from the store, be sure to try it out in person first. You might notice a problem that you couldn’t detect by sight or reviews alone. For more shopping tips and product information, check our elliptical buying guide. Sales on Humidifiers A humidifier can relieve itchy eyes, sore throat, and cracked skin by adding moisture to dry, heated air.   Shopping tips Before you buy, check the features. A humidistat—if it’s accurate—can help you maintain relative humidity between the optimal levels of 30 to 50 percent. Put substance over style. Models resembling a radio, say, can liven up your decor but their output might be too low for the area you need to humidify. Some humidifiers with a touch of whimsy, however—like an owl model from Crane—also delivered on performance. Check our humidifier buying guide for more tips on finding the right model in our Ratings. To learn how we test humidifiers in our labs, watch the video below. Treadmills A piece of home exercise equipment can be a pricey purchase, as our tests of treadmills show. Our top-rated nonfolding treadmill costs a cool $3,800. Spending that much can get you sturdier construction, better hardware, and more features. But you can get a decent machine that provides a great workout for less than a third of that price. Shopping tips Consider the size. Most treadmills are about 6.5 feet x 3 feet. Folding treadmills are about half the length when folded. Don’t assume that because you buy a folding treadmill you’ll actually fold and stow it. If that feature is important, try folding the machine before buying to see how easy it is to do and whether folding makes it easier to store. You’ll also need adequate space in the open position—about two feet on each side and the back—to get on and off safely. Think about assembly. A treadmill can weigh up to 400 pounds, so ask about delivery and check whether assembly is included or available at an additional cost. It might be worth it if you’re not particularly deft with a toolbox. It generally takes our experienced engineers about 1 to 2 hours to put together a treadmill, depending on the number of steps. Lifting heavy parts, applying grease, and working on your knees are part of the process. Some of the steps require two people. Our treadmill Ratings include dozens of models that we evaluated on construction, ease of use, ergonomics, exercise range, and safety. Our treadmill buying guide has information on different types and brands, features to look for, and other shopping tips.  Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2016 Consumers Union of U.S.

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Tech Terms Decoded

Tech Terms Decoded No matter what else they build, consumer electronics companies seem to be prolific manufacturers of jargon. And if you’re shopping for anything from speakers to TVs to phones this year, you’re going to run into a lot of it. That’s why we’ve pulled together some of the most important tech terms for consumers to know in 2016. Some are new, while others have been kicking around for the past couple of years but are now making their way into more products—and into more ads, packaging, and sales pitches from store clerks. While some of these terms apply to great technologies that you may really like, others may not live up to the hype—at least not yet. One thing that’s fairly predictable: If a product has a lot of jargon attached to it, it’s probably accompanied by a high price tag. High Dynamic Range (HDR) In both still photography and video, HDR refers to imaging technologies that try to bring out the details in scenes where there’s a wide range of bright and dark elements. Often, the optimal settings for presenting or capturing objects in bright light obscure what’s happening in the shadows, and vice-versa. HDR has been a feature on cameras (including smartphone cameras) for about five years, but now you’ll be seeing the term applied to quite a number of new televisions, as well. In a still camera, HDR solves the exposure problem by shooting quick photos at various exposures and then forming a composite from the best parts of all of them. When it works well, every part of the image looks vivid and detailed—though in some cases the photos can appear a bit surreal or even fake. You can turn HDR off if you don’t like it, and some newer cameras from Sony and others allow you to adjust the intensity of the HDR effect. In a TV, HDR is all about increasing the range between the darkest and brightest elements within an image. The result is a dramatic, lifelike picture, with brighter whites and deeper blacks that really pop off the screen. The key reason that HDR in TVs has lagged behind HDR in still cameras is that the shows have to be shot and broadcast or streamed in HDR, and televisions have to be built to read and display that signal. It took awhile for TV manufacturers to settle on a technical standard that all of those players will adhere to. Now that appears to be happening, and any HDR TV will follow something called the SMPTE standard. (Some will also support a second standard called Dolby Vision.) These HDR televisions will be on the market starting in March, along with HDR content from the major studios. But HDR in TVs will actually have more jargon attached to it—“Ultra HD Premium” sets promise to take full advantage of the technology, while other sets will only be “HDR-capable.” And televisions will still vary in picture quality for lots of reasons that go beyond their dynamic range. Of course, sorting out those performance differences is our job. Stay tuned for test results on the first sets with HDR, which should be available soon. 4K or Ultra HD Back in 2013, 4K or Ultra HD televisions were a high-priced, new-tech, man-cave indulgence. Today they’ve gone mainstream and will probably make up about one-third of the TVs sold in 2016. You can find quite a few of these TVs in our Ratings for under $1,000 and even some for as little as $500, though they’re still not as cheap as plain old 1080p HDTVs. Are they worth the extra