Car Blog

Jeep & Chrysler models on the rise; Japanese brands still dominate

In recent years Ford has been a model of American reliability, competing well against Japanese makes that have dominated for decades. But three of its new models are blemishing that record, according to Consumer Reports.

The new Explorer, Fiesta, and Focus all had below-average reliability in their first year. As a result, Ford’s overall reliability rank among 28 major car makes slipped from the 10th to the 20th spot this year—the biggest drop for any major nameplate in Consumer Reports 2011 Annual Auto Survey. Survey results were scheduled to be announced today before the Automotive Press Association in downtown Detroit.

“We have often found that new or revamped models have more problems in their first year than in subsequent model years. Ford’s problems illustrate why we recommend to our subscribers to hold off buying a first-year model,” said David Champion, Sr. Director of Consumer Reports’ Automotive Test Center.

Ford’s drop can also be attributed to problems with new technologies: the new MyFord Touch infotainment system and the new automated-manual transmission used in the Fiesta and Focus. Lincoln finished above Ford, although the freshened MKX, a cousin of the Edge, suffered from the MyLincoln Touch system. On the bright side, the Ford Fusion Hybrid sedan remained outstanding, and other Fusion versions were above average.

While Ford’s star has fallen, Chrysler’s has risen. Jeep has moved up seven spots to 13, becoming the most reliable domestic brand, and all its models for which Consumer Reports has sufficient data scored average in predicted reliability. Chrysler and Dodge moved up 12 and three spots in ranking, respectively. Read the rest of this entry »

After Fiat’s being out of the U.S. car market for nearly 30 years, Consumer Reports’ tests of the Fiat 500 revealed it to be a fun-to-drive car in tests of fuel-efficient vehicles in the magazine’s October issue. Although it couldn’t avoid enough shortcomings to score high enough in the magazine’s tests to be Recommended, including a tight rear seat and cargo area, testers found it to be a likable urban car.

An inexpensive way to get a car with better fuel economy is to buy a very small car with a tiny engine, but that often brings with it some shortcomings. The Fiat 500, a retro-styled sporty car that competes with the Mini Cooper, is one example.  The 500′s 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine helps it achieve an overall fuel economy of 33 mpg.

“The tiny Fiat 500 has agile, go-kart like handling, a rev-happy engine, and a crisp-shifting manual transmission that make it fun-to drive,” said David Champion, senior director of Consumer Reports’ Auto Test Center in East Haddam, CT. “But slow acceleration, a choppy ride, and a noisy cabin are demerits.”

The issue also features a comprehensive Auto Test Extra road test of the Chevrolet Volt after seven months and three seasons of ownership. Fuel economy varies depending on weather and driving conditions, ranging from the equivalent of 99 mpg on electric power alone to a less impressive 29 mpg overall when running only on gasoline. Read the rest of this entry »

Improved fuel economy biggest motivator by those seeking to move to a smaller car

Most car buyers (56 percent) expect their next new vehicle to be the same size as the model they currently drive, but those who are looking to downsize are motivated by improved fuel economy, lower maintenance and repair costs, environmental concerns, and improved reliability, according to a new survey conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center.

These findings are from a recent random, nationally representative telephone survey of 911 adult car owners in the United States. Starting Friday morning, Consumer Reports will launch a series of reports on the dollars and cents of downsizing your vehicle. The reports will be available at http://news.consumerreports.org.

Among the drivers interviewed, a quarter of respondents plan to downsize, and 19 percent actually expect to buy a larger vehicle. Older buyers and Northeast residents (where gas prices are higher than in much of the country) are more likely to buy the same size. Those drivers aged 18-34 years are more likely to upsize.

“Despite the common drive to reduce car-operating costs, not everyone wants to downsize. Many young drivers have older vehicles, and as their careers grow, there is a natural ambition to have a new or newer car that is more comfortable and reliable—often that means stepping up from a small car to a midsized sedan or other vehicle This younger demographic may also be in their family-starting years, and likely in need for more passenger space,” said Jeff Bartlett, deputy online editor, Consumer Reports Cars. Read the rest of this entry »

New Chevrolet Cruze is marked improvement over the Cobalt

The newly redesigned Volkswagen Jetta now ranks last among the 11 small sedans that have been tested by Consumer Reports. Engineers found fault with its agility, cornering grip, coarse engine, braking, interior fit and finish, and so-so fuel economy.

