Preview: Garmin Nuvifone G60--A GPS with a phone

Garmin’s long-awaited Nuvifone is about to become a reality, after years of delays, rumors, and speculation it might never make it to market. Garmin and AT&T announced today that the Nuvifone G60 goes on sale October 4th, combining a telephone, Web-surfing capability, and a full-featured Garmin navigation device.

Unlike a smart phone with navigation capability, the Nuvifone G60 specs read more like a traditional portable navigation device (PND), including sensitive GPS receiver. (GPS accuracy has been a key limitation for navigations applications we have tested on the iPhone.) The Nuvifone G60 comes preloaded with maps and millions of POI (Point of interest) locations for North America, rather than depending on downloading this information, as with cell-phone-carrier navigation services.

The Nuviphone will include features typically found on Garmin navigators, like spoken street names, pedestrian mode, MP3 player, and the helpful “Where am I?” option for emergency assistance. Users will be able to ask for directions by using their voice, navigate to locations from the device’s calendar and contacts pages, and the built-in three megapixel camera will automatically geotag locations where photos are taken for future reference or sharing with others.

Unlike the iPhone, it has a removable battery. Of the four GB on-board storage, two are available to the user. A MicroSD card can expand the memory up to 16 GB.

Available exclusively through AT&T stores and online, the Nuvifone will retail for $299 after a $100 rebate, and it requires a two-year contract and a data plan that adds $30 per month. A car mount is included. Basic Internet access includes access to connected services, including flight status, yellow pages, and location-based Ciao! social-networking—also available via the Garmin Nuvi 1690. The device can also connect via WiFi, and it includes Bluetooth for hands-free calling, remote control, and audio distribution.

A Premium Connected Services plan adds traffic and weather info, fuel prices and more and adds another $5.99 per month after a 30-day free trial. The traffic information integrates into the device to aid navigation, but other data could be accessed using the basic Internet package and visiting related Web sites.

We’ll be testing a Nuvifone G60 as soon as it becomes available. Based on the high-scoring performance common to Garmin navigation devices, we expect the G60 will do well as a navigator. Its phone, texting, and Web-surfing abilities remain to be seen. The AT&T exclusivity could be detraction for some; AT&T has scored poorly among service providers in our user surveys.

For competing navigation options for the iPhone, see our application reviews: AT&T Navigator, iGo My Way, Navigon Mobile Navigator, Sygic Mobile Maps, TomTom iPhone application, and X Road G-Map.

For more information on portable automotive GPS navigation systems, see our Ratings, first looks, and buying advice and watch our video guide. Discuss GPS devices in the forums.

 —Jim Travers

How used cars are holding up

According to Consumer Reports’ reliability data based on information from the Annual Auto Survey, the most reliable three-year-old vehicles have fewer problems than many newer vehicles – and many of them tend to be Hondas and Toyotas. These vehicles tend to be a good value because the steepest part of the depreciation curve is past and many newer safety features can often be found on these vehicles.

Used-car quality often depends on how a vehicle has been treated by its previous owner. Vehicles that are  well-maintained tend to have a long useful life ahead of them. Still, Consumer Reports found that some models will stand up better over time than others. Overall, the most reliable vehicles come from Asian nameplates. Though domestic cars are getting better, they still trail the Japanese models. European models are also improving, but the older ones tend to be among the most problematic.

Here are more trends that stood out in Consumer Reports’ Annual Auto Survey:

Problem rates for cars have decreased across the board, so newer used cars should hold up
better than their predecessors as they age.

Among five-year-old and newer cars, Ford, Hyundai, and Nissan are about tied in reliability.

European cars, long the least reliable overall, are pulling even with the domestics on newer
models.

Additionally, cars with high problem rates are not always the oldest.

See Consumer Reports picks for the best used cars, and research car reliability.

Visit the annual auto issue special section for quick access to the latest Ratings, articles, and videos.

Consumer Reports auto issue on tour

With the release of the Consumer Reports annual auto issue, there is tremendous reader and media interest in the latest test results, survey findings, and reporting. Top Picks always fuels much discussion, as does our automaker report cards, which score the companies based on their average overall test score and predicted-Reliability rating.

