Honda Rated Most Reliable UK Car Manufacturer

Honda has been rated the UK's most reliable car manufacturer in the What Car? and Warranty Direct reliability study.

Honda has been rated the UK's most reliable car manufacturer in the What Car? and Warranty Direct reliability study. The Japanese motoring giant out-performed its rivals to hit the top of the What Car? league table thanks to a rock-bottom nine per-cent first year failure rate.

Furthermore, the capable HR-V and CR-V sports utility vehicles were rated first and second in their sector, and the Civic came third in the small hatchback category.

What Car? Editor In Chief, Chas Hallett, commented: 'the success of Honda in this year's reliability study is very impressive - especially as this is Honda’s sixth overall win as the UK’s most reliable car maker. Reliability is key for car buyers. The car makers at the bottom of the study have a lot of work to do to catch up with Honda'.

What Car? is not the only prestigious title to recognise Honda's exceptional reliability. The 2011 Which? Car Survey named this dependable constructor the Most Reliable Brand. Furthermore, this year's JD Power Vehicle Ownership Satisfaction Study saw Honda retain the number two spot in the overall league table – the highest-placed volume manufacturer. Sounds like hassle-free ownership is virtually guaranteed. Excellent work.

By Stephen Turvil, motoring.co.uk

Source;
http://www.motoring.co.uk/car-news/honda-rated-most-reliable-uk-car-manufacturer_32297

Honda tops British brand reliability poll

Japanese and Korean carmakers dominate a new list compiled by British warranty specialist MB&G of marques that have generated the fewest claims over the past year, giving an indication of brand reliability.

Honda took top spot, followed by Lexus, Mitsubishi, Toyota and Suzuki. Kia took sixth place followed by Hyundai, Subaru, Mazda and Nissan.

It is no coincidence the top 10 most reliable cars are Japanese and Korean manufactured, with many cars including Toyota, Honda and Nissan manufactured in Britain. They have had a reputation for reliability for many years, which is demonstrated by these results.

“Our survey only looks at frequency of claims and not the average value of the claim, which can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. The average claim value is affected by labour rates and parts prices and can also vary by region,” a spokeman for MB&G commented.

The average age and mileage of cars being handled by MB&G is increasing, but the corporate/SME market generally resists extending warranties beyond the one provided by the manufacturer.

Source;
http://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/41737/honda-tops-british-brand-reliability-poll

Honda is the brand with fewest warranty claims, study says

UK warranty specialist MB&G states that the companies that filed the fewest number of claims for the past year are those from Japan and Korea. Honda has received the top spot in this study. MB&G noted that as drivers have decided to keep the cars until they’re in their fourth years or even up to six years, there are some drivers who will be surprised with the type of maintenance costs that they’d have to incur.

Kevin Pearce, a director of MB&G, said that modern day cars are “reliable” but that errors are more common in the fourth or fifth years and if “the mileage reaches 70-100,000 miles.” He explained further that the cars feature plenty of electronic equipment that controls the engine management automatic gearbox and a small software error can often create issues.

Of course, there’s wear and tear that have to be considered. MB&G says that the average age and mileage of cars being is increasing, but generally, the corporate/SME market doesn’t like to go beyond the warranties. Pearce said that each year, tens of thousands of warranties are being processed. The average age of those cars are also increasing quite significantly. Pearce added that for now, there are more drivers who would drive around, thinking about purchasing a warranty for “extra peace of mind.”

Source;

http://www.4wheelsnews.com/honda-is-the-brand-with-fewest-warranty-claims-study-says/

Lexus, Honda top J.D. Power Initial Quality Survey, Ford plummets

Despite being caught in the undertow of Toyota's recall and safety issues last year, Lexis tops J.D. Power and Associates' Initial Quality Study (IQS) as the best brand in the survey being released today. Even better, Lexus' flagship LS sedan had the fewest problems of any vehicle in the first 90 days of ownership.

Meanwhile Ford, which was fifth last year and the only mass-market brand in the top five, fell to 23rd this year. It had 116 problems per 100 vehicles,up from 93 last year and worse than the industry average of 107 owner-reported problems. Its Lincoln brand dropped from No. 8 to 17 this year, with 111 problems.

Power attributed Ford results partly to two specific issues about which owners have complained: complicated communications and other controls and a dual-clutch automatic that some owners found balky and unpredictable. (Drive On friend Greg Gardner of the Detroit Free Press explained the complaints and predicted the IQS rating fall in a detailed story here.)

Power also said new technologies were an increasing problem for all makers. While the overall industry average improved to 107 from 109 problems last year, the IQS scores for models all-new or with major redesigns was 10% worse: an average of 122 problems, up from 111 last year. Carryover or lightly freshened models, by contrast, improved to 103 from 108.

"Exciting models with the latest features are crucial for winning over today's demanding consumers," said David Sargent, vice president of global vehicle research at J.D. Power and Associates. "However, automakers must not lose their focus on the importance of these models also achieving exceptional quality levels. Expected reliability continues to be the single-most-important reason why new-vehicle buyers choose one model over another."

Honda, Acura, Mercedes-Benz and Mazda rounded out the top five nameplates in the IQS survey, which is one of the most closely watched measures of quality in the car industry.

With Ford's fall, you have to go to ninth place before the first U.S. brand shows up -- Cadillac.

Only it and GMC were above the industry average of 107.

Land Rover showed the biggest improvement.

