For First Time In Years, Civic Isn’t ‘Recommended’

Whoa! I didn't think I'd ever see the day.... I got to say I'm not sure what to think, on one hand I do agree with consumer reports on the quality of materials taking a step back, but the noisy choppy ride I couldn't disagree with more, especially having done a comparison ride and drive between all the major competitors listed in the top 12 and knowing how each drives.

CR's also says that the rear seat room is a positive, well, I am no giant but I have noticed that there is less head room in the rear compared to the previous model. Hmm.

I think Honda is a victim of their own success, there is no doubt that the competition has gotten better, it's very hard to have a 'revolutionary' new bodystyle everytime but I do feel they made some improvements; safer (10% more high tensile steel), better fuel economy (with or without Eco mode), and more features (bluetooth is standard, new multi-informational display, USB is more standard, power seat in a Civic EX-L, and I could go on).

At the end of the day it is going to come down to what the consumer says and if early indications are anything, at least here in Canada, we can't get enough of them. I expect a revision to this rating some time, might not be until their May 2012 issue, but I expect something.
A popular consumer magazine known for its automotive road tests says it can no longer recommend the Honda Civic compact sedan. The Civic, which has been a top finisher in comparisons with rivals in the small-car segment for decades, finished second from the bottom in a 12-car shoot-out in Consumer Reports.

The magazine’s announcement, which coincides with distribution of its latest issue, marks “the first time in recent memory” that the Civic has not received its stamp of approval, a magazine spokesman says.

Summing up the Civic’s performance in its small-sedan evaluation, Consumer Reports says, “The Civic, long one of our top-scoring small cars, has slid backward with its latest redesign and no longer scores high enough in our testing for us to recommend it. The new Civic dropped a whopping 17 points — from a very good 78 to a mediocre 61 on our 100-point scale.”

The statement continues: “Compared with its predecessor, the 2012 Civic has lower interior quality and suffers from a choppy ride, long stopping distances, and pronounced road noise. Vague steering impairs its agility and robs it of its fun-to-drive feel.”

Among the positives, the magazine says, are the car’s rear-seat room and fuel economy of 30 mpg overall .

Honda released the following statement:
“In a broad sense, we disagree with Consumer Reports’ findings. Without question, the small sedan segment is more competitive than ever. In virtually every way, the completely redesigned 2012 Civic is a step forward. The new Civic excels in areas that matter to small-car customers, including fuel efficiency, safety, and reliability. Among the Civic’s greatest competitive strengths, is a smooth and efficient powertrain that, in Consumer Reports testing returned, “… an impressive 30 mpg overall on regular fuel and 47 mpg on the highway.” Also noted in Consumer Reports findings, the Civic excels in the area of safety, with a long list of important features standard on all trim levels, and a class-leading ‘Top Safety Pick’ rating from IIHS. Lastly, the Civic has a stellar reliability history with Consumer Reports, and we are confident that the new Civic will be a reliability leader as well.”

Here is the finishing order in the Consumer Reports test:
1. Hyundai Elantra GLS
2. Nissan Sentra SL
3. Subaru Impreza 2.5i
4. Toyota Corolla LE
5. Kia Forte EX
6. Mazda Mazda3 Touring
7. Chevrolet Cruze 1LT
8. Ford Focus SE
9. Chevrolet Cruze LS
10. Mitsubishi Lancer ES
11. Honda Civic LX
12. Volkswagen Jetta SE

Source;
http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2011/08/01/for-first-time-in-years-civic-isnt-recomended/

Consumer Reports: Mythbuster: Can cars imported from Japan be radioactive?

As Japan struggles to emerge from the recent earthquake and subsequent tsunami, and faces further potential disaster from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power complex, the auto industry is wrestling with how to cope with the enormous logistic challenges these tragedies have created. Japanese automakers and their suppliers have suspended production, and it may be months before things are fully back up to speed. As the world waits to see what happens next, from when rebuilding the ravaged nation can begin to how its recovery could impact markets, some consumers have pondered, are there risks from cars imported from Japan being radioactive?

In a word, no.

The vast majority of factories are located well outside the evacuation range surrounding the Fukushima Daiichi complex. Automakers report they are taking precautions to ensure their factories, components, and staff are protected. Likewise, they will ensure that vehicles meet safe levels for radiation before distributing.

"Toyota will take any necessary steps to ensure the cars we deliver to customers are safe in every way," said Javier Moreno of Toyota Communications. He stated that the majority of Toyota Motor Corporation's operations in Japan are located about 240 miles southwest of the nuclear power plant and no unusual radiation activity has been detected.

We spoke with several companies, all of which have been working to protect their workers and consumers, while rebuilding their businesses. The sentiments expressed by the automakers were similar, though clearly some were harder hit than others.

"We are evaluating the situation very carefully, of course, safety is our number one concern," said Jeffrey Smith of Honda Corporate affairs. He added that the nearest port to the impacted area that Honda uses is about 125 miles away. Honda had 17 employees injured in the Tochigi area during the earthquake, plus an associate killed at an R&D facility.