Reflecting our economic times, there has been much interest in “Most bang for the buck,” where we calculated a “bucks per bang” figure based on five-year owner cost and overall road test score for vehicles with above-average reliability Ratings. (Read: “Best new car values: It’s more than dollars and cents.” People also want to know how to save on maintenance. Our investigation for the April issue shows how to save and avoid auto-service rip-offs.

Our staff experts are busy this time of year, answering questions for readers and media outlets while shedding more light on our latest findings. You may have caught us on Good Morning America, CBS The Early Show, and Fox News, or read about us from the Associated Press, Detroit Free Press, LA Times, and USA Today, among many others. Also, Univision covered the news en Espanol.

If you have missed Consumer Reports in the media, you can check out those videos and articles linked above, and also look for upcoming appearances. Managing Editor Jon Linkov and Auto Content Specialist Mike Quincy will be on the road doing both live and taped appearances for local outlets on each coast. Below is a schedule of known appearances, with the caveat that times may change and likely more appearances will be added. If you’re in these regions or have Web access, tune in to hear our take on the auto issue first hand. The appearances are live unless otherwise noted.

Consumer Reports Tour - Jon Linkov
Eastern Standard Time

Wednesday, 3/11 Washington, DC
5:30 p.m. — WUSA-TV9

Thursday, 3/12 Atlanta, GA
9 a.m. — CNN
11 a.m. — WSB 750 AM
4 p.m. — WGCL-TV

Friday, 3/13 Atlanta, GA
WSB-TV (taped)

Consumer Reports Tour – Mike Quincy
Pacific Standard Time

Monday, 3/16 — San Francisco, California
8:45 a.m. — KTVU-TV
10:30 a.m. — KGO 810 AM 1-hour interview

Tuesday, 3/17 — Sacramento, California
7:30 and 8:30 a.m. — KCRA-TV

Wednesday, 3/18 — Phoenix, Arizona
5:15 a.m. and 6:15 a.m. — KPNX-TV
6:32 a.m. — KFNN 1510 AM
KFYI 550 AM (taped)
KTAR 92.3 (taped)
Evening KPNX-TV (taped)

Thursday, 3/19 — Los Angeles, California
8 a.m. — KNX Radio 1070 AM - live 30 minutes
11 a.m. — KABC-TV (taped)
2 p.m. — KRLA 870 AM (taped)

Friday, 3/20 — Los Angeles, California
KTLA-CW TV, morning live

Behind the Scenes: Top Picks 2009 – Toyota RAV4 vs. Subaru Forester

One of the highlights of Consumer Reports' Annual Auto Issue is the Top Picks list. These are the cars we think are the best choices in a particular category. We don’t cover every vehicle group, but we do feature a broad spectrum of the vehicles that most people buy.

Although the criteria for selecting a Top Pick is fairly simple on the surface – the car ranks at or near the top of the Ratings, average or better reliability, easily available electronic stability control (ESC) – there are some nuances. One interesting choice involves our 2009 Pick for Small SUV.

When we tested the redesigned 2009 Subaru Forester, it did very well. The turbocharged 2.5XT even outscored the RAV4 V6 and the basic Forester 2.5X outscored the four-cylinder RAV4 at the time. We also tested a group of several manual transmission vehicles including a Forester with a stick; it’s one of the very few small SUVs that offers one. It also scored well. (See the Forester and RAV4 model overview pages, with reviews and ratings, available to online subscribers.)

So, why isn’t the Forester our Top Pick for small SUVs? Two reasons:

The RAV4 got a new 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine for 2009. When we retested the RAV4 for the upcoming May issue, we found that it was improved. It just barely outscored the equivalent four-cylinder, automatic-transmission Forester.
 
While the turbocharged and manual-transmission Foresters each outscore the RAV4, those versions sell in comparatively low numbers. The vast majority of Foresters and RAV4s sold are basic, non-turbo, four-cylinder, automatic-transmission versions.

It boiled down to this: we wanted the Top Pick to apply to the biggest number of buyers out there. In the end, the 2009 RAV4 four-cylinder narrowly out pointed the Subaru equivalent, becoming our Top Pick.

It’s important to keep something in mind here: both the RAV4 and Forester are very impressive small SUVs. You’re not going to go wrong choosing either one. (See the Forester and RAV4 videos.)

