Consumer Reports picks top Detroit cars, Ford dominates list

Consumer Reports magazine said today that the Detroit Big 3 are “heading in the right direction.” While praising Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp., Consumer Reports warns that Chrysler LLC is falling far behind its domestic rivals.
The magazine said that after recent road and reliability tests reports show that Ford has matched the quality of foreign automakers on several of its models. GM models, while behind Ford, have performed a lot better than their predecessors.
Consumer Reports named the Chevrolet Malibu LTZ as its top-rated Detroit-made car. Ford cars included the Ford Fusion SEL, Ford Taurus X, Ford Taurus, Mercury Milan Premier, Mercury Sable and the Lincoln MKZ. No Chrysler vehicles were recommended.
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dumpsty - 1/6/2009 1:11:40 PM

+2 Boost

Agreed. If we all bought the most reliable cars, a lot of luxury and/or "well-loved" vehicles would be missing from the roads. Likewise, higher costs doesn't necessary indicate high quality...some consumers purchase only a brand or model regardless of reliability reviews.

inspirion7 - 1/6/2009 1:18:20 PM

+1 Boost

This statement is why the very bias of an individual just rise to the top. At first, Detroit couldn't sell cars because they lack refinement or quality. Once they met that criteria, then next would be reliability. So now the very same indicators all others have charted the past decade or so register Domestics the same or even in some cases better, it doesn't matter.

Really shows ignorance and blatant bias at best.

bmwdrvr - 1/6/2009 1:26:59 PM

+1 Boost

where is the CTS, and the Vette, i constantly laughing at these consumer reports test, what about the Vue, or Aura.

kpaxx - 1/6/2009 1:52:40 PM

0 Boost

Consumer Reports relies on customer data and not on true unbiased scientific collection of mechanical problems.


As such the CR data is only a measure of perceived quality.

XYZZ - 1/7/2009 5:44:26 AM

+1 Boost

so you believe it is only BIAS when owners report problems that cost them money to fix? and not just individual owners, but owners in the aggregate? must be vast conspiracies of owners of lemons AND trouble free cars!

my, what an objective, SCIENTIFIC outlook you have...

morhpthanu - 1/11/2009 2:38:32 AM

+1 Boost

You're right, I'm a subscriber to consumer reports and they always send me things to comment about my car and how I feel about it.

mini22 - 1/6/2009 3:19:24 PM

+2 Boost

Consumer Reports is not enthuiast oriented like most on this sight.Frankly relying on customer data is what they are about in the first place.

XYZZ - 1/7/2009 5:59:49 AM

+2 Boost

CR actually has real automotive engineers (vs. wannabee racer scribes) road test their cars. unfortunately, their reports also read like they're written by engineers (vs. colorful, opinionated enthusiasts).
their reliability ratings are a separate section of CR evaluations, based on the largest database of owners (1.2+ million vehicles reported on).

zorbeeze - 1/6/2009 9:22:19 PM

0 Boost

The Fusion?????????????
Please, let's stop with the fairy tales here. Do not even attempt to try to sell the Fusion as a quality car. It does not even register on the same planet as the Malibu or Aura. I like where Ford has gone and i do have high hopes for the new Fusion but the current model was not succesful.

komododave - 1/6/2009 11:55:03 PM

+2 Boost

Milan=Fusion=mostly MKZ
Taurus=Taurus X=Sable
How about they choose cars that are actually different? Of course the Mercury version of a ford product is going to be good, it's the same thing. It's not quite fair for GM to be previously bashed for former badge engineering obviousness yet Ford is rewarded with 2 cum 6 of the top 10 Detroit cars.

neutral - 1/7/2009 10:08:23 AM

+2 Boost

yea but they'd whine and complain when a grenade failed to blow up and they survive!!

mini22 - 1/7/2009 10:11:12 AM

0 Boost

Say what you want about CR.The fact is a large chunk of the population reads it before they go out and buy a car.I used to sell Toyotas about 15 yrs ago. One of the major selling points to customers was a printed article from CR.Further the latest issue of C&D give the Fusion Hybrid the top rating. The Malibu was rated last in the 4 cars.Autoweek also gives a positive rating to the Fusion.

XYZZ - 1/8/2009 3:03:56 AM

+3 Boost

LOL! apparently your IQ musta been CAPPED OFF at some low level, cappy.

people who work at toyota stores are smart enuff to know WHERE THE MONEY FLOWS. average toyota stores sell (according to broker) for $20,000,000. a ford or chevy store changes hands for only a few million. if barely keeping afloat, for as little as 1/4 to 1/2 million.

considering there are 5 chevy stores for each toy store, the VOLUME of sales also shows huge differences. and the income of the sales staff, likewise.

adelaidedetroit - 3/29/2011 10:22:15 AM

0 Boost

You really do need to take consumer reports at surface level. I bought a used Ford at http://autos.mlive.com/used_cars and I've never had a problem.