Magzter Gold (Sitewide AU)

Magzter Gold (Sitewide AU)

Digital Delivery

Consumer Reports March 1st, 2024 Digital Back Issue Cover

Consumer Reports March 2024 (Digital)

(1901)

Single Digital Issue

March 2024

$6.99

Powered By Zinio

Zinio

Satisfaction Guaranteed

Instant Start

Subscribe Instead

1 Year Subscription

12 digital issues

$24.00

($2.00/issue)

Go to Subscription

View Subscription Options

22 Articles

We deeply appreciate all of our donors who make contributions every year in addition to their membership. We want to publicly thank our philanthropic partners who committed $1,000 or more. JUNE 1, 2022 - MAY 31, 2023 $ 100,000+ Alfred P. Sloan Foundation • Estate of Connie C. Bracco • Breakthrough Energy • Estate of Margaret Brennan • Climate Imperative Foundation • Craig Newmark Philanthropies • Flourish Ventures’ donor advised fund at Silicon Valley Community Foundation • Ford Foundation • Estate of the Earl Wood Mitchell Trust • Omidyar Network • Panonica Foundation • U.S. Energy Foundation • Anonymous (3) $ 25,000 to $ 99,999 Kapor Center • Anki & Larry Gelb • Estate of the Hopkins Family Trust • Russell G. Noles • Robert Kurtzer “The Ultimate Consumer” • Don Fedor • Estate of…

ABOUT CONSUMER REPORTS

Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization founded in 1936 that works side by side with consumers to create a safe, fair, and transparent marketplace. To achieve our mission, we test thousands of products and services in our labs each year and survey hundreds of thousands of consumers about their experiences with products and services. We pay for all the products we rate. We don’t accept paid advertising. In addition to our rigorous research, investigative journalism, and consumer advocacy, we work with other organizations, including media, consumer groups, research and testing consortiums, and philanthropic partners. We also license our content and data, as well as work with business partners to offer shopping and other consumer services, and may receive fees from these programs. We maintain a strict separation between our commercial…

ABOUT CONSUMER REPORTS

Trust in Our Testing

CONSUMER REPORTS is committed to being your trusted source—the place you turn to for rigorous, unbiased testing and candid feedback from other consumers. We want to help you make smart decisions on the products and services that best suit your needs and help you extend the life of the products you’ve invested in. That’s why the mattress ratings you’ll find in this month’s cover story reflect not only our extensive lab testing—which includes running a 300-plus-pound wooden roller across each mattress 30,000 times to simulate years of use—but also honest feedback from CR members, who tell us all about the mattresses they’ve been sleeping on. “These Are the Cars Owners Love Most,” on page 50, presents a detailed look at satisfaction levels, based on data collected from the drivers of more than…

Trust in Our Testing

Building a Better World, Together

Dangerous Toy Alert A CR investigation last September exposed the dangers posed by water beads, small gel balls sold as toys for children to squeeze and play with. Water beads expand dramatically when soaked in water: Some are as tiny as a cupcake sprinkle but can grow to the size of a marble, while others are the size of a small grape and can grow as big as a golf ball. The problem is that the beads can find their way into the digestive tracts, ears, noses, and lungs of babies and toddlers, where they can contribute to hearing loss, infections, bowel obstructions, blocked airways, and even death. Following CR’s investigation, we urged retailers to stop selling water beads and supported federal legislation to ban their sale as toys. We also worked…

Building a Better World, Together

THANKS FOR YOUR ARTICLE about testing and treating household drinking water. This past year our well water tested positive for E. coli bacteria—and it tested positive again after we chlorinated the well. Our water treatment expert added an ultraviolet light to our existing whole-house water filter. Our water tested negative for E. coli and other bacteria after this installation. We also decided to test our water for lead, as a precaution, because our house was built before the regulation of lead pipes. We were told that if your water has a pH of 6 or higher, it means you do not have lead in your water. —Janis Richter, Rochelle, VA EDITOR’S NOTE Ultraviolet light can be an effective way to kill bacteria. One of our recommended countertop water filters, the Amway eSpring 10-0188,…

What We’re Testing in Our Labs …

Dishwashers WE TESTED: 94 models WE TEST FOR: How thoroughly it cleans dishes with baked on food and dries plastic items, its energy use, noise level, cycle time, and more. ABOUT THE SCORES: Median: 63 Range: 45-81 TOP PICK & QUIETEST Bosch Benchmark SHP9PCM5N (24-inch) $1,800 81 OVERALL SCORE EXCELLENT CLEANING RESULTS FOR LESS LG LDFC2423V (24-inch) $500 73 OVERALL SCORE FITS NARROW SPACES Whirlpool WDF518SAHM (18-inch) $960 70 OVERALL SCORE Dishwasher Detergent WE TESTED: 23 products WE TEST FOR: How well a detergent removes baked on food from glass dishes and resists water spots on glassware. ABOUT THE SCORES: Median: 75 Range: 47-92 FIGHTS GRIME & RESISTS WATER SPOTS Member’s Mark (Sam’s Club) Ultimate Clean Dishwasher Pacs 10¢ per load 92 OVERALL SCORE GREAT CLEANER BUT PRICEY Cascade Action Pacs with Dawn 22¢ per load 89 OVERALL SCORE MONEY-SAVER Great Value Dishwasher Gel (Walmart) 5¢ per load 74 OVERALL SCORE Carry-On Luggage WE TESTED: 9 models WE TEST FOR: The ease…

What We’re Testing in Our Labs …

Ask Our Experts

My car’s headlights look cloudy. Is this a problem? OVER TIME, car headlights can go from crystal clear to cloudy. “The yellow haze you see on headlights as they age happens when the polycarbonate coating on the lenses deteriorates, which can take place more quickly in locales where cars get a lot of sun,” says Jennifer Stockburger, director of operations at CR’s Auto Test Center. This is a safety issue because haze limits how much light is projected out onto the road. The good news is that you can often remove the haziness by using a headlight restoration kit, which can cost as little as $10 for a basic one. (New headlight housings can cost hundreds of dollars.) With these DIY kits, you sand down the damaged lens coating, then apply…

Ask Our Experts

IN THE KNOW Coffee Makers With Big Benefits COMBINATION MACHINES that brew both coffee and espresso are not exactly new. But now these multifunction coffee makers are common, and have even more skills. The Ninja Barista System, shown here, can brew a pot of drip coffee from grounds or a single cup from a pod, and has a built-in milk frother, too. All these bells and whistles don’t need to cost a lot: Many of these machines are less than $200 and also perform well in our brew tests. DO-IT-ALL BREWER Ninja Espresso & Coffee Barista System $200 Takes Nespresso-style pods or loose grounds. It makes drip, espresso, cappuccino, latte, and iced coffees. It also has a foldaway milk frother arm. 73 OVERALL SCORE PETITE (BUT PRICEY) SPECIALTY POD MACHINE Nespresso CitiZ EN267BAE $330 Takes pods for singleserve Americano,…

HONDA CR-V HYBRID SUVs Honda is recalling 106,030 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid SUVs because a wiring issue could cause a short circuit or fire during a crash if the car’s left front fender area is damaged. What to do: Registered owners of all affected vehicles will be contacted by mail and asked to take their vehicle to an authorized Honda dealer, who will replace the battery cable. Owners who have already paid for these repairs may be eligible for reimbursement. Contact Honda at 888-234-2138 for details. The NHTSA campaign number for this recall is 23V844, and Honda’s own code is FGB. BLENDJET BLENDERS BlendJet is recalling about 4.8 million BlendJet 2 portable blenders because they can overheat or catch fire, and the blender blades can break off, posing fire and laceration hazards. The blenders were…

The Best New Toaster Ovens From Our Tests

THE LATEST RATINGS FROM OUR LABS Breville The Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro BOV900BSSUSC $400 74 OVERALL SCORE WHAT IF YOU COULD whip up a quiche, cook a week’s worth of dinners, or bake treats for your next book club without turning on your oven? Toaster ovens have always made cooking easier, but the latest models are serious multitaskers, really streamlining your life in the kitchen. “The vast majority of the toaster ovens we tested last year can change the way you interact with your standard oven,” says Stacy Canova-Turner, CR’s market analyst for small kitchen appliances. Indeed, these next-gen models can stand in for your full-sized oven in almost every way—evenly roasting a pan of vegetables, broiling thin cuts of steak, baking chicken, and even turning out small sheet cakes or loaves of bread. They…