—Tom Mutchler

Visit the annual auto issue special section for quick access to the latest Ratings, articles, and videos.

Consumer Reports American Top Picks 2009

Once again, we bring you an all-domestic version of Consumer Reports' Top Picks. In years past, some have questioned why we did this. (See “American Top Picks 2008.”)

After all, we advocate buying the best product for your needs, regardless of who builds it or where it comes from. Plus, defining what is a “domestic” vehicle has gotten tricky with global production--is an American-designed-and-built Toyota Sienna more domestic than an Australian-built Pontiac G8? Regardless, especially given the recession, some buyers feel strongly that they should buy an American-branded vehicle.

That certainly doesn’t mean they’re doomed to buying a bad car. That perception exists: some have labeled this list the “losers list” in the past. That’s unfair, given that there are some excellent vehicles listed here. (However, some of the best vehicles built by Detroit don’t qualify because of reliability concerns.)

As a quick review, here are the guidelines for qualifying for a Top Pick:

• Scores high in the category
• Has readily available electronic stability control (ESC)
• Reliability data from CR’s annual survey that indicates average or better reliability.

Given those parameters, here are the domestic-branded Top Picks for 2009. For curiosity’s sake, I included the top-scoring domestic-branded vehicles in each category and noted why they didn’t qualify.

Category	Top Pick	Top Scoring
Small car	Ford Focus	Ford Focus
Family sedan	Chevrolet Malibu	Chevrolet Malibu
Upscale sedan	Lincoln MKZ	Cadillac CTS (reliability too low to recommend)
Luxury sedan	Cadillac DTS	Cadillac STS (reliability too low to recommend)
Small SUV	Ford Escape Hybrid	Ford Escape Hybrid
Midsized SUV	Ford Taurus X	Chevrolet Traverse/GMC Acadia/Saturn Outlook (no reliability data for Traverse, reliability too low to recommend for others)
Minivan	None qualify	Chrysler Town & Country (reliability too low to recommend)
Pickup truck	Chevrolet Avalanche	Chevrolet Avalanche
Fun-to-drive	None qualify	Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (reliability too low to recommend)
Green car	Ford Escape Hybrid	Ford Escape Hybrid

Here are the details on each category:

Small car: The return of optional ESC, back after a six-year hiatus, allows the Focus to qualify for best small car. It outscores the competition from GM and Chrysler. But there still is a pretty big gap in score between the automatic-transmission SES we tested (score = 65) and the Hyundai Elantra SE (82) that tops this class. Hopefully the Chevy Cruze and upcoming “global” Fords will help regain competitiveness here.

Family sedan: The Malibu has been quite reliable in its first year. Both the four-cylinder and V6 versions we tested compete well with the top family sedans out there, but they do give up about six-to-nine points in overall score compared to the best-in-class cars. We’re interested to see how the updated 2010 Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan does in our tests; they have been extremely reliable.

Upscale and luxury sedans: It’s too bad that Cadillac has hit-and-miss reliability. The CTS and STS are both fun to drive sedans, but they haven’t been reliable. The old-fashioned DTS certainly isn’t as entertaining, but it’s very roomy and quiet.

Small SUV: With improved brakes and more power, the 2009 Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner now scores high enough to be recommended. Of the three we’ve recently tested, the hybrid scores the best. But the applause is tepid at best--with a score of 66, there is a big gap between it and the top-scoring small SUVs in this class, the Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4.

Midsized SUV: Here is a category where the domestics score really well. Both GM’s modern three-row SUVs (the GMC Acadia, Saturn Outlook, Chevrolet Traverse score an 80 with their new direct-injection V6) and the Ford Flex (77) crowd the Toyota Highlander (81 for the nonhybrid) at the top of the ratings. Unfortunately, the GM vehicles haven’t been reliable, and we don’t have reliability data on the Flex yet.

Given those limitations, the pick here goes to the Taurus X. Built on the same platform as the Flex, the X has been reliable. Production is ending soon on this less-than-popular seller.

Minivans: Chrysler is the only domestic game in town. Ford and GM don’t build minivans anymore, but they’d gladly sell you a Flex or Acadia/Outlook/Traverse instead. We weren’t impressed with the redesigned Chrysler minivans in our tests, and their reliability has been subpar.

