Is Consumer Reports Crawling Into Toyota's Bed After Awarding Them 6 Out 10 Best Value Awards?

These cars offer the best performance and dependability for your dollar, according to the popular consumer magazine.

The odd thing is that only two years or so after scathing the brand in with "not recommends" due to safety recalls. Toyota has once again become the darling of the consumer magazine with an astonishing 6 out of 10 best value awards for 2012. 

While we are not saying the awards are justified by any means. It does appear on the surface to indicate that the love affair with Toyota products by CR is on the mend and we can expect future models to rubber stamped through with flying colors.

While CR does offer huge repository statistics to draw from, the apparent failure to include safety recalls in recommendation consideration may become a glaring omission.  After all a visit to the dealership to repair a safety issue should be weighed equally to that of a visit for misbehaving radio software. Currently the minor issue outweighs that of the major.

Your thoughts?



Read Article

MrEE - 12/27/2012 7:40:05 PM

+5 Boost

Your logic is flawed. Safety recall issues get fixed and don't persist in current models. The exception would be an active investigation into a problem, like the time they suspended the Camry recommendation. Also with regard to safety, no one has more Top Safety picks than Toyota.

In addition, the Best Value rating is the result of a calculation, not a subjective award. Don't expect a overpriced vehicle to win a value rating.

nguyenvuminh - 12/27/2012 8:38:14 PM

+6 Boost

Maybe CR is crawling into Toyota's bed after all, but certainly no more than 009's sleeping with Hyundai :-) How is Hyundai doing relative to Toyota and Honda anyway 009?

quizz - 12/28/2012 6:20:39 PM

+2 Boost

"Best Value"... who are the others in this list? Hyundai? Honda? Ford? Toyota's dependability and resale value is strong against the competition.

HughJass - 12/29/2012 4:51:44 PM

+1 Boost

Hyundai might have won something if it wasn't for the fact they lie to consumers about what their cars are capable of.

You get what you pay for, its reality. Pay a little more for the quality original or cheap out and get the no quality imitation.

HughJass - 12/29/2012 4:54:18 PM

+1 Boost

Would've liked to have seen the Civic or Focus win instead of the Corolla. How do Acuras, Cadillacs and Toyota Highland Hybrid make best values? They're all north of $40K.