Autos

Updated Toyota Rav4 tops Consumer Reports’ latest ratings of small SUVs
[Apr. 18, 2009] The freshened four-cylinder Toyota RAV4 outpointed competitors including the Subaru Forester 2.5X in Consumer Reports’ tests of six small SUVs for the May issue. In this class, the RAV4’s overall road test score of 82 is below only that of the more expensive, turbocharged Forester 2.5XT Limited and RAV4 V6.

Consumer Reports names Toyota Highlander and Chevrolet Avalanche as top choices for midsized SUVs and pickups
[Mar. 12, 2009] Consumer Reports has named its Top Picks for 2009, which includes two new models—the Toyota Highlander and the Chevrolet Avalanche, as top choices for midsized SUVs and pickups. Having proven reliable in its first year since a major redesign, the top-rated Toyota Highlander dethroned the Hyundai Santa Fe, last year’s winner in the midsized SUVs category, while the improved reliability of the new Chevrolet Avalanche helped it to replace the Chevrolet Silverado as top pickup.

Toyota Prius Touring is tops on the Consumer Reports best new-car value list
[Mar. 9, 2009] Consumer Reports names the Toyota Prius Touring as the best overall value among 300 cars according to the 2009 Annual Auto Issue. The Prius Touring provides the best overall value because of its comparatively low owner-cost estimate of $26,250 over five years—and a relatively high road-test score of 80 points out of 100.

Consumer Reports finds that Honda leads again, Mercedes-Benz improves, Chrysler lags
[Mar. 8, 2009] For the third consecutive year, Honda has earned class leader status for building the best all-around vehicles for American drivers, according to the Automaker Report Cards published in Consumer Reports’ Annual Auto Issue. At the opposite end of the annual ranking is Chrysler, which fared even worse than last year. The company’s poor performing products and sinking reliability results have kept all Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep badged vehicles off CR’s Recommended list.

Consumer Reports names the most reliable used cars
[Mar. 6, 2009] Value-minded consumers know that buying a reliable used car is often the best choice, but that finding one takes research. To help simplify the process, Consumer Reports has identified the most and least reliable used cars for 10 years – from model years 1999 to 2008 – in the magazine’s 2009 Annual Auto Issue. Reliability data was compiled from the magazine’s Annual Auto Survey, which generated responses about more than 1.4 million new and used vehicles.

Consumer Reports tests scooters and motorcycles for the first time since 1981
[Feb. 12, 2009] Fueled by painfully high gasoline prices, 2008 saw many consumers looking for new alternatives to big-bucks fill-ups at the pump. With rising interest in lower-priced two-wheelers that sip rather than guzzle gas and thousands of new riders on the road, Consumer Reports has tested small motor scooters and motorcycles for the first time since 1981.

Consumer Reports rates redesigned Honda Fit highest of subcompact cars
[Feb. 8, 2009] The newly-redesigned Honda Fit outpointed competitors including the Toyota Yaris and Nissan Versa in Consumer Reports’ tests of six subcompacts and small sedans for the March issue. The Fit remains CR’s highest-rated subcompact.

Consumer Reports finds that nearly half of Americans have delayed purchasing a new car
[Jan. 9, 2009] Nearly half of Americans (48 percent) reported that they will wait longer before their next vehicle purchase, according to the results of Consumer Reports’ 2009 Auto Brand Perception Survey.

Consumer Reports rates Hyundai Genesis as top-rated "upscale sedan"
[Jan. 7, 2009] The Hyundai Genesis outscored four competitors to become Consumer Reports top-rated vehicle in the competitive "Upscale Sedan" category. The Genesis, which achieved an "Excellent" overall road test score, now outranks 12 vehicles from Lexus, Acura, Lincoln and others including the Lexus ES 350.

Consumer Reports finds that some hybrid cars can save thousands over time
[Nov. 21, 2008] With gas prices soaring, Consumer Reports’ latest analysis of owner costs shows that drivers can save anywhere from $500 to $4,250 over a five year ownership period by choosing selected hybrids rather than similar conventional gasoline–powered vehicles.

Buying a late model used car can save thousands
[Nov. 13, 2008] A new Consumer Reports study of owner costs shows that choosing a reliable three-year-old car instead of a new one can save drivers thousands of dollars over the first five years. In many cases, that’s enough to pay for all the gas used during that time.

Consumer Reports rates BMW 135i as top-rated sporty car
[Oct. 9, 2008] The BMW 135i achieved an “Excellent” overall score and outpaced all its competitors to become Consumer Reports’ top-rated sporty car in testing for the October issue. The 135i drew praise for its splendid handling, a punchy engine delivering a 0-to-60 mph acceleration time of 5.2 seconds, and its overall fun-to-drive quality.

Consumer Reports rates Nissan Murano and Volkswagen Tiguan "very good" overall
[Aug. 6, 2008] The new Volkswagen Tiguan and redesigned Nissan Murano achieved “Very Good” overall scores—and outpointed some of their competitors—in Consumer Reports’ tests of compact and midsized, two-row sport-utility vehicles for the September issue.

Hyundai Elantra beats Toyota Corolla in Consumer Reports' test of five small sedans
[Jul. 25, 2008] After testing a group of compacts and subcompacts, Consumer Reports judged the Hyundai Elantra SE best with an “Excellent” overall road test score. But three other compact cars, Subaru Impreza, Toyota Corolla and Ford Focus, also achieved “Very Good” ratings in a report on gas-saving sedans published in the July issue.