How It Works

Methodology

Every number on MotiveGrid is derived from primary sources and documented assumptions. We show you what goes into each score, where the data comes from, and what we deliberately don't model — because honest limitations build more trust than false precision.

Analysis by the MotiveGrid Engineering Team · reviewed against primary sources

MotiveGrid ScoreCost of OwnershipPowertrainSafetyDriver AssistanceLivabilityData & Sources
TL;DR
Every number on MotiveGrid traces back to a primary government, regulatory, or established industry source — EPA, NHTSA, IIHS, EIA, IRS, manufacturer spec sheets, and a small set of independent research providers like CarEdge, RepairPal, and J.D. Power. No press releases, no sponsored data, no automaker partnerships. Every source listed below shows what it's used for, how often it's refreshed, and any adjustments we apply before it lands in a score.

Raw Data & Adjustment Models

Raw source data is not always used as-is. Where we apply adjustments, the rationale is documented. Adjustments fall into three categories:

Normalization
Converting units to a common scale (e.g., MPG → MPGe using the EPA 33.7 kWh/gallon equivalence). No information is added — only unit conversion.
Gap-filling
When a source lacks data for a specific vehicle (common for very new models), we apply a segment-level estimate derived from models where data does exist. Gap-filled values are always flagged in the vehicle data — they are never silently treated as measured values.
Projection
For 2026 model-year vehicles without a resale history, we project forward using prior-year historical data for the same nameplate. This is a stated assumption, not a measured value.

Source Directory

MPG, MPGe, range, battery capacity, powertrain type for every vehicle
Update cadence: At vehicle seed time; re-ingested when EPA data is updated
State-level regular unleaded prices for fuel cost calculation
Update cadence: Cached weekly; API pull on ownership-cost compute
Residential electricity rates by state for EV charging cost
Update cadence: Updated monthly
Depreciation
CarEdge ↗
Value-retention curves (% MSRP retained at 1, 3, 5 years) by vehicle nameplate
Update cadence: At vehicle seed time; reviewed annually
Depreciation (secondary)
iSeeCars Depreciation Study ↗
Cross-validation of retention curves; used for models where CarEdge lacks data
Update cadence: Annual study review
Vehicle-level and state-average premium data used to calibrate MotiveGrid's 10-archetype insurance model
Update cadence: Annual review; recalibrated after material market shifts
Insurance (state factors)
NAIC State Insurance Profiles ↗
Cross-check on state-level premium multipliers in the archetype model
Update cadence: Annual review
Calibration target for MotiveGrid's 9-archetype maintenance model (scheduled service + brand labor modifier + warranty discount)
Update cadence: At vehicle seed time; reviewed when CarEdge data refreshes
Maintenance (secondary)
RepairPal ↗
Cross-validation of brand-level repair-risk tiers
Update cadence: Annual review
Per-state base fees, ad-valorem rates, personal-property tax averages, and EV surcharges for the registration model
Update cadence: Annual review; updated when state EV-fee laws change
Registration (validation)
Tax Foundation EV Taxes ↗
Cross-check on state EV surcharge levels
Update cadence: Annual study release
Brand-level Vehicle Dependability Study public summaries for reliability index
Update cadence: Annual study release
Brand-level reliability trend data for composite reliability index
Update cadence: Annual review
Overall, frontal, side, and rollover crash test ratings
Update cadence: At vehicle seed time
Safety Ratings
IIHS Ratings ↗
Crashworthiness and headlight ratings; Top Safety Pick / TSP+ award status
Update cadence: At vehicle seed time; updated when new model-year ratings are published
Owner's manual ODD definitions, system capability claims, and hardware specifications
Update cadence: At vehicle seed time
Active and completed recalls for platform maturity scoring
Update cadence: Reviewed at vehicle seed time
Vehicle eligibility, MSRP caps, assembly origin verification
Update cadence: Reviewed when eligibility rules change
Cross-validation of total cost-of-ownership reasonableness against an independent national average
Update cadence: Annual study review
Front and rear legroom, headroom, cargo volume, length, width, wheelbase, turning circle — sourced from manufacturer spec sheets and cross-validated against the EPA passenger volume index
Update cadence: At vehicle seed time; reviewed when a model receives a generation refresh
Livability — Passenger Volume
EPA Vehicle Specifications Database ↗
Total passenger volume in cubic feet, used as a cross-check on combined legroom/headroom data and for sub-class assignment
Update cadence: At vehicle seed time

What We Don't Use

Manufacturer claims
Manufacturer-published range, efficiency, or performance claims are used only as cross-reference. Regulatory test data (EPA, NHTSA, IIHS) takes precedence in all calculations.
Press releases
Pre-production efficiency estimates, prototype performance figures, or announced (not certified) specifications are never seeded as data.
Affiliate or sponsored data
We have no data partnership agreements and receive no compensation from any automotive brand, dealer network, or financial product provider. This is structural — not just policy.
User-submitted data
Crowdsourced vehicle data is excluded in V1. Real-world driving data from user submissions would require a validation pipeline we haven't built. We'd rather have less data than unvalidated data.

Last updated: May 2026 (v2 scoring + own TCO models) · hello@motivegrid.com

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