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Consumer Reports' 2006 Top Picks? 100% Japanese

Consumer Reports' 2006 Top Picks? 100% Japanese

Posted Mar 2nd 2006 11:30AM

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In word that is sure to have U.S. and European auto executives reaching for their antacids, Consumer Reports magazine has unveiled their 2006 Top Picks. All ten are born of Japanese companies, with Honda occupying fully 50-percent of the list.

The winners, to be published in the magazine's upcoming April issue:

Sedan, less than $20,000
Honda Civic
Sedan, $20,000 - $30,000
Honda Accord
Sedan, $30,000 - $40,000
Acura TL
Sedan, $30,000 - $40,000
Acura TL
Luxury sedan

Infiniti M35
Fun to drive
Subaru Impreza WRX/STi
Small SUV/SUV, less than $30,000
Subaru Forester
Mid-sized SUV/SUV more than $30,000
Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Minivan
Honda Odyssey
Green car
Toyota Prius
Pick-up truck
Honda Ridgeline

[Source: CNNMoney.com]

Category: Car Buying, Trends

Tags: 2006 Best cars, 2006BestCars, Acura, Consumer Reports, ConsumerReports, Honda, Subaru, Top Picks, TopPicks, Toyota

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Celeste

I OWN a RIDGELINE and love it. I have hauled plenty in it since my life is construction and SURPRISE I am a woman. I have three kids that fit great in it, doesn't jar my chest apart going through the rough cut in roads, drives like a car, kids love it and NOT AS embarrassing as an ugly mini van. People will have their opinions like usual and mine is, is this TRUCK is great!! I have driven all kinds of trucks and love this one, from chevy to ford to dodge, I own a ford and a dodge right now and a ford mustang and would rather drive my HONDA RIDGELINE over ALL of them. So those who say it's NOT A REAL TRUCK ARE JEALOUS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD THE $35,000 PRICE TAG AND HAVE TO BUY A STOCK BASE CHEVY OR FORD FOR 15,000!! JUST TO SAY THEY OWN A TRUCK, WHATEVER!! Grow up Honda has entered the field of trucks get used to it. Plus the 6 cylinder is fine in horsepower, 247hp, not bad for a little six cylinder in a nice size truck, I get decent gas mileage and decent pick up and go. If I wanted speed from a vehicle I will park my RIDGELINE and drive my Mustang. Ridgeline is a truck get used to it.

May 01 2006 at 9:04 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Darin

You people that actually believe that Japan is building superior cars are hilarious. This is a myth based on the opinion and sheer ignorance of the masses and their willingness to pay a premium - new or used for a vehicle that isn't superior in any measurable fashion. Fact is that Honda and Toyota are within 10 problems per 1000 vehicles to GM and Ford across the entire vehicle line up. Honda and Toyota offer drive train upgrades and revised sheet metal to an array of woefully dated platforms. The dumb ass Japanese Kool-aid drinkers wouldn't no any better. In fact I know many and they're the most automotively ignorant people you could meet.

The Ridgline is a farce of a vehicle. it gets stuck everywhere off-road, can't haul 1/2 of what they claim even competantly and frankly the list of problems this crap box has would have been a bigger deal than Janet Jackson's nipple if the Ridgline was manufactured by a Domestic company - but it's a Honda so it's automatically good. One day Honda should put 4 wheels and a giant Honda badge on a giant turd and see how many awards they win.... positively disgusting and biased. rain leaks in, squeaks and rattles, strut problems, engine fires, doors won't close properly, etc. etc.... Truck of the year? Ha!

April 27 2006 at 12:30 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

litesong

Consumer Reports has accurately prophesied my visits to the auto shop...even down to the system that malfunctioned. But a prophet is never revered in their own country(specially if the country & people in it come up short). I suspect the Consumer Report naysayers would have given Jesus short shrift too.

April 15 2006 at 5:05 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

morgang

I think the best way to judge a car is not by reading a mag that can have personalties that administer and write the test influence the out come by personal preferences, ie: what they drive, what their dad drove etc. ask people that have one what are the highs and lows. Not like JD Powers does after 30 or 90 days ask someone thats had one for 2 or 3 years. All cars have problems don't I care who makes them. Bottom line these tests C.R. does is to sell magazines, period.