bucks? That depends on several factors. On the spec sheet, UHD TVs are quite impressive. They have four times as many pixels (about 8 million) than already-sharp HDTVs. Specifically, an Ultra HD TV has 3,840 pixels horizontally and 2,160 pixels vertically, compared to 1080p TV’s resolution of 1,920 x 1,080. With all of those extra pixels, even the smallest details are visible—the finest strands of hair and the subtle texture of a cotton shirt, for example. To the naked eye, the jump from regular HD to Ultra HD isn’t as dramatic as the change from standard definition to HD. In fact, you’re probably not going to appreciate 4K resolution unless you’re looking at a 4K content on a model with a screen that’s at least 65 inches measured diagonally, or you’re sitting quite close to the TV. Also, there isn’t much 4K content available right now, although Netflix, Amazon, DirecTV, and other content providers will be offering more 4K viewing options later in 2016. And new Ultra HD Blu-ray discs and players are starting to roll out. So, is it time to buy one of these new sets? If you’re a casual television observer shopping for a set with a screen 50 inches or smaller, you’ll save a lot and miss little by going with an HDTV. But if you’re a serious sports fan or movie buff, or plan to use your TV as a part-time computer monitor, an Ultra HD TV is the way to go. And if you can wait a few months, prices are sure to drop. There’s also another reason to consider a UHD TV: Many of them will also feature HDR. Hi-Res Sound If 4K TV has a linguistic counterpart in audio, it’s something called hi-res (aka “high-def”) sound. And you’re probably going to come across this tech term a lot in 2016: Apple Music is rumored to be adding a high-res music streaming option in the spring. Most music you download or stream comes in the form of MP3 or AAC files, and the data has been compressed to make it easier to store and download. Both file formats use “lossy” compression, meaning bits of data—presumably those you’ll miss least—are removed. The more data that’s taken away, the smaller the file becomes, but the likelihood grows that the sound will be noticeably degraded. The alternative is hi-res, “lossless” compressed file formats, such as ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec) and FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec). These maintain all of the original information, so when a song is uncompressed it should sound exactly the same as the source material. The downside is that these files can more than 10 to 15 times the size of AAC and MP3 files (say, 150MB for a FLAC song vs. 12MB for the MP3 or ACC version). To enjoy hi-res audio, you’ll need a compatible player, such as the $300 Sony NWZ-A17Hi-Res Walkman or the HTC One M9 smartphone, along with premium headphones. And you’ll pay a lot more for the music, which you can download from websites including Acoustic Sounds, HDtracks, and Pono Music. Expect to pay about $20 to $25 for an album, compared with $10 for a typical iTunes or Amazon Digital Music album. So is it worth it? In our testing, Consumer Reports audio engineers could sometimes hear a bit more detail and clarity in hi-res files than in CD-quality and AAC audio files, especially when the music was played through great equipment, such as a pair of $300 Grado Prestige SR325e headphones. But hi-res audio is probably not worth the splurge for casual listeners who store music on a portable service and listen through average gear. qHD (quad High Definition) Smartphones, like TVs, have been undergoing their own resolution revolution for several years. The first smartphones with true high-definition (1920 x 1080) displays appeared in 2011. Initially, HD was a tech term that applied only to Android smartphones, but the other phone platforms, including Apple, have since caught on. The advantages of an HD smartphone display over lower-res ones are obvious. Details in photos and videos become more noticeable while text on webpages and documents look crisper and are easier to read. In the fall of 2014, the screens of some flagship smartphones from LG and Samsung became significantly more refined, boasting a resolution 1440 x 2560 (about 500 or pixels per inch, or ppi, depending on the phones display size). These new displays, designated qHD, are often confused with the displays of 4K televisions, though they’re not quite as sharp. The “quad” part of the term comes from the fact the qHD screen has four times as many pixels as a 1280 x 720 (720P) display. You’d think that a qHD display would mean sharper, eye-popping pictures and more detail. But in our tests, we found that most users don’t notice those extra pixels in everyday use, partly because even the largest phones have relatively small displays. What’s more noticeable—and not it a good way—is when a phone has a very low resolution. Our advice: Choose a model with a screen resolution of at least 720p (also expressed as 300ppi).  Augmented Reality (AR) Virtual Reality is a big buzzword for 2016, with products such at the Google Cardboad and the long-awaited Oculus Rift headset receiving lots of attention in the media. But the VR has a close relative, known as augmented reality, and it’s a toss-up as to which technology will matter more to the average consumer in the coming years. Here’s the difference: Virtual reality is similar to what you see in the movie The Matrix—the user is immersed in a digitally created environment (though no Matrix-style brain implant is involved, at least not yet). As you turn your head, you gaze at a complete world that seems to exist in all directions. Augmented Reality (AR), on the other hand, is a real-world view with data overlays. An example would be the backup displays on many cars, which add overlays showing your direction of travel to assist with parallel parking. Google Glass, which was withdrawn from the market in January 2015, was an augmented reality product—one that annoyed more people than it attracted. Now Microsoft is developing an AR headset called