According to an article in the Wall Street Journal you might not want to rely on the Consumer Digest award winners to make your automotive purchasing choices. According to the story, car manufacturers pay up to $35,000 per vehicle for the right to use and quote a positive Consumers Digest car review. General Motors as recently paid Consumers Digest about $335,000 to cover 15 different 2010 models. Nissan, KIA and Ford also have “licensed” use of the endorsements and Chrysler is currently negotiating their license fee. Consumers Digest only publishes reviews of those manufacturers who have paid the fee. Apparently, J.D. Powers also engages in the same type of conflict of interest review for sale behavior.
[Source:
The Auto Channel]
