Tabla de contenidos para March 2023 en Consumer Reports

JUNE 1, 2021 - MAY 31, 2022 $ 100,000+ Alfred P. Sloan Foundation • Breakthrough Energy • Climate Imperative Foundation • Craig Newmark Philanthropies • Flourish Ventures’ donor advised fund at Silicon Valley Community Foundation • Ford Foundation • Kapor Center • Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting • U.S. Energy Foundation • Anonymous (4) $ 25,000 to$ 99,999 Woody Carter • Thomas Michalski • Mozilla Foundation • Dr. Cherri M. Pancake • Susan & Charles Sawyers • Union of Concerned Scientists • Anonymous (2) $ 10,000 to$ 24,999 Robert & Jacquelin Apsler • Dr. Donna Fletman • Richard L. Frazier • Anki & Larry Gelb • Sheila, Dave & Sherry Gold Foundation • Doug Huestis & Barbara Klencke, MD • Richard D. Lee & Vera M. Lee Foundation, Gerald A.…

THE BEST FULL-SIZED luggage (we’re talking about mid- to large-sized bags that don’t fit in a plane’s over-head carry-on bin) should be capacious, lightweight, and super-durable—because checked bags can take a real beating as they go from airport conveyer belts and carts to cargo holds. With countless luggage brands out there, though, where to look for bags that do it all? When we recently surveyed more than 13,000 CR members about their checked suitcases, just a few high-end brands rose to the top, distinguished by their superior durability and wheelability. What also sets these suitcase brands apart from the pack are their generous warranties: All four companies included at right offer lifetime or limited lifetime guarantees. While the recommended brands’ bags can be pricey, CR members felt that they were worth…

RAM PICKUP TRUCKS Chrysler is recalling 1,234,657 2019-2022 Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 pickup trucks because the tailgate may not latch properly, due to misaligned tailgate strikers, which could result in the tailgate opening while driving. An unintended tailgate opening while driving may result in a loss of unsecured cargo, possibly creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash. What to do: Dealers will inspect the tailgate and adjust it, if necessary, free of charge. Chrysler will mail notification letters to owners, who can also call customer service at 800-853-1403. NHTSA’s campaign number is 22V-904, and Chrysler’s own number for this recall is ZB8. THE L AUNDRESS CLEANING PRODUCTS The Laundress is recalling about 8 million laundry and household cleaning products because they can contain various bacteria,…

Keeping your home secure starts with sturdy locks on all entry points. A security system adds another level of protection, alerting you to a breach at any of those entries or to unexpected movement inside the house. A DIY system, such as those from Ring and SimpliSafe, is fairly easy to set up and typically operates via an app on your mobile device, allowing you to monitor it on the go. The equipment in starter kits for these systems varies slightly, but the kits generally include a base station, a keypad, and some combination of door and window sensors, motion sensors, and cameras. Some have a range extender to enhance coverage. (See three top picks, on the facing page.) Most systems also offer optional extras, from panic buttons to glass-break sensors…

It goes without saying that you want to be adequately insured in case of a home burglary or a fire. But you don’t want to overpay, especially in these inflationary times. Here are three tips from the Insurance Information Institute’s Janet Ruiz. Get the right devices. Installing these protective systems can lead to lower premiums, depending on your particular situation and whether you add, say, a smart lock, a burglar alarm, or a fully monitored security system. For example, Allstate offers up to 5 percent savings if you install a Canary security system; Hippo, up to 13 percent if you have a system that includes professional monitoring. Also, some insurance companies now partner with security-system providers, which can make the process of selecting and installing a system simpler. For instance,…

72 Rao’s Homemade Marinara $1.58 PER 1⁄2-CUP SERVING This sauce has a fresh, rich taste and a near-perfect blend of tomatoes, garlic, basil, and other flavors. The only reason it’s not in our top 10—it’s ranked 11th—is because of its sodium content (420 mg per serving). Another option with great homemade flavor but less sodium (300 mg per serving) is Hoboken Farms Basil Marinara (Overall Score, 71; price per serving, $2.02). 72 Monte Bene Tomato Basil 94 cents PER 1⁄2-CUP SERVING This thick sauce is 12th overall in our ratings, but it’s one that testers called out for its fresh basil notes. Another option with big basil flavor: Michael’s of Brooklyn Fresh Tomato & Basil (Overall Score, 71; price per serving, $1.51). 81 The Silver Palate Low Sodium Marinara $1.07 PER…