“The new Jetta is unimpressive,” said David Champion, senior director of Consumer Reports’ Auto Test Center in East Haddam, CT. “In an effort to bring the car’s starting price down, VW cheapened the previous Jetta’s interior and suspension, making it less sophisticated and compromising handling.”

The four-vehicle small sedan test group also featured two versions of the new Chevrolet Cruze—which CR found light-years ahead of the crude Chevrolet Cobalt that it replaced—and the latest generation Hyundai Elantra.

The Cruze now ranks mid-pack among the 11 small sedans tested, with a Very Good overall score. The two versions tested handled nicely and felt substantial. But a tight rear seat and so-so fuel economy for this class reduced the Cruze’s overall scores.

Consumer Report’s findings on the newly redesigned Elantra were highlighted last month in CR’s Annual Auto Issue, where it was named a Top Pick in its category. It currently ranks as the best small sedan that’s been tested by the publication, followed by the Nissan Sentra, Subaru Impreza and Toyota Corolla, in descending order. The Sentra, Impreza and Corolla had all been tested previously. The redesigned Ford Focus just went on sale; Consumer Reports will be testing one in the months ahead.

Prices for the small sedans tested in this group ranged from $18,375 for the Cruze LS to $20,530 for the Cruze LT. Read the rest of this entry »

Auto Issue names best new-car values in eight categories

Consumer Reports names the Honda Fit as the small car with the best overall value in its 2011 Annual Auto Issue. The Fit also emerged as the best overall value among some 200 different vehicles analyzed, ranging from small cars to luxury sedans.

Although the Jeep Wrangler is well known for its off-road capability, it was named as the overall worst value.

“A low price doesn’t necessarily make a car a good value,” said Rik Paul, automotive editor at Consumer Reports. “At a time when people need to make every dollar count, our best value list will help consumers understand the difference.”

Consumer Reports mined its performance, reliability, and ownership cost data to calculate value scores for some 200 different vehicles ranging from small cars like the Honda Fit to luxury sedans such as the BMW 750Li.

Scores are calculated based on the five-year owner cost for each vehicle (shown as cost per mile) along with CR’s road-test score and the publication’s own predicted-reliability. Five-year owner cost estimates factor in depreciation, fuel costs, insurance premiums, interest on financing, maintenance and repairs, and sales tax. Depreciation is by far the largest owner-cost factor.

In all, eight different categories of vehicles were evaluated including family cars, upscale sedans, luxury sedans, sporty cars, wagons and minivans, small SUVs and midsized SUVs. Within categories models are ranked by value score, above or below the average. Read the rest of this entry »

The redesigned Kia Sportage outscored the new Mitsubishi Outlander Sport and the Nissan Juke in Consumer Reports’ tests for the March issue of three small vehicles that straddle the line between hatchbacks and SUVs. All three received a Very Good overall road test score.

“The melding of more carlike qualities in these vehicles comes with some concessions like passenger room, visibility, and versatility compared with that of other SUVs,” said David Champion, senior director of Consumer Reports’ Auto Test Center in East Haddam, Connecticut. “But the Sportage outmaneuvered the other two competitors because it manages to have greater interior space without losing its fun to drive character.”

The Sportage emerged as a competitive small SUV with nimble handling and an efficient powertrain. The Outlander Sport is a smaller version of the Outlander SUV, with less rear seating and cargo space. The fun-to-drive Juke is a new design based on the Nissan Versa platform, but its distinctive styling compromises rear-seat space, cargo room, and visibility.

All three vehicles have an SUV’s elevated ride height and available all-wheel drive, but they’re trimmer and sportier in appearance and handling. They blend characteristics of multiple-vehicle categories—SUVs, wagons, and hatchbacks. Prices for the SUVs ranged from $23,300 for the Nissan Juke SV to $23,995 for the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport SE.

The issue also features a face-off between the Honda Odyssey and Kia Sedona minivans. The Odyssey scored an Excellent road test score and topped CR’s minivans ratings, outpointing the Sedona which scored Very Good. Read the rest of this entry »