Autoblog

Consumer Reports reveals details of 2011 Auto Issue

Jeff Glucker — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 17:58:00 EST

The 2011 edition of Consumer Reports' annual Auto Issue will hit newstands on March 8, but we have a sneak peek at what you'll find inside.

First up is are CR's Automaker Report Cards, and Honda, Toyota and Subaru continue to enjoy their three-year run at the head of the class. General Motors and Ford, however, are playing catch up fast. In fact, the Blue Oval now has a Recommended rating for 71 percent of its fleet. Chrysler, however, is sitting near the bottom of the pack, though it's kept company by former classmate Mercedes-Benz and BMW.

The Consumer Reports 2011 Auto Issue also examines the best and worst values across eight vehicle segments. Hyundai and Kia both earned a couple of "bests" while General Motors was given a few "worsts." Beyond the value of a vehicle, CR also names its Top Picks for 2011. For the first time ever, the Ford Mustang has made this list thanks to its multitude of engine choices, fuel economy and price.

If used cars are more your speed, Consumer Reports has even compiled a list of its top choices for 2001-2010 model year vehicles. Awards for best-in-class were chosen based on the results of road tests when the vehicle was new combined with ongoing reliability data.

We have a hefty dose of information for you to digest. The Top Picks, Best and Worst Values and Best of the Best Used Cars are all waiting for you after the jump.

[Source: Consumer Reports]

Continue reading Consumer Reports reveals details of 2011 Auto Issue

Consumer Reports reveals details of 2011 Auto Issue originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Consumer Reports may restore Toyota "Recommended" ratings next week

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Toyota

Consumer Reports may be ready to offer a vote of confidence in Toyota, depending on the outcome of the Japanese automaker's current Congressional Hearings on Toyota Safety here in the United States, says CR Senior Director David Champion.

At the end of January as news was starting to pile up regarding reported cases of unintended acceleration and the subsequent recalls of nine Toyota models (totaling 2.3 million vehicles), CR decided to pull its Recommended rating from the Toyota Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, Matrix (and its twin, the Pontiac Vibe), RAV4, Sequoia and Tundra.

Says Champion, "We're looking at a daily basis at the recalls. We want to be sure that the recalls are being performed." Assuming that Toyota's efforts to repair faulty gas pedals remain on track, it would seem CR has enough faith in the automaker to give back its coveted Recommended ratings.

And what of suggestions that there may be more to Toyota's unintended acceleration woes than faulty floor mats and gas pedals? "We want to see if anything bubbles up from the Senate hearings... A lot of people pointed to the electronics, but I don't see anything at the moment that points to an electronic issue."

Tired of Toyota recall news? Try out the recall-free version of Autoblog.

[Source: AOL Autos | Image: Scott Olson/Getty]

Consumer Reports may restore Toyota "Recommended" ratings next week originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cadillac CTS wins Consumer Reports luxury sedan comparo, still not recommended

Chris Shunk — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 19:29:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Acura, Audi, Cadillac, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz

Cadillac CTS - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Cadillac CTS sedan outscored its competition from Audi, Acura, Mercedes-Benz and Lincoln in a Consumer Reports competition of luxury sedans over $50,000. The CTS was given an "Excellent" overall road test score of 84, four points better than the closest competitor. CR says that the CTS gives up next-to-nothing to its overseas competition, adding "the ride is supple and controlled and handling is agile and sporty." The Cadillac's 3.6-liter V6 and six-speed automatic were also given kudos for punchy acceleration and smooth shifting.

The Acura RL came in second with a "Very Good" road test score of 80. The Acura was given high marks for technology but was marked down for a less than sporty ride and a less than best-in-class rear seat. The Mercedes E350 and Audi A6 3.0T followed with "Very Good" scores of 79. Interestingly, CR says the E350 was marked down because it didn't handle as well as the last generation E-Class, adding "handling is still capable, but not exceptional, and the ride isn't as absorbent as before." The A6 is given generally high marks all around including interior, ride and handling, but its performance evidently wasn't enough to elevate it to the head of the class. The Lincoln MKS Ecoboost brought up the rear of the group with a "Very Good" score of 75. CR says the MKS has an "ordinary" driving experience, but the testers gave it good marks for a well-resolved interior.