April 13 2006 at 12:28 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Devastator

Ridgeline? You mean the COPYCAT design taken from the Chevy Avalanche? Oh, yes...I seen one bottomed out attempting to carry a SMALL Rider lawnmower in the bed. The beer cooler it comes with is proabably the maximum payload it can carry.

As for "Yeah, if GM had enough brains to bring us the "Ute" that Holden builds, and badged it as a Chevrolet" comment...you probably dont know that Holden is a division of GM so they can rebadge anything they want! Whats a lexus? A glorified Toyota...whats an Infiniti? A glorified Nissan...and whats an Acura? Its the same as a Honda except with a bent over "H" to resemble an A.

PLEASE...your 2 cents isnt worth commenting or even believable especially if you dont have your facts straight.

April 10 2006 at 2:57 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Bryan

I can not imagine ever buying a "pickup truck" made by Honda. I did just want to comment that that aside from Honda I have owned a pickup made buy all vehicle companies and have found that Ford is the best "Made in the USA" truck and Nissan being the best "Import" truck for me. Honda? Just does not seem to go hand in hand with the whole concept of a truck.

March 24 2006 at 7:09 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

J Benjamin

Here we go again. though it doesn't surprise me, C.R. does it again with rating the mundane vehicles from honda and toyota as best pick. i did believe in them at one time but when i actually went into the dealerships to experience these C.R. top rated vehicles myself a few years ago, i walked out of the dealerships uninspired. boring styling, drive experience. and then i started to examine the reliability ratings and ended up realizing that the ratings won't be accurate. 17 or 18 problems per vehicle? what were the problems and were they re-occuring? and how many of the 100 vehicles had none? ultimately, why is the reliability ratings inconsistent with quality ratings of the mechanicals of the vehicle? i no longer find CR a great source. i became my own auto critic and picked a car that was satisfying to my taste. i never will let a book do it for me ever again.

March 23 2006 at 1:56 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Tom in Boston

Consumer Reports has a mystery method of calculating it's reliability report. They say that they "rank" certain qualities higher than others, like drivetrain and engine, to arrive at the overall reliability rating. But, if you look at the last Buick LeSabre, where all the areas match the same year Honda Accord practically, the only area the Buick lacks is in body integrity with a below average. This may be a loose door handle or a piece of chrome trim snapped off. The Buick has a low reliability and the Honda has a exceptional reliability. The review of the Buick LeSabre shows they really don't like the car, but, it shouldn't reflect into the "pure facts" of their reliability overall. Like and Reliable are different characteristics to measure. It seems to have blurred together in Consumer Reports writing. Also, they review the Pontiac Grand Prix in a terribly negative light, when the car is highly reliable, with great response and handling, and excepional pricing and safety. They are completely biased against the car for styling and the groan of the 3800 engine, a complaint that is personally biased against the exhaust system tuning. V6 pushrod 3800 Series II engines from GM hardly groan, you can barely hear them running when idling, and they have so much low end torque they barely have to revolve for high response. Just another anti GM bias from Consumer Reports. There are many more, the Buick LaCross' review is so negative, complaining about the sound of the exhaust, the legroom in the rear seat (the same as many japanese cars). The LaCross is a fine car to drive with as modern a drivetrain and suspension as anything from Camry or Nissan or Mazda. Only Honda has double wishbone in the rear. It's just so biased as a car rating tool, that I don't subscribe anymore. They barely applaud the Corvette, absolutely the best priced, reliable supercar made.

March 15 2006 at 9:22 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Kuni

Im Japanese but I disagree about these awards for Japanese car. I know that Japanese car has great cost performance. But I don't understand that why all of them? I love corvette, mustang, big American V8. GM does great job.

March 15 2006 at 5:25 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

davide

When you folks realize it may be assembled here in the US, but the profits go off to the mother ship. Just take a look at the most charible companies in the world. I don't see Toy, Hon, Fuj, Bmw in the top 50. Even in bad times the Big Two still donate more money (even to overseas diasters) than the other ones. After owning 4 blue ovals with combined 725,000 miles. They have pulled trailers and been overwieght all their lives. Good products & Good companies. Not perfect, but nobody is.

March 13 2006 at 10:12 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply