Yes it’s a common problem with reviewers that they depend on makers to allow them free and early access to review products, if they lose their privileges they are finished as reviewers.
This is not just for cars, mostly everything in reviews is corrupted by dependencies if not outright bribes.
Funny thing is I once saw a review of a USB microscope, that was very critical to the product. Yet the review caused sales to shoot through the roof, because although the criticism was true, the product was very cheap, and the problems could be worked around. So even bad reviews can be good, if the price is right and the basic functions work.