The Best New Toaster Ovens From Our Tests

Find a Mattress You’ll Love

I LOVE MY MATTRESS; really, I do. It cuddles my body without feeling like quicksand, and buoys me up without bouncing. And I can sit on the edge without sliding off. Because I love my mattress (more details on it later), I also love my sleep—which should be every mattress shopper’s goal. After all, a high-quality mattress helps you feel supported and cushioned, which, in turn, can help you wake up feeling refreshed and pain-free. Chances are, you can love your mattress, too. The key is to know how to shop for one, from entering a store with confidence to walking out with complete certainty that you found a mattress that’s a good price and that will last a long time. On these pages, I’ll share the scoop—with advice from Chris Regan,…

Find a Mattress You’ll Love

GET YOUR PHONE, LAPTOP, WIFI FIXED—FAST

Fixing Your Phone While most phones are reliable—and surprisingly durable, considering how much we handle them—they can develop problems. Batteries fade over time, granting you less power per charge. And screens may break when you drop the device. But it’s easy to find a repair shop with the tools and parts to fix those issues. TRY THIS FIRST You’ve probably heard this advice before, but it’s effective: If the phone simply stops working right, turn it off, wait a few minutes, and turn it on again. That clears memory, which can correct a lot of glitches. If the touchscreen has frozen and there’s no way to turn the device off, follow these steps. UNFREEZE AN IPHONE SCREEN: Press and release the volume up button, then the volume down button, and then press and…

GET YOUR PHONE, LAPTOP, WIFI FIXED—FAST

ARE THESE ‘HEALTHY’ DRINKS GOOD FOR YOU?

You’re walking past the beverage fridge at the store, and among the regular sodas, seltzers, and juices are drinks that are claimed to improve your health in all sorts of ways. This can mean easing stress, boosting immunity, or getting you energized or super-hydrated. Functional beverages—as the drink industry likes to refer to them—often contain ingredients that were once found only in supplements or herbal teas: probiotics, prebiotics, hibiscus, ashwagandha, “medicinal” mushrooms, and more. And they’re popular. These days, nearly 40 percent of adults seek out drinks with ingredients said to confer wellness, according to the research firm Packaged Facts. One possible reason: Consumers have “pill fatigue,” according to Howard Telford, senior industry manager for soft drinks research at Euromonitor International in Chicago. And beverages are seen as an easier, more enjoyable…

ARE THESE ‘HEALTHY’ DRINKS GOOD FOR YOU?

THE TRUTH ABOUT ENERGY AND SPORTS DRINKS

A BETTER CAFFEINE PICK-ME-UP? ON BEVERAGE labels, “energy” is a code word for caffeine. And this stimulant can make you feel more alert, says Tracey Brigman, RDN, a clinical associate nutrition professor at the University of Georgia. For healthy adults, sipping an energy drink in place of coffee or tea is probably fine, she says, but “you have to consider the caffeine in everything” you consume. (For context, energy drinks typically have 70 to 200 mg of caffeine in 12 ounces; an 8-ounce cup of coffee has 80 to 100 mg.) That’s because too much—the Food and Drug Administration considers 400 mg of caffeine a day an acceptable amount for most adults—can have negative effects. In a 2021 review of 32 studies, nearly 25 percent of adults who consumed energy drinks said…

THE TRUTH ABOUT ENERGY AND SPORTS DRINKS

7 HIDDEN FEES—AND HOW TO AVOID THEM

CALL IT FEE-FLATION: Americans are being slammed with hidden fees from almost every direction, forcing us to pay more for goods and services than we budgeted for. Fees lurk in our cable and mobile phone bills; are tacked onto airfares, hotel room rates, and car rentals; and are quietly levied on our checking accounts—to name just a handful. Individually, such fees can be modest and may not seem worth getting upset about. But together they add up: We spend more than $64 billion a year in junk fees, according to a White House analysis—more than $500 per household. To be sure, not all fees are a problem. What makes some junkier than others is that they should have been included in the advertised price—not sprung on you at the last minute. That’s especially…

7 HIDDEN FEES—AND HOW TO AVOID THEM

Toyota Tacoma The 2024 Toyota Tacoma is available in two-door extended cab and four-door crew cab configurations, with a choice of 5- and 6-foot beds; and rear- and four-wheel drive. Most versions are powered by a 278-hp, 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. A 326-hp, 2.4-liter turbocharged hybrid four-cylinder joins the line in spring 2024. CR’S TAKE The new Tacoma has a better driving position, an improved ride, a more comfortable interior, and peppier performance. Plus, it is quieter than the truck it replaces. BASE PRICE RANGE $31,500-$52,100 DESTINATION CHARGE $1,495 PRICE AS DRIVEN $53,990 ASK OUR EXPERTS How often do I need to wash road salt off my car? Road salt, or a liquid version of it, is used to melt snow and ice on roads across the U.S. If you drive on salted roads, your car may be…

