Overall, the best cars sold in the US are still made by Honda, according to the Automaker Report Cards published in Consumer Reports' Annual Auto Issue on sale March 4. Honda also led the pack last year, the first time the country's largest expert, independent, non-profit consumer product testing organization issued such information.
With an overall score of 78 out of 100 points, Honda was followed closely by Toyota (75) and Subaru (72). BMW, Mazda, Nissan, and Volkswagen tied at 71, after rounding. Only Honda and Subaru have earned the distinction of having all of the models tested make Consumer Reports' Recommended list. Honda is also the only automaker whose entire model lineup is currently recommended. Full details and rankings are available in the article "Who makes the best cars?" in the magazine and for online subscribers at http://www.ConsumerReports.org.
Honda earned the top score because it builds cars that are well-rounded, have excellent reliability and perform very well. But not all of Honda's models lead their class. The new CR-V SUV can't quite match the top-ranked Toyota RAV4. The Accord was edged out by the Nissan Altima, and the Honda Odyssey minivan scored slightly lower than the Toyota Sienna.
The overall score for each automaker is based on the average overall scores of its vehicles in Consumer Reports' road tests and its average predicted-reliability score from Consumer Reports' Annual Car Reliability Survey. Manufacturers received a report card only if five or more of its vehicles were tested.
Detroit automakers garnered some of the lowest scores, but there have been significant signs of improvement in Ford and GM vehicles this past year. Of all the Ford vehicles tested, the percentage Consumer Reports recommended jumped to 64 percent from 54 percent last year, due to improved reliability. Ninety-three percent of Ford models had average or better reliability in Consumer Reports' latest survey, up from 63 percent last year. As reported late last year, Toyota's reliability has slipped, but is still one of the most reliable auto manufacturers overall. Three popular Toyota models - the redesigned Camry V6 sedan, four-wheel-drive V8 Tundra pickup, and the Lexus GS with all-wheel drive - all had below-average reliability.
General Motors' average test score improved four points to 61, but the number of tested vehicles recommended dropped six percent. Some newer GM models like the Buick Enclave/Saturn Outlook/GMC Acadia SUVs, the Cadillac CTS, and the Chevrolet Silverado have done well in testing, but many older designs are subpar.
Chrysler's percentage dropped from 21 percent to 14, due to a number of unimpressive new vehicles. Noisy, underpowered engines, poor interior craftsmanship, cramped seating, and limited visibility plagued the most recent Chrysler vehicles tested. Only a quarter of Consumer Reports' recommended vehicles are from U.S. companies, a result of inconsistent reliability and performance. About half are Japanese.
"Some manufacturers are very consistent in producing good performing reliable vehicles," said David Champion, senior director of automotive testing, Consumer Reports. "But even in the lower ranks of the report cards, some manufacturers have some gems." In the end, the companies that make the best vehicles are those that excel in performance, interior craftsmanship, safety, comfort, and reliability. The best continue to set a higher and higher standard, a competition in which consumers are the ultimate winners.
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