The Quality Gap Is Closing: Consumer Reports Warns To No Longer Buy By Brand Name Only

You would assume that if an automaker poured millions of dollars into a major redesign of one of its models that the new version would be better than the old one. But more and more, that’s not the case. In fact, a lot of the slip-sliding we’re seeing here at Consumer Reports has been coming from some traditionally high-performing brands, including Honda, Toyota, and Volkswagen. 

On the other hand, the redesigned models built by American brands are steadily improving. Those two trends are gradually changing the automotive landscape and creating a more competitive market, one in which it’s all the more important to judge each model individually rather than simply buying by brand.

 

Designer1 - 4/3/2012 3:39:19 PM

+2 Boost

I'll be fair here, true SOME of the American cars improved their interior materials, but of course the reliability is the same old. However, it's still not close to it's competitors, and if the material feel is good like their competitors then you see the bad design of the interior, the positions of things laid out. So, buying a car is not just how the material looks, it's how it feel when you're surrounded by all of the car components.

And again, I'm not mentioning the reliability, power and the driving experience.

LexSucks - 4/3/2012 5:48:09 PM

0 Boost

"Consumer reports warns to no longer buy by brand name only"

- Well Duh!! People are just now starting to realize this? People are slow.

USNA1999 - 4/3/2012 6:05:20 PM

0 Boost

Totally agree with LexSucks "Well Duh!!" Consumer Reports finally figured this out and the consumers too? CR are a bunch of morons. They need to correlate brand reliability with recalls. I bet the results will be much different.
Like I have stated before, consumers basing their auto purchases solely on CR's recommendation are MORONS!

USNA1999 - 4/4/2012 6:18:45 PM

+1 Boost

"Only women and gays jump around all over the place confused and easily swayed by fancy ads which ends up costing them extra money trying new things from unproven brands". Really? I can most definetly see how open minded you are. I was wrong, you are more ignorant than I thought, your parents should be proud. This is what this nation needs, people that think the way you do. Great comments, keep it up. LoL!