Consumer Reports restored one of the two ratings points lost by the Tesla Model S when its automatic emergency braking wasn't enabled. Tesla in April sent an over-the-air update that enabled the feature, but only up to 28 mph, not the 90 mph Tesla says the car is capable of.
As a result, this week, CR gave Tesla half credit (one point), but that's not enough to regain the top spot in the rankings. The scoring reduction and restoration also affects the Model X, which is mired in the lower rank among luxury mid-size SUVs.
What Tesla's AEB did (and didn't) do
Automatic emergency braking, in Tesla's words, "[is] a new collision avoidance assist feature ... designed to automatically engage the brakes to reduce the impact of an unavoidable frontal collision with another vehicle. The brakes disengage when you press hard on the accelerator pedal, release the brake pedal, or sharply turn the steering wheel.”
Tesla designed AEB to work up to 90 mph. It wasn't enabled on the Tesla Model S sedan and Tesla Model X crossover vehicles built since October 19, 2016. Unfortunately for Tesla, Consumer Reports acquired its most recent Tesla test car from the post-Oct. 19 production lot. When CR called to ask what's up, it got the runaround the average buyer would get: It'll be coming by the end of the year. Then: It'll be coming soon, but we can't give you an exact date. Six months passed. CR fumed.
April 21, CR told Tesla it would lower the scores of the Models S and X. Within five days (April 26), the software updates that enabled AEB were shipped over the air -- except it turns out AEB only works at up to 28 mph, not the claimed 90 mph. When will we get the full update, CR asked Tesla. Tesla said it couldn't say.Where the score stands
When Consumer Reports tested the current Model S, it scored 87 of 100 possible points in the category of ultra-luxury cars, the same as the Lexus LS and tying it for first place. The BMW 7 Series was 2 points back, a triumph of sorts, since the arch-rival Mercedes-Benz S-Class was 17 points behind (68 points, mostly because of predicted low reliability), although the Audi A8 was just behind BMW with 82 points.
When Tesla couldn't deliver AEB, CR cut the score by 2 points, tying it with BMW for second. After Tesla delivered partial AEB (up to 28 mph), CR restored 1 of the 2 ratings points, and says it will "revisit the scores" when Tesla restores higher-speed AEB.
For the Model X, the score was cut from 58 to 56 and then bumped up to 57 this week. No matter what the score, it leaves the Model X next to last in the rankings, mostly because of its low projected reliability.Statement from Consumer Reports
Here's what Consumer Reports said in a press release issued Tuesday:Consumer Reports has restored some points to its vehicle ratings of two current Tesla models because the automaker provided an automatic emergency braking system update that owners had been waiting for — some for as long as six months.The value of automatic emergency braking is understated by automakers. They say it reduces the force of impact of unavoidable rear-end collisions. In reality, AEB is often quick enough and good enough to avoid collisions entirely, but not every time. It bails out tailgaters as well as safe followers when the car in front suddenly slams on the brakes. Automakers don't say that, because it doesn't prevent every rear-to-front collision, and Americans are a litigious lot. Still, it's a feature you want on your next car.Despite restoring points, the Overall Scores for newer versions of Model S and Model X vehicles remain lower than earlier versions because the updated braking system doesn’t work at highway speeds. Once the models have AEB operational at higher speeds, CR testers will revisit the scores.
On April 26, CR lowered the CR scores for the newer Model S and Model X vehicles because they did not have the AEB system functioning that the automaker said would come “standard.”
The points deduction moved the Model S out of the top spot in CR ratings for the ultra-luxury category. The Model X remained near the bottom of the Luxury mid-sized sport-utility category after it lost its points.
CR testers award extra value for vehicles that provide automatic braking as standard. CR believes AEB is a crucial safety feature that has been proven to prevent accidents.
But the popular safety feature was missing on versions of the Model S and Model X built since Oct. 19. The company told CR it was working on rolling out the necessary software. At first, Tesla said the software would be ready by the end of 2016. When that date passed, Tesla said it was coming soon, but did not give a specific timeline.
On April 21, CR informed Tesla that it planned to lower ratings for the two models. Tesla began sending over-the-air software updates on April 26. CR’s Model S received its AEB update the next day.
The update activated AEB on vehicles up to 28 mph, not to the higher limit of 90 mph on earlier versions of Tesla models that had AEB. On April 26, Tesla said that AEB would eventually work at highway speeds. The company has not said when that will happen and did not respond to messages seeking comment for this story.