■ Open the new account before closing the existing one. For many banks, including some with physical branches, this can be a relatively fast online process. You may need to make an initial deposit to avoid monthly or other fees. ■ Send funds to your new account. To do this you could use your old bank’s online or mobile-banking bill payment service, or the Zelle money transfer service. Or write a check from the old account to deposit into the new one. ■ Contact your employer or Social Security. Ask them to move any direct deposits to the new institution. (Reach the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213 or at ssa.gov/myaccount.) Direct deposit may also make you eligible for free checking. ■ Stop automatic bill payments from the old account. This can be easily done…

These charts represent the brands that most satisfy owners in specific areas: overall comfort, driving enjoyment, cabin storage, ease of use of the infotainment system, and ownership cost. Use them 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. We also rank brands by their average “would buy again” score (see “Owner Satisfaction by Brand,” on the facing page). The list reflects which automakers have a lineup that pleases owners across the board, those whose models are a mix of satisfaction hits and misses, and the ones with vehicles that consistently disappoint owners. Remember that owner satisfaction reflects whether a car meets a customer’s expectations. The most satisfying cars aren’t…

Your Recall Questions Answered TENS OF MILLIONS of cars are recalled each year because of safety issues including faulty headlights, software problems that can cause a car to stall, and fluid leaks that can lead to a fire. Automakers often uncover problems requiring recalls after receiving warranty claims, hearing complaints from dealers or owners, or when a worker or supplier uncovers a problem in the manufacturing process. Other times, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the agency that supervises safety recalls, investigates an issue after receiving complaints from the public. Some recalls include millions of vehicles, while others involve only a few dozen. “Every defect that leads to a safety recall puts people at risk and should be taken seriously,” says William Wallace, associate director of safety policy at CR.…

Consumers are a force to be reckoned with—like the “citizen testers’’ in this month’s issue, who test for toxins in dishes, dental floss, and even sports bras (see page 40). And collectively, consumers are driving national change. In December, we saw a victory that would not have been won without the parents who helped secure national standards to prevent the sale of unstable furniture. After tragically losing their own children, they banded together, showing incredible courage and fortitude in using their voices to advocate for America’s most vulnerable. There’s no better changemaker than you, and that’s why CR is working with consumers to expose frustrating issues and dangerous products—so we can make the marketplace fair and safe. Our community reporters collected samples from water systems that serve over 19 million…

Smart Speakers With Quality Sound WE TESTED: 43 models WE TEST FOR: Sound quality, including how a speaker compares with top-rated reference models in our lab; ease of use; and more. ABOUT THE SCORES: Median: 54 Range: 38-68 NICE PRICE & WORKS WITH ALEXA Amazon Echo Studio $160 68 OVERALL SCORE WORKS WITH BOTH GOOGLE & ALEXA Sonos Move $400 68 OVERALL SCORE SUPER EASY TO USE (WORKS WITH ALEXA) Bose Home Speaker 500 $380 65 OVERALL SCORE Hand Mixers WE TESTED: 10 models WE TEST FOR: How fast a mixer can make whipped cream, how well it mixes cookie dough, its noise level, convenience of features, and more. ABOUT THE SCORES: Median: 64 Range: 47-79 WONDERFUL AT WHIPPING KitchenAid KHM926 $100 79 OVERALL SCORE TERRIFIC AT MIXING Breville Handy…

IF YOU’VE EVER struggled to get clean under a low-flow showerhead, we feel your pain. Per federal standards, all showerheads can’t exceed a flow rate of 2.5 gallons per minute—which saves water but sometimes means a less satisfying spray. In our recent tests, however, we found several CR Recommended models that still provide a robust, hot shower—and some conserve even more water than the federal standard. CR staffers assessed the overall feel of the spray, as well as the heat of the water as it falls. American Standard Spectra+ eTouch 4-Function Showerhead Multi-setting $113 82 OVERALL SCORE 5/5 SHOWER FEEL 4/5 HOT-WATER TEMPERATURE 5/5 WATER CONSERVATION Waterpik 6-Spray 4.5 Showerhead Multi-setting $55 76 OVERALL SCORE 4/5 SHOWER FEEL 5/5 HOT-WATER TEMPERATURE 5/5 WATER CONSERVATION Moen Engage Magnetix 6-Function Handheld Showerhead Multi-setting…

