An independent platform for transparent, data-driven car reviews and scores.
I started Carivo because I got tired of car-buying websites that either buried you in spec sheets or gave you vague "editor's picks" with no explanation of how they got there. I wanted something straightforward — a real number, out of 10, that told me how a car actually performed across the things that matter when you own one for five years: reliability, safety, value, how it drives, and whether the tech holds up.
My name is Juan Pablo Afanador, and I built Carivo from scratch. No corporate backing, no manufacturer sponsorships, no dealer partnerships. Just me, a database of vehicle data, and a scoring system I designed to be as transparent as possible. Every score on this site comes from the same public sources anyone can check — NHTSA, the EPA, JD Power, and manufacturer-published specs.
I keep the scores updated because outdated information is almost as bad as no information. When a car gets a major refresh or new safety data comes out, I revisit the score. Each car page shows you the exact date the data was last updated so you always know what you're looking at.
If you spot an error or think a score is off, I genuinely want to know. You can reach me directly at juanafanador130@gmail.com or by WhatsApp at +57 310 688 0938. I read everything.
Every car on Carivo gets evaluated on five dimensions: Reliability, Safety, Value for Money, Performance, and Technology. Each gets its own score from 1 to 10, and those five numbers roll up into the single overall Carivo score you see on every car page.
I chose these five because they're what actually affects your life as an owner. A car that scores a 9 on performance but a 5 on reliability is going to cost you more in the long run than a 7.5 across the board. The breakdown is there so you can decide what matters most to you.
Reliability is how often the car breaks down, how expensive repairs tend to be, and what the long-term ownership data says. I pull defect rates, warranty claims, and multi-year owner surveys to build this number. A car with a 9 here is one owners don't think about much — it just runs.
Safety is built from NHTSA crash test results (frontal, side, rollover) and IIHS ratings, plus a review of what active safety systems come standard vs. optional. A car with good crash scores but no standard automatic emergency braking doesn't get a free pass.
Value for Money compares what you're getting against what you're paying — and what competing cars in the same price range offer. I factor in depreciation, insurance costs, fuel costs, and standard equipment at the base trim. A $55,000 car that drives like a $35,000 car isn't good value no matter how nice the interior looks.
Performance covers real-world dynamics: acceleration, braking, handling, and ride quality. For EVs, I include range and charge speed. I'm not chasing track times — this is about how the car actually feels on the road you drive every day.
Technology looks at the infotainment system, driver-assistance features, smartphone connectivity, and how intuitive the interface is. Technology that lags five years behind the competition drags this score down even if everything else is good.
I use a 1-to-10 scale because that's the scale most people think in. Here's roughly what each range translates to in plain terms:
At minimum, I review scores once a year. If a manufacturer releases a significantly updated model, pushes a major recall, or new reliability data shifts the picture meaningfully, I update sooner. The date on each car page tells you exactly when I last touched it. If something looks stale, just email me and I'll take another look.
This is a one-person project. I'm Juan Pablo Afanador, and I handle everything — the data, the scoring, the site itself. I'm not a team of journalists or a media company. I'm someone who spends a lot of time thinking about cars and data, and who built the tool I personally wanted to exist.
I don't have editors above me softening scores because a manufacturer complained. I don't have a sales team selling "featured listing" spots. The revenue on this site comes from Google display ads only — the same ads you'd see on any other content website.
That independence matters. When a car scores a 6.1, it's because the data says 6.1. When one scores a 9.2, same thing. Nobody paid for either number.
If you want to reach me: juanafanador130@gmail.com or WhatsApp +57 310 688 0938.
Every number on Carivo traces back to one of these sources — I don't make figures up, and I don't use anonymous "proprietary" data that can't be verified:
I don't own this underlying data — it's publicly available, and you should feel free to check it yourself. If you find a discrepancy between what's on Carivo and what an official source says, I want to hear about it. That's the kind of correction that makes the site better.