Consumer Reports ranks most reliable cars
Ford slips, badly, while another brand dominates the top positions, in the annual report.
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Consumer Reports Auto Reliability Survey: Ford Falls, Seven Japanese Brands Top List...
By Consumer Reports Staff
ConsumerReports.org
–29 Oct, 2012
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Only two years ago, Ford was Detroit’s poster child, for reliability.
It cracked the top 10 among brands in Consumer Reports
predicted-reliability scores, with more than 90 percent of its models
being average or better.
This year, the top seven spots are all held by
Japanese brands.
Several factors contributed to Ford’s decline in Consumer Reports reliability rankings.
Several factors contributed to Ford’s decline in Consumer Reports reliability rankings.
A few new or redesigned models,
including the Explorer, Fiesta, and Focus,
came out of the gate with more problems than normal.
Ford also
added the MyFord/MyLincoln Touch electronic infotainment system, which
has been problematic to many vehicles.
In addition, three
historically reliable models—the Ford Escape, Fusion and the Lincoln MKZ—are not included in the analysis; the three were redesigned for 2013, and CR doesn’t have reliability data on them.
Toyota has excelled in Consumer Reports latest ratings.
Toyota has excelled in Consumer Reports latest ratings.
Its
three brands—Scion, Toyota, and Lexus—swept the top spots.
Toyota is again setting the pace in reliability.
Of the 27 models in the brand’s
lineup, 16 earned the highest ratings.
The subcompact Toyota Prius C earned Consumer Reports top score overall.
The hatchback Prius, the larger Prius V, and the new Prius plug-in, were also above average.
The Toyota trio is followed by four other Japanese makes: Mazda, Subaru, Honda, and Acura, in that order.
The Toyota trio is followed by four other Japanese makes: Mazda, Subaru, Honda, and Acura, in that order.
...acura is a honda, moron!
All the models produced by the top
seven brands had average or better reliability.
Of the 90 Japanese
models reflected in Consumer Reports brand comparison, 86 were average
or better, with 35 earning the highest rating.
Leading the Europeans, Audi had its best showing, moving up 18 spots to eighth place, making it easily the most reliable European make, and the top non-Japanese brand.
The findings from Consumer Reports 2012 Annual Auto Survey are based on subscribers’ experiences with 1.2 million vehicles.
Leading the Europeans, Audi had its best showing, moving up 18 spots to eighth place, making it easily the most reliable European make, and the top non-Japanese brand.
The findings from Consumer Reports 2012 Annual Auto Survey are based on subscribers’ experiences with 1.2 million vehicles.
The organization uses the extensive data to predict
how well new cars currently sold will hold up.
For full
reliability charts and predicted reliability on hundreds of 2012 models,
plus a list of what's up and what's down, visit ConsumerReports.org.
Mixed bag for domestics
Cadillac CTS-V Coupe
Mixed bag for domestics
Cadillac CTS-V Coupe
Cadillac is the top U.S. brand, having moved up 14 spots this year.
Its CTS coupe
was the most reliable domestic car.
A number of other General Motors
nameplates—Buick, Chevrolet, GMC—also moved up in the rankings.
The Chevrolet Volt
extended-range electric car continues to have above-average
reliability, and the compact Chevrolet Cruze, dismal in its first year,
improved to average.
Chrysler brands had a few setbacks.
Chrysler brands had a few setbacks.
This
year, Consumer Reports has enough data to report on some of the recently
revamped Chrysler and Dodge models; their problems have dragged the
nameplates’ rankings down.
The Dodge Charger returns with well-below-average reliability.
Other models had ups and downs.
The V6 version of the Chrysler 300 sedan, with an average rating, is now the brand’s most reliable model; the V8 300 is its worst.
Likewise, the V6 Jeep Grand Cherokee
scores average and the V8 is now below par.
The differences stem from
the alternative powertrains and the extra features found in
higher-priced versions.
Separating its trucks into a new nameplate, Ram, didn’t help Dodge’s standing.
Fiat’s 500 debuted with average reliability in its first year in the U.S.
Japanese models are tops
Mazda is hot on the tail of the three Toyota brands, and its improvement is buoyed by the predicted-reliability score for the new 2013 Mazda CX-5 SUV, which is much better than average.
Japanese models are tops
Mazda is hot on the tail of the three Toyota brands, and its improvement is buoyed by the predicted-reliability score for the new 2013 Mazda CX-5 SUV, which is much better than average.
Subaru’s standing improved, with its redesigned Impreza
debuting with top marks and none of its models scoring below average.
Honda dropped one spot in the ranking, to sixth place, but its worst
vehicle, the Odyssey minivan, improved from below average to average.
Nissan and its Infiniti luxury brand performed well overall, but a few models kept them from ranking with the other Japanese nameplates. Nissan’s Versa sedan, redesigned for 2012, was much worse than average, as was the large Armada SUV.
Nissan and its Infiniti luxury brand performed well overall, but a few models kept them from ranking with the other Japanese nameplates. Nissan’s Versa sedan, redesigned for 2012, was much worse than average, as was the large Armada SUV.
The Titan pickup truck was also below par.
Of the seven Infiniti models, only the convertible version of the G scored below average.
German brands lead Europe
All the German luxury brands improved.
German brands lead Europe
All the German luxury brands improved.
Six of the seven Audis in CR’s
survey rated average or better, as did 10 of the 12 BMWs.
The
high-end BMW 7 Series, and the turbocharged six-cylinder version of the X3 SUV, were much worse than average.
Mercedes-Benz made a good showing, with the turbocharged, four-cylinder C250 sedan doing well in its first year, and the V6 E-Class sedan moving from average to above average.
The redesigned M-Class came in below average, in its first year.
Volkswagen was a mix.
Volkswagen was a mix.
The redesigned Beetle, four- and five-cylinder gasoline Jetta, sporty GTI, and Touareg
SUV, were below average.
Volvo, which ranked highest among European
brands last year, dropped 10 places, hurt by declining scores for the C30 hatchback, the C70 convertible, and a below-average showing for the aging XC90 SUV.
Consumer Reports reliability ratings do not come from the organization’s experience during vehicle testing.
Consumer Reports reliability ratings do not come from the organization’s experience during vehicle testing.
It relies on owners to
supply the Consumer Reports National Research Center with the data.
Earlier this year, the organization asked subscribers to report about
serious problems they’ve had with their vehicles in the prior 12 months.
CR bases its predicted-reliability scores on the most recent three
model years of data, provided the model has not been redesigned for
2013.
The scores are presented as a percentage better or worse than the
average of all cars.
The minimum sample size is 100 vehicles, but Consumer Reports often gets many more.
The minimum sample size is 100 vehicles, but Consumer Reports often gets many more.
Among 2012 models, the Honda CR-V drew the most responses: 2,981.
Other 2012 models with more than 2,000 responses are the Hyundai Elantra sedan, and the four-cylinder Toyota Camry and Subaru Outback.
Some new and redesigned models were released too late to be in our
survey, and redesigned 2013 models are not included in the brand’s
average reliability score.
Copyright © 2006-2012 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.
Copyright © 2006-2012 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.
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