Each vehicle undergoes a comprehensive evaluation with over 300 assessments. In addition to performance and handling, our test considers safety and how easy a car is to use in everyday life.
Our overall score is made up of five performance categories. Each includes a large number of assessments. The key aspects are listed here.
Body
Workmanship
Assessment of all the components and if they add to usability
All-round visibility
Boot assessment
Ease of entry/exit.
Cabin
Takes into account the multimedia display and usability
Driver controls
Space in front and rear
Storage.
Comfort
Suspension
City/urban driving comfort
Seat comfort
Cabin noise
Aircon/heater performance.
Engine
Overtaking
Acceleration
Smoothness
Transmission.
Road behaviour
Stability
Avoidance
Steering
Brakes.
Range testing
Range testing is undertaken in simulated conditions and builds upon the standard Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) that all vehicles must undergo before being approved to be sold in the European Union. The limitation of the WLTP test is that it has more of a town-driving, stop/start bias and only has a short highway component.
The WLTP range isn't so useful for those that spend more time on NZ motorways and state highways. That's why our test has an extra highway element conducted at sustained high speeds. We use this to calculate the maximum expected range, which is the range you can expect to get with a fully charged battery and, for hybrids, a full fuel tank. As vehicle batteries age, the range tends to gradually shorten.
Our car test results are drawn from our European partners who perform independent testing on vehicles in Germany.
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