Beyond the safety measures in place in Japan, consumers are further protected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), an agency focused on preventing terrorists and weapons from entering the United States. Among its tools, the CBP uses sensitive, large-scale Radiation Portal Monitors (RPM) to scan all maritime cargo and mail arriving from Japan. In addition, agents use a wide range of technologies, including radiation isotope identifiers, to scan people, vehicles, and cargo containers. The radiation isotope identifiers are hand-held devices that can detect gamma and neutron emissions from radioactive sources, including nuclear, medical, and industrial isotopes. With hundreds of such devices in the field, any car or other product carrying an unsafe level of radioactivity would be discovered and halted at the more than 140 Border Patrol stations and more than 150 ports of entry.

As one would expect, the CBP tells us that they are monitoring developments in Japan carefully and specifically assessing the potential for radiological contamination associated with the ongoing impact of the earthquake and tsunami to Japan's nuclear facilities.

There are many valid concerns surrounding the crisis in Japan, including the human toll, cultural impact, and market forces, but radioactive consumer goods is not one of them.

Learn what you can do to aid Japan (via CNN), and donate to the American Red Cross.

—Jim Travers and Jeff Bartlett

Source;
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2011/03/mythbuster-can-cars-imported-from-japan-be-radioactive.html

Auto regulators drop rule for power window safety requirement

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) withdrew proposed rulemaking for an automatic reverse function that would prevent a child’s neck or hand from getting caught in a closing window, if they inadvertently pressed down the switch that raises the window.

There are few fatalities or serious injuries that additional safety requirements could prevent, NHTSA stated in a notice about the nixed rule. Any new regulation “would instead address primarily ‘finger-pinch’ type injuries.”

Vehicle redesigns have largely addressed the issue, and now have window switches that need to be pulled up. Window switches that are pressed down to close automatic windows have been replaced, virtually eliminating the hazard. This leaves only older vehicles with that specific safety hazard.

NHTSA also asked for a delay in requiring backup cameras in cars. Both measures are part of the 2007 Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act, for which Consumers Union originally lobbied.

Consumers can check out which vehicles have auto-reverse safety features through safercar.gov
—Maggie Shader

Source;
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/safety/2011/03/auto-regulators-drop-rule-for-power-window-safety-requirement.html?EXTKEY=I91CONL&CMP=OTC-ConsumeristRSS

Honda CBR250R is first entry-level motorcycle with ABS

If you’re looking forward to celebrating warmer weather by getting into motorcycle riding, Honda may have the bike for you. The company just introduced a new entry-level sport bike, the CBR250R, to compete with Kawasaki’s popular Ninja 250, which we tested (and liked a lot) in 2008.

Previously, Honda’s only entry-level bike this small and affordable was the Rebel 250, a cruiser which we also tested then. All our riders preferred the Ninja for its precise handling; smooth, free-revving engine; and slick-shifting six-speed transmission. Some riders also found the Rebel 250 too small and cramped.

Now the CBR250R offers a sport-bike seating position in an affordable, entry-level package starting at $4,500. Better yet for new riders, the CBR250R is available with antilock brakes, which the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has shown reduces motorcycle crashes by as much as 37 percent.

Consumer Reports would like to see ABS offered on more motorcycles, especially affordable models aimed at newer riders. We welcome Honda’s introduction of the CBR250R as a first step in that direction and consider the $500 premium for the optional antilock brake system to be money well spent.

Source;
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2011/01/honda-cbr250r-is-first-entry-level-motorcycle-with-abs.html

Consumer Reports Test complete: 2011 Honda Odyssey EX-L

“Mocked as Uncool, the Minivan Rises Again,” proclaims the headline in the recent New York Times’ business section. Long maligned for their dowdy image and shunted to the sidelines as buyers were attracted to SUVs, minivans are experiencing something of a sales resurgence.

Maybe buyers are rediscovering the appeal of minivans: no other vehicle offers their combination of passenger and cargo space, drivability, refinement, and fuel economy. It’s also entirely likely that sales are up because there is fresh product. Every player in the market has been redesigned or updated in the last 18 months.

That includes the Honda Odyssey, currently the top-selling minivan. Trying to appeal to a new generation of buyers who previously wouldn’t be caught dead in a minivan, the redesigned Odyssey has much more swoopy styling and some new interior features. But as our test shows, a minivan that is now more interesting to look at isn’t necessarily more entertaining to drive.

Watch the video for highlights from our testing, and visit the Honda Odyssey model overview page for complete pricing, reliability, road test, and more.

—Tom Mutchler

Source;
Consumer Reports

Ford passes Toyota in Consumer Reports quality ranking (Honda 1st!)

Honda and Ford have pushed past Toyota in consumer views of quality, according to Consumer Reports’ 2011 Car Brand Perception Survey.

A series of massive recalls over the last 18 months tarnished Toyota’s reputation as a leader in quality, the magazine said Tuesday. Toyota also paid nearly $50 million in fines last year to federal safety regulators for failing to promptly inform regulators of defects in its vehicles and delaying recalls.

