Consumer Reports best value awards dominated by Toyota

Jeffrey N. Ross — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 15:44:00 EST

Each year, Consumer Reports compiles a list of the vehicles it expects to be the best and worst when it comes to holding their original resale value, and the list of best values for 2012 is, not surprisingly, dominated by Toyota products. Overall, the best value for 2012 is the Toyota Prius, while the worst car for the money is the BMW 750Li, according to the magazine.

The Prius knocked the Honda Fit from the top spot, which was the best value four years running, and it did so despite costing $10,000 more as tested. As CR points out, a higher price does not equate to less value just as a lower price does not guarantee a higher value. A total of 15 Toyota, Scion and Lexus made the list with only one, the Lexus GS 350, having a lower-than-average resale value. Volkswagen and Subaru pulled in an impressive amount of cars on the list, too. On the opposite end of the stick, Chrysler was hit hard with all seven of the cars listed (across the Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep brands) rated with a below-average resale value.

Scroll down to see the winners and losers for each category, but to view the full breakdown of the best and worst values on the market, a CR subscription is required.

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Consumer Reports best value awards dominated by Toyota originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Dec 2012 15:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Judge's ruling paves way for owners to sue Toyota over economic losses *UPDATE

Jeff Glucker — Wed, 18 May 2011 15:02:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Toyota

If Toyota was hoping to end its ongoing unintended acceleration-related legal issues, the latest bit of courtroom news will make the automaker quite unhappy. U.S. District Judge James Selna has ruled that vehicle owners can sue Toyota over economic losses. Some Toyota owners claim the automaker is responsible for diminished resale value of vehicles wearing the Toyota badge.

"A vehicle with a defect is worth less than one without a defect," said Selna.

Toyota, however, has stated that it remains confident it will emerge from the courtroom victorious. Selna's ruling moves the burden of proof over to the plaintiff's lawyers, and Toyota believes that no such proof of wrong-doing on its part exists. Lawyers for the plaintiffs will be tasked with proving that the automaker was aware of a defect and chose to ignore it.

One particular issue from Toyota's point of view, with regards to James Selna's ruling, is the judge has applied a California law to the case. One that may make it easier for plaintiffs to recover damages. Toyota argues that vehicle owners from all over the country are involved in the lawsuit, and therefore local state laws should be applied with respect to the owner's location. Either way, it appears that Toyota's legal drama is going to continue for quite some time.

*UPDATE: Toyota reached out to Autoblog.com for clarification. It appears the ruling has not yet come down, but that Selna is merely considering the application of California law to a case that reaches across the entire country.

Judge's ruling paves way for owners to sue Toyota over economic losses *UPDATE originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 May 2011 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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