2009 Annual Auto Reliability Survey: Best and worst models by car maker

It is easy to assume that certain automakers build only reliable cars and others don’t, however, nearly every manufacturer have their share of winners and losers in our annual reliability survey. Each company and even brand product portfolio runs a spectrum of reliability performance, with its own best and worst examples. For some, the range can span from much better than average to much worse than average, whereas other may be centered around average. The key lesson from scanning the data within an automaker is not to make assumptions.

For example, the best Toyota Motor Company model in our reliability survey is the Lexus SC—its predicted reliability score is the second highest out of over 300 vehicles, but the worst is the Lexus GS (AWD), which scores in the bottom 10 percent, and receives a much worse than average rating, and is not recommended in our testing. While it is true that Lexus models tend to be reliable and test well, this is not the case for all Lexus vehicles.

The greatest disparity comes from Volkswagen. The VW Golf (aka Rabbit) is one of the most reliable small cars you can buy, but the Volkswagen Touareg has the lowest predicted reliability score in our 2009 Annual Auto Survey.

In most cases, the best model for reliability is a recommended model and the worst is not. However, Honda’s top reliable vehicle in our survey, the Honda Insight, is not recommended due to low scores in our testing. The least reliable Honda vehicle is the Acura RL, but it has an average reliability score and is recommended. Honda is one of the more consistent manufacturers and has no model that scored below average in reliability.

The two more reliable General Motors products are from two brands that are leaving the GM umbrella. The Saturn Aura (4-cyl.) is newly recommended this year and the Pontiac Vibe will be phased out in the coming months.

Below are the best and worst models in reliability. Models with an * are based on data of one model year only.

BMW
Best: BMW 328i (RWD)
Worst: BMW 535i (AWD)*

Chrysler
Best: Jeep Patriot
Worst: Chrysler Town & Country/Dodge Grand Caravan

Ford
Best: Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan (4-cyl.)
Worst: Ford F-250 (turbodiesel, 4WD)*

General Motors
Best: Chevrolet Malibu (V6)
Worst: Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon (4WD)

Honda
Best: Honda Insight*
Worst: Acura RL

Hyundai/Kia
Best: Hyundai Tucson
Worst: Kia Sedona

Mazda
Best: Mazda3 sedan
Worst: Mazda CX-7

Mercedes-Benz
Best: Mercedes-Benz GLK*
Worst: Mercedes-Benz GL-Class (turbodiesel)*

Nissan
Best: Infiniti M35 (RWD)
Worst: Nissan Versa sedan*

Subaru
Best: Subaru Impreza Outback Sport
Worst: Subaru Impreza WRX*

Toyota
Best: Lexus SC*
Worst: Lexus GS (AWD)

Volkswagen
Best: Volkswagen Golf (Rabbit)
Worst: Volkswagen Touareg*

Volvo
Best: Volvo S40 (FWD)*
Worst: Volvo XC90 (V8)*

The main take away from this information is don’t judge a book by its cover. Avoid assumptions and do your research before you buy your next vehicle. It takes just a few minutes to browse the model overview pages, or use the interactive new car selector tool, which sorts and filters by the parameters that matter most to you.

Either path will reveal Consumer Reports recommended models that did well in our road tests, score average or better in reliability, and performs at least adequately if included in government or insurance industry safety tests.

For more details on our 2009 Annual Auto Survey including the full list of most and least reliable new cars by vehicle type, see our reliability report. Also, check out our guide to car reliability for more details on new and used car reliability as well as owner satisfaction.

—Liza Barth 

2010 Hyundai Accent gets more fuel-efficient with Blue

Hyundai recently announced a new fuel-efficient trim called “Blue” for the Elantra that boasts an EPA-rated 35 mpg in highway driving. Now the Blue concept has extended to the Accent with the full line seeing an incremental fuel economy improvement and the thrifty Blue three-door hatchback boasting a 36 mpg highway EPA rating. In addition to the reduction in fuel consumption, the Blue Accent line will be priced starting at $10,000.

All 2010 Accents will receive enhancements such as lower-friction engine components, aerodynamic improvements, lower-rolling-resistance tires, and a “smart” alternator management system. The Blue line adds a revised manual transmission gear ratio and lowered ride height for enhanced fuel efficiency. The significant work to make these improvements for a 1 mpg gain highlights the difficulties in raising fuel economy on existing models.

The Accent will be available in the base Blue line, GS hatchback, GLS sedan, and SE hatchback. The Blue line EPA-rated fuel economy is 27 mpg city/36 mpg highway. The other trims have an EPA rating of 28/34 for the manual transmission and 27/36 for the automatic.

Additional model highlights for 2010 include available air conditioning on the Blue line, standard iPod and other audio auxiliary ports, standard steering wheel controls on the SE (optional on the GLS), available ABS on the GS, and standard cruise control and sunroof on the SE.

All Accents continue to come equipped with six standard air bags, but ABS is optional and available only on the higher trims. Stability control is not available. Competitors such as the Toyota Yaris have standard stability control for the 2010 model year; ESC is available on the Honda Fit Sport models equipped with the optional navigation system.

The enhanced fuel economy will help the Accent better compete against other vehicles in its class.

—Liza Barth 

Life after cash for clunkers: September auto sales

The much-publicized cash for clunkers program gave a shot of adrenaline to car sales this summer, inspiring purchases even from consumers who did not participate. With the $3 billion spent in moving people into more fuel-efficient vehicles, the question became, what would become of the market without the federal incentives? The answer: September sales figures show that all manufacturers saw a significant 35 to over 50 percent sales decrease compared to August. But--and here’s the good news--when compared to last September, a few manufacturers actually saw a sales increase, including Hyundai, Kia, and Subaru.

Here are the sales trends among the largest automakers:

Chrysler: Still struggling post bankruptcy, Chrysler saw a 42-percent decrease over last September and down 40 percent for the calendar year so far.

Ford: Helped by a sales surge from the redesigned Taurus, Ford showed only a small decrease of five percent over September 2008, but so far this year they are down 22 percent.

GM: Low inventory levels after the clunker program pushed General Motors to a decrease of 45 percent over last year and 36 percent decrease so far for 2009.

Honda: With a decrease in sales almost across the board (except the Pilot, which showed a small increase), Honda sales were down 23 percent over last year and 24 percent so far this year.

Hyundai: Continues to enjoy growth and increase market share. They reported a 27 percent increase over last September and a 1.4 increase year to date.

Nissan: Sales for September were down 7 percent over last year and 26 percent year to date. A number of vehicles, including the Nissan Maxima, 370Z, Pathfinder, and Frontier, as well as the Infiniti QX56, saw a gain over last year.

Subaru: Attributing its success to the redesigned Outback and Legacy models, Subaru saw an increase of 1 percent over last September and continues to have the highest sales percent increase of any manufacturer--up 10 percent for the calendar year so far.

Toyota: Overall sales were down 16 percent from last year and 27 percent year to date, but the Lexus division saw an increase of 7 percent over September 2008.

Even with help from last month’s cash for clunkers program, manufacturers are still struggling this year. As they enter the fourth quarter, we should see some more promotions and rebates to help drive up sales before the end of the year.

—Liza Barth 

Test complete: Hyundai Genesis Coupe

Let’s get this straight: The Hyundai Genesis Coupe is not a coupe version of the Hyundai Genesis luxury sedan. Instead, the Genesis Coupe is more like a very grown-up Tiburon with rear-wheel drive. We paid $28,375 for our Grand Touring model with a 306-hp V6 and a six-speed manual transmission. Simply put, it’s a lot of car for the money.
 
The Coupe is a sporty car with a stiff ride and handling like no other Hyundai we’ve ever experienced. For example, the steering is direct and communicative. On our track, the car was agile and very fun to drive. The most notable flaws were the manual transmission that makes the car jerk if you shift too quickly from first to second gear, and the stiff ride that can get grating on a long trip. The interior is nicely finished with leather, but – like most coupes – there’s not much room in the back seat.
 