As a bonus, CR engineers also tested the new Lexus HS250h. The dedicated luxury hybrid was given an "Excellent" score of 83 - just above that of the Toyota Prius - though the publication dings the Lexus because it "doesn't have the refinement, quietness, and ride comfort associated with the Lexus brand." CR says the HS250h makes up for these shortcomings, though, with terrific real world fuel economy - they achieved an average 31 miles per gallon during its testing.

Though the CTS took top honors in Consumer Reports' road test, the quality-driven publication still does not recommend the vehicle due to reliability issues. Only the Acura was given a "Recommended" nod, though the A6 and the MKS contain engines that are too new to receive a recommendation. The luxury test appears in the February issue of the magazine. Hit the jump to read over the official press release.

Gallery: 2008 Cadillac CTS - action shots

Continue reading Cadillac CTS wins Consumer Reports luxury sedan comparo, still not recommended

Cadillac CTS wins Consumer Reports luxury sedan comparo, still not recommended originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Jan 2010 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Consumer Reports lambasts Honda Insight, ranks it 21 out of 22 vehicles tested

Chris Paukert — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:28:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Hybrid, Green, Hatchback, Honda, Carsumer Advocacy

2009 Honda Insight - Click above for high-res image gallery

Calling it "the most disappointing Honda Consumer Reports has tested in a long time," America's most influential product testing magazine has given extremely poor marks to the Japanese automaker's new Insight hybrid.

In a verdict that reminds us of a certain Jeremy Clarkson review (albeit more kindly worded), Consumer Reports blasted the gas-electric hatchback for its "ride quality, handling, interior noise, acceleration, rear-seat, access, and visibility," consigning the hapless Honda to a 21 out of 22 ranking among other small hatchbacks and wagons. Tallying a road test score of 54 points, it was trailed only by the widely panned Dodge Caliber, which managed just 49 points.

Despite the fact that it won't receive a much-coveted CR "Recommended" nod, the Insight still managed to post a "Good" overall road test score (largely on the strength of its 38 miles-per-gallon as-tested fuel economy). Regardless, it was comprehensively beaten by both the Volkswagen Jetta Wagon and the Hyundai Elantra Touring, which scored 80 and 79 points, respectively.

The Insight was the only vehicle in CR's test group to not to be Recommended, save Kia's Soul, which was excluded because the organization hasn't compiled any reliability data on the vehicle yet. Check out the press release after the jump and our new review of the car by clicking here.

Gallery: 2010 Honda Insight

[Source: Consumer Reports]

Continue reading Consumer Reports lambasts Honda Insight, ranks it 21 out of 22 vehicles tested

Consumer Reports lambasts Honda Insight, ranks it 21 out of 22 vehicles tested originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Consumer Reports Car Brand Perception Survey winners: Toyota, Honda

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:56:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Lifestyle

So we know many of you will roll your eyes at this and let the charges fly, but the results of Consumer Reports' 2008 Car Brand Perception survey reveal that Toyota and Honda are "best by a wide margin." The rankings, based on responses from 1,720 adults whose households own at least one car, ranked the amount of times a particular brand was mentioned in any one of seven categories (listed in order of importance to consumers): safety, quality, value, performance, environmental friendliness, design, and technical innovation.

Toyota rang up 189 points, with Honda following at 146. The next three vote-getters were domestics: Ford with 112, Chevrolet with 110, and GMC with 102. Mitsubishi (21), Audi (14), and Acura (8) brought up the rear. The only category in which Toyota and Honda didn't make the top five was design/styling. That's not really a surprise, and the tie for the win in that category is: Mercedes and Lexus.

Of note is that the results of this survey don't exactly match the results of other surveys. Volvo, of course, leads the safety category, but Subaru was voted more safe than both Mercedes and BMW, and the latter two didn't even make the top five. Mercedes did make the quality category top five, even though it came third from last in CR's rankings for predicted reliability that measures quality over time. We can't speak to accuracy of CR's polling methodology, but the results seem to give us less information about the brands than they do about conflicting perceptions of the buying public.

