June 2, 2009
Now that the U.S. Government is a majority stockholder in the new General Motors, the implication has been that it will "help" GM produce better cars. Before bureaucrats do too much tinkering, they might want to take a look at the latest Consumer Reports ratings.
With a "Very Good" overall test score, the new Chevrolet Traverse now ranks third in Consumer Reports' ranking of 18 midsized SUVs with three rows of seats. The only other SUVs in that category that outpoint it are Toyota's Highlander and Highlander Hybrid.
The Traverse is the newest member of GM's quartet of large, unibody SUVs, joining the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, and Saturn Outlook. Though unlikely to gain the approval of government officials emphasizing small, fuel efficient vehicles, it drew praise from CR's engineers and editors for its interior room and flexibility, ride, handling, quietness, usable third-row seat, blind-spot mirrors and good crash-test results.
Consumer Reports say the Traverse missed an "Excellent" rating by the narrowest of margins. It posted an overall road test score (rounded to the nearest digit) of 80, just one point behind the Highlander Limited and six points behind the Highlander Hybrid Limited; both versions of the Highlander have "Excellent" ratings. The Acadia and Outlook are rated fourth and fifth respectively, followed by the Ford Flex, Mazda CX-9, and Hyundai Veracruz in that order.
Consumer Reports tested a total of four luxury and three-row SUVs for the July issue. All three of the others, the Lexus RX 350, Infiniti FX35 and Kia Borrego, earned "Very Good" ratings. The newly-redesigned RX 350 ranks second in CR's ratings of 14 luxury SUVs, behind the Acura MDX. The sporty FX ranks mid-pack in that category. The Borrego ranks mid-pack among the 18 midsized, three-row SUVs.
None of the SUVs in this group are Recommended by Consumer Reports because CR doesn't have reliability data on them yet. CR only Recommends vehicles that have performed well in its tests, have at least average predicted reliability based on CR's Annual Car Reliability Survey of its more than seven million print and web subscribers, and performed at least adequately if crash-tested or included in a government rollover test.
The July issue also contains an "Auto Test Extra" report on the Ford Ranger, which scored at the bottom of CR's pickup truck ratings, and a first look at the Honda Insight. With a starting price of $19,800, the Insight is the least expensive gas/electric hybrid car available.