Take a look at the video to see how it performs on our track. Online subscribers can read full test results and compare it to competing models, such as the Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger, Ford Mustang, Subaru WRX, and Nissan 370Z.
 
—Jake Fisher

Pricing: 2010 Hyundai Elantra goes Blue

Hyundai has announced pricing for the Elantra line plus a new “Blue” model that boasts of an EPA-rated 35 mpg in highway driving. The Blue line will be priced below the GLS and SE trims, and it will receive the highest fuel economy of the lineup. Across the board, Hyundai claims a four-percent fuel economy improvement for the Elantra range.

Positioned as the entry point to the small sedan range, the Elantra Blue starts at $14,145. To boost fuel economy, this base model enhances last year’s GLS manual model with lower-friction engine components, revised transmission gear ratios, engine calibration changes, improved lock-up torque converter, and a shift indicator. The results is a claimed six-percent boost in highway mileage to reach 35 mpg and eight-percent city increase to 26 mpg. In addition, the Elantra Blue will come with six air bags, ABS, tire pressure monitoring, and active front head restraints. Other standard features include power heated mirrors, power door locks, power windows, and remote keyless entry. Air conditioning, plus the audio system and iPod connectivity can be added with the Comfort Package for $1,700.

The Elantra GLS will start at $16,895 and the SE at $17,845. Both will be fitted with the current 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine with an EPA fuel economy rating of 26/34 city/highway--a four percent increase for city and three percent highway over the 2009 model year. Our tested Elantras returned a respectable 27 mpg overall. The SE is still the only trim line that comes with standard stability control. Delivery charges will add $720 to all prices.

The Elantra SE scores at the top of the compact sedan segment in Consumer Reports tests. For Ratings, reliability and safety data, see our Elantra model overview (available to online subscribers).  

 —Liza Barth

Revealed: 2011 Hyundai Sonata

The Sonata will be redesigned for 2011 with a sleeker, more coupe-like shape, as revealed by Hyundai in South Korea yesterday. Pricing for the new Sonata is expected to start around $18,000. It will be built in Alabama in early 2010 as a 2011 model.
 
The 2011 Sonata will be powered by a standard 2.4-liter four-cylinder direct-injection engine. Our recently tested four-cylinder Sonata returned an impressive 26 mpg overall, with a V6-model rated at 22 mpg overall. Hyundai claims a 2.0-liter engine offered overseas will boast an 11-percent fuel economy improvement over the current model, though there are no claims yet for the U.S. powertrains.
 
The Sonata will feature six air bags and standard stability control. Other notable features include a panoramic sunroof, parking aids, and rear heated seats.
 
From the photography, it is clear that the Sonata is moving upscale in presentation, most notably in the interior. (See additional photos as well as other upcoming vehicles in our New Car Preview section).
 
The current Sonata performs well in our tests and is competitive with other family sedans. It is roomy and pleasant to ride for the price. We look forward to testing the redesigned Sonata after it hits the market to see how it measures up.
 
The U.S. version and further details will be revealed in January at the Detroit auto show. See our latest Hyundai Sonata reviews.  
 
—Liza Barth

Personal Picks: Sporty and muscle cars, part 1

In our October 2009 issue sporty car round up, the modern Detroit muscle cars are the stars. The latest Ford Mustang GT faces off against the reborn Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger. The glory days of classic muscle cars may have come and gone, though these modern interpretations of performance legends provide a compelling argument that these are the best of performance times.
 
These reborn automotive icons have each staged their own form of a comeback. The Mustang arguably made its triumphant return with the 2005 redesign, and the latest evolution has improved the breed. The Camaro and Challenger have emerged with retro-inspired style and decidedly modern performance, reminiscent of classic comebacks like Tina Turner, 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team, and George Foreman. (Well, he sells lots of grills…).
 