The worst brands for quality? That would be Dodge, followed by Mitsubishi and Suzuki. Still the gap between best and last isn't all that great. Lexus had 73 and Dodge had 137 per 100 vehicles -- and the study doesn't take into account whether the problem was as simple as a rattle in a glove compartment or as bad as a cracked engine block.

Overall, cars had fewer problems, but the number of issues increased slightly in new models.
"Automakers must not lose their focus on the importance of these models also achieving exceptional quality levels. Expected reliability continues to be the single-most-important reason why new-vehicle buyers choose one model over another," said David Sargent, vice president of global vehicle research at J.D. Power.

Only seven all-new or redesigned models rank among the top three of their respective award segments, compared with 17 models in 2010, and only one launch model receives a segment award this year vs. five launch models in 2010. Just one-fourth of redesigned models perform better than the outgoing previous-generation model did in 2010, and eight all-new models perform above their respective award segment average.

Honda picked up seven segment awards for the Accord, Accord Crosstour, Civic (in a tie), Element, Fit, Insight (in a tie) and Ridgeline.

Lexus receives four segment awards for the ES, GS, GX and LS models. For a second consecutive year, the Lexus LS has the fewest quality problems in the industry with just 54.

Source;
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/06/lexus-toyota-gm-ford-jd-power-initial-quality-survey/1

Honda Owner Nears One Million Miles

The average American driver racks up 13,476 miles per year on their odometer. That makes “Million-Mile” Joe, of Norway, Maine, well above average; Joe has accumulated nearly one million miles on his 1990 Honda Accord over the last fifteen years. That works out to be nearly 4,700 miles of driving per month, meaning that Joe drives as much in a season as the average American drives in a year.

A former automotive service technician turned insurance claims adjuster, Joe is meticulous about his car's maintenance, and keeps detailed records of all services performed. He’s got notebooks full of data, and Honda reports that he’s taken nearly 700 pictures of his odometer to document the mileage. If nothing changes, Joe is on schedule to cross the one-million-mile mark this September, and Honda will be documenting his progress on their Facebook page.

Joe bought his Accord as a six-year-old used car in 1996 with 74,000 miles on it. His obsession with keeping records didn’t start until he crossed the 300,000 mile mark, but it’s safe to assume that Joe followed the car’s maintenance schedule religiously even if he didn’t document it. As remarkable as Joe’s achievement is, it really highlights the fact that manufacturers publish recommended maintenance schedules for a reason; stick to them, and you may have a million mile car in your own garage.

Source;
http://news.discovery.com/autos/honda-owner-nears-one-million-miles-110617.html

Honda stays ahead of compact pack with 2012 Civic

Detroit, heed this warning.

Do not underestimate the 2012 Honda Civic.

It was the single most important vehicle shown at the New York International Auto Show this week.

The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze and 2012 Ford Focus are spectacular compact cars partly because Chevy and Ford engineers benchmarked the Civic. For a decade, the Civic has been the best compact car around, and while others have gained ground, this Honda remains near the head of the class.

It is a nameplate that has been around a lot longer than any American compact car, and don't let anyone fool you: Honda Motor Co. has a lot riding on this little car.

Honda has not raised any eyebrows with many of its recently launched vehicles. The new Accord is dull. The Crosstour is confusing, and the current face of Honda's luxury brand Acura continues to bring the brand ridicule. If Honda had messed up the Civic, it would be time to get out a fork and turn the brand over.

But there was no mistake made with this new vehicle.

Now, as the new Civic arrives, it faces a much tougher climate. The Cruze, the Focus and the Hyundai Elantra have garnered well-earned praise from consumers and the automotive press, including myself.

Although the Civic is no longer alone, underestimating it would be a serious mistake.

Here's why:
Variety: The 2012 Civic offers almost every model variation. There are sedans, coupes, gas-electric hybrids (with lithium-ion batteries), a compressed natural gas model and even a performance Si model. New to this lineup is the Civic HF, which focuses on higher gas mileage.

This follows on the heels of other carmakers such as Chevrolet, Ford and Hyundai, which offer similarly branded vehicles. No other compact, however, comes in as many different variations as the Civic (the only model missing is a hatchback, which is a mistake).

Pricing: With so many different models, the Civic offers a price for just about anyone:
Civic DX sedan (5-speed manual): $15,805
Civic LX coupe (5-speed manual): $17,655
Civic LX sedan (5-speed auto): $18,655
Civic EX sedan with navigation (5-speed auto): $22,005
Civic Si coupe (6-speed manual): $22,205
Civic Si sedan (6-speed manual): $22,405
Civic Hybrid: $24,050
Civic natural gas: Price not released

All of this pricing is on par with much of the competition, which means Honda is certainly in the hunt for compact consumers.

Performance: While I have not driven the new Civic, I expect it to provide performance on par with all of the serious competition. The previous-generation Civic has a quiet, well-tuned ride, with enough power to speed along the highway and enough handling chops to zip through city traffic. This model introduces a new electric power-assist steering system (EPAS), the next-generation vehicle-stability control, improved aerodynamics and a stiffer body for improved handling. Tuning on the steering will be important as EPAS can sometimes create a numb feeling that leaves a driver disconnected from the road.

Additionally, the performance-oriented Si model features a new 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine that generates 201 horsepower. It's only four more ponies than the 2-liter engine, but tuners around the world can rejoice that their beloved Si now has peak horsepower over 200. (The Si also features a lower height, a limited-slip front, and 17-inch aluminum wheels that all could add to the driving experience.)

It's Honda's 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine that will do most of the heavy-duty work for the brand, and even this engine has undergone a number of improvements to make it more efficient.
It produces 140 horsepower and provides gas mileage from 28 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway for a DX sedan with a five-speed manual transmission to 41 mpg on the highway for the HF model.

One disappointment with the new Civic comes with the lack of a six-speed automatic transmission, though Honda says this five-speed is more refined and updated. Nearly every competitor has one now, as six-speeds have become the industry norm. It will be interesting to see whether that missing gear hinders its performance in any way.

Exterior styling: While many new compact cars offer extravagant styling, the new Civic does not look dramatically different than the previous generation. But don't mistake this car as simply a refreshed vehicle; it has been redesigned throughout. At first glance, there doesn't seem as dramatic a difference between generations.

Many of the exterior changes were devised to improve the Civic's aerodynamics. They include new mirrors, wipers pushed below the hood line and other changes you can't see at first glance, such as underbody aero panels.

This seems to be a closely followed plan by Honda, which only dramatically changes the Civic's styling every other generation. How much that will affect the Civic will be told over the next year.

Honda's conservative approach to styling follows the lines of the Cruze, whereas the Elantra and Focus are more dynamic.

The winner here is the consumer, who now has a clear choice between dramatic good compacts and more familiar small cars.

Interior styling: The Civic evolves its interior design from the previous generation, with a new two-tiered instrument panel and entertainment system, known as i-MID. Honda has nailed one of the most important parts of any new system by giving it a nonsensical name that starts with a standalone lowercase vowel — i or e — and a full-color screen to display all of the information.

More importantly, the Civic adds more volume inside, increased by 3.7 cubic feet. The previous-generation Civic was comfortable; this one should be even a little more so.

Civic's biggest selling point still reliability

So from the sounds of it, the new Civic is improved inside and out. Whether that adds up to this vehicle becoming the next benchmark will be decided by consumers.

The compact car segment has drastically changed the past 12 months, and everyone wants an edge over everyone else. The real edge for the Civic coming out of the gate is that it's a Honda, which to many consumers means it's as reliable as a late spring in Michigan.

That wasn't always the case for the Civic. Thirty-nine years ago, when the little Civic arrived, Honda had to issue a recall because rusting was so bad the cars were considered unsafe in accidents. Now, Civics are among the safest choices of any car picked.

The competition certainly has gotten stiffer, but to sneer at this Civic too early would be a serious miscalculation. No one should do that.

Source;
http://detnews.com/article/20110423/OPINION03/104230361/Honda-stays-ahead-of-compact-pack-with-2012-Civic#ixzz1KpJ7Sjxy

2011 Consumer Reports Reliability Chart

This is just to piggyback an earlier post....
According to Consumer Reports Annual Automakers Report Card for 2011, Honda and Subaru still make the best vehicles overall, however, Ford posted the largest gain.

Consumer Reports said that Ford outpaced its Detroit rivals in reliability in recent years and that this year its average test score for all tested models increased from 60 to 70. The publication currently recommends 71 percent of the Ford vehicles it has tested.

Honda, Subaru and Toyota are at the top three for the third consecutive year with vehicles doing very well in Consumer Reports tests, remaining relatively trouble-free. Honda, including its luxury Acura brand, has had the best reliability record of any car maker and has made mostly good to outstanding vehicles. In fact, no Honda vehicle scored less than average in reliability.

Subaru, which has the highest average road-test score of 81, makes only half-a-dozen models but all do well in Consumer Reports road tests. Toyota, Lexus and Scion remain solid choices as well with reliability remaining better than average with an average test score of 74 for all tested models. Consumer Reports currently recommends 74 percent of the Toyota vehicles it has tested.

GM also improved its average road-test and reliability scores. Chrysler had the lowest average test score by far of 50.

Volvo is the only European make with an above-average reliability score. Volkswagen’s reliability has improved of late, but Audi’s reliability brings the combined automaker’s score down.

Luxury automakers Mercedes-Benz and BMW are near the bottom of Consumer Reports Automakers Report Card Ranking with both getting below-average reliability.

- By: Omar Rana

Source;
http://www.egmcartech.com/2011/02/28/consumer-reports-report-card-2011-honda-subaru-make-best-vehicles-ford-improves/#more-75591

Ford rises, but Honda still tops the Consumer Reports report card

I've been selling Honda's now for 9yrs, and other brands have come up and gone back down again, but one thing remains is Honda (and Toyota) are mainstays.
Consumer Reports said Monday that Ford made the biggest gains in its annual Automaker Report Card but that Honda and Subaru still make the best vehicles overall.

The magazine said Ford's average test score for all models rose from 66 to 70 and praised the Dearborn automaker for performing better overall than its crosstown rivals. Ford finished fifth on the report card, with an overall score of 67.

"In recent years, we have seen that Ford has really improved in reliability," said Rik Paul, automotive editor for the magazine.

The company's Mustang was the top pick for sporty cars, placing a U.S. manufacturer at the top of that segment for the first time in six years.

Top picks in other categories include Honda's Fit for the new category of budget cars, Hyundai's Elantra for small cars and Nissan's Altima for family sedans. The overall score for each automaker combines the magazine's own road tests and reliability surveys.

Consumer Reports conducts more than 50 tests on every vehicle to compile its scores and calculates predicted reliability based on subscriber surveys for 1.3 million vehicles.