[Source: Reuters via eGM Car Tech]

Consumer Reports Car Brand Perception Survey winners: Toyota, Honda originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Honda S2000 CR starting at $36,300

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 16:24:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Convertible, Honda

Click the image above for more high-res shots of the Honda S2000 CR.

Honda has officially priced the 2008 S2000, and for an extra $2,000 you can step up to the track-ready CR model for a cool $36,300 (not including $635 for shipping). As you've seen before, the S2000 CR nixes the soft top in favor of an aluminum hardtop, and comes equipped with a revised suspension and new aero bits while simultaneously shedding the pounds. If you're not inclined to make the trek to the track sans air conditioning and tunes, they can both be added for an additional $1,000.

The new for 2008 S2000 gets redesigned 17-inch wheels, retuned spring and damper rates that improve high-speed stability and steering feel, along with a tire pressure monitoring system and a new instrument cluster with redesigned fuel and temp gauges.

Honda's full press release is after the jump, and be sure to check out the S2000 CR's gallery below.

[Source: Honda]

Gallery: Honda S2000 Club Racer

Continue reading Honda S2000 CR starting at $36,300

Honda S2000 CR starting at $36,300 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Oct 2007 16:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Consumer Reports responds to pickup comparo controversy

John Neff — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 14:05:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Truck, Chevrolet, Toyota

Earlier this week we told you about a pickup truck comparison in the most recent issue of Consumer Reports that seemed a bit fishy. The comparison pitted the new 2007 Toyota Tundra against the 2007 Chevy Silverado, Ford F-150 and Dodge Ram. It was clearly a fight between the Tundra and Silverado from the get-go, since both were the only two completely new trucks in the test. The Tundra, however, seemed to have an advantage in that it was ordered up with the larger of its two engines, the 5.7L V8 producing 381 hp. The Silverado, while available with a more evenly matched 6.0L Vortec MAX V8, was ordered with a less powerful 5.3L V8 producing 315 hp. Not only that, but the Tundra benefited from a 4.30 rear axle ratio that provides better towing and acceleration than the 3.73 ratio in the Silverado, which sacrifices those qualities for better fuel economy. The Silverado, however, could've been ordered with a more comparable 4.10 rear axle ratio at no extra charge.

Well, the gentlefolks at CR recently posted an answer to everyone's questions about this particular half-ton pickup comparo on their blog, which you should go read by clicking here before going on. They explain that choosing equipment for vehicles involved in a comparison is a tricky thing that involves balancing the objective of several goals.

"In general, we want to test a representative vehicle that is comparable to other vehicles in the test group (and previously tested peer vehicles). We also typically test the version--powertrain and trim level--that most regular consumers will buy. "

Read on after the jump to hear our take on CR's explanation.

Continue reading Consumer Reports responds to pickup comparo controversy

Consumer Reports responds to pickup comparo controversy originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Aug 2007 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

New York Auto Show: Honda's hardcore S2000 is a fitting send off

Damon Lavrinc — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 13:02:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, New York Auto Show, Convertible, Honda

Click the image for oodles of high res, destop sized pics.

Honda decided to make our roving band of blogger's lives easier by not holding a press conference and instead just plopping the Club Racer version of the S2000 onto a stand for all to see.

The "track-worthy" variant of the S2K gets enough structural and body mods to make any time-attack junky weep, beginning with a quicker steering rack, stiffer springs and dampers and larger sway bars. Newly designed wider rear rollers gets shod in the finest Bridgestone Potenza RE070s and the new aero bits, comprised of a redesigned front clip, side skirts, rear bumper and spoiler, have been wind tested and racer approved.

In an effort to drop the pounds and low the center or gravity, Honda decided to nix the folding roof altogether and instead, replaced it with an aluminum hard top. The former home of the soft top gets remodeled with plenty of bracing to increase the S2K's chassis rigidity.

Sales of the S2000 CR will begin this fall and no production numbers were mentioned.

You can view all the debuts and galleries from the New York Auto Show here.

Check the gallery below and the press release below the fold.

Gallery: Honda S2000 Club Racer

Continue reading New York Auto Show: Honda's hardcore S2000 is a fitting send off

New York Auto Show: Honda's hardcore S2000 is a fitting send off originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Apr 2007 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments