Consumer Reports Top 5 Automotive Brands

[Throckmorton]

What really stands out in this list is that many of the top brands like M-B & VW do not appear to be that reliable according to CR's own matrix:
Top Five All-Around Car Brands

Wondering which car brands are the all-around best? According to the Automaker Report Cards published in Consumer Reports', Annual Auto Issue, 4 of the top 5 brands are Japanese, with no US car makers making the list — even though there was a 4-way tie for 5th place. Ouch.
Consumer Reports' Top 5 All-Around Car Brands

* Honda
* Subaru
* Toyota
* Mazda
* (tie) Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Volkswagen, and BMW

While it may be somewhat disheartening not to see at least one US car-maker on the list, CR says that the lack of American brands doesn't mean that there aren't any quality American cars. For example, new models like the Ford Flex, F-150, Chevrolet Malibu, and Cadillac CTS have done well in CR's tests and rank near the top of their classes in its ratings.

Overall, though, the worst overall car manufacturer is Chrysler. "The company's poor performing products and sinking reliability results have kept all Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep badged vehicles off CR's Recommended list."
http://consumerist.com/5161068/consumer-reports-top-5-all+around-car-brands?skyline=true&s=x

 

[PandaBear]

Next Issue:

Consumer Report on the Top Five All-Around Distilled Water.




(hint: distill water is distill water is distill water)

 

[Cutehumor]

Originally Posted By: Throckmorton
What really stands out in this list is that many of the top brands like M-B & VW do not appear to be that reliable according to CR's own matrix:
Top Five All-Around Car Brands

Wondering which car brands are the all-around best? According to the Automaker Report Cards published in Consumer Reports', Annual Auto Issue, 4 of the top 5 brands are Japanese, with no US car makers making the list — even though there was a 4-way tie for 5th place. Ouch.
Consumer Reports' Top 5 All-Around Car Brands

* Honda
* Subaru
* Toyota
* Mazda
* (tie) Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Volkswagen, and BMW

While it may be somewhat disheartening not to see at least one US car-maker on the list, CR says that the lack of American brands doesn't mean that there aren't any quality American cars. For example, new models like the Ford Flex, F-150, Chevrolet Malibu, and Cadillac CTS have done well in CR's tests and rank near the top of their classes in its ratings.

Overall, though, the worst overall car manufacturer is Chrysler. "The company's poor performing products and sinking reliability results have kept all Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep badged vehicles off CR's Recommended list."
http://consumerist.com/5161068/consumer-reports-top-5-all+around-car-brands?skyline=true&s=x


I could have told you about Chrysler for the past 25 years.

 

[rshaw125]

JD powers will come out soon and rank VW down at the bottom again.

 

[Steve S]

C.R uses the reliability factor .

 

[Falcon_LS]

Not too fond of VW products myself, be it a VW, Skoda, Audi or whatever. The vehicle costs a lot for what it essentially is, they are PITA to work on, spares cost an arm and a leg, and reliability wise they do not seem to be right up their with other brands.

 

[Kestas]

I too am surprised that Mercedes (and VW) is anywhere on that list.

But the report says these are the "best" vehicles, not the most reliable. Though Mercedes gets low marks in reliability, they usually rank high in customer satisfaction.

Confused?... all I can think of is that they only survey primary owners who own cars that are under warranty. They could care less of second owners with cars out of warranty.

 

[c3po]

I only agree with Honda being on that list, I can't help the others nor would I buy those other ones on the list.

 

[Falcon_LS]

Subaru and Mazda both make pretty solid vehicles.

 

[CATERHAM]

PandaBear + 1

All cars are incredibly reliable today compared to say 30 years ago. IMO it's a non issue.
You get as much variation within a make as between them.

 

[RH+G]

How does VW, BMW and Benz make a list of of top all around cars if relability is included in the rating factors? I read consumer reports but have learn to take their ratings with a grain of salt

 

[Jim 5]

Originally Posted By: RH+G
How does VW, BMW and Benz make a list of of top all around cars if relability is included in the rating factors? I read consumer reports but have learn to take their ratings with a grain of salt

I just spent the first $250 of repairs on my 2002 BMW. EVER. Thermostat failed open. I have not included brake pads in this, as those are consumables and even then they were only replaced in favor of pads with lower dust. I have owned it since 2003. Only warrantied repair was a failed seat heater element.