Of course, many younger automotive enthusiasts were not weened on pony cars, but rather import performance cars. For that set, we also have tested the Nissan 370Z, Subaru WRX, and Hyundai Genesis Coupe in our most recent test group. Clearly, there’s probably something for near-every car enthusiast.
 
But when it comes to which of these cars bend our heartstrings, the votes certainly aren’t unanimous, as some prefer agility over brute muscle. Here are our initial picks for this most-entertaining group, with other installments to be posted over the next few days.
 
Gabe Shenhar: If we’re talking exclusively muscle cars we tested for this issue, my pick is definitely the Mustang. Although fundamentally less sophisticated than the new Camaro, it hides it well and ultimately proves to be the more enjoyable driver’s car. To boot, it’s also the more livable everyday car.
 
However, none of these cars are exactly my cup of tea.
 
The Mazda RX-8 is. This forgotten car is incredibly rewarding to drive, with its smooth-revving rotary engine, slick shifter and lithe handling. It’s also practical, at least as coupes go, with its well-hidden rear-hinged doors and semi-habitable rear seat. Although dating back to 2003, to me, it still looks great.
 
Another appealing alternative would be a used BMW 3 Series coupe. A 2007 328i, with a manual transmission and Sports Package, can be had for about $28,000. With its punchy straight-six, terrific steering and perfect body control, not only is it spectacular to drive, it also looks gorgeous -- which is partly why you’d choose a coupe, anyway.
 
Rick Small: I grew up in the muscle car era and have always had a place in my heart for these cars. Through the years, though, they became dated and fell out of style to the point that Chevrolet and Dodge discontinued theirs. I think the revised and retro Mustang of a couple of years ago (re)created the market segment, just as it did back in 1964. Its success once again sent Chevy and Dodge back to the drawing board to come up with some competition. And now we have a new Camaro and Challenger.
 
Of this group I find that the Mustang is the best for me. The 315-hp, 4.6-liter V8 delivers strong acceleration. The Mustang also has agile handling and the exhaust sound is always very pleasing. This engine, with the slick-shifting five-speed manual transmission, delivers a nice combination of power and economy: Expect 20 mpg overall in mixed driving on regular fuel. The driving position also fits my tall frame well and access and vision are better than the others. It’s very easy to live with as a daily driver.
 
The Camaro and Challenger are also good looking but overall are not as rewarding to drive. The Camaro is very fast but the interior feels claustrophobic and is hard to see out. The shifter, ride and economy also all fall short of the Mustang’s. The Challenger is a nice highway cruiser but handling is on the clumsy side.
 
One surprise: The Hyundai Genesis coupe deserves a look also. It delivers V8-like performance with its 306-hp, 3.8-liter V6. This powertrain even gets a commendable 23 mpg overall on regular fuel. It has crisp handling, nice interior…and Hyundai is building very reliable cars these days. The rear seat is almost useless, though, with little leg room and even less head room. The six-speed manual transmission and clutch were hard to shift smoothly especially going from first to second gear. We’re told that later models have refined engine mapping to correct this. Still, this car was the sleeper in the group.

Cash for clunkers fuels August sales

The August car sales numbers are in and with the help from the federal cash for clunkers program, car sales saw a jolt for all automakers over last month, although, even with the boost, 2009 sales for year to date is still down for all manufacturers except Subaru.

Here are the highlights:

Chrysler: Struggling with low inventory due to the clunkers program and factory closures, Chrysler saw a five percent increase over July’s sales numbers, but down 15 percent over last August. Year to date, the company is down 39 percent. Big sellers in August include the Chrysler 300 and PT Cruiser, Dodge Grand Caravan, and Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Ford: Ford continues its sales momentum for August with a 21 percent increase over August 2008 and 10 percent over last month. However, year-to-date sales were down 23 percent. Top sellers, mostly fueled by the cash for clunkers program, were the Ford Focus, Fusion, Escape, Edge, and Flex, and Mercury Mariner and Milan.

General Motors: GM sales for August were at their highest for 2009. The figures were still down 20 percent over the same time last year, but up 21 percent over last month. Best sellers include some of their most fuel-efficient vehicles -- Chevrolet Aveo, Cobalt, HHR, and Equinox.