Honda ranked first, with 25% of the car owners participating in the survey naming it as the manufacturer with the best quality in the study. Ford was second, at 23%, and Toyota finished third at 19%, a drop of 11 percentage points for the former leader. Chevrolet, at 16%, and Mercedes-Benz, at 15%, rounded out the top five.

Despite Toyota’s dive in the quality rankings, the Japanese automaker still scored the highest in overall brand perception -– an amalgamation of separate rankings of safety, quality, value, performance, environmentally friendliness, design/style and technology/innovation.

Toyota, with an overall score of 147, narrowly edged out Ford, which scored 144 points on the Consumer Reports scale, because of its big lead as an automaker that is considered environmentally friendly, said C. Matt Fields, a magazine spokesman.

“Statistically, it really is a dead heat,” he said.

Consumers in the study ranked safety, 65%; quality, 57%; and value, 51%, as the most important factors in their car-buying decisions. When it comes to safety, Volvo was named by 70% as the leader. It had a giant 50-point advantage over second-place Ford at 20%. Honda and Subaru were both at 17% and Mercedes-Benz was fifth, with 14%.

In terms of value, Ford, at 25%, squeaked by Honda, 24%, and Toyota, 23%, as the brand most mentioned by consumers. Hyundai, with 17%, and Chevrolet, at 15%, rounded out the value rankings. The full report can be found here.

Consumer Reports saying that Ford has moved up in perception and that Toyota has declined matches other auto-market trends.

The Ford brand outsold Toyota’s line of vehicles last year for the first time since 2006.
Toyota saw its share of the U.S. auto market fall to 15.2% in 2010 from 17% in the previous year.

Meanwhile, Ford’s market share rose to 16.7% last year, up more than a full percentage point. This was the second consecutive year of rising market share for Ford and its first back-to-back increase since 1993.

Also last year, Toyota was the subject of more than a quarter of the complaints drivers filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, according to a study by auto information company Edmunds.com. Its ratio of complaints to 100,000 vehicles sold jumped to nearly 87 so far in 2010 from 37 a year earlier.

Among large automakers, Ford and Honda had the lowest complaint ratios.

Source;
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/01/honda-and-ford-have-pushed-past-toyota-in-consumer-views-of-quality-according-to-consumer-reports-2011-car-brand-percepti.html

Video: 2011 Mazda2 - Good, but not quite (Honda) Fit

You know that the Honda FIT is a good car when it's used as a benchmark when comparing other good cars....

The subcompact Mazda2 isn't a bad car, but "not bad" isn't enough to take the world by storm. In today's competitive car market, there are plenty of really good cars to pick from.

Good fuel mileage is a big reason buyers go for small cars. The Mazda2 returned an average of 30 mpg overall with an automatic transmission and 33 with the manual in our testing. While that's not too shabby, it isn't outstanding these days. The larger and more comfortable Toyota Corolla compact returned 32 mpg overall in our tests with an automatic, and the midsize Hyundai Sonata GLS clocked in at 27 mpg overall.

Both of those cars are newer designs than the wee Mazda, and that's one of the 2's problems: Engine, transmission, and other technologies are advancing so fast that an older design just can't deliver the fuel economy of newer models. And the Mazda2 is an older design, having been on sale in Japan, Europe, and other markets for several years before being introduced to U.S. buyers earlier this year.

That leads to the other problem. There's good reason why carmakers bring certain models to certain markets and don't bring others. Roads, driving habits, and lifestyles vary tremendously around the world. The Mazda2 does not drive like it was designed for U.S. roads. That's because it wasn't.

The 2 is a kick to drive around town, zipping in and out of tight spaces and easy to park. On back roads, it's also entertaining to toss around. But the 2 isn't a fun cruiser. It's noisy on those highways we Americans rely on to get around so much, with a choppy ride, and it can feel a bit darty, requiring a lot of steering correction to stay on course.

Honda brought the subcompact Fit to our shores a few years ago, and it, too, was a design not intended for the U.S market. But with much more interior room and a clever folding rear seat that turns it into a mini cargo truck, the Fit has been a hit with American buyers. It's one of our top-Rated subcompacts.

The Mazda2 entered the increasingly crowded subcompact category as a contender and outscored some others in our testing. But it isn't as Fit as some others.

Source;
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2010/12/video-2011-mazda2-good-but-not-quite-fit.html

Consumer Reports: Honda, Toyota vehicles most trouble-free

Sorry about the small pic, it's as big as I could find....
DETROIT — The most problem-free cars and trucks are made by Honda and Toyota, but U.S. automakers Ford and General Motors are closing the gap in quality, according to an annual survey by Consumer Reports magazine.

Ford and GM continue to narrow the disparity that once separated Asia-based automakers from their Detroit rivals. Large overhauls of American car companies in the last few years have resulted in fewer brands and better vehicles from Detroit.

For the third year in a row, Toyota's Scion had the fewest problems of any brand in the survey.

It was followed by Porsche, Acura, Honda, and Nissan's Infiniti luxury brand. The Toyota brand ranked sixth, down from third last year. It was followed by Subaru and Volvo. Lexus, which had been a top finisher in past years, fell to ninth. Ford was 10th, but rose from 16th the previous year.

