Lexus topped all automotive brands in Consumer Reports magazine’s 2013 brand report card. Japanese automakers again dominated the rankings, taking eight of the top 10 spots.
Lexus vehicles are rarely sporty, but they earned the top score of 79 points out of 100 because of plush and reliable vehicles, the magazine said Tuesday. Subaru and Mazda were tied for second place with a score of 76. Toyota and Acura, Honda’s luxury brand, rounded out the top five tied at 74. Honda and Scion were next at 72, followed by Audi and Nissan’s upscale Infiniti brand, both at 70. Mercedes-Benz finished 10th with a score of 69.
The ratings of 26 automotive brands, closely watched by consumers, are based on the magazine’s average road tests and predicted reliability scores from surveys of subscribers.
Detroit automakers didn’t fare very well in the magazine’s rankings. Cadillac was the best U.S.-based brand, tying for 14th place with Hyundai, scoring a 63.
Consumer Reports changed its rankings this year, splitting off individual brands from the companies that make them and scoring them individually. For example, in past years, all three Toyota brands – Lexus, Toyota and Scion – were scored collectively as Toyota.
The magazine said Lexus cars are among the most reliable even though they are “brimming with technology,” including hybrid gas-electric power systems and complex information and entertainment systems.
Besides Cadillac, General Motors Co. had two other brands in the top 20: GMC and Chevrolet tied with Volvo for 17th with a score of 58. Buick, with a score of 54, was 21st.
Ford and Lincoln continued to be plagued by problems with the complexity of their touch-screen controls, the magazine said. But it’s worth noting that Consumer Reports has been especially hard on Ford’s new MyFord Touch system, and unrelenting in its criticism even after Ford has made adjustments that other reviewers find satisfactory.
Ford also has been hampered by “unrefined” automatic transmissions, according to the magazine. Ford finished 23rd with a score of 51, while Lincoln was 24th with 50.
No Chrysler brand fared well. Jeep and Dodge were the bottom two finishers with scores of 47 and 46. Part of that poor performance, though, is due to the fact that Jeep is still nursing along some vehicles that were developed under previous owners–Jeep Liberty, Jeep Compass and Jeep Patriot. The Wrangler and Jeep Grand Cherokee, however, score extremely well with most reviewers, including AOL Autos, and are in huge demand from new-vehicle buyers.
Consumer Reports also released its top pick for 2013 models on Tuesday. The redesigned Honda Accord won in the popular midsize car segment, while Hyundai’s Elantra won in the budget car category. The Subaru Impreza was the top pick for compact cars, while the Audi A6 was tops in the luxury segment. Honda’s CR-V won the top spot for small crossover SUVs, while BMW’s 328i was the top sports sedan, and the Toyota Prius was the top green car pick.
Complete reports for all the brands are in the magazine’s April issue.
With Associated Press
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Consumer Reports’ annual brand report card is out. The consumer research group changed the way it does its rankings this year, breaking out individual brands from their parent company. In years past, Toyota took a lot of titles, but now the company has broken up Toyota into three brands — Lexus, Toyota and Scion.
Lexus got top scores as the best brand, but here are other category winners from Consumer Reports.
With improved reliability helping it earn the top spot among family haulers, it provides a comfortable ride and a roomy, quiet, and versatile cabin. The V6 engine performs well and delivers a competitive 19 mpg. And a backup camera — a great safety feature — is now standard on all models.
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For those who want the practicality of an SUV with the refinement of a good sedan, it provides a quiet, well-finished cabin, as well as a cushy ride, secure handling, and a smooth powertrain. The Highlander has also consistently maintained above-average reliability.
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Redesigned for 2012, the A6 is agile, quick, and a joy to drive, surrounding drivers and passengers with a sumptuous, impeccably finished cabin that’s brimming with the latest high-tech features. The A6’s potent, turbocharged I4 engine, super-smooth eight-speed automatic transmission, and comfortable ride add to the business-class feel.
It returns respectable gas mileage, even with all-wheel drive.
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The 2012 redesign breathed new life into the all-wheel-drive Impreza. Both sedan and hatchback versions are good sensible cars, with nimble handling and a compliant, absorbent ride that rivals some luxury sedans. Fuel economy is impressive for an AWD car. And the roomy interior, spacious rear seat, simple controls, and refreshingly good visibility make it easy to live with.
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Today’s pure electric cars are getting the equivalent of 100 or more mpg. But no current plug-in car can match the Prius hatchback for its blend of fuel efficiency, practicality, and affordability. Its 44 overall mpg is still the best CR has measured in any five-passenger, non-plug-in-vehicle. The Prius’ roomy interior, comfortable ride, hatchback versatility and low running costs make it easy to live with.
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One of Consumer Reports’ top-rated compact sedans, the well-rounded Elantra delivers a lot for the money. It’s roomier and more refined than a typical subcompact yet gets competitive fuel economy. The Elantra also provides nimble handling, a fairly comfortable ride, a smooth, responsive powertrain, and a well-finished interior at an affordable price.
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Co-developed by Subaru and Toyota, which markets the Scion brand, both are exhilarating to drive, with super-sharp handling, excellent braking, and ample acceleration. While they are dedicated rear-wheel-drive sports cars with jittery rides, noisy cabins and small rear seats, their impressive gas mileage and reasonable sticker prices are welcome nods towards practicality.
Honda nailed it with this redesign — it’s roomy, nice to drive, well equipped and very fuel efficient. With its four-cylinder engine, the Accord squeezes out 30 mpg overall and 34 on the highway. Higher-trim models have advanced safety features seldom found in this category; all models come with a standard back-up camera.
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With its recent redesign, the 328i has become roomier, more luxurious and more fuel efficient while retaining most of its sporty, fun-to-drive characters. Ride comfort and fit and finish are impressive. And its 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivers quick acceleration, while posting the best gas mileage in its class.
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