These Are the Cars Owners Love Most

WHAT MAKES a car owner satisfied with their purchase, even after owning it for two, three, or five years? It’s simple: The car lives up to their expectations when it comes to performance, comfort, fuel economy, and other important attributes. Consumer Reports’ latest satisfaction survey reveals that all types of cars can rise to the top of the most-loved list. “Depending on the buyer, a satisfying vehicle might be a fun sports car, an efficient electric vehicle [EV], or a roomy SUV,” says Jake Fisher, CR’s senior director of auto testing. The cars with the lowest satisfaction scores are the models that don’t deliver on high gas mileage claims, for example, or “luxury” models that turn out to be loud, cramped, and less elegant than expected. How do we determine which cars are…

These Are the Cars Owners Love Most

Tops in Comfort, Storage, Fuel Economy

This year the EV automaker Rivian, with its R1S and R1T, takes Tesla’s former perch at the top of ourbrand satisfaction list. It’s joined by a number of other luxury automakers that are frequently found in the top 10, including BMW, Porsche, Tesla, Genesis, and Lexus, along with mainstream automakers Subaru, Ram, and Honda. The biggest move up the list came from Mini, which jumped 11 spots to number two. We’ve broken out our data to show which brands satisfy owners the most in specific areas, including comfort, driving, cabin storage, in-cabin experience and usability, and ownership cost. Use these lists to find out which brands score highly in the qualities you care about the most. Then focus your search on brands that did well—and skip those that did poorly. COMFORT Includes seat…

Tops in Comfort, Storage, Fuel Economy

Most and Least Satisfying Models in Their Class

These charts are designed to help you find the car likely to satisfy you most. Even cars that don’t rank high in overall satisfaction can excel in ways that matter to you, such as how comfortable they are or whether the infotainment system is easy to master. Similarly, some models with high satisfaction scores may still have specific issues that will make you want to pass. We asked owners to rate their satisfaction when considering their vehicle’s seat and cabin comfort, driving, cabin storage, in-cabin experience and usability, and ownership cost. Use their feedback and corresponding scores to identify models that fit your needs. HOW WE RATE SATISFACTION: Results are from the 2023 Annual Auto Surveys, involving more than 330,000 vehicles. Data from the 2021 to 2023 model years (plus a…

Most and Least Satisfying Models in Their Class

Cars That Are Really Fun to Drive

CR’S AUTO TEST TEAM LOVES CARS, but of the dozens they drive each year, the most memorable are the ones that are a treat to drive. “An agile car with quick acceleration and a satisfying sound can be a pleasure,” says Gabe Shenhar, associate director of CR’s Auto Test Center. “When it’s also reliable, fuel-efficient, and within your budget, it’s even more enjoyable.” And don’t make the mistake of thinking that only sporty performance cars can deliver excitement on the road: CR’s testers have found numerous sedans, luxury cars, and even small SUVs that can be entertaining. The models below are among those our experts say rank near the top in the fun department yet are also reliable, safe, and fuel-efficient. We provide a mix of new and used in several categories and…

Cars That Are Really Fun to Drive

MIDSIZED THREE-ROW SUVs Toyota Grand Highlander Big and Roomy With a Noisy Engine 80 OVERALL SCORE ROAD-TEST SCORE 81 HIGHS Comfortable ride, lots of passenger and cargo room LOWS Short on handling agility, noisy engine POWERTRAIN 265-hp, 2.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine; 8-speed automatic transmission; all-wheel drive FUEL 22 mpg on regular PRICE $43,070-$58,125 base price + $1,395 destination charge Total MSRP as tested $49,457 ADDING 6 INCHES of length to the Highlander puts Toyota in a more competitive position within the midsized threerow SUV class. We found the Grand Highlander to be comfortable and roomy, with a legit third-row seat, bountiful cargo space, and the same 22 mpg overall as the regular Highlander. But its engine lacks refinement, and the interior is short on luxury touches buyers might expect. Press hard on the gas pedal and the turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivers…