Consumer Reports rankings, released Tuesday, are widely used by buyers shopping for cars and trucks. The magazine ranks No. 3 on the list of information sources used by Americans to pick vehicles, topped only by brand loyalty and recommendations from friends and family.

Scion, Toyota's youth brand, was tops because it sells just three models, the xD hatchback, xB wagon and tC coupe. Those models haven't been revamped recently. As a result, they have fewer reliability problems, said David Champion, senior director of auto testing for Consumer Reports.

Toyota generally fared well in the survey despite recalling more than 10 million vehicles worldwide for safety problems including sticky gas pedals, floor mats that can trap accelerators and brake fluid leaks.

"Toyota's taken a slight knock from the issues with their recalls," Champion said.

He said the magazine's survey asks owners to ignore recalls unless they have experienced a problem, easing the impact. Toyota's luxury brand, Lexus, has expanded its model lineup and the quality has slipped, he said.

The survey of about 960,000 of the magazine's subscribers also restored recommended ratings for eight recalled Toyota brand models.

Toyota in January recalled 2.3 million vehicles in the U.S. due to sticky gas pedals, including the 2009-10 RAV4 crossover, 2009-10 Corolla, the 2009-10 Matrix hatchback, the 2005-10 Avalon, the 2007-10 Camry, the 2010 Highlander crossover, the 2007-10 Tundra pickup and the 2008-10 Sequoia SUV models.

It stopped selling the models until the vehicles on dealer lots were fixed. When sales were halted, Consumer Reports yanked the recommended ratings.

Champion said Honda is the top manufacturer for reliability, with the Honda and Acura brands consistently at the top of the survey due to a continued emphasis on quality.

Champion said the Dearborn, Michigan-based Ford has several individual models that have better quality than Toyotas. Ford's quality resurgence was led by the Fusion midsize sedan, which outranked Honda's Accord and Toyota's Camry, two of the most reliable cars on the road.

Ford's improvements began five years ago and have continued, Champion said.

General Motors showed the most improvement. GM had 69 models with average or better reliability, up from only 21 last year. GM's top-ranked brand was Chevrolet at 17, up from 25 last year.

GM shed some poor-quality models when it got rid of Saturn, Hummer and Pontiac, Champion said, and its new models like the Chevrolet Equinox crossover and Buick LaCrosse sedan are performing well.

The Chrysler brand was ranked last of 27 brands shown in the survey, the magazine said, while Jeep ranked 20th and Dodge was 24th. No Chrysler vehicles scored above average in reliability.

Champion said the company under its previous owners cut costs, and it is showing in the quality rankings. The company's in the process of updating its entire model lineup. New models like the Jeep Grand Cherokee are showing promise.

The most reliable vehicle in the survey was the Porsche Boxster sports car, while the least reliable was the Jaguar XF luxury car.

Complete rankings and recommendations will be revealed in the magazine's December issue.

Source;
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5g99bly-plBKdOzx9dmhnZMP3rGZQ?docId=4947998

Consumer Reports: Why you should buy a 2010 Honda Odyssey now!

Consumer Reports picks best cars for teens and seniors: Honda Accord

Consumer Reports Picks Best Cars for Teens and Seniors
Honda Accord is the right fit for the young, old, tall and small

YONKERS, N.Y., Aug. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With the fall semester just around the corner, Consumer Reports offers its best choices for parents and teens out shopping for a car to bring back to school.

When looking for the right car for teens, including used models, Consumer Reports recommends picking cars with safety features such as electronic stability control and curtain air bags and good crash-test results.

"Often parents think that putting their child in the biggest car is the safest thing they can do, but that's not so. Teens are the most inexperienced drivers on the road, so you want to make sure they're driving something that handles well, is agile and has as many safety features as possible--especially electronic stability control," said David Champion, senior director of Consumer Reports Automotive Test Center in East Haddam, Connecticut.

In addition to naming good cars for young and older drivers, Consumer Reports also names good picks for all sizes and types of drivers including the tall and small. All the models on Consumer Reports' lists have at least average reliability and are Recommended vehicles. Consumer Reports named only one car suitable for all four driver types: the Honda Accord.

"When it comes to finding the right cars for seniors, we recommend vehicles that offer easy access, good visibility, a roomy driving position and comfortable seats," Champion added.

Here is a look at some of Consumer Reports' picks for teens and seniors:
Good Models for Teen drivers: (ESC is standard or optional starting with the years listed below).