The Advice from dental experts for keeping your teeth clean sounds simple enough: Brush twice a day and floss. But choosing among the many products available to help you do this can be daunting. Electric toothbrush or manual? Soft or hard bristles? String floss or water flosser? And what about mouthwash, dental cleanings, and whitening strips? The right answers depend partly on your preferences. “Hopefully what you experience with any toothbrush is that you’re getting your teeth clean, and then you’re going to want to use it again,” says Edmond R. Hewlett, DDS, a professor at the UCLA School of Dentistry in Los Angeles and a consumer adviser to the American Dental Association (ADA). But there are toothcare products with clear advantages. Consumer Reports’ tests show, for example, that some…

Car thefts are on the rise—up 17 percent between 2019 and 2021, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Take these steps to keep your car safe. Lock the doors, every time. Unlocked doors are a major contributor to theft. Park in well-lit locations. If you keep your car outside, a motion-sensitive light nearby can help startle a thief and send them running. A visible security camera can also be a deterrent (see our picks, on page 31). Beef up security. Steering wheel locks ($20 to $100) and alarm systems with a visible blinking red light ($300 to $700, plus installation) can help discourage thieves. Don’t leave valuables in sight. A handbag, mobile phone, or laptop left on a seat or the vehicle’s floor can invite smash-and-grab crimes. Protect your…

The security systems we test are kits that you buy and install yourself with basic tools. But you can also use a company that provides professionally installed systems, such as ADT or Vivint, to design a system for your home and install it. Here’s how to decide which type is best. What’s your budget? A professionally installed system is probably the more expensive option. “I’d estimate $1 per square foot for an installed system that is monitoring all the doors and windows of your home with sensors,” says Kirk MacDowell, CEO of security consulting firm MacGuard Security Advisors. “Video cameras will add to the cost.” You’re likely to pay between $15 and $30 per month for monitoring. A basic DIY setup will cost much less (see above), but adding components—door…

WHILE MANY OF the sauces we tested are delicious as is, you can easily add more flavor if you like. “In not much more time than it takes to heat jarred sauce, you can create some really special flavors,” says Celine Beitchman, director of nutrition at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City. Here are some of her favorite hacks. ENHANCE THE TEXTURE Save a little of the starchy water your pasta was cooked in and mix it into your sauce. The liquid will release its starch molecules and add body and creaminess. REPURPOSE LEFTOVERS In a skillet, heat cooked ground meat, pork, or chicken (or fresh or cooked mushrooms or other veggies) in olive oil, then stir it into your sauce. BOOST FLAVOR WITH WINE Sauté garlic…

CONSUMER BANKING is changing, fast. As you may have noticed, many walk-in banks are no longer providing the level of customer service they used to, as they close branches, cut staff, and ask customers to use technology to handle basic banking needs. Meanwhile, online-only banks (which have no branches at all) and so-called neobanks (tech companies that offer bank-like services online even though they often are not chartered banks) have proliferated, ushering in some promising innovations and pushing the old guard to evolve. But some of these innovators have drawbacks of their own, such as limited resources for customer service should something go wrong, consumer advocates say. Hundreds of customers of one neobank, Chime, for example, recently complained to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that the company was slow to…

SNEAK PEEK The New Toyota Prius For 2023, the Toyota Prius hybrid and the Prius Prime plug-in hybrid have gone through a dramatic redesign. A new streamlined shape makes the car sleeker and more aerodynamic, and an upgraded electric drive paired with a stronger gas engine gives it more power and even better gas mileage. Toyota says the new Prius will get up to 57 mpg—more than its already astounding 52 mpg—and acceleration is expected to be much quicker. All-wheel drive is again optional, and standard blind spot warning and rear cross traffic warning join a robust suite of active safety features. YOUR MONEY’S WORTH Is Now the Time to Shop for a Used Car? After used-car prices soared into the stratosphere last year, costs have started to come back…

While a model might not be among the top 10 (or even top 20) most satisfying in our survey, it still may excel in certain ways. We asked owners to rate how well their vehicles satisfy them when considering seat and cabin comfort, driving enjoyment, cabin storage, ease of use of the infotainment system, and ownership cost. Use their feedback and the corresponding scores to identify models that are likely to satisfy in the ways that matter most to you. For a full list of vehicles in all categories and their scores on each factor, go to CR.org/satisfaction. HOW WE RATE SATISFACTION: Results are from the 2022 Annual Auto Surveys, involving more than 300,000 vehicles. Data from the 2020 to 2022 model years (plus a few 2023 models) were used,…

