You’re quoting Consumer Reports; a publication from people have never worked in the automotive service or sales field.
I’ve worked for 5 dealers and done a lot of sublet work for another. All considered a demonstrator a used car.
As a service manager for one of those dealers I was provided a dealer demo to drive. When it hit a certain mileage it was sold as a used car and replaced with a new one.
Here’s a cut and paste from the Federal Trade Commission on the subject. Note especially the last 2 paragraphs.
The Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection has established the Used Car Rule to provide consumers with important purchasing and warranty information. The following is a guide from the FTC’s Business Center website.
A Dealer’s Guide to the Used Car Rule
Most car dealers who sell used vehicles must comply with the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) Used Car Rule. In fact, car dealers who sell more than five used vehicles in a 12-month period must comply with the Rule. Banks and financial institutions are exempt from the Rule, as are businesses that sell vehicles to their employees, and lessors who sell a leased vehicle to a lessee, an employee of the lessee, or a buyer found by the lessee.
The Used Car Rule applies in all states except Maine and Wisconsin. These two states are exempt because they have similar regulations that require dealers to post disclosures on used vehicles. The Rule applies in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.
This booklet defines the Rule’s requirements, explains how to prepare and display the Buyers Guide, and offers a compliance checklist.
You must post a Buyers Guide before you “offer” a used vehicle for sale. A vehicle is offered for sale when you display it for sale or let a customer inspect it for the purpose of buying it, even if the car is not fully prepared for delivery. This requirement also applies to used vehicles for sale on your lot through consignment, power of attorney, or other agreement. At public auctions, dealers and the auction company must comply. The Rule does not apply at auctions that are closed to consumers.
Previously titled or not, any vehicle driven for purposes other than moving or test driving, is considered a used vehicle, including light-duty vans, light-duty trucks, demonstrators, and program cars that meet the following specifications:
a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of less than 8,500 pounds;
a curb weight of less than 6,000 pounds; and
a frontal area of less than 46 square feet.