-- Small sedans:
Hyundai Elantra SE (2008-2010),
Mazda3 (2007-),
Scion xB(2008-)

-- Midsized sedans:
Acura TSX (2004-),
Honda Accord (2008-),
Kia Optima(2007-)

-- Small SUVs:
Honda CR-V (2005-),
Nissan Rogue (2008-)

Good Models for Senior drivers:

-- Minivans:
Honda Odyssey

-- Small SUV:
Subaru Forester XT Limited

-- Upscale sedan:
Hyundai Azera

-- Family sedan:
Honda Accord

-- Microvan:
Kia Rondo

Source;
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/03/consumer-reports-picks-best-cars-for-teens-and-seniors/

Survey: Honda perceived to be tops in customer, quality commitment

Among seven major auto brands, consumers consider Honda to be the most committed to customers and to product quality. Ford ranked second, followed by Nissan, Chevrolet, and Toyota, based on a new survey by the Consumer Reports National Research Center. Hyundai and Chrysler trailed the others by a significant margin.

To see how consumers' perception of a brand's commitment to customers and quality has changed in the wake of Toyota's high-profile safety and image challenges, the Consumer Reports National Research Center conducted a telephone survey using a nationally representative sample. More than 1,700 interviews were completed among adults whose household owns at least one vehicle.

Honda truly stands out by this measure, being perceived as having much greater customer and quality commitment than its chief rivals. Key to this accomplishment is that Honda has a reputation for building good vehicles that perform well, are fuel efficient, and have strong reliability histories.

Ford continues its march, with strong showings in several recent Consumer Reports surveys, good overall reliability, and, unlike its domestic peers, continued goodwill among consumers for having taken no federal assistance.

Toyota had a relatively decent showing here, though trailing its chief competitors.

Although Hyundai's newer models have generally performed well in our tests, the brand's challenge still seems to be communicating this to consumers. Less than 50 percent of respondents felt that Hyundai was committed to its customers or quality.

The recent financial troubles, dealer closings, and lack of new product may have been factors in the last-place finish for Chrysler. Currently, to the average consumer, Chrysler has not been showing much commitment of any kind.

The bottom line

As we have written before, perception can differ from reality. When shopping for your next new or used car, do your homework by checking ratings and road tests. You may find that the brands you are considering have changed more rapidly than your perceptions.

Source;

http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2010/05/consumer-reports-survey-honda-perceived-to-be-tops-in-customer-quality-commitment-.html

How to avoid sinking your savings in a flood-damaged car

Here's an interesting article....
Considering the flooding that recently devastated Tennessee, we thought it important to remind consumers how to tell if a car that might have been underwater. (See a CNN report on the Tennessee flooding.)

Every year, many car buyers may unknowingly buy a vehicle that has hidden water-related problems. It could be caused by a natural disaster, such as Hurricane Katrina, local flooding, or a vehicle leak. Whatever the cause, buying a car with hidden water damage can play out like a depressing country song. Water damage can be hard to detect, but there are some hints of what to look for:

-Inspect the carpets to see if they are wet, damp, or muddy.
-Check the seat-mounting screws to see if there is any evidence that they have been removed.
-To dry the carpets, the seats must be removed, not generally a part of normal maintenance.
-Inspect the lights. Headlights and taillights are expensive to replace, and a visible water line may still show on the lens or reflector.
-Inspect the difficult-to-clean places, such as gaps between panels in the trunk and under the hood. Waterborne mud and debris may still appear in these places.
-Look for mud or debris on the bottom edges of brackets or panels, where it wouldn't settle naturally.
-Look at the heads of any unpainted exposed screws under the dashboard. Unpainted metal in flood cars will show signs of rust.
-Check if the rubber drain plugs under the car and on the bottom of doors look as if they have been removed recently. It may have been done to drain floodwater.
-If you need to dig deeper, remove a door panel to see whether there is a water mark on the inside.

If you are from an area impacted by a flood and have a car that was not damaged, be aware that buyers may still suspect that it was. Consider having a mechanic inspect the car before you sell it so that you can present potential buyers with a clean bill of health.

Likewise, months and even years after a major event like the Tennessee flooding, damaged cars can surface in other parts of the country. It best to be vigilant when considering a used-car purchase.

Source;
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2010/05/how-to-avoid-sinking-your-savings-in-a-flood-damaged-car-nashville-tennessee.html

Toyota Remains Third in Consumer Reports Brand Ranking

In spite of all the recalls, Toyota was ranked third in the annual spring auto issue of Consumer Reports, the same rank the carmaker had last year.

The magazine rankings are based on the performance, comfort, utility and reliability of more than 280 vehicles.

Toyota builds extremely good, reliable cars, said David Champion, senior director of Consumer Reports’ Auto Test Center. “I think once they get through all the recalls,” he said, “you’ll see that they are a very, very reliable manufacturer.”

Honda (which includes Acura models) and Subaru were tied for first place, the fourth year that Honda was the leading manufacturer. They were followed by Toyota, and Hyundai (including Kia) was ranked fourth, up from ninth last year.

American manufacturers fared poorly. Ford was ranked 11th, moving up one place from last year. General Motors and Chrysler occupied the bottom two slots, respectively.

But the big surprise was Toyota (including Lexus and Scion), though it was not all good news. The magazine ended up dropping a couple of Toyota models from the Top Picks after the company suspended sales because of the recall.

Mr. Champion said that “it was a little bit of a stretch to say we recommend you go out and buy a Highlander when you couldn’t actually go out and buy one.”

