Japanese brands once again dominate the list of the most highly rated cars in Consumer Reports' annual new car issue, released yesterday, while most products of struggling Chrysler LLC came in for harsh words.
But the magazine did name the Chevrolet Avalanche as best pickup truck, replacing last year's winner - the Chevrolet Silverado. It also said the newest models from General Motors and Ford showed improvement in performance and reliability. And it called the just-redesigned Dodge Ram pickup "competitive."
The magazine's ratings are based on tests conducted at its auto center in Connecticut, plus factors like crash test performance, vehicle cost and past or projected reliability, the latter based on annual surveys of the magazine's 7 million print and online subscribers.
The magazine said in announcing its 2009 new car issue, which goes on sale March 3, that "a Japanese nameplate is no guarantee that every car in a model range will be a reliable and good performer." For example, it said, the Honda Element and Toyota Yaris did poorly in its evaluations, while the Ford Flex and F-150, Chevrolet Malibu and Cadillac CTS "rank near the top of their classes."
But, it said, "Less than a quarter of Consumer Reports' recommended vehicles are from U.S. companies, a result of inconsistent reliability and performance. About half are Japanese."
Among midsize sedans, Consumer Reports deemed the Honda Accord the best, although the Toyota Camry outsells it.
The magazine said Honda's cars and trucks were "the best all-around vehicles" but said of Chrysler, "The company's poor-performing products and sinking reliability results have kept all Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep-badged vehicles off [our] recommended list."
In a statement, Chrysler acknowledged that the magazine is "one of the most credible sources of information for consumers," but contended that its reliability ratings don't reflect recent improvements. "In the past 12 months, Chrysler has reduced its warranty claims by 30 percent," the company said, "so we expect to see an improvement in our results when new data is reported this fall."
The magazine named the Hyundai Elantra as the best small car, though it specified the SE version, which comes with electronic stability control.
The magazine deemed the Toyota Highlander the best midsize SUV, but also had praise for the Buick Enclave SUV and mechanically related Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook.
Best overall vehicle:
Lexus LS 460, above
Family sedan:
Honda Accord
Upscale sedan: Infiniti G37
Small SUV: Toyota RAV4
Midsize SUV:
Toyota Highlander
Minivan: Toyota Sienna
Small car: Hyundai Elantra SE
Full-size pickup:
Chevrolet Avalanche
"Green" car:
Toyota Prius
But the magazine did name the Chevrolet Avalanche as best pickup truck, replacing last year's winner - the Chevrolet Silverado. It also said the newest models from General Motors and Ford showed improvement in performance and reliability. And it called the just-redesigned Dodge Ram pickup "competitive."
The magazine's ratings are based on tests conducted at its auto center in Connecticut, plus factors like crash test performance, vehicle cost and past or projected reliability, the latter based on annual surveys of the magazine's 7 million print and online subscribers.
The magazine said in announcing its 2009 new car issue, which goes on sale March 3, that "a Japanese nameplate is no guarantee that every car in a model range will be a reliable and good performer." For example, it said, the Honda Element and Toyota Yaris did poorly in its evaluations, while the Ford Flex and F-150, Chevrolet Malibu and Cadillac CTS "rank near the top of their classes."
But, it said, "Less than a quarter of Consumer Reports' recommended vehicles are from U.S. companies, a result of inconsistent reliability and performance. About half are Japanese."
Among midsize sedans, Consumer Reports deemed the Honda Accord the best, although the Toyota Camry outsells it.
The magazine said Honda's cars and trucks were "the best all-around vehicles" but said of Chrysler, "The company's poor-performing products and sinking reliability results have kept all Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep-badged vehicles off [our] recommended list."
In a statement, Chrysler acknowledged that the magazine is "one of the most credible sources of information for consumers," but contended that its reliability ratings don't reflect recent improvements. "In the past 12 months, Chrysler has reduced its warranty claims by 30 percent," the company said, "so we expect to see an improvement in our results when new data is reported this fall."
The magazine named the Hyundai Elantra as the best small car, though it specified the SE version, which comes with electronic stability control.
The magazine deemed the Toyota Highlander the best midsize SUV, but also had praise for the Buick Enclave SUV and mechanically related Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook.
Best overall vehicle:
Lexus LS 460, above
Family sedan:
Honda Accord
Upscale sedan: Infiniti G37
Small SUV: Toyota RAV4
Midsize SUV:
Toyota Highlander
Minivan: Toyota Sienna
Small car: Hyundai Elantra SE
Full-size pickup:
Chevrolet Avalanche
"Green" car:
Toyota Prius
BY TOM INCANTALUPO | tom.incantalupo@newsday.com
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