Pickup truck: With reliability that’s improved to average, the smooth-riding, innovative Avalanche replaces the Silverado as our Top Pick pickup.

Fun-to-drive: Although the Corvette scores extremely well (92 for the awesome Z06), reliability has been much below average. Going down the list, we don’t have reliability info on the updated Chevrolet Cobalt SS. Too bad--it’s a very entertaining car to drive. The Ford Mustang GT has been reliable enough, but stability control wasn’t available on the tested car. (It’s standard for 2010.) We haven’t tested the new Chevy Camaro or Dodge Challenger, nor do we have reliability data on them.

Green Car: With the Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner hybrid finally receiving ESC, they qualify to be a Top Pick. With 26 mpg overall, they get the best fuel economy of any SUV we’ve tested.

And that this year’s Top Picks, American style.

--Tom Mutchler

See our Top Picks 2009, complete with videos.

Tips to avoid auto service rip-offs

The maintenance schedule in your car’s owner’s manual is the automaker’s prescription for keeping the vehicle in good operating condition. Those regular check-ups should be performed at the proper mileage intervals. In reporting “How to save hundreds on auto maintenance,” we compiled these five auto service rip-offs that all car owners should know:

1. Flushing the engine or transmission. Those are common ways for dealers to pad their maintenance bills. Automakers recommend against flushing the engine.

2. Automatically charging for “severe” maintenance. Some shops assume you need the car’s severe-use maintenance service, which typically involves changing filters and fluids more frequently than the regular service schedule recommends. See your owner’s manual for details; most drivers need to follow only the normal schedule.

3. Frequently replacing different parts. A mechanic who keeps charging you to replace different parts to solve the same problem is probably having trouble diagnosing your car. Even if the mistake is an honest one, you shouldn’t have to pay for it. Ask the mechanic to refund the cost of the first repair, which probably wasn’t necessary. Otherwise, replace the mechanic.

4. Replacing the same part over and over again. That might indicate shoddy workmanship or
a poor-quality part; neither should cost you extra. The Internet makes it easy to see whether a
model is prone to certain problems. Search for your model in forums. Check the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Web site for automaker service bulletins and consumer complaints. Also, check John’s Tool Box (available to online subscribers).

5. Insisting that only dealerships can perform maintenance. Legally, you can have maintenance performed at any mechanic without affecting your warranty. Just keep thorough records in case of a warranty claim. The only service that needs to be performed at dealerships are warranty repairs, recalls, or post-warranty work that you want the manufacturer to pay for.

Read the full report on how to save hundreds on auto maintenance.

Consumer Reports names the most reliable used cars

Value-minded consumers know that buying a reliable used car is often the best choice, but that finding one takes research. To help simplify the process, Consumer Reports has identified the most and least reliable used cars for 10 years – from model years 1999 to 2008 – in the magazine’s 2009 Annual Auto Issue. Reliability data was compiled from the magazine’s Annual Auto Survey, which generated
responses about more than 1.4 million new and used vehicles.

Consumer Reports identifies the most reliable used vehicles in its “Best of the Best” list, which highlights the most well-rounded vehicles and lists other contenders in order of the overall reliability scores for model years 1999 to 2008. The list features nine categories – small cars, family cars, upscale cars, luxury cars, sports and sporty cars, minivans, small SUVs, midsized and large SUVs, and pickup trucks. Toyota and Honda dominated the majority of the categories, demonstrating consistent reliability and performance, but some recent domestic models are also worthy choices. Below are Consumer Reports’ picks in five categories:

Small Cars: Honda Civic, Toyota Echo, Scion xB, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Matrix, Pontiac
Vibe, Mazda 3, Mazda Protege, Subaru Impreza.

Family Cars: Honda Accord, Toyota Prius, Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Toyota Camry
(except ’08 V6), Subaru Outback (6-cyl.), Nissan Altima.

Minivans: Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey.

Small SUVs: Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester, Mitsubishi Outlander.

Midsized and large SUVs: Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, Lexus RX, Toyota Land
Cruiser, Toyota 4Runner, Infiniti FX35, Acura MDX, Infiniti QX4, Lexus GX, Hyundai
Santa Fe, Subaru Tribeca, Nissan Xterra (’05-’08), Toyota Sequoia.