The influential magazine's report card is part of its annual automotive issue, which hits newsstands next Tuesday.

But even though Ford improved, Honda, Subaru and Toyota were the top three automakers for the third year in a row. Honda finished first, with an overall score of 74, followed by Subaru at 73 and Toyota at 71.

General Motors' overall score improved to 67 from 65 last year, Consumer Reports said. Newer models such as the Buick Enclave and LaCrosse, and the Chevrolet Equinox and Traverse performed well.

However, three of its cars -- the Chevrolet Aveo, Chevrolet Impala and Buick Lucerne -- were listed as the worst values in their segments.

"GM needs to achieve more consistent reliability in order to see a significant improvement," Paul said.

Chrysler came in last place, the magazine said, and needs to make improvements to be competitive. Newer models, such as the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Ram, have shown improvement, Consumer Reports said.

"Customers will see 16 all-new or significantly updated vehicles at Ram, Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep and Fiat dealers this year," Doug Betts, Chrysler's senior vice president of quality said in a statement. "These vehicles represent a new level of interior refinement, world-class fit and finish."

Source;
http://www.freep.com/article/20110301/BUSINESS01/103010343/0/BUSINESS06/Ford-rises-Honda-still-tops-Consumer-Reports-report-card?odyssey=navhead

Canadian Driver: Used Vehicle Review: Honda Civic, 2006-2011

By Chris Chase
The eighth-generation Honda Civic hit the market in 2006, and made a bit of a splash when it did, with its wedgy exterior and modern interior, including a controversial split-level dashboard. Nevertheless, the Civic remained one of the most popular cars on the market and largely retained its reputation for being a dependable form of transportation.

If you bought a Civic in 2006, you got a compact sedan or coupe powered by a 1.8-litre, four-cylinder engine making 140 horsepower in all trims save the Si coupe and Hybrid. The Si got a 2.0-litre, 197-hp motor, while the Hybrid used 1.3-litre engine paired with an electric motor for a net horsepower power rating of 110. Regular-grade Civics came standard with a five-speed manual transmission that could be optioned to a five-speed automatic. The Si used a six-speed manual exclusively and also got a limited-slip differential; the Hybrid came with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) as the only one available.

In 2008, an Si sedan was added to the line-up. Some upper trim models got stability/traction control in 2009.

Natural Resources Canada’s fuel consumption ratings for the 2006 Civic were 7.8/5.7 L/100 km (city/highway) for the 1.8-litre model with manual transmission, or 8.2/5.7 with the automatic. The Hybrid was rated at 4.7/4.3, and the Si at 10.2/6.8. These figures would remain the same through the eighth-gen Civic’s run, to 2011.

Reliability on the whole has been good, earning the Civic inclusion on Consumer Reports’ list of used car “good bets.” It’s not without fault, however, particularly the hybrid model.
Consumer Reports’ data on the Civic shows electrical system problems with the Hybrid powertrain. These include the IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) warning light turning on, indicating a problem with the battery or the software that manages the IMA system. Here’s a thread talking about how high ambient temperatures and hot weather can negatively affect the Civic Hybrid’s battery pack. The battery packs themselves appear to be pricey; I’ve seen figures upwards of $3,000 for replacement (including labour) mentioned in more than one forum.
There’s also an IMA software update mentioned frequently that apparently causes driveability issues after it’s installed in the car’s CPU. Apparently, this is due to the system needing to recalibrate itself, but kills the electric assist function in the process, making the car slow, and dangerously so, say some owners.

If the check engine, IMA and battery light come on and the car loses electric assist (runs on the gas engine only), a common, and simple, cause is a weak 12-volt battery (just like the one every car has). If this battery is bad, it frequently causes the car’s sensitive electronics to go haywire.
Here’s a Civic Hybrid FAQ from CleanMPG.com.

I’ll go out on a limb and say that the Honda Civic Hybrid is one to approach with caution, especially used, and even more so if the hybrid system warranty is close to expiry. A couple of posters in this GreenHybrid.com thread call their 2007 Civic Hybrids the worst cars they’ve ever owned.

With that out of the way, non-hybrid Civics have fared much better, suffering only from relatively minor problems.

There’s a common problem with the Civic Si’s transmission that causes grinding and hard shifting into third gear, and a shifter that pops out of third. This prompted the folks at 8thCivic.com to draft a (poorly written) petition in an effort to get Honda to acknowledge the problem. The company eventually did, by issuing a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) advising dealers on how to fix the bad transmissions.

A popping sound from the front suspension, a problem that appears to affect mostly 2006, 2007 and a few 2008 Civics, is caused by an incorrectly manufactured bump stop. Honda addressed this in 2007, with the TSB that can be found here.

Read this thread for a few details about a rear suspension problem – bad upper control arms – that seems to affect only the Hybrid.

This thread indicates that some Civic owners have experienced head gasket failures. There’s no evidence of this in Consumer Reports’ data, though.

The two-door Civic earned a “good” rating in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) frontal offset crash test, and an “acceptable” score in side impact testing, with the IIHS citing a possibility of rib and pelvis fractures for front seat occupants. The four-door model scored “good” in both tests, but the IIHS noted that there was still a small possibility of rib fractures for front-seat riders.

From the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave Civic two- and four-door models five stars for driver and front passenger protection in its frontal crash test, and four and five stars for front and rear seat protection in side impacts, respectively.