COMPACT HYBRIDS Kia Niro Smart Hybrid Update 79 OVERALL SCORE ROAD-TEST SCORE 83 HIGHS Fuel economy, hatchback practicality, secure handling LOWS Rear visibility, audio/climate control panel, road noise POWERTRAIN 139-hp, 1.6-liter 4-cylinder hybrid engine; 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission; front-wheel drive FUEL 45 mpg on regular PRICE $26,490-$39,490 base price + $1,295 destination charge Total MSRP as tested $30,600 THE REDESIGNED NIRO hybrid benefits from improved handling, braking, and mpg. As before, its interior size and functionality rival that of a small SUV. Its biggest downside may simply be that it isn’t available with all-wheel drive, unlike most SUVs. In our tests, the Niro hybrid achieved a superb 45 mpg overall. (We’ll also test the Niro EV.) There’s a prompt and smooth electric surge from a stop, after which the powertrain seamlessly…

Security, however, may mean managing a number of complex variables these days, from flash floods to wildfires, from break-ins to porch piracy. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), 6 percent of insured households submitted a claim in 2020, the most recent year studied; property damage, including theft, accounted for 97.7 percent of homeowners insurance claims. The average claim rang in at over $13,000, reflecting the severity of most of these incidents. Fortunately, there are many ways you can reduce the odds of enduring a loss and having to file a claim. Inside your house and out, using both the latest tech tools and time-honored techniques, you can protect your home and enhance your peace of mind. “Consumers can be more prepared and resilient, whether by installing a home security…

YOU’LL WANT TO pair your sauce with a good pasta, notably one with a pleasing texture. We did an informal taste test of three popular brands of spaghetti, using the same amount of cooking water and salt for each and preparing them al dente according to package directions. Nutritionally, the three pastas were nearly identical. But they did vary in price, with Ronzoni at $2 per pound, Barilla at $2.50 per pound, and De Cecco at $3 per pound. And our testers noted subtle differences in flavor and texture. Ronzoni Spaghetti No. 8 This pasta had less grain flavor than the other two we tasted. It was also a little less dense. So if you prefer a softer pasta rather than a chewy one, this is a good pick for…

You’ve heard of Erin Brockovich, a law clerk without a science degree who exposed the existence of a dangerous Y contaminant polluting a town’s groundwater—a toxic hazard that otherwise might have stayed invisible. She’s not the first person to practice “citizen science” to powerful effect, nor will she be the last. Maybe you’ve wondered whether that plastic container you’re about to zap in the microwave is really safe to use or whether your favorite chipped coffee mug is exposing you to toxic paint. Some particularly enterprising people who’ve had similar concerns have also wondered—but then took the extra step of testing the chemical makeup of the thing they were concerned about, and then publicized the results. These citizen testers aren’t professional chemists or government regulators, but all of them were…

■ Pay a visit to a walk-in bank you may be considering. This is important if in-person banking is important to you. You want to confirm that the hours are convenient and the staffing is adequate, and that the branch offers the services you desire, such as having a notary on hand. ■ For the best savings rates, shop around online. To save time and find a lot of information in one place, websites like Bankrate and NerdWallet do an admirable job of compiling and keeping up with the ever-changing rates and terms associated with various bank accounts. But be warned that these for-profit sites (and others like them) are riddled with financial ads, and it can be hard to distinguish the ads from the data that the sites have…

The models may have changed, but some long-standing trends stayed the same in CR’s 2022 owner satisfaction survey. As in prior years, reliable workaday vehicles aren’t as prized as automotive peacocks that promise luxury, fuel and energy efficiency (gas or electric), or pulse-quickening performance—and actually deliver. Case in point: Our latest survey once again finds that entry-level luxury cars and SUVs are among the least satisfying vehicles to own because they fail to deliver on the luxury promise. How do we define owner satisfaction? It’s measured by the answer to this key question: Given the opportunity, would you buy or lease this vehicle again? (Our detailed methodology is described on page 54.) This year we received responses from owners of more than 300,000 cars, SUVs, trucks, and vans. Our findings…