Skip to main content
Contact

How we work

Methodology

Where our data comes from, how we rank vehicles, how we update content, and how we disclose affiliate partnerships. Audit our process — we publish it on purpose.

Car Guides is built on a simple principle: everything we publish should be auditable. This page documents where our data comes from, how we structure rankings, and how often we revisit every page. It is updated whenever our process changes.

1. Our sources

Every car specification we publish is cross-referenced from at least two primary sources. The hierarchy we follow:

  • NHTSA vPIC — the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's official US vehicle database. Our source of truth for makes, models, model years, body types, and base specifications.
  • EPA fueleconomy.gov — the official US Environmental Protection Agency database for fuel economy (MPG, MPGe), emissions, and electric range.
  • Manufacturer official sites — for current MSRP, trim levels, options, and feature details. Linked from every model page.
  • Wikidata — for historical context (production years, country of origin, segment classification).
  • IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) — for crash test ratings.

When two sources disagree, we cite both and explain the discrepancy. We never publish a spec sourced from a single non-primary source.

2. Editorial process

Every article and model page on Car Guides is written, researched, and fact-checked by François Aublin, founder of Lumira Projects. No anonymous bylines, no syndicated content, no AI-generated articles published without full human review and sourcing.

Our internal workflow for every published page:

  1. Research phase: at least 3 primary sources consulted.
  2. Draft phase: written with answer-first paragraphs (the question answered in the first 2-3 sentences).
  3. Fact-check phase: every numerical claim is verified against its primary source.
  4. Internal link phase: page is linked into the relevant taxonomic hubs (brand, year, body type, etc.).
  5. Publication phase: page goes live with structured data (Schema.org), Open Graph metadata, and breadcrumbs.

3. How we rank vehicles

For our "Best Of" buyer guides (e.g., Best SUVs Under $30,000), we use a weighted scoring model. The weights are public:

  • Reliability — 30% (sourced from RepairPal, Consumer Reports composite, recall history)
  • Safety — 25% (NHTSA 5-Star + IIHS Top Safety Pick status)
  • Efficiency — 20% (EPA combined MPG / MPGe / range)
  • Value — 15% (MSRP relative to segment, depreciation curve)
  • Ownership cost — 10% (insurance, maintenance, fuel cost over 5 years)

We do not adjust weights to favor a particular brand. The same scoring model is applied across every list.

4. Update cadence

We commit to:

  • Model pages updated within 30 days of any new model year release.
  • "Best Of" rankings reviewed quarterly (every 3 months) and refreshed whenever a relevant model is added, discontinued, or significantly updated.
  • Articles reviewed quarterly. If facts change between reviews (e.g., a tax credit expires), the article is updated within 14 days.

The "Last updated" date is displayed on every model page and article.

5. Affiliate disclosure

Some links on Car Guides are affiliate links — when you click a link and make a purchase or get a quote, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. We are particularly transparent about:

  • Amazon Associates (accessories, manuals, tools)
  • Insurance quote partners (QuoteWizard, EverQuote, SmartFinancial)
  • Auto loan and refinancing networks
  • Parts and maintenance retailers

No partnership influences our rankings, scoring, or editorial recommendations. Full disclosure at /legal/affiliate-disclosure/.

6. Corrections policy

If you find a factual error on Car Guides, we want to know. Email corrections@car-guides.com or use our contact form. Verified corrections are made within 7 days, with an "Updated:" note and the date added to the page.

7. Conflicts of interest

Car Guides is owned and operated by Lumira Projects. We do not own equity in, nor receive direct payment from, any vehicle manufacturer. We do not accept paid placements, paid reviews, or sponsored content disguised as editorial. If we ever do, it will be labeled "Sponsored" at the top of the page and we will say so here.

This methodology was last reviewed on May 24, 2026. It is reviewed at least annually.