There was another surprise. Although Honda was ranked the best manufacturer, the brand did not receive a single top pick, the first time that’s happened to the company since 1998.

Top Picks are chosen from among more than 280 vehicles that Consumer Reports evaluates.

They must perform well in road tests, have average or better predicted reliability and perform adequately in safety tests. They must offer electronic stability control as standard equipment or as a readily available option.

There were six new vehicles on the list, marking a shift from Japanese automakers dominating the top spots. Newcomers are the Chevrolet Silverado and Traverse, Mazda 5, Nissan Altima, Subaru Forester and Volkswagen GTI. The other Top Picks are the Hyundai Elantra SE, Infiniti G37, Lexus LS 460L and the Toyota Prius.

The Nissan Altima replaces the Honda Accord as the best Family Sedan and is one example of changes taking place in a very competitive industry.

“Honda is starting to get passed over in many categories,” said Jake Fisher, the magazine’s senior automotive engineer, even though they rank tops in the “report card.”

“Honda over all does well, they don’t have many bad vehicles. Honda used to be known for great powertrains and great fuel efficiency, and now they are behind most of the top vehicles in terms of fuel economy. That’s unheard of from Honda.”

The issue goes on sale March 2.

Source;
http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/23/toyota-finishes-third-in-consumer-reports-brand-ranking/

2009 Annual Auto Reliability Survey: Domestics vs. the imports

Asian vehicles continue to lead in car reliability, but a number of domestic and European automakers are showing improvements. Of the 48 models with top reliability scores, 36 are Asian—Toyota accounts for 18; Honda, eight; Nissan, four; and Hyundai/Kia and Subaru, three each. The rest come from Ford with eight; Mercedes-Benz, one; Volkswagen, two; and Volvo, one.

European brands continue to improve in reliability with a significant rebound from Mercedes-Benz and improvements from Volkswagen and Audi. Most Volvo and Porsche models have also done well in our survey.

Ford leads the domestics with about 90 percent of models scoring average or better in our survey. Overall 20 of the 48 GM models have average reliability, but only the Chevrolet Malibu V6 has above average reliability in our survey. Last year, we couldn’t recommend any Chrysler product due to low test scores and poor reliability, but this year the 4WD Dodge Ram did well in our tests and has average reliability.

However, more than one-third of Chrysler products are much worse than average in reliability. The graphs above shows the percentage of models that rate above average, average, and below average for Asian, European, and American brands.

Source;
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2009/11/2009-annual-auto-reliability-survey-domestics-vs-the-imports.html

Honda and Toyota Top Reliability Survey, but Ford Closes Gap

Consumer Reports has released results from its annual car reliability survey, which will be published in the December issue of the magazine.

According to the survey, Honda and Toyota continue to have the most reliable vehicles, but Ford is very close behind. The magazine said Ford’s performance in the survey “dispels the notion that only Japanese manufacturers make reliable cars.”

Leading the way for Ford were the 4-cylinder versions of the Fusion and its sibling, the Mercury Milan, which were judged to be more reliable than two old standbys, the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. The Lincoln MKZ, a luxury version of the Fusion, also bests the Lexus ES and the Acura TL.

In fact, 90 percent of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles in the survey were found to have average or better-than-average predicted reliability. But all was not perfect in Blue Oval-land. The all-wheel-drive versions of the Lincoln MKS, MKX and MKZ all scored below average in reliability. And all-wheel-drive versions of the Ford Edge and Fusion were not as reliable as their front-wheel-drive versions either.

The annual Consumer Reports reliability ratings are based on a survey covering 1.4 million vehicles leased or owned by subscribers of Consumer Reports. The magazine averages the overall reliability scores for up to the most recent three model years if a model didn’t change in that period and didn’t change substantially for 2010. If a model is all-new or has been redesigned during that time, Consumer Reports may use one or two years of data. Conducted last spring, the current survey covers the 2000-9 model years.

The Honda Insight scored the highest of any vehicle in predicted reliability. And of the eight most reliable family cars, five were hybrids: Toyota Prius, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Mercury Milan Hybrid, Nissan Altima Hybrid and Toyota Camry Hybrid.

Small cars and gas-electric hybrids also performed well. Twenty of the 37 small cars surveyed, including the Honda Fit, Scion xD and Volkswagen Golf, had above-average predicted reliability.

Among automakers over all, Honda was at the top, with every Honda and Acura vehicle surveyed having average or better-than-average predicted reliability.

Toyota and Lexus models were right behind, with 98 percent of the models surveyed having average-or-better predicted reliability. The Lexus GS was the one Toyota model with below-average reliability.

Consumer Reports said General Motors’ performance “shows some bright spots.” It found 20 of the 48 G.M. models surveyed had average predicted reliability. One star was the Chevrolet Malibu V-6, with a better-than-average score. The magazine said it “is on par with the most reliable family sedans.”

The news was not so good for Chrysler, which the magazine said “continues to struggle.” It also noted that more than one-third of Chrysler products “are much worse than average, including its new car-based S.U.V., the Dodge Journey.” Last year Consumer Reports could not recommend any Chrysler products. This year it is recommending one: the 4-wheel-drive version of the redesigned Dodge Ram 1500 pickup, which rates average in reliability.