To help consumers identify cars within their budget, Consumer Reports’ Annual Auto Issue also
contains a “Models to Look For” list (available to online subscribers), which is categorized by price. It features a variety of used vehicles that all have above-average reliability and are priced from less than $4,000 to $30,000 and up. CR found 19 cars that can be purchased for $6,000 or less including the 1999 Acura CL and the 2003 Buick Century.

The report also features a list of “Used Cars to Avoid” (available to online subscribers) and the “Worst of the Worst,” which names vehicles with multiple years of much-worse-than average reliability, including models from the following manufacturers: Audi, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, GMC, Jeep, Kia, Land Rover, Mazda, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Porsche, Saturn, Volkswagen, and Volvo.

Visit the annual auto issue special section for quick access to the latest Ratings, articles, and videos.

How to save hundreds on auto maintenance

Consumers can save hundreds on auto maintenance by comparison shopping and calling several dealerships and independent shops, according to a new analysis in Consumer Reports’ Annual Auto issue.

When budgets get tight, many people are tempted to cut back on their regular car maintenance. But that can lead to serious repair problems and even larger bills down the road. Drivers can save a lot of money on maintenance simply by shopping around.

CR’s experts called dozens of dealers and repair shops throughout the country to get quotes for regular
maintenance service on three popular models. In the case of the 2004 Ford Explorer, they asked for the cost of a 60,000-mile checkup and found prices varied by as much as $252, even among Ford dealers in the same general area.

In addition, they found that dealers often wanted to charge for extra work that the automaker doesn’t
require. CR discovered this when they compared the service items included in quotes with the maintenance lists in the owner’s manuals. They also found that quotes from independent shops that included all the items in the manual were sometimes $150 below the cheapest dealer.

Read the full report on how to save hundreds on auto maintenance.

Consumer Reports Top Picks 2009

Consumer Reports has named its Top Picks for 2009, which includes two new  models—the Toyota Highlander and the Chevrolet Avalanche, as top choices for midsized SUVs and pickups. Having proven reliable in its first year since a major redesign, the top-rated Toyota Highlander dethroned the Hyundai Santa Fe, last year’s winner in the midsized SUVs category, while the improved reliability of the new Chevrolet Avalanche helped it to replace the Chevrolet Silverado as top pickup.

Despite the arrival of more gas/electric hybrids, the Toyota Prius remains Top Pick in the “green” car category for the sixth straight year. The Prius’s 44 overall mpg is the best Consumer Reports measured in any five-passenger car.

Consumer Reports’ Top Picks are the best all-around models in their categories and must meet
stringent road test, reliability, and safety requirements. Each Top Pick scores at or near the top of its category among more than 300 vehicles Consumer Reports recently tested at its Auto Test Center; has average or better predicted reliability (based on the problems subscribers reported on more than 1.4 million vehicles in Consumer Reports’ Annual Auto Survey), and performed adequately in overall safety if tested by the government or insurance industry. In addition, each model much offer electronic stability control (ESC), a proven lifesaving safety feature, as standard equipment or as a readily available option.

See the complete Top Picks 2009, including videos on each model.

Visit the annual auto issue special section for quick access to the latest Ratings, articles, and videos.

For complete Ratings and recommendations on appliances, cars & trucks, electronic gear, and much more, subscribe today and have access to all of ConsumerReports.org.

Consumer Reports has named its Top Picks for 2009, which includes two new  models—the Toyota Highlander and the Chevrolet Avalanche, as top choices for midsized SUVs and pickups. Having proven reliable in its first year since a major redesign, the top-rated Toyota Highlander dethroned the Hyundai Santa Fe, last year’s winner in the midsized SUVs category, while the improved reliability of the new Chevrolet Avalanche helped it to replace the Chevrolet Silverado as top pickup.

Despite the arrival of more gas/electric hybrids, the Toyota Prius remains Top Pick in the “green” car category for the sixth straight year. The Prius’s 44 overall mpg is the best Consumer Reports measured in any five-passenger car.

Consumer Reports’ Top Picks are the best all-around models in their categories and must meet
stringent road test, reliability, and safety requirements. Each Top Pick scores at or near the top of its category among more than 300 vehicles Consumer Reports recently tested at its Auto Test Center; has average or better predicted reliability (based on the problems subscribers reported on more than 1.4 million vehicles in Consumer Reports’ Annual Auto Survey), and performed adequately in overall safety if tested by the government or insurance industry. In addition, each model much offer electronic stability control (ESC), a proven lifesaving safety feature, as standard equipment or as a readily available option.

