Tabla de contenidos para November 2022 en Consumer Reports

GROWING UP, my brothers and I spent hours in our wood-paneled basement racing slot cars on our electrified racetrack. I drove a white convertible against my brothers’ blue Corvette Stingray and apple-red Jaguar. I never thought we might all be driving real electric vehicles one day, but that future now seems likely. Rapid advancements in technology, combined with growing consumer interest and favorable government incentives, have reshaped the EV landscape. A recent nationally representative CR survey found, for example, that more than a third of Americans would at least seriously consider buying or leasing an electric only vehicle today. And the percentage who say they are “definitely” planning to buy an EV has more than tripled since 2020. That’s for good reason: On top of environmental benefits, a CR analysis…

Winter Tire Deals WE TESTED: 24 models WE TEST FOR: How well tires can brake on ice, how much traction tires have in the snow, road noise, ride comfort, and more. ABOUT THE SCORES: Median: 67 Range: 54-73 EXCELLENT ON ICY ROADS Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 $131 73 OVERALL SCORE SMART CHOICE FOR TRUCKS Nexen Winguard Winspike WS62 $127 72 OVERALL SCORE SMOOTH RIDE AT A NICE PRICE Hankook Winter I*cept iZ2 $113 69 OVERALL SCORE Electric Toothbrushes WE TESTED: 17 models WE TEST FOR: How well brushes clean teeth, how long a battery charge lasts, ease of charging, noise during use, and more. ABOUT THE SCORES: Median: 64 Range: 49-83 BEST OVERALL & QUIETEST Oral-B iO 7 Series $200 83 OVERALL SCORE TOP-NOTCH CLEANING FOR LESS Brüush Electric $95 79…

4 MOMS BABY SWINGS AND BABY ROCKERS 4moms is recalling about 2 million MamaRoo baby swings versions 1.0 through 4.0 and 220,000 RockaRoo baby rockers because when the swing or rocker is not in use, the restraint straps can dangle below the seat and crawling infants can become entangled in the straps, posing a strangulation hazard. The swings and rockers were sold at Buy Buy Baby and Target stores nationwide and online at 4moms.com and Amazon from January 2010 through August 2022 for $160 to $250. What to do: Immediately stop using the swing or rocker and place it in an area that your infant cannot access. Call 4moms at 877-870-7390 or go to 4moms.com and click on “Safety & Recall” for details and to register for a free strap…

CHECK FOR CONTAMINANTS TESTING FOR SOME hidden hazards, such as asbestos in your floor tiles, can require hiring a professional. Others, including radon gas in your basement and lead in paint, can be detected through test kits that are available online or in a hardware store. (CR has not recently tested such kits, but examples are shown below.) And everyone should have carbon monoxide detectors. See at right for models that perform well in CR’s tests. PAINT LEAD TEST KITS 3M LeadCheck Kit $40 (8 tests) D-Lead Paint Test Kit $42 (7 tests) CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS (INTERCONNECTED) First Alert OneLink SCO501CN $42 91 OVERALL SCORE First Alert OneLink CO511B $40 89 OVERALL SCORE RADON TEST First Alert Radon Gas Test Kit (RD1) $16 C0 DETECTOR (STAND-ALONE) First Alert CO615 $35…

Even though I write about money for a living, my wife and I still need help managing our finances. So we’ve been working with Arthur, a certified financial planner, to make sure we don’t overspend and to help us reach our financial goals, which include paying off our house, helping our son pay for college and, eventually, settling into a comfortable retirement. Many people probably think they don’t need or can’t afford a financial planner. We were once among them. But it turns out a planner doesn’t have to cost a lot. In fact, we feel that Arthur’s counsel has been well worth the modest amount of money we’re paying him. And in some intangible ways, it has been invaluable. Here’s what our financial planner did to set us on…

IT’S EASY TO take your car battery for granted—until you try to start your engine and it won’t turn over. Heat is harder on batteries than cold, so drivers in southern and southwestern states should have a mechanic test their battery annually after it’s two years old. Others should have their battery tested annually after four years. The results will tell you when it’s time for a new one. Letting a battery drain down from lack of use can shorten its life. Keep your battery healthy and extend its life by using a battery maintainer if you don’t drive regularly. These affordable devices (prices start at about $20) plug into an outlet and connect to the battery to keep it fully charged. Below are the top-performing and bestvalue batteries from CR’s…

THE LATEST RATINGS FROM OUR LABS FRIGIDAIRE FFIC3626TB COOKTOP $705 93 OVERALL SCORE A MERICANS ARE TAKING some time to embrace induction appliances. According to CR’s June 2022 nationally representative survey of 2,103 U.S. adults, almost 70 percent of people said they might or would consider induction for their next range or cooktop, but only 3 percent currently have an induction appliance in their kitchen. That may be because in the past, induction ranges were far pricier than radiant electric smoothtops. And while switching from a traditional electric range to an induction one only requires plugging in the new appliance, switching from a gas range can mean higher installation fees. The good news is that prices have fallen considerably—some induction cooktops now cost around $1,000. And the recently passed Inflation…

Cheese is rich and creamy, irresistible on a cracker, paired with a selection of fresh fruit, or sprinkled over a bowl of chili. There are many delicious reasons to love cheese, and Americans really do love it. The per capita consumption is 40 pounds a year, or a little over 1.5 ounces a day. But as much as we love cheese, we’re a little afraid of it. When people talk about their fondness for cheese, it’s often in a guilty, confessional way, like “Cheese is my weakness.” But “cheese is packed with nutrients like protein, calcium, and phosphorus, and can serve a healthy purpose in the diet,” says Lisa Young, RD, an adjunct professor of nutrition at New York University. So if Stilton makes you swoon or you always want…