Mercedes-Benz significantly improved, the magazine said, “with most models average or better.”
Also, the diesel version of Volkswagen’s Jetta is the only diesel of those surveyed that Consumer Reports recommends.

Among Hyundai and Kia vehicles, models getting top scores were the Hyundai Elantra and Tucson as well as the Kia Sportage.

Source;
http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/honda-and-toyota-top-reliability-survey-but-ford-closes-gap/

Consumer Reports blasts Honda Insight, ranked 21 of 22 tested

Ouch! Although there have been nothing but glowing reviews for this car, Consumer Reports is a bible for some and I can't help but think that this will impact sales on the Insight. I for one am driving a Insight as a demo to get a proper feel for the car so that I can do justice in explaining its many features and I don't think it's anywhere near as bad as CReports says it is. Is it the perfect car for everyone? Of course not, but if you are looking for a fuel-miser that is dependable and are doing primarily city driving, this is a great choice. It pains me to post this, but I don't want to be seen as only posting the praise.
Calling it "the most disappointing Honda Consumer Reports has tested in a long time," America's most influential product testing magazine has given extremely poor marks to the Japanese automaker's new Insight hybrid.

In a verdict that reminds us of a certain Jeremy Clarkson review (albeit more kindly worded), Consumer Reports blasted the gas-electric hatchback for its "ride quality, handling, interior noise, acceleration, rear-seat, access, and visibility," consigning the hapless Honda to a 21 out of 22 ranking among other small hatchbacks and wagons. Tallying a road test score of 54 points, it was trailed only by the widely-panned Dodge Caliber, which managed just 49 points.

Despite the fact that it won't receive a much-coveted CR "Recommended" nod, the Insight still managed to post a "Good" overall road test score (largely on the strength of its 38 miles-per-gallon as-tested fuel economy). Regardless, it was comprehensively beaten by both the Volkswagen Jetta Wagon and the Hyundai Elantra Touring, which scored 80 and 79 points, respectively.

The Insight was the only vehicle in CR's test group to not to be Recommended, save Kia's Soul, which was excluded because the organization hasn't compiled any reliability data on the vehicle yet. Check out the press release after the jump.

Follow this link to get the press release;
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/06/30/i-consumer-reports-i-lambasts-honda-insight-ranks-it-21-out/

Again, OUCH!

What happens if an automaker goes bankrupt?

A: Under a Chapter 11 reorganization, a manufacturer's normal operations would probably continue. It would still be building cars and providing service, so car owners might not have problems getting warranty repairs, parts, and service.

In a Chapter 7 liquidation, the company would effectively cease to exist and car owners would largely be on their own. The company would still have to address safety recalls. It's possible that if another automaker buys a defunct brand, it would continue to support owners.

Perhaps more likely is an automaker's jettisoning a division, as GM did with Oldsmobile in 2004 and Chrysler did with Plymouth in 2001. Support for owners of those makes has continued through other GM and Chrysler dealerships. But the resale values of the vehicles plummeted, as would probably happen with a Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

If resale value is a concern, avoid buying a make that might be phased out. If you plan to keep the car for a long time, depreciation is less of a factor, and buying from a brand going out of business could make it easier to find a good deal. For more information on which automakers are best, see "Who makes the best cars?"

Source;
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2009/02/what-happens-if-an-automaker-goes-bankrupt-.html

Consumer Reports names most reliable used vehicles

Yonkers, New York - Consumer Reports has released the list of its most and least reliable used cars for the last ten years in its Annual Auto Issue. The vehicles range from model years 1999 to 2008, with Toyota and Honda dominating the majority of the nine categories.

The picks in five categories are:

Small Cars: Honda Civic, Toyota Echo, Scion xB*, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Matrix, Pontiac Vibe, Mazda3, Mazda Protegé, Subaru Impreza

Family Cars: Honda Accord, Toyota Prius, Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan*, Toyota Camry (except 2008 V6), Subaru Outback (six-cylinder), Nissan Altima

Minivans: Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey

Small SUVs: Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester, Mitsubishi Outlander

Midsize and Large SUVs: Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, Lexus RX, Toyota Land Cruiser*, Toyota 4Runner, Infiniti FX35, Acura MDX, Infiniti QX4, Lexus GX, Hyundai Santa Fe, Subaru Tribeca, Nissan Xterra (2005-2008), Toyota Sequoia

* Model not sold in Canada

The report also features “Used Cars to Avoid” and “Worst of the Worst”, which names vehicles with multiple years of much worse than average reliability, including models from Audi, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, GMC, Jeep, Kia, Land Rover, Mazda, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Porsche, Saturn, Volkswagen and Volvo.

Consumer Reports noted that problem rates for cars have decreased across the board, so newer used cars should hold up better than their predecessors as they age. Among five-year-old and newer cars, Ford, Hyundai and Nissan are about tied in reliability. European cars, long the least reliable overall, are pulling even with the domestics on newer models. The magazine also noted that cars with high problem rates are not always the oldest vehicles.

