Volkswagen and Audi build the cars that perform best on average in Consumer Reports'tests, followed by Honda, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, Mazda and Nissan. But Honda, Subaru, and Toyota are best when it comes to reliability, as judged by CR's latest Annual Car Reliability Survey.
Those are among the findings in a special report in Consumer Reports' Annual April Auto Issue that looks at the question of which companies make the best cars.
To shed light on why some automakers are thriving while others are spinning their wheels, the magazine examined its own internal data to mine the highs and lows for 17 major carmakers. CR analyzed how vehicles performed in its battery of more than 50 road tests, coupled with reliability histories based on more than 1.3 million vehicles, representing 250 models.
The study includes "report cards" showing at a glance how the major manufacturers fare in testing and in reliability surveys. Each one lists an average test score for each automaker's tested models, and the percentage of CR-tested vehicles that are recommended by the organization.
Consumer Reports only recommends vehicles that have performed well in its tests, have at least average predicted reliability based on the annual reliability survey of its own subscribers, and performed at least adequately if crash-tested or included in a government rollover test. The report cards also list common highs and lows for each company's vehicles.
Consumer Reports concluded that no carmaker does everything right. Volkswagen, for example, builds vehicles that perform very well in CR's testing regimen with an average test score of 81 but vary in reliability -- with only 45 percent of tested vehicles being recommended.
Toyota, on the other hand, has a less-than-stellar average test score of 70 -- but 85 percent of its tested vehicles are recommended, due in part to the company's consistently high reliability.
The Japanese Myth
In addition, CR's data show that just because a car is Japanese doesn't mean that it's a great car. Honda and Toyota are lauded for their reliability and have built a number of high-rated models, including seven of Consumer Reports' Top Picks for 2007. But not all Japanese cars excel in reliability.
Other Japanese makers, such as Nissan, Mazda, and Mitsubishi have struggled to build high-quality cars consistently. Nissan's lineup, on average, actually scores above Toyota's in CR's tests, 75 vs. 70. Nissan also produces several of the most reliable cars in the latest reliability survey, including Infiniti sedans.
But three Nissans -- the Armada, Titan, and Infiniti QX56 -- were among the models with the most reliability problems in the survey; all three are made in the same plant in Canton, Miss. Ford vehicles, in comparison, have slightly better reliability in the CR survey than cars from Nissan.
Like GM, Toyota has a large lineup, increasing the challenge of producing consistently excellent vehicles. Eight other automakers had higher average test scores, leaving Toyota just mid-pack in this respect. While tested Toyota vehicles are very reliable and most have good fuel economy, they typically lacked agility in CR's testing.
The analysis also showed that U.S. automakers build some good models. But many vehicles are mediocre, and even the best seldom rise to the top of their categories against stiff competition.
Some automakers' vehicles consistently do well in important areas such as handling, braking, and fuel economy, which weigh heavily in Consumer Reports' test ratings. The automakers that typically do best in CR's ratings tend to build well-rounded vehicles that appeal to a broad audience.
Some companies with smaller product lineups consistently design well-rounded vehicles. All the Hondas tested were reliable, and most had smooth, refined engines and transmissions, good fuel economy, handling, fit and finish, and crash-test scores. But almost all suffered from road noise. Mazda also has a smaller lineup, and all but one Mazda Tribute had good handling and braking in CR's tests. Most were noisy.
European Models: A Mixed Bag
If the only things that mattered to a car buyer were performance, comfort, and safety, Volkswagen would be at the top of the heap. Its Volkswagen and Audi models do well in handling, braking, and standard safety features. But few VWs have decent reliability.
Mercedes-Benz is an even more striking example when looking at test performance and reliability. Its cars have the fourth-highest average test score, at 77. They handle well, are nicely finished, and ride comfortably. But none has good enough reliability to be recommended by CR. By contrast, Toyotas have been very reliable, but some models such as the FJ Cruiser SUV and the Yaris subcompact scored near the bottom of their classes in CR's tests.
How U.S. Makers Stack Up
Cars from Detroit automakers vary greatly in reliability. Ford has a number of good cars that did well in the reliability survey, but about a quarter of the Ford products tested had below-average reliability. GM also builds some vehicles that did well in reliability, but about one-third of the tested GM vehicles were rated below average.
Among domestics, Chrysler posted the lowest average test score -- 51. CR can recommend only 21 percent of Chrysler's tested vehicles, largely due to subpar reliability.
In Consumer Reports' testing, engineers found that some recent models from Ford and GM are competitive with the better Japanese or European models. For example, the Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, and Cadillac CTS scored well. The Fusion/Milan twins have excellent reliability.
Still, American cars seldom lead their categories against excellent competition. The areas where many U.S. cars fall down are many of the same ones that CR considers most important, such as reliability, fuel economy, braking, and handling.
General Motors, the largest automaker, has had some hits and misses judging by the 42 models tested: The Chevrolet Avalanche and Corvette rank near the top of their classes, but lackluster products like GM's outdated minivans and compact pickups counter their good scores.
Many GM vehicles received mediocre test scores due to subpar braking, emergency handling, and real-world fuel economy. On the plus side, fit and finish on GM models has greatly improved.
Ford's cars consistently handle well and ride comfortably, and its trucks and SUVs have good interior space and utility. But braking, refinement, and fuel economy are typical complaints from CR's engineers.
Chrysler has the lowest average test score after Suzuki, at 51. Several new Chryslers, including the Sebring and the Dodge Caliber, have noisy engines, bad visibility, and cheap interiors.
Consumer Reports Finds European Cars Perform Well, Lack Reliability...