Used Civic pricing, from Canadian Black Book (CBB), shows these cars have held their value well, as is the Honda way. At the low end is a 2006 DX coupe, at $8,150, or $8,625 for a DX sedan; for bigger budgets, a 2010 sedan in top EX-L trim is worth $20,200. The Si’s values range from $15,525 for a 2006 coupe, to $21,300 for a 2010 sedan (the coupe is a bit cheaper), and the Hybrid starts at $10,750 for a 2006 and ranges up to $17,075 for a 2009. (CBB doesn’t have pricing info for the 2010 Hybrid.) For middle-ground shoppers, a 2008 LX is worth $14,450.

As stated above, the Civic Hybrid is a car to avoid, or at least, consider very carefully when shopping for a fuel-thrifty vehicle. The rest of the Civic line has held up well, earning consistent above-average used vehicle reliability ratings from Consumer Reports, with few, if any, serious trouble spots. Regardless, look for a car with detailed service records and have it checked out by a trustworthy mechanic before buying.

Source;
http://www.canadiandriver.com/2011/01/27/used-vehicle-review-honda-civic-2006-2011.htm

Honda is Named the UK's Most reliable Car Manufacturer

SLOUGH, UNITED KINGDOM – November 10, 2010: Honda has been named Britain's most reliable car manufacturer by the influential FN50 survey, further strengthening Honda's reputation for bullet proof reliability.

Honda beat off rivals to the top spot in the annual survey which is published by industry leading publication Fleet News. The report covers 1.5 million vehicles owned or managed by the country's 50 largest contract hire companies. Honda also featured highly in the top ten most reliable cars with the Accord and British-built Civic in second and ninth place respectively.

Graham Avent, Manager - Corporate Operations at Honda (UK), commented:"Winning the FN50 most reliable manufacturer accolade is a huge boost for Honda in the Corporate market.

What makes it so important is the survey size - it's great to know that out of over one million drivers, the Honda brand comes out on top. We always score well in consumer surveys thanks to the phenomenal reliability and quality of our product range - but to get this recognition from the company car drivers themselves means the world to our Corporate team and our Corporate dealer network.

"The Civic's top ten placing is also a great endorsement for our plant in Swindon that makes 85 per cent of the cars we sell in the UK. Honda has proven that British manufacturing continues to produce class-leading product for the fleet market."

Over the years, Honda has continually been ranked highly in customer reliability surveys such as the JD Power Survey and Which? Car.

Fleet News editor Stephen Briers concluded: “Businesses that depend on vehicles take reliability very seriously, and can’t afford downtime through breakdowns that incurs extra costs.

“This is the largest reliability survey of its kind, so any vehicle with a top 10 placing will represent a safe bet for any organisation or private motorist.”

Source;
http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2010/11/10/505960.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

UK Study: Japanese Cars Win The Reliability Race

Far East companies have dominated a poll of the top 10 most reliable car manufacturers - with seven of them from Japan alone.

The survey by What Car? magazine and insurance company Warranty Direct put Honda at the top of the rankings for the fifth year running.

Subaru came second with Mitsubishi and Lexus taking third and fourth place, respectively.

The only manufacturers not from the Far East were Skoda coming eighth, and Mini in tenth.

The study looked at used cars from 32 different companies and the type of faults drivers have complained about.

Land Rover came in last place with 53% of its cars suffering a fault, and Alfa Romeo and Renault came 31st and 30th, respectively.

However, the Japanese cars were not completely flawless.

Hondas were found to suffer the highest percentage of air conditioning issues with more than 10% of vehicles affected.

Top 10 Most Reliable Carmakers
1. Honda
2. Subaru
3. Mitsubishi
4. Lexus
5. Toyota
6. Mazda
7. Nissan
8. Skoda
9. Kia
10. Mini

Subarus suffer the highest failure rate for axle and suspension issues (50%) and generate more brake problems than any other make, with just under 17% of cars reporting a problem.

Editor in chief of What Car?, Steve Fowler told Sky News Online why Western companies found themselves lower in the list: "There's no coincidence that cars built in older factories don't fare so well as opposed to those built in Japan's new factories."

However, four of the top 10 car manufacturers have plants in the UK, including Toyota and Honda, and Mr Fowler said it is "strong proof that we know how to make good cars here".

The most expensive make to repair is Porsche, at an average cost of £717.36, while the car with the lowest average repair costs is Renault, at £226.54.

On Thursday Toyota revealed it may have to recall 3,700 cars in the UK after the discovery of an engine fault.

In another blow for the manufacturer, bosses said the vehicles were among 270,000 cars worldwide which could potentially stall while moving.

Source;
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Business/Japanese-Cars-Prove-To-Be-The-Most-Reliable-Car-Manufacturers-In-A-Survey-By-What-Car-Magazine/Article/201007115658316?lpos=Business_First_Buisness_Article_Teaser_Region_1&lid=ARTICLE_15658316_Japanese_Cars_Prove_To_Be_The_Most_Reliable_Car_Manufacturers_In_A_Survey_By_What_Car_Magazine

Honda's first truck tops in reliability

Guess which pickup truck has the top reliability rating of any consumer truck sold in the United States. Two hints: It's built by a company that's known for fuel-efficient car, and it's not one of the best-selling trucks in the country.

The answer: The Honda Ridgeline.

Introduced in spring 2005 as Honda's first pickup, the Ridgeline isn't a brawny brute capable of towing 8,500 pounds and climbing over sizable rocks off road.

Rather, the Ridgeline is a four-door, five-passenger, four-wheel drive, mid-size truck that's agile for everyday driving and comfortable for outdoor getaways on less-aggressive off-road terrain. Towing capacity is 5,000 pounds.

And the Ridgeline remains the only truck with some innovative features, such as a lockable trunk in the floor of its pickup bed and a tailgate that can flip down the usual way or swing out, like a car door, for easier access to the bed. The Ridgeline also has car-like unibody construction to help provide a smooth ride.

Unlike many other trucks, there's no bargain-basement version of Ridgeline, which helps to explain the lagging sales.

The well-equipped Ridgeline has a starting manufacturer's suggested retail price, with destination charge, of $29,160. This includes a V-6, five-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive and compares with $26,840 for a V-6-powered, 2010 Nissan Frontier Crew Cab SE with four-wheel drive and automatic transmission.

A 2010 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab with four doors, V-6, four-wheel drive and automatic transmission has a starting retail price of $27,550.

The Frontier and Tacoma have body-on-frame construction typical of trucks. They also are offered in lower-priced versions that have less equipment. For example, a 2010 Tacoma with regular cab with only front seats, four-cylinder engine and manual transmission starts at $16,145.

Clearly, Honda officials had something different in mind for the crew cab-only Ridgeline, and it was mostly the owners of Honda cars like the Accord and Civic who also have pickups parked in the driveways.

In 2005, Honda officials estimated about 18 percent of the millions of Honda owners in America were in this category, and they projected annual Ridgeline sales of 50,000. Alas, Ridgeline hasn't caught on, despite the stellar reliability rating of Consumer Reports, where the Ridgeline is a recommended buy and reliability is "better than average."

Even the Tacoma, another recommended buy, doesn't have that reliability rating. Neither do top-selling trucks like the full-size Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado.

The test Ridgeline, a top RTL model with navigation system and voice recognition, leather-trimmed seats, satellite radio, moonroof and alloy wheels, would never be confused with a truck taking guys to a construction site.

The interior was spacious, front and back, and excellent in fit and finish. Controls were large and easy to understand and doors closed solidly.

I marveled at how wide the Ridgeline interior is. My front passenger and I had wide seats and good-sized center console with lots of storage between us. I especially appreciated the deep center storage that could swallow my purse and keep it invisible under a closed cover.

Front-seat headroom of 40.7 inches in Ridgelines with no moonroof is more than the 40.1 inches in a Tacoma Double Cab and the 40 inches in a Frontier Crew Cab. The test Ridgeline with the power-operated moonroof had 38.7 inches of headroom up front, and it was still roomy for me and a 6-foot passenger.

Back-seat headroom in the Ridgeline totals 36.4 inches, which is less than the Tacoma's 38.5 inches and the 38.7 inches in the Frontier.

But shoulder room of 62.6 inches in the Ridgeline back seat is noteworthy. The Frontier only has 58.3 inches of rear-seat shoulder room, while the Tacoma has 59.3 inches.

Yet from the outside, the Ridgeline doesn't appear as big as it is. The Ridgeline is Honda's longest vehicle, more than 17 feet long from bumper to bumper. This is longer than even the Honda Odyssey minivan.

But drivers don't feel that they're wheeling around in a big, wallow-y vehicle. Rather, the Ridgeline moves amid city traffic easily, and there's no need to worry about crowding the next lane or sticking out in the grocery parking lot.

There is a sizable turning circle, however, of 42.6 feet, and the test Ridgeline bounced a bit over choppy pavement. Road noise can be loud on rough road surfaces. I didn't notice much wind noise.

There's one engine for the Ridgeline — a 250-horsepower, 3.5-liter, single overhead cam V-6. It's the same V-6 used in the Honda Pilot sport utility vehicle and has strong, confident sounds.

With torque peaking at 247 foot-pounds at 4,700 rpm, this V-6 moves the more than 4,500-pound Ridgeline capably, even if there's not instant get-up-and-go when the accelerator pedal is pressed.

I was impressed with how smoothly the automatic transmission channeled the engine power. Passengers didn't notice shift points.

Too bad, though, that the Ridgeline doesn't come with Honda's notorious fuel-sipping qualities.

Instead, the Ridgeline's federal government fuel mileage ratings of 15 miles per gallon in the city and 20 mpg on the highway are about middle of the range for 2010 pickup trucks. A Tacoma with V-6 and four-wheel drive is rated at 17/21 mpg.

The 5-foot-long Ridgeline bed is made of composite and has no wheel arches intruding.

All safety equipment, including curtain air bags, traction control and electronic stability control, is standard.

Source;
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5itU1WrlwPBj9_UygNZQ1t8N336IQD9EPNIE00

J.D. Power and Associates Names 2007 Model Year Honda CR-V, Fit and Ridgeline as Most-Dependable Vehicles in Their Segments

04/02/2010 - TORRANCE, Calif. -
J.D. Power and Associates has named the 2007 Honda CR-V, Fit and Ridgeline as the "most-dependable" vehicles in their respective segments in its 2010 Vehicle Dependability Study℠ (VDS).

The study, which measures problems experienced by original owners of three-year-old vehicles (2007 model year), includes 198 different problem symptoms across all areas of the vehicle. Overall dependability is determined by the level of problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100), with a lower score reflecting higher quality. The industry average for all vehicles in the 2010 VDS survey measured 155 PP100.

The CR-V compact multi-activity vehicle received an overall score of 113 PP100. The Fit subcompact received an overall score of 137 PP100, and the Ridgeline midsize pickup received an overall score of 109 PP100. The Honda Accord was also among the top three models in the midsize car segment with a score of 103 PP100.

J.D. Power and Associates also measures initial quality of new vehicles. Last year the CR-V and the Honda Ridgeline pickup ranked highest in their respective segments in the company's 2009 Initial Quality Study℠ (IQS). The Honda CR-V ranked highest for IQS in its segment for the third consecutive year, with an IQS score of 93 PP100, and the Honda Ridgeline truck ranked highest in the midsize pickup segment, with an IQS score of 81 PP100.

Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services company operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, performance improvement, training and customer satisfaction. The firm's quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. For more information on cell phone ratings, car reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance and more, please visit JDPower.com. J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/categories/1097/releases/5411

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/

The Warranty Direct Top 100 Most Reliable Used Cars Of The Past Decade

1 Honda Accord
2 Subaru Forester
3 Mazda MX-5
4 Mitsubishi Carisma
5 Toyota Yaris
6 Honda Civic
7 Nissan Almera
8 Honda CR-V
9 Toyota RAV4
10 Nissan Micra
11 Lexus IS 200
12 Mazda 626
13 Jaguar X-Type
14 Toyota Landcruiser
15 Volvo S/V40
16 MINI (BMW)
17 Suzuki Vitara
18 Mazda 323
19 Toyota Carina E
20 Saab 9-5
21 Lexus LS400
22 Ford Ka
23 Rover 45
24 Hyundai Lantra
25 Mercedes SLK
26 Citroen Xsara
27 Ford Cougar
28 Subaru Impreza
29 Skoda Octavia
30 Audi A4
31 Nissan Primera
32 Toyota Avensis
33 Volvo 850
34 Vauxhall Corsa
35 Seat Toledo
36 Volkswagen Golf
37 Daewoo Lanos
38 Fiat Brava
39 Hyundai Coupe
40 Mitsubishi Shogun
41 Rover 25
42 Mercedes CLK
43 Fiat Marea
44 Ford Focus
45 Peugeot 106
46 MG MG TF
47 BMW Z3
48 Hyundai Accent
49 Volkswagen Polo
50 Fiat Punto
51 Vauxhall Zafira
52 Mercedes C-class
53 Volvo S60
54 Toyota MR2
55 Mazda Xedos 6
56 Ford Puma
57 Vauxhall Astra
58 Vauxhall Omega
59 Chrysler Neon
60 Audi A2
61 Ford Fiesta
62 Ford Mondeo
63 Vauxhall Corsa
64 Citroen Saxo
65 BMW 3 Series
66 Vauxhall Vectra
67 Isuzu Trooper
68 Mercedes M-Class
69 Subaru Legacy
70 Rover 400
71 Fiat Ulysse
72 Mercedes E-Class
73 Renault Clio
74 Toyota Celica
75 Peugeot 306
76 Peugeot 406
77 Volvo S70
78 Rover 75
79 Daewoo Matiz
80 Peugeot 206
81 Mazda MX-3
82 Vauxhall Tigra
83 Seat Ibiza
84 Peugeot 106
85 Renault Megane
86 Peugeot 406
87 Saab 9-3
88 Audi A3
89 BMW X5
90 Mercedes S-class
91 Toyota Corolla (What the?!?) (I guess it's still reliable, just I didn't expect it down the list)
92 Seat Alhambra
93 BMW 5-series
94 Daewoo Nubira
95 Alfa Romeo 145
96 Saab 900
97 Mazda MX-6
98 Jaguar S-Type
99 Daewoo Leganza
100 Porsche Boxster

Source;
http://www.gizmag.com/go/5657/

Britain's Most and Least Reliable Brands

The growing availability of information afforded by the internet will ultimately make all entities more accountable, whether they're made of flesh and blood, or bricks and mortar and concepts. Corporations will need to change if they are to survive in this coming age of accountability and automotive manufacturers in particular will need to reassess their communication strategies. Despite the financial magnitude of an automobile purchasing decision, the masses have until now been content to read the spec sheet and subscribe to the copywritten dreams rather than assess the real costs of owning the car—reliability, cost of repair, time-off-road and resale value—because those factors have been hidden. Now those figures are becoming publicly available and some of the big names don't fare at all well. Read on to find out how much more it costs to repair a Porsche than any other brand, which British marque is the least reliable, which European brands dominate the cheapest to repair top 10, and why Honda fares best with everything considered. Read on for the top 10 most expensive to repair, top 10 least expensive to repair, top 10 most unreliable brands, and the top 10 most reliable brands. Fascinating stuff!

Source;
http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/jul2009/bw20090721_068432.htm?chan=autos_autos+--+lifestyle+subindex+page_top+stories

The Toughest Cars On The Road

Quick, guess which automakers produce the most affordable, long-lasting cars? If you said Honda and Toyota, you're right.

Our list of the toughest cars on the road includes four winners from Honda and two from Toyota--a veritable coup for the Tokyo-based companies.

"They just keep reinforcing that perception," says James Clark, the general manager of Automotive Lease Guide, a residual value data provider based in Santa Barbara, Calif. "It's a purchase you're never going to be questioned on--'Why did you buy a Honda?' It's very safe."
In Pictures: The Toughest Cars On The Road

Rounding out the "toughest" list, Subaru and Ford Motor earned two slots each, thanks to strong results from Subaru's rough 'n tumble Forester and Impreza and Ford's trusty Escape and Fusion. Hyundai, down just 7.9% in U.S. sales for the year to date, also grabbed a spot with its Santa Fe crossover.

Behind the NumbersTo determine this year's toughest cars on the road, we evaluated all 2009 models based on reliability, safety and quality, along with maintenance requirements. We narrowed the list by considering only candidates that received a better than average reliability rating from Consumer Reports, a top safety rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a score of at least four out of five stars from J.D. Power and Associates' quality survey, and a five-year maintenance cost of under $3,200, as estimated by Vincentric, an auto data firm in Bingham Farms, Mich.

Toughness--a combination of quality, durability and all-around staying power--is increasingly important to consumers anxious about credit problems and potential job loss, says Raffi Festekjian, senior manager of product research and analysis at J.D. Power and Associates. The average length of car ownership has increased from 5.5 years in 2006 to six years in 2009, according to J.D. Power data.

"What matters now to consumers is which car can I focus on that's not going to give me a headache and which is going to cost quite a bit as far as repairs are concerned," Festekjian says.
Honda's $21,245 CR-V fits that requirement to a T. The plucky crossover received a perfect five out of five overall quality rating score from J.D. Power, with perfect scores in the individual mechanical, powertrain, body and interior, and features and accessories categories.

The CR-V sold 14,550 units last month, down 27.1% from May 2008. But it outsold all other Honda crossovers and SUVs. Toyota's RAV-4 was down just 14.7%, and Ford's Edge suffered a passable 22.5% decline, although they each sold more than 2,000 units less than the CR-V. The CR-V comes in two- and four-wheel drive LX, EX and EX-L versions that all get a combined 23 miles per gallon and offer standard features including remote entry, chrome trim, halogen headlights and MP3 compatibility.

Sturdy StandoutsWhile Honda makes a strong showing on our list, drivers should check out the durability merits of Subaru and Hyundai. Consumer Reports named Subaru the second-best automaker (behind Honda) of 2009; Subaru was the only automaker with 100% of its tested vehicles earning the "recommended" distinction. Hyundai showed the most improvement of any automaker in reliability ratings over last year; its Genesis sedan topped Consumer Reports' "upscale-sedan" ratings.

The $21,695 Santa Fe is one example of Hyundai's fortitude. It received a perfect five out of five overall quality rating from J.D. Power and has estimated five-year maintenance costs of around $3,000, much less than the $3,500 required to maintain a larger SUV like the Dodge Durango.
Subaru's $17,495 Impreza, a favorite among videogame aficionados and street-racers, stands out for its 45% above-average reliability rating from Consumer Reports. It received perfect reliability scores on most of its components, including the engine, transmission, suspension, brakes and even audio system.

Focusing on Function, not Fantasy
Noticeably absent from our list? Large trucks and over-sized SUVs that talk a big game about being tough but rarely deliver. Most were left off because of poor reliability ratings and high maintenance costs. It just goes to show that towing capacity and a large truck bed do not a tough vehicle make.

Luxury rides like the $79,000 Land Rover Range Rover and $49,000 Lexus GX470 SUVs also failed to meet our "toughness" criteria. Upper echelon prices don't necessarily translate into increased durability; no vehicle on our list costs more than $23,500.

Jake Fisher, the senior automotive engineer for Consumer Reports, says it's partly because luxury autos often have the latest and greatest technology, which can sometimes pose a problem: It breaks.

"There are so many things that could go wrong," he says. "Sometimes luxury brands are too fixated on being the first to market with something as opposed to honing in and getting it right."

Source;
http://www.forbes.com/2009/06/17/toughest-car-models-lifestyle-vehicles-toughest-models.html

Honda Automobiles- One of The Best On The Market

Believe it or not, but Honda makes some of the best automobiles in the world. Consumers reward that by making Honda autos the most purchased automobiles in many classes. These automobiles have some of the best engineering in the world, along with some of the best manufacturing standards. That’s even compared to more expensive automobiles in the same class. Honda can be described with the phrases well built and great reliability.

The Civic is one of Honda’s excellent vehicles. This model comes in highly popular sedan, coupe and even hybrid versions. The Civic ranges in price from around $15K to the mid 20’s. The Civic is also tops in gas mileage. 36 MPG highway for the coupe and sedan is only surpassed by the hybrids 46 MPG. The hybrid ends up being more expensive over time because the battery must be replaced after a few years.

This car also has one of the best resale values around. People who buy them new are often pleasantly surprised when it comes time to sell or trade in for a new model. When the maintenance schedule is followed someone could sell the old Civic every few years and buy a new one for only a few thousand more. For people who like driving new automobiles all the time, that’s a great deal.

Many people like to hold onto their car. The same features that make resale value so high also make this car a good candidate for long term service. Following the maintenance schedule is important. The Civic can run for 20 or more years if it’s well cared for. That’s a long time. It gets to be your friend, not only your car. And there are a lot of other things to do with money other than buying or repairing vehicles.

Another nice Honda car is the Element. This small sized SUV is a real bargain. Adventurous people find this car a perfect fit. It has rubber throughout the interior. This isn’t just done to save costs. Easy cleaning was the goal. Feel free to let the kids get in when they’re muddy, you can wash it down with a hose. Yes, a hose, inside the car. That can’t be done if the dash is fancy wood.

The popularity of Honda automobiles is well placed. It comes from quality. Think about a Honda for your next car.

Source;
http://www.icar.nl/honda-automobiles-one-of-the-best-on-the-market-1162

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/