They also get in and out of every seat, and note the ease of entry and exit.
Staff members of different size, age, and gender judge how easy it is to get comfortably situated behind the steering wheel, gauging whether they can see out well and reach all controls and pedals without straining or developing premature fatigue. The more intuitive and user-friendly the controls are, the better.ĭriving Position, Access, and Accommodations Every auto-test staff member logs comments drawn from months of living with the cars and driving them every day for commuting, trips, and errands.
Controls and DisplaysĮngineers trained in ergonomics/human-factors evaluate a car's controls and displays, judging how easy it is to interact with the various vehicle functions such as audio, climate, phone, and all the switches and instruments. Test engineers evaluate how controllable, secure, and forgiving the car is through the maneuver. When testing on-limit handling, drivers push the car to and beyond its limits of cornering capabilities to simulate entering a corner too quickly. We use a laser-beam based device to record and monitor entry speed. The car threads through the course, without throttle or brakes, at ever-higher speeds until it can't get through without hitting any cones.
That simulates swerving to avoid an obstacle in the road, then returning to the original lane to avoid oncoming traffic. The avoidance maneuver is a "path-following test" in which the driver pilots the car down a lane marked off by traffic cones with a quick left-right-left sequence. We also judge brake-pedal modulation.Ĭrucial emergency driving tests include an avoidance maneuver and a series of at-the-limit cornering assessments around a handling course-a snaking track loop. The test car is rigged with a precision GPS-based device. Our automotive engineers conduct a series of brake tests from 60 mph to a standstill on wet and dry pavement to measure stopping distances. Good braking performance is a vital factor in a car’s accident avoiding capability. The engineers also note the clutch action, looking for appropriate effort, pedal travel, and the point where the clutch engages. For manual transmissions, the testers evaluate the shift action (how easy it is to move the shift lever through the shifter gate), The appropriateness of gear ratios is taken into account as well. They assess how in tune the transmission is with the throttle, grade, and driver's inputs. When evaluating transmissions, our engineers look for responsiveness, how quickly and appropriately the transmission selects its gears, and how seamlessly it shifts and downshifts. Transmissions play a central role in delivering engine power to the wheels, and the characteristics of the transmission can greatly affect the overall driving experience. Account icon An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders.
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