'Consumer Reports' reverses course, recommends Tesla Model 3 after Elon Musk improves brakes

Nathan Bomey | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Elon Musk wants to create a journalist rating site Elon Musk criticized the news media for what he described as irresponsible reporting and suggested he would launch a website to assess the legitimacy of reporters.

Consumer Reports, the influential products rating magazine, reversed course Wednesday and endorsed Tesla's new mass-market electric sedan after previously declining to recommend it, saying the company had quickly improved the car's brakes.

The turnabout cames after a spat with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who called the initial review of the Model 3 "very strange" and said reviewers had tested "an early production car."

Because the magazine buys its own cars for testing, it is known as notoriously independent in its reviews, which carry a lot of weight among buyers and automakers. Also, the Model 3 is a critical new product for Tesla, it's first mass-market car that is ramping toward big-volume production.

Musk's criticism came as he bashed the news media in general in recent days over what he believes is unfair coverage.

Consumer Reports said Tesla issued an over-the-air software update to improve the Model 3's brakes. The reviewers originally had reported a stopping distance that "was far worse than any contemporary car we've tested" and even longer than a full-size pickup.

That fueled what they called "big flaws," including difficult vehicle controls and excessive wind noise.

Jake Fisher, director of auto testing at Consumer Reports, told USA TODAY he spoke with Musk for an hour last week after the initial review was posted.

Musk, he said, was "very interested to understand what was going on in our testing."

More: Consumer Reports pledges to re-test Tesla Model 3 if brakes are fixed

More: Consumer Reports reverses course, recommends Tesla Model 3 after Elon Musk improves brakes

More: Tesla CEO Elon Musk blasts media, pitches site to rate journalists: 'No one believes you'

But Fisher said Musk's public criticism of last week's review did not affect the publication's shift, and "there was no pressuring at all."

"There are still other flaws with the vehicle," Fisher said in an interview. "Those have not necessarily been addressed. It’s not the top in its category, but it's certainly a vehicle that scores high enough to recommend."

Really appreciate the high quality critical feedback from @ConsumerReports. Road noise & ride comfort already addressed too. UI improvements coming via remote software update later this month. https://t.co/ZMLPJxmPlM — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 30, 2018

The ability to improve vehicles with wireless updates is largely exclusive to Tesla. Fisher said he was impressed with the company's ability to quickly adjust.

After the upgrade, "the braking distances were much shorter, and they were consistent," he said.

Musk said on Twitter the update would apply to all Model 3 vehicles.

"Really appreciate the high quality critical feedback from @ConsumerReports," he said.

He also said the company is addressing the road noise and ride comfort issues, as well as infotainment usability.

Follow USA TODAY reporter Nathan Bomey on Twitter @NathanBomey.