the HoloLens, and the company has shown how it could be used for practical purposes, such as viewing a 3D model at your kitchen table, or allowing you to fight off aliens that seem to emerge from your living room wall. Because AR is tied to the real world, it avoids problems such as the motion sickness and vertigo sometimes associated with VR headsets. But it remains to be seen whether it will become a technology that has appeal for people in their everyday lives. USB Type-C In 2016, you’re going to see a growing number of smartphones, tablets, and computers with a new type of connector: USB Type-C. This new cable has a multitude of advantages over the micro USB connectors commonly found on computers and smartphones that aren’t iPhones. First, just like the Lightning connector on an iPhone, USB-C connectors can be inserted into the phone no matter which way you hold it; there is no “wrong-side up.” That eliminates the fumbling and squinting that has become a ritual on phones that use micro USB cables. But here’s how Type-C is better than the iPhone’s Lightning connector. Type-C has a potentially much larger transfer rate—up to 10 gigabits per second (Gbps)—versus Lightning’s speed limit of about 4 Gbps. That should mean nearly instant transfers for the mega-size photos and HD videos produced by today’s high-resolution smartphone cameras. What’s more, USB Type-C supports bi-directional power. That means your phone will receive a charge while it’s transmitting files to a compatible TV, printer, or other accessory over the same cable. The bad news: Once your new phone has this connector, you’ll need to buy a whole bunch of Type-C adapters to connect them to your old PCs and accessories. Also, there have been reports of some aftermarket cables damaging electronics—we expect the issue to be resolved quickly. Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2016 Consumers Union of U.S.

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Meet the Toughest Car Critics in America

Meet the Toughest Car Critics in America Giving consumers the most thorough product information requires expertise and experience. No other publication has a facility like ours, in Colchester, Conn. Our staff of 30 engineers, editors, statisticians, and support staff put vehicles, tires, and child safety seats through rigorous testing year-round. We buy all of the products we test—rather than borrow them from manufacturers—so we can remain independent in our evaluations. Our team also churns through reams of survey data to bring you the detailed reliability, safety, and owner satisfaction insights you need to buy your next vehicle. What makes our auto testing unique? We spent about $2.6 million on cars last year. We buy all of our tested cars and don’t rely on freebies or on exotic press junkets paid for by automakers. We shop like you shop. We buy cars anonymously, at dealerships. Reviewers for other publications often base their judgments on loaners hand-picked by manufacturers. We drive. And drive some more. Our tested vehicles are each driven thousands of miles over several months. At many other publications, reviews are often based on just a day or week of seat time. We’re test crazy. Every vehicle undergoes more than 50 tests, including evaluations for braking, accident avoidance, fuel economy, and acceleration. We’re unbought and unbossed. We take no advertising of any kind, so we have no one to please but you. Which is why … We tell it like it is. Lots of magazines will list their top cars of the year. We’re the lone voice that will also reveal the clunkers, junkers, and rip-offs. We can tell the future. This is what no one else can do: We can predict how reliable your new car will be based on our exclusive surveys that cover more than a million ownership experiences per year, as reported by our subscribers. We sum it up in a single Overall Score. Combining road test, reliability, safety, and owner satisfaction into a single rating helps consumers quickly see how models compare. Learn more about how we test cars. Consumer Reports Auto Test Center Road-Test Course Our 1.2-mile handling circuit consists of long straightaways and sweeping curves designed to challenge a vehicle’s acceleration, braking, and cornering capabilities. We evaluate ride comfort on our private course, which has the kind of potholes, undulations, and drainage grates that drivers encounter every day. We judge the illumination distance and intensity of headlights on moonless nights. Inside Jobs Our Auto Test Center is about more than just cars; buildings on our campus house various other testing programs. We buy and stock over 500 tires each year for evaluation. Hundreds of child seats are tested for fit and ergonomics. And we use our professional photo and video studio to share our findings. Vehicle Dynamics This 100,000-square-foot area is where our engineers and technicians conduct braking and handling tests for tires under wet conditions. Our facilities staff prepares the surfaces so we can evaluate tire resistance to hydroplaning. Through the trees on the right, we have constructed a steep rock hill to see how four-wheel-drive vehicles handle tough terrain. “You can get a lot more for less with a reliable used car.” —Jake Fisher, director of auto testing, evaluates and rates every vehicle we test. “Even for the shortest trips, make sure everyone is safely buckled in.” —Jennifer Stockburger, the test center’s director of operations, oversees our tests of child seats and car-safety systems. “Check the pressure in your tires—including the spare—once a month.” —Gene Petersen, who manages our tire program, has more than 35 years of experience leaving rubber on the road as a professional tester. “Always have your vehicle and pricing data in hand when you’re ready to shop at a dealership.” —Anita Lam, our auto program’s data manager, analyzes our Annual Auto Survey and oversees all of the data generated by our vehicle testing.  Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2016 Consumers Union of U.S.

