This is a very valid point that I think a lot of posters here don't realize when they read comparisons in car magazines. Unlike Consumer Reports, enthusiast magazines are written for entertainment. They simply don't have the data collection that a consumer publication uses to gauge reliability, which should be an important part of the purchase decision.
That being said, when I sign out cars for the night, I always pick the VW. I like the way the steering feels. I think that as you test drive more cars you get very peculiar preferences and tendencies that are different than the general public. In some ways, Car and Driver does a disservice to a buyer because they let their preferences get in the way of what is actually a better purchase decision. Does that make sense?....
To clarify then (and keep it tech relevant), suppose you have two computer keyboards. They both have the same arrangement of keys, they both produce the same letter/text when you type on them, however the keys feel different. One is a classical, IBM-type feel, the other is a generic OEM keyboard. The classical keyboard is priced twice as much as the OEM one. Which is the better buy?...For some, the feel of the IBM keyboard is compelling enough to warrant the higher price. However, the better purchase decision for the general public is the OEM keyboard at the lower price.