Consumer Reports names 4 car models and 2 brands with the “worst blind spots” on the list

Car design needs to strike a delicate balance between various factors such as style and functionality. If the car looks stylish and dynamic, but the driver does not have enough field of vision to see the environment clearly, it may not meet important design standards. Every car inevitably has blind spots, and different car models have different degrees of blind spots. Factors such as the height and length of the car, the width of the roof pillars, and the angle of the windshield will affect the visual field while driving.

SlashGear reports that Consumer Reports has compiled a list of the models with the worst blind spots in the automotive industry, which includes subcompact cars, sedans, and SUVs. Consumer Reports used a testing methodology that invited drivers of various heights to participate and asked them to evaluate the impact of each model’s blind spot on daily driving operations. The following are the four models with the worst blind spots in the test results reported by School Fees.

Consumer Reports reports that this car has the worst blind spot performance in its class, and after understanding its appearance it’s not hard to figure out why. First, the two rear side windows are much smaller than those in the front seats. Due to the curved design of the roof and the upward inclination angle of the side body panels, the window area gradually shrinks from top to bottom. But the most obvious thing is the thick rear pillar, which creates a potential blind spot, which is more serious than other models.

Fortunately, Chevrolet offers some practical features in some optional accessories, such as reversing cameras, rear parking assist, and lane departure warning, which can alleviate the blind spot problem. However, Chevrolet is discontinuing the Spark in 2022, and you can now only buy used cars.

The sporty and stylish Mazda 3 has many advantages, but it has one disadvantage when compared with its rivals, which is that the rear and side views are blocked.

The Mazda3’s rear windshield is small but its rear pillars are large, hindering the driver’s ability to see behind when changing lanes. The impact on the visual field of the sedan version is already quite obvious, but the hatchback version is even worse. At the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show, a representative from Jalopnik.com tested the Mazda 3 hatchback and said that the rear C-pillar was so obstructed that it was completely impossible to see another visitor standing behind the car from the driver’s seat.

The car’s high performance has been widely praised, but reviewers generally complain that its blind spots are too large. Just look at the narrow windows and you will understand how limited the field of vision is when reversing. Many car owners have reported this problem in the past, and even compared the Camaro’s field of view to a tank with only a narrow visual gap.

The Camaro’s windows are too small, the pillars are too wide, and the hood is too long, which seriously affects the driver’s field of view. Similar to Spark, Chevrolet also provides some assistive technologies necessary for driving, such as rear cross traffic warning system, blind spot detection, etc.

Among mid-size SUVs with three rows of seats, Consumer Reports rated the CX-9’s blind spot as the worst in its class, and some owners expressed dissatisfaction with the car’s lack of visibility. One driver said he had to sit lower than usual because of limited space in the front seat, and he found it difficult to check whether the lane was clear between the front and rear pillars.

The CX-9 comes with an advanced blind-spot monitoring system that uses radar sensors to identify nearby vehicles, a technology that helps reduce the risk of restricted vision. However, the old CX-9 has been replaced by a new platform. Comparing the 2023 Mazda CX-9 and CX-90, Mazda has taken measures to ensure that the interior space is larger and more comfortable, which it hopes will also help improve the blind spot problem.