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Best New Cars Under $25,000

Best New Cars Under $25,000 On a budget but need a new car? Have we got some low-cost winners for you. Our roster of the best new cars under $25,000 features high-performing vehicles that won’t dash all of your dollars to bits. These models are proof positive that you don’t have to spend a mint to get performance, safety, fuel economy, or reliability. In fact, all are recommended by Consumer Reports, meaning they did well in our testing, haven’t failed any crash tests, and have at least average predicted reliability. Cars are listed here by category with prices for versions with an automatic transmission, unless otherwise noted. Subcompact Cars Chevrolet Sonic LT (1.8-liter, $18,420) The Sonic is fairly quick and quiet for the class. It handles responsively, although the steering is a bit darty. The standard 1.8-liter four-cylinder performs well but doesn’t sound that polished. A modestly quicker and thriftier turbo four-cylinder is offered on the uplevel version. The sedan has a huge trunk and better visibility, but the hatchback has better cargo versatility. Both have a tight rear seat. Crash-test results are impressive for a subcompact. The infotainment touch-screen system is infuriating, with a convoluted menu and slow response time. Advanced safety features such as forward-collision alert, lane-departure warning, and a backup camera are available. Read the complete Chevrolet Sonic road test. Honda Fit EX ($19,435) The Fit hatchback has always been an appealing urban runabout. Thanks to its clever multi-configurable seating, the Fit delivers versatility similar to a small SUV. The Fit gets great fuel economy at 33 mpg overall. But that comes with excessive noise when the continuously variable transmission keeps the engine at high revs. Handling is responsive, but the Fit has a stiff ride. On top of that, the cabin is loud, making the Fit unfit for long drives. Opting for the EX brings a sunroof and paddle shifters, while the EX-L includes heated leather seats. The button-free touch-screen radio on EX and higher trims is a constant frustration, and the seats and driving position aren’t very comfortable. Reliability of the redesign has been average. Read the complete Honda Fit road test. Nissan Versa Note SV ($18,420) This little subcompact offers amazing space and versatility. It’s also quieter and more relaxed to drive than most competitors. Its tall stance and wide doors make it easy to maneuver, park, and hop into and out of. The rear seat is roomy, and the ride feels comfortable and relaxed. Handling is more responsive than the Versa sedan’s. Our main gripes are its awkward driving position, squishy front seats, and lack of interior storage. The continuously variable transmission can magnify coarse engine noise when accelerating, but its 31 mpg overall is respectable. Updates include standard Bluetooth, available heated seats, and new interior refinements. Reliability has been well above average. Read the complete Nissan Versa Note road test. Scion iA ($17,570) Scion’s first four-door sedan is actually built by Mazda. It’s based on the new Mazda2 (not yet sold in the U.S.) and is powered by a 106-hp, 1.5-liter four-cylinder hooked up to either a six-speed manual or automatic. In our testing we got 35 mpg overall with the automatic. The iA proves to be quite pleasant for a subcompact with nimble handling and semi-decent interior decor. It also comes with a standard low-speed pre-collision system that uses a laser sensor to help the driver avoid collisions. A backup camera is standard. Inside, the iA gets steering-wheel controls for the audio, a 7-inch center screen display controlled via a center knob, just like in current Mazda models. A navigation system is a dealer-installed option. Read the complete Scion iA road test. Compact Cars Honda Civic LX ($20,275) Redesigned for 2016, the Civic has been significantly improved, and is now a more substantial, refined, and capable car than the previous model. The base engine is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder; a 1.5-liter turbo four-cylinder comes on EX-T and Touring versions. The continuously variable transmission works well with the turbo. The ride is more comfortable, handling is precise, and the quieter interior has a lot more storage space. However, the car’s low stance means difficulty getting in and out. In addition, the front seats lack adjustable lumbar, which could cause discomfort on a long drive. Advanced safety features are available, but a full blind-spot monitoring system is not offered. EX trims and above have a complicated radio. Read the complete Honda Civic road test. Kia Soul Plus ($24,750) There is more to the boxy Soul than quirky styling. Count on abundant interior space, with chairlike seats and big windows providing an excellent