TIP FROM THE TEST TRACK How Driving Less Affects Oil Changes Not driving as much as you used to pre-COVID-19? You still have to be diligent about getting regular oil changes. The need is based on both time and mileage. The best guide is what it says in your owner’s manual. Even with low annual miles, change the oil every six months to keep it fresh. Be sure to follow the automaker’s guidance and not the recommendation from a business that profits from changing the oil for you. DID YOU KNOW? Get a Tax Break on a Used EV Thanks to the new Inflation Reduction Act, many used electric vehicles will be eligible for a tax credit up to $4,000, starting in 2023. This is the first time that buyers…

IN THE KNOW The Best (& Worst) Laundry Detergents EVERY STORE CARRIES shelves chock-full of laundry detergents boasting superherolike names: “Ultra Oxi,” “Stain Fighter,” and “Power Pods.” What’s more, a single detergent brand might offer a variety of formats—including liquids, powders, pods, and strips. How to choose the right cleanser for your clothes? In our labs, we’ve found that some types of detergent clean more effectively than others: Liquid detergents generally work best, tending to surpass the cleaning performance of pods. And liquids and pods usually do a better job than newer detergent “strips,” which are more eco-friendly (they use less plastic packaging) but simply don’t clean as well. The best detergents in our tests (at top right) tackle hard-to-remove stains like blood, coffee, dirt, and more. But not all…

STAINLESS STEEL FRYING PAN Made In Cookware Stainless Steel Frying Pan $90 An outstanding all-around frying pan, this 10-inch skillet cooks evenly and is easy to clean. Bonus: The stainless steel handle stays cool to the touch. 75 OVERALL SCORE 67 OVERALL SCORE CARBON STEEL FRYING PAN Matfer Bourgeat Black Steel 620030 62003 $42 This 10-inch pan aces our browning test, and cooking evenness earns a Very Good score. The handle stays cool, and you can transfer the pan from your stovetop to the oven. NONSTICK FRYING PAN Le Creuset Toughened Pro $125 While this pan is made of hardanodized aluminum, which is not induction-compatible, its base is stainless steel, which is. It checks all the boxes in our performance tests, including cooking evenly. 87 OVERALL SCORE UNCOATED CAST-IRON FRYING PAN…

RECENT RESEARCH has raised a new concern about gas stoves: nitrogen dioxide (NO2). It has long been known that the stoves can produce deadly carbon monoxide, but a new report suggests that they can also produce levels of NO2 that are more than double the EPA’s outdoor standard. That’s worrisome: NO2 can worsen asthma and other lung diseases, and it may increase the risk of asthma in children. To investigate, CR built an insulated chamber with a range hood and ventilation fan, and placed in it two typical gas stoves, one each from two popular brands. We then performed 24 tests to measure levels of NO2 and other potentially harmful gases. “Our tests found NO2 at levels above those recommended by public health organizations, particularly when the ranges were used…

The holidays are typically a time for creating memories, whether it’s feasting with friends and family, watching loved ones open gifts, or donning matching pajamas for photo ops. These are ideal occasions for reminiscing, too, perfect for paging through old family photo albums or viewing home movies from long ago. Surfacing the crowd-pleasing historical stuff—whether it’s love letters penned by your parents, black-and-white photos of your great-grandfather wearing his military uniform and medals, or videos of your childhood puppy—may seem like a herculean task. That’s especially true if, like many of us, you’ve stashed all these photos and other treasures away in various bric-a-brac-filled boxes, not to mention on outdated CDs and camcorder cassette tapes. Where do you begin? How do you decide what to keep and what to let…

IN 2008, I bought my first hybrid—a used Toyota Prius. I drove more than 400 miles a week for my job, so I welcomed its 43 mpg overall fuel economy. I also loved its geeky charm and rock-solid reliability—so much so that I bought another, and then another. Still, I have to admit my Prius had a lot of drawbacks common to early hybrids. It took forever to accelerate onto the highway, cost thousands more than a comparable Corolla, and was too small for a big family. Since those early days, hybrid technology has improved quite a bit. As an autos reporter at CR, I can assure you that many of the latest hybrid cars, trucks, and SUVs are more affordable, versatile, and fun to drive than their gasonly counterparts,…

SMALL SUVs Honda HR-V Pleasant and Practical, but Lacks Pep 69 OVERALL SCORE ROAD-TEST SCORE 69 HIGHS Straightforward controls, fuel economy, roomy interior for its size LOWS Stiff ride, noisy cabin, slow acceleration POWERTRAIN 158-hp, 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine; continuously variable transmission; all-wheel drive FUEL 27 mpg on regular PRICE $23,650-$28,950 base price + $1,245 destination charge Total MSRP as tested $28,790 WE LIKE THE redesigned HR-V’s roomy interior, user-friendly controls, and strong fuel economy. But it accelerates slowly, the cabin is noisy, and the ride is stiff. These shortcomings make it a far cry from the Subaru Crosstrek, a main rival. The cabin has been significantly upgraded with more soft-touch pieces throughout. Controls, including the touchscreen infotainment system, are easy to use, thanks to physical buttons and knobs. We love…