How Consumer Reports tests cars:

Routine handling

Our testers judge routine handling primarily during a test we call "one-day trip," which consists of five laps around a 30-mile loop of local roads ranging from a smooth highway to secondary two-laners, and rural twists and turns. A team of trained engineers assesses how well the car steers around corners and handles rough pavement. The engineers note body control such as body lean and how steady the car remains over bumpy corners. They evaluate steering response to driver input and how well the car communicates feedback, mainly through the steering. The car's turning circle is measured by technicians and evaluated, as this quality translates directly into ease of parking and maneuverability in tight spaces.