view out. Though fundamentally a budget hatchback, the Soul can be an SUV alternative, functionality-wise. The driving experience isn’t special: The ride is stiff, and handling is sound but unexceptional. Power delivery from the 2.0-liter four-cylinder feels just adequate, and its 26 mpg overall is not outstanding. An extensive options list includes heated seats, touch-screen navigation, and a backup camera. An electric version is available on the West Coast and in some Northeast states. Available features for 2016 include forward-collision and lane-departure warning systems. Read the complete Kia Soul road test. Mazda3 i Touring (2.0-liter, $21,740) Whether as a sedan or hatchback, the Mazda3 is fun to drive, thanks to its perky handling. At 33 mpg, the Mazda3 is the most fuel-efficient compact that isn’t a hybrid or a diesel. It also offers a host of luxury features rarely matched by any other compact car, including a multimedia system with a large center screen and active safety features like a blind-spot monitoring system. On the downside, the car tends to be loud on the highway, and ride comfort isn’t stellar. The infotainment system controls can be daunting at first and take a while to master, and the Toyota Corolla and Volkswagen Jetta have roomier rear seats. Read the complete Mazda3 road test. Subaru Impreza Premium ($21,345) The well-rounded Impreza is among our top-scoring compacts. The ride is very absorbent and controlled. Handling is responsive and secure. Acceleration is adequate, and fuel economy of 27 mpg overall for the sedan is excellent given the standard AWD. The hatchback gets 26 mpg overall and has a handy-sized cargo area. A freshening improved isolation from road and wind noise. The infotainment system has been updated and now includes a handy touch screen. The interior is spacious for the class, controls are straightforward, and visibility is good. Crash-test results are excellent, and Subaru’s EyeSight suite of advanced safety gear is available. A redesign comes in late 2016. Read the complete Subaru Impreza road test. Midsized Sedans Honda Accord LX (4-cylinder, $24,820) The Accord is well-equipped, competitively priced, and performs well, making it one of our top-rated family sedans. It handles responsively, though the ride can be choppy. It has a roomy and well-finished interior, and gets 30 mpg overall with its mostly unobtrusive continuously variable transmission. The 3.5-liter V6 is lively and refined, and returns a very good 26 mpg overall. EX, EX-L, and Touring trims have an unintuitive-to-use infotainment system. Read the complete Honda Accord road test. Mazda6 Sport ($23,590) Sporty yet sparing with fuel, the Mazda6’s 2.5-liter four-cylinder delivered 32 mpg overall in our tests, the best fuel economy among conventional midsized sedans. The six-speed automatic is very smooth and delivers quick shifts. We found the 6 to be capable in the corners. The ride is taut and steady but on the firm side, and the cabin is rather loud for the class, with considerable wind noise on the highway. For the 2016 model year, the car receives a mild freshening that includes a new dash, and a center display screen that is operated via a central knob on the console, which takes some getting used to. A head-up display is optional. Read the complete Mazda6 road test. Subaru Legacy 2.5i Premium ($24,837) The Legacy is one of the roomier, quieter, and more refined midsized sedans—attributes that help it become one of our top-scoring vehicles in the class. Its ride is better than some luxury cars, and handling is sound and secure. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder is no rocket, but it gets the job done and returns 26 mpg overall. The unobtrusive CVT behaves much like a conventional automatic. The infotainment system includes an easy-to-use touch screen with Internet radio and Bluetooth. A rear camera is standard. Advanced safety gear like blind-spot monitoring and the EyeSight safety suite, including forward-collision warning with automatic braking, is optional. Read the complete Subaru Legacy road test. Toyota Camry LE (4-cylinder, $23,905) If you’re looking for smooth, dependable transportation that skews toward comfort and convenience, the Camry delivers what you need. Interior appointments have been upgraded and center dashboard controls simplified. Suspension changes made the already comfortable ride steadier, and further isolated noise. Handling is sound and secure. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder delivers ample, unobtrusive power and returned a competitive 28 mpg overall in our tests. The long history of solid reliability and high owner satisfaction scores is another asset. Read the complete Toyota Camry road test. Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2016 Consumers Union of U.S.

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