The Better Deal

SUVs THE LOWDOWN THE REDESIGNED BMW X1 has more power, efficiency, and interior room than previous generations. But it’s pricey—and costs a lot to gas up (it takes only premium). The Mazda CX-50 has similar handling and a bit more interior space. Even the well-equipped CX-50 Premium Plus we tested ($38,620) significantly undercuts the X1’s as-tested price ($46,495). What’s more, both predicted reliability and owner satisfaction scores are higher for the CX-50. WAFFLE MAKERS THE LOWDOWN IF YOU REALLY LOVE WAFFLES, the top-rated $250 Breville may be for you. It aced all of our tests, turning out evenly cooked waffles with the exact level of doneness you want. Its exterior stays cool to the touch, and the Breville makes four large squares at once. But it does take up a lot of space. For over…

The Better Deal

In This Issue

Description

Details

Reviews

Recent Digital Issues Browse all

Recent Consumer Reports Digital Issues Browse all back issues

Consumer Reports (Digital) Subscription August 1st, 2024 Issue

Consumer Reports (Digital) August 2024: $6.99

Consumer Reports (Digital) Subscription July 1st, 2024 Issue

Consumer Reports (Digital) July 2024: $6.99

Consumer Reports (Digital) Subscription May 1st, 2024 Issue

Consumer Reports (Digital) May/June 2024: $6.99

Consumer Reports (Digital) Subscription April 1st, 2024 Issue

Consumer Reports (Digital) April 2024: $6.99

Consumer Reports (Digital) Subscription April 1st, 2025 Issue

Consumer Reports (Digital) April 2025: $6.99

Consumer Reports (Digital) Subscription March 1st, 2025 Issue

Consumer Reports (Digital) March 2025: $6.99

Consumer Reports (Digital) Subscription January 1st, 2025 Issue

Consumer Reports (Digital) January/February 2025: $6.99

Consumer Reports (Digital) Subscription November 1st, 2024 Issue

Consumer Reports (Digital) November/December 2024: $6.99

Consumer Reports (Digital) Subscription October 1st, 2024 Issue

Consumer Reports (Digital) October 2024: $6.99

Consumer Reports (Digital) Subscription September 1st, 2024 Issue

Consumer Reports (Digital) September 2024: $6.99

Consumer Reports (Digital) Subscription August 1st, 2024 Issue

Consumer Reports (Digital) August 2024: $6.99

Consumer Reports (Digital) Subscription July 1st, 2024 Issue

Consumer Reports (Digital) July 2024: $6.99

Consumer Reports (Digital) Subscription May 1st, 2024 Issue

Consumer Reports (Digital) May/June 2024: $6.99

Consumer Reports (Digital) Subscription April 1st, 2024 Issue

Consumer Reports (Digital) April 2024: $6.99

Consumer Reports (Digital) Subscription April 1st, 2025 Issue

Consumer Reports (Digital) April 2025: $6.99

Consumer Reports (Digital) Subscription March 1st, 2025 Issue

Consumer Reports (Digital) March 2025: $6.99

Consumer Reports (Digital) Subscription January 1st, 2025 Issue

Consumer Reports (Digital) January/February 2025: $6.99

Consumer Reports (Digital) Subscription November 1st, 2024 Issue

Consumer Reports (Digital) November/December 2024: $6.99

Customers Also Viewed

Consumer Reports Magazine (Digital) Subscription April 1st, 2025 Issue

Consumer Reports Magazine (Digital)

(1901)

12 Issues: $24.00 ~~$83.88~~

Reviews

1,559

203

83

32

24

Previous

123456...191

Next

Ask a Question

Click stars to rate

Please select a rating for the review.

Please enter title for the review.

Please enter content for the review.

Please enter order number.

Please enter your first name and last name.

Only letters allowed for first name and last name.

Please enter your email.

Cancel Submit

Processing...

Thank you for your feedback! Your review has been submitted and will be published soon.

OK

Be the first to ask a question about this product

Please enter content for the question.

Please enter at least 10 characters.

Your question can not be more than 150 characters.

Please enter your first name and last name.

Only letters allowed for first name and last name.

Please enter your email.

Submit Processing...

Thank you for your question! Your question has been submitted and will be published soon.

Answer this question

Please enter content for the answer.

Please enter at least 10 characters.

Please enter your first name and last name.

Only letters allowed for first name and last name.

Please enter your email.

Submit Cancel Processing...

Thank you for your answer! Your answer has been submitted and will be published soon.

OK

×