Across all ten years of the survey, the most commonly reported problems are with the check engine light, windows, and squeaks and rattles. Brake problems became evident at five years.
The full report is contained in the Annual Auto Issue, on sale from March 3 to May 4, 2009.

Source;
http://www.canadiandriver.com/2009/02/26/consumer-reports-names-most-reliable-vehicles.htm

Honda builds best vehicles: Consumer Reports

Yonkers, New York - Honda has earned class leader status for building the best all-around vehicles for American drivers, according to Consumer Reports. It is the third consecutive year that Honda has been so named.

At the opposite end of the annual ranking is Chrysler, which fared worse than last year. The magazine said that the company’s poor-performing products and sinking reliability reports have kept all Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep vehicles off its “Recommended” list.

With an overall score of 78 out of 100 points, Honda was followed closely by Subaru at 75, and Toyota at 74, in the overall score. Subaru is the only automaker with every one of its tested vehicles as recommended, although it has a relatively small model lineup.

Fourth place went to Mazda at 73, followed by Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Volkswagen and BMW, all tied at 72 points.

The editors said that while the top four overall scores belong to Japanese automakers, a Japanese nameplate is no guarantee that every car in a model range will be a reliable and good performer, citing that the Honda Element and Toyota Yaris scored too low in testing to be recommended. Conversely, despite overall scores of 63 points for Ford and 57 for General Motors, new models such as the Ford Flex, Ford F-150, Chevrolet Malibu and Cadillac CTS have done well in testing, and rank near the top of their classes in ratings.

The overall score for each automaker is based on the average of its vehicles’ overall scores in Consumer Reports’ road tests, and their average predicted reliability ratings from its annual auto survey. Manufacturers received a report card only if five or more of its vehicles were tested.

Of the three class leaders, Toyota regained lost ground after last year’s report, when the Camry V6, Tundra V8 4WD and Lexus GS AWD fell below average in reliability. All three have improved to “average” this year. Of the Asian automakers, Subaru, Nissan, Mazda and Hyundai improved their overall scores, and Nissan and Hyundai also improved their reliability rating. Of the four, Hyundai showed the most improvement, increasing its overall score from 66 to 70; the new Genesis also topped the upscale sedan ratings.

European automakers have lagged in reliability, but with notable improvements with several models from Audi, BMW, Saab, Volkswagen, Volvo and Mercedes-Benz. Mercedes showed the most significant improvement, and reliability was greatly improved across most of its lineup, with 67 per cent of tested vehicles now recommended, compared with none in the prior year.
All three Detroit automakers continued to be at the back of the class, although General Motors and Ford improved their overall scores. Chrysler had the lowest overall test score, with no vehicles recommended.

The magazine said there was some positive news for the domestic automakers, with latest models from GM now ranking among the best in testing, and the Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, Saturn Outlook, Cadillac CTS, Chevrolet Corvette and Chevrolet Malibu all scoring well. Some Ford models now rival competition from Honda and Toyota in reliability, and the Dodge Ram is now very competitive with other full-size trucks. Less than a quarter of recommended vehicles are from U.S. companies, a result of inconsistent reliability and performance, while about half are Japanese.

“While Japanese automakers continue to set the standard for the industry in terms of real-world performance and reliability, many domestic, European and Korean manufacturers are narrowing the gap by building better and more reliable cars,” said David Champion, senior director of automotive testing. “While some automakers are still dragged down by old product investments, we expect the race for the front of the class to become even more competitive, which may lead to some excellent values for consumers in the near future.”

Source;
http://www.canadiandriver.com/2009/02/26/honda-builds-best-vehicles-consumer-reports.htm

Honda tops Consumer Reports 2009 Automaker Report Cards... again

In what may be the least surprising news you read all day, Consumer Reports has released its annual 2009 Auto Issue that contains Automaker Report Cards. These report cards compile all of CR's road test data and predicted reliability ratings for all vehicles in its database, and Japanese automakers have again earned top rankings just as they have for as long as we can recall.

Honda, Subaru and Toyota came out on top after all the scores were tallied, with every single Subaru model earning a Recommended rating from CR. Honda was the brand that fared the absolute best in predicted reliability, with just its Element small SUV barely failing to make the grade as a Recommended nameplate. Toyota also fared very well in reliability testing, as we've come to expect from the world's largest automaker. European automakers managed to get a shout out for offering unmatched performance, comfort and safety along with incremental increases in overall vehicle reliability.

American automakers got their own separate report cards, which you can see by clicking here. Of the Detroit-based manufacturers, Ford came out victorious with its Flex and F-150 earning top ratings and many of the rest of its models scoring well. General Motors managed to sneak eight vehicles on the Recommended list: the new Pontiac G8, Cadillac CTS and Chevy Malibu, along with the Corvette and each of the Lambda-based CUVs. Chrysler pulled up the rear again this year among all automakers without a single vehicle earning a positive score from CR.

Source;

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/26/honda-tops-consumer-reports-2009-automaker-report-cards-again/