See the complete Top Picks 2009, including videos on each model.

Visit the annual auto issue special section for quick access to the latest Ratings, articles, and videos.

Consumer Reports has named its Top Picks for 2009, which includes two new  models—the Toyota Highlander and the Chevrolet Avalanche, as top choices for midsized SUVs and pickups. Having proven reliable in its first year since a major redesign, the top-rated Toyota Highlander dethroned the Hyundai Santa Fe, last year’s winner in the midsized SUVs category, while the improved reliability of the new Chevrolet Avalanche helped it to replace the Chevrolet Silverado as top pickup.

Despite the arrival of more gas/electric hybrids, the Toyota Prius remains Top Pick in the “green” car category for the sixth straight year. The Prius’s 44 overall mpg is the best Consumer Reports measured in any five-passenger car.

Consumer Reports’ Top Picks are the best all-around models in their categories and must meet
stringent road test, reliability, and safety requirements. Each Top Pick scores at or near the top of its category among more than 300 vehicles Consumer Reports recently tested at its Auto Test Center; has average or better predicted reliability (based on the problems subscribers reported on more than 1.4 million vehicles in Consumer Reports’ Annual Auto Survey), and performed adequately in overall safety if tested by the government or insurance industry. In addition, each model much offer electronic stability control (ESC), a proven lifesaving safety feature, as standard equipment or as a readily available option.

See the complete Top Picks 2009, including videos on each model.

Visit the annual auto issue special section for quick access to the latest Ratings, articles, and videos.

Consumer Reports names the most reliable used cars

Value-minded consumers know that buying a reliable used car is often the best choice, but that finding one takes research. To help simplify the process, Consumer Reports has identified the most and least reliable used cars for 10 years – from model years 1999 to 2008 – in the magazine’s 2009 Annual Auto Issue. Reliability data was compiled from the magazine’s Annual Auto Survey, which generated
responses about more than 1.4 million new and used vehicles.

Consumer Reports identifies the most reliable used vehicles in its “Best of the Best” list, which highlights the most well-rounded vehicles and lists other contenders in order of the overall reliability scores for model years 1999 to 2008. The list features nine categories – small cars, family cars, upscale cars, luxury cars, sports and sporty cars, minivans, small SUVs, midsized and large SUVs, and pickup trucks. Toyota and Honda dominated the majority of the categories, demonstrating consistent reliability and performance, but some recent domestic models are also worthy choices. Below are Consumer Reports’ picks in five categories:

Small Cars: Honda Civic, Toyota Echo, Scion xB, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Matrix, Pontiac
Vibe, Mazda 3, Mazda Protege, Subaru Impreza.

Family Cars: Honda Accord, Toyota Prius, Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Toyota Camry
(except ’08 V6), Subaru Outback (6-cyl.), Nissan Altima.

Minivans: Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey.

Small SUVs: Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester, Mitsubishi Outlander.

Midsized and large SUVs: Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, Lexus RX, Toyota Land
Cruiser, Toyota 4Runner, Infiniti FX35, Acura MDX, Infiniti QX4, Lexus GX, Hyundai
Santa Fe, Subaru Tribeca, Nissan Xterra (’05-’08), Toyota Sequoia.

To help consumers identify cars within their budget, Consumer Reports’ Annual Auto Issue also
contains a “Models to Look For” list (available to online subscribers), which is categorized by price. It features a variety of used vehicles that all have above-average reliability and are priced from less than $4,000 to $30,000 and up. CR found 19 cars that can be purchased for $6,000 or less including the 1999 Acura CL and the 2003 Buick Century.

The report also features a list of “Used Cars to Avoid” (available to online subscribers) and the “Worst of the Worst,” which names vehicles with multiple years of much-worse-than average reliability, including models from the following manufacturers: Audi, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, GMC, Jeep, Kia, Land Rover, Mazda, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Porsche, Saturn, Volkswagen, and Volvo.

Visit the annual auto issue special section for quick access to the latest Ratings, articles, and videos.