How does Motor Trend Magazine decide on which cars to pick for Motor Trends Car of the Year?

I did some research and the toyota camry in 6 months has had a 73 complaints according to http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/ The 2006 car of the year ...Honda accord has had 38 complaints. The Ford Fusion has had the least and is on Consumer reports cover in December with only 11 complaints in the 18 months it has been out. Why did Motor Trend not pick the Fusion? Is it because Ford does not spend the millions of $s toyota spends in advertising?

How does Motor Trend Magazine decide on which cars to pick for Motor Trends Car of the Year?
I guarantee that Motor Trend Magazine has NEVER even looked at the NHTSA's website when choosing their "winners"





The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration / US Department of Transportation is a government agency that : documents %26amp; investigates, consumer compaints, safety issues %26amp; recalls, manufacturer defects, technical service bullitens,etc.





Motor Trend Magazine makes money by selling advertising space in an 'Entertainment' publication.





Consumer driven publications, such as Consumer Report, are less biased.





I also have visited http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/


I'm pretty astonished at all the Camry %26amp; Accord complaints %26amp; safety recalls %26amp; investigations etc.


%26amp; I'm pretty impressed with the Fusions "lack of same"





You are right about the customer complaints :


73 in 6 months for the 'all new %26amp; improved' Camry


11 in 18 months for the Fusion.





But did you read the actual complaints....one Fusion complaint was about how when parallel parking the rims scraped up against the curb, causing damage to the wheels %26amp; tires.


Does that sound like a safety defect ? or someone that can't parallel park ? LOL
Reply:You're Welcome! Great Question , btw ! I like a person who questions the media %26amp; so called experts ! Report Abuse

Reply:fear.





fusion is the best new car
Reply:they probably look for the safety and riding pleasure for the passangers of the vehicle. i don't think they'd build cars for just their looks.
Reply:they throw darts
Reply:Actually Motor Trend conducts an exhaustive testing program where the contenders are put through their limits. They are measured from the basis of performance, to safety, to durability and appeal. In the end the testers vote and whichever car receives the least negative votes wins.
Reply:its simplem they do things same way consumer reports does, who ever gives them the bniggest check gets the win. if ya want to know the real deal on a vehicle, see if one is availible for rent, and talk to people that have them,and see how they have held up.also dont just use motor trend as the sole source of info, ive found them to be often wrong
Reply:Easy, they degrade all of the American cars and pick out the best ricer cars that have every option for lazy people who think they need coffee warmers and cars that drive themselves. Give me a break, motor trend and car %26amp; driver are both a waste of paper.