How we calculate our Driving.ca data-driven rating system

In the ever-evolving landscape of the automotive industry, informed decision-making is essential when it comes to choosing the right vehicle. As part of our commitment to provide comprehensive and valuable information to our readers, we have developed a meticulous and data-driven rating system that offers a clear and standardized way to evaluate the key aspects of vehicles on the market.

At Driving, we understand that each individual’s automotive needs are unique. Whether it’s the cargo capacity for a family road trip, the efficiency of a hybrid for daily commutes, or the towing capacity of a pickup truck for work or play, we recognize the importance of making the right choice.

Our Driving.ca Rating System is designed to help inform this decision-making process. It considers various critical factors that influence a vehicle’s performance, safety, efficiency, and versatility. By objectively quantifying these factors on a scale of 1 to 5, we empower our customers with a reliable framework that aids them in making informed choices aligned with their preferences and requirements.

In this document, we will delve into the specifics of our rating system. We’ll outline the key criteria we assess for different vehicle types, such as cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks, and the methodology we employ to assign ratings. Our aim is to provide transparency and clarity, ensuring that our customers have a comprehensive understanding of how we determined the scores for every vehicle in various categories.

We believe that informed decisions lead to satisfying experiences, and our Driving.ca Rating System is a testament to our dedication to customer satisfaction. By presenting data-driven insights in an easy-to-understand manner, we empower you to better judge which vehicle best matches your preferences.

Safety

This rating for safety uses the Overall Crash Rating (Overall Rating) from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with defined measurements and corresponding ratings on a scale of 1 to 5: 

Overall Crash Rating (NHTSA): 

• 1: 1-star overall crash rating. 
• 2: 2-star overall crash rating. 
• 3: 3-star overall crash rating. 
• 4: 4-star overall crash rating. 
• 5: 5-star overall crash rating. 

The NHTSA’s Overall Crash Rating is based on various factors such as crash test performance, safety features, and overall safety performance of the vehicle. A higher star rating indicates better safety performance and a lower risk of severe injury in the event of a crash. 

Please note that the NHTSA rating system may change over time, and it’s important to refer to the latest NHTSA guidelines and ratings for accurate and up-to-date information on vehicle safety ratings. 

Warranty 

For the Warranty rating, higher ratings indicate longer durations of warranty coverage for both comprehensive and powertrain warranties. 

Comprehensive Warranty Rating (in Months): 

• 1: Less than or equal to 12 months of comprehensive warranty coverage. 
• 2: Greater than 12 and less than or equal to 24 months of comprehensive warranty coverage. 
• 3: Greater than 24 and less than or equal to 36 months of comprehensive warranty coverage. 
• 4: Greater than 36 and less than or equal to 48 months of comprehensive warranty coverage. 
• 5: Greater than 48 months of comprehensive warranty coverage. 

Powertrain Warranty Rating (in Months): 

• 1: Less than or equal to 36 months of powertrain warranty coverage. 
• 2: Greater than 36 and less than or equal to 60 months of powertrain warranty coverage. 
• 3: Greater than 60 and less than or equal to 84 months of powertrain warranty coverage. 
• 4: Greater than 84 and less than or equal to 108 months of powertrain warranty coverage. 
• 5: Greater than 108 months of powertrain warranty coverage. 

Please remember that specific warranty durations and terms can vary across manufacturers and models. It’s essential to refer to the specific warranty details provided by the manufacturer for accurate information about the warranty coverage of a particular vehicle. 

Power 

For those interested in performance, we created a Power rating based on power-to-weight and torque-to-weight ratios. This rating system takes the weight of a vehicle in kilograms (kg) divided by its horsepower (hp) and pound-feet of torque (lb-ft), then assigns a score for each based on defined measurements and uses the average of those two for a final rating.

Power-to-weight ranges: 

• 1: >12+ kg/hp
• 2: 10-11.99 kg/hp
• 3: 7-9.99 kg/hp
• 4: 4-6.99 kg/hp
• 5: Less than 4 kg/hp

Torque-to-weight ranges: 

• 1: 10+ kg/lb-ft
• 2: 8-9.99 kg /lb-ft
• 3: 6-7.99 kg/lb-ft
• 4: 4-5.99 kg/lb-ft
• 5: Less than 4 kg/lb-ft

Fuel Efficiency

For Gas and Diesel 

Our Fuel Efficiency rating system is based on Natural Resources Canada’s (NRCan) rating for combined fuel economy, using litres per 100 kilometres (L/100 km) as the unit of measurement, with defined measurements and corresponding ratings on a scale of 1 to 5: 

 Combined Fuel Efficiency Rating for Gas, Hybrid , and Diesel Vehicles in L/100 km: 

• 1: Greater than or equal to 15 L/100 km 
• 2: Greater than 12 and less than or equal to 15 L/100 km 
• 3: Greater than 10 and less than or equal to 12 L/100 km 
• 4: Greater than 8 and less than or equal to 10 L/100 km 
• 5: Less than 8 L/100km

This rating system rewards lower fuel consumption, with a rating of 1 indicating higher fuel consumption and a rating of 5 indicating lower fuel consumption. 

For Electric and Plug-in Hybrid 

For electric (EVs) and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs), we used NRCan’s litres equivalent per 100 kilometres (Le/100 km) as the unit of measurement, with defined measurements and corresponding ratings on a scale of 1 to 5: 

Combined Fuel Efficiency Rating for EVs and PHEVs in Le/100 km: 

• 1: Greater than or equal to 10 Le/100 km
• 2: Greater than 7 and less than or equal to 10 Le/100 km
• 3: Greater than 5 and less than or equal to 7 Le/100 km
• 4: Greater than 3 and less than or equal to 5 Le/100 km
• 5: Less than 3 Le/100 km

In this rating system, a higher rating indicates better fuel efficiency, which is generally more desirable for hybrid, electric, and plug-in hybrid vehicles. 

Please note that the liter equivalent (Le) is a hypothetical unit that represents the amount of energy in a liter of fuel-equivalent alternative. For more specific fuel consumption ratings and explanations of their methodology, visit Natural Reources Canada’s Fuel consumption ratings search tool.

Cargo space for Cars & SUVs / Maximum Towing Capacity for Pickups  

Our rating system for practicality is based on cargo capacity in litres with all seats in place all seats in place for two-row SUVs and Cars, with third-row folded in SUVs and Minivans, and maximum towing capacity for pickups, with defined measurements and corresponding ratings on a scale of 1 to 5: 

Cargo Capacity Rating for Cars and SUVs:

• 1: Less than or equal to 200 L
• 2: Greater than 200 and less than or equal to 300 L
• 3: Greater than 300 and less than or equal to 600 L
• 4: Greater than 600 and less than or equal to 1,200 L
• 5: Greater than 1,200 L

Maximum Towing Capacity Rating for Pickups:

• 1: Less than or equal to 2,000 lb
• 2: Greater than 2,000 and less than or equal to 5,000 lb
• 3: Greater than 5,000 and less than or equal to 7,500 lb
• 4: Greater than 7,500 and less than or equal to 10,000 lb
• 5: Greater than 10,000 lb