Gas Savings Equals Reliability In Recent Consumer Survey
Of the hundreds of different models of cars on the road today, which ones do you think are the most reliable? Well, if you pick by the brand – Toyota and Honda – you would be right, but there is a more telling way to figure out which cars are the best: they’re the most fuel efficient ones.
In a recent survey conducted by Consumers Union — the independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to work for a fair, just, and safe marketplace for all consumers and to empower consumers to protect themselves – and published in their magazine, Consumer Reports, the small car segment performed quite well.
Consumer Reports found that nine hybrid models rated above average in predicted reliability, with most of those produced by Japanese automakers. In the the Family Cars category, the Toyota Prius, the Toyota Camry Hybrid, and the Nissan Altima Hybrid, as well as the luxury Lexus GS450h Hybrid sedan have all been recognized among the most reliable vehicles for sale today.
The Lexus RX400h and the Toyota Highlander Hybrid are among the most reliable in midsized SUVs, while the Ford Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid small SUVs rated above normal in expected reliability. The report also found that the Honda Civic Hybrid is above average while recognizing that conventional gas powered cars such as the Honda Fit, Scion xD, Smart ForTwo, and Toyota Yaris had few problems reported.
Although the report sung high praises for most Japanese makes while also recognizing the great strides in quality improvements from Korean and European brands, the report also recognized some interesting trends among the three American automakers.
Specifically, Consumer Reports now says that Ford’s quality nearly matches the industry leaders – Toyota and Honda, while General Motors offers a mixed bag of quality across its many vehicle segments. For GM, some of their newer vehicles such as the Chevrolet Malibu performed quite well while its highly touted Cadillac CTS and crossover triplets – Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, and Saturn Outlook – performed below average.
Worst, were the findings for Chrysler. The report noted that the Dodge Caliber hatchback and Jeep Patriot SUV were above average, but found that the company’s minivans, midsize cars, and Jeep Liberty performed below average. Indeed, the convertible version of the Chrysler Sebring midsize car performed exceptionally bad in this survey.
So, if you are in the market for a new car, taking Consumer Reports’ survey into consideration should help you make a purchase you can live with. I’m not endorsing Consumer Reports per se, but when you’re researching what car to buy, considering what they have to say about various makes and models is a wise move.
(Source: Consumers Union)
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