Best car I have ever owned, and I have owned many.

 

[oilyriser]

A better comparison would be to rank each car maker's best selling vehicle, rather than an average.

 

[GMBoy]

Consumer Reports data means nothing. It is based on reader surveys only and that number is small compared to the total number of vehicles built. While the cars they list are quality cars no doubt, I just can't rely on their data. This has been discussed many times. While we're on the topic of surveys and quality lists, you'll see that no two can agree.

 

[PandaBear]

Originally Posted By: GMBoy
Consumer Reports data means nothing. It is based on reader surveys only and that number is small compared to the total number of vehicles built. While the cars they list are quality cars no doubt, I just can't rely on their data. This has been discussed many times. While we're on the topic of surveys and quality lists, you'll see that no two can agree.


The day they recommend Falken Ziex 512 as the best consumer tire is the day I saw the light. It is the WORST tire ever made in the category.

 

[ArrestMeRedZ]

I have never respected Consumer Reports when it comes to rating cars. I think they base their rankings on carbon footprint.

 

[RH+G]

Originally Posted By: Jim 5
Originally Posted By: RH+G
How does VW, BMW and Benz make a list of of top all around cars if relability is included in the rating factors? I read consumer reports but have learn to take their ratings with a grain of salt

I just spent the first $250 of repairs on my 2002 BMW. EVER. Thermostat failed open. I have not included brake pads in this, as those are consumables and even then they were only replaced in favor of pads with lower dust. I have owned it since 2003. Only warrantied repair was a failed seat heater element.

Best car I have ever owned, and I have owned many.


I believe u cause no matter how unreliable a car is said to be they are plenty of people out their that have had no problems with them. I remember one time this guy pulled up in that dustbuster of a GM minivan. This guy had about 175000 miles on it, HE was getting new tires. I said to him u want to put new tires on this car. He said this car hasnt ever gave him no problems since it was new. he said i do regular things and it just keep running. Those minivans were such junk but his was made on the right day.
On the other hand i known plenty of VW and bmw owners. Those cars are fun to drive and people almost always repeat buying them but they are not reliable at all.
I just am confused on how CR came up witha tie for 5th with these three?

 

[The_Jeff]

Originally Posted By: RH+G

I believe u cause no matter how unreliable a car is said to be they are plenty of people out their that have had no problems with them. I remember one time this guy pulled up in that dustbuster of a GM minivan. This guy had about 175000 miles on it, HE was getting new tires. I said to him u want to put new tires on this car. He said this car hasnt ever gave him no problems since it was new. he said i do regular things and it just keep running. Those minivans were such junk but his was made on the right day.


What's junk about these vans that isn't true about the midsize FWD cars that share most of their powertrain parts? Yeah the rear spark plugs are serious knucklebusters but as long as you're writing checks and not touching the thing yourself, what do you care?

There are cars that mechanics think are junk but drive great (my taurus was an example... all day to do a radiator) and others that fix real easy and drive like a tin can (saturn s-series).

Then one has to think of what vehicles are jerk magnets, bipolar magnets, and a-lifetime-of-revenge-for-one-breakdown magnets. Add in over-extended-loan-so-I-look-cool magnets and you'll start seeing a pattern of what vehicles meet expectations while others leave owners violated and angry.

As far as CR, if one's "reliable" car breaks down and they get it fixed, an owner may feel like they did something and therefore not report the repair, lest they look "stupid". BTW it's only about 22% between a neutral black circle and the red circle with white dot/ black circle extremes. Parts and labor prices vary more than 22%...

 

[rszappa1]

But if they had some American Cars on the top five....most of you would say they are right on....but it still shows that they are not on the list yet.....

 

[Throckmorton]

Originally Posted By: Steve S
C.R uses the reliability factor .
You can see a rough indication of reliability on the X-axis at the bottom of the page. VW & M-B are anything but reliable. The Y-axis seems to be charting some nebulous variable.