Honda: Propelled by a number of fuel-efficient vehicles, Honda posted its second highest sales month with an increase of 14 percent over the same time last year and 29 percent over last month. However, sales are down almost 25 percent year over year for the first eight months of 2009. The Civic, Fit, and CR-V were the biggest sellers.

Hyundai: Hyundai saw a huge surge from the clunkers program, a 47 percent increase over August 2008 and 33 percent over last month. Year-to-date Hyundai sales are only down less than one percent so far this year.

Nissan: Even with the help from the cash for clunkers program, combined Nissan and Infiniti sales were down almost three percent over August 2008. Year-to-date total sales are down 27 percent, but the numbers grew almost 32 percent from last month. The Nissan Versa was the clear sales winner with a 131 percent increase over last year. The Sentra and Rogue also saw a healthy sales boost.

Subaru: Subaru enjoyed its best sales month ever with a 52-percent increase over last August, 31-percent increase from July 2009, an 11 percent gain year over year. Subaru was the only manufacturer to enjoy an increase in sales so far for the 2009 calendar year. All Subaru vehicles except the Tribeca, which was down 8 percent, enjoyed a double digit increase over the same month last year.

Toyota: August sales were up over 10 percent over last year led by the Camry and Camry Hybrid, as well as Corolla, Prius, and Yaris. Sales were up about 22 percent over last month, but still down 28 percent so far in 2009 over 2008.

We’ll see what the sales numbers reveal next month without the cash for clunkers program, as and car dealerships try to offer rebates and incentives to help keep the car buying momentum going.

—Liza Barth 

Road test: Sporty cars and muscle cars

For our October issue test group, we put sporty cars to the test. Three of them are modern muscle or “pony” cars--the Ford Mustang GT, Chevrolet Camaro, and Dodge Challenger. These vehicles offer rear-wheel drive, plenty of power, and distinctive sporty styling with iconic profiles. Different from the rest of the group is the rear-drive Hyundai Genesis Coupe; our tested model is powered by a V6 engine in contrast to the muscle cars’ V8.

In addition to these vehicles, we also tested the updated Subaru Impreza WRX, which received a bump in power and suspension adjustments for 2009, and the redesigned Nissan 370Z. Needless to say, it was an entertaining few weeks testing these performance machines.

The full road tests from the magazine (available to subscribers) have been posted online, along with videos of some of the models hosted by our automotive experts. These videos highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the vehicles, bringing the road tests to life.

In the November issue, we’ll report on the Chevrolet Equinox, Nissan Cube, Subaru Outback, Toyota Prius, and Volkswagen Routan.

Ratings for all of the sporty cars we have tested can be found with our dynamic New Car Selector tool.

Also, see our recent reports on these vehicles:
From the logbook: Dodge Challenger
First Drive: Dodge Challenger
First Drive: Hyundai Genesis Coupe
First Drive: Nissan 370Z
Video: Muscle car showdown

—Liza Barth  

Preview: 2011 Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai pulled the covers off its redesigned Tucson small SUV in Korea this week, previewing the second-generation model scheduled to make its Stateside introduction this fall at the Los Angeles auto show. The new Tucson production will begin at the Ulsan, South Korea, manufacturing complex in late 2009.
 
Expected to again slot just a notch below the Hyundai Santa Fe in size and price, the new Tucson has radically different styling than the outgoing model, with cleaner, more dynamic lines akin to other recent Hyundai vehicles. (The updated 2010 Santa Fe will be available with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. Production begins late 2009.) The hood slopes down, the fender flares are flattened, and the triangular rear quarter windows taper to a point facing aft.

Interior space is about the same as before, and we expect reasonably high levels of fit and finish. The engine is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder like that in the current Sonata sedan, where it makes 175 hp, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. (An all-new Sonata begins production in winter 2010.) That engine replaces the outgoing Tucson’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder as well as its fuel-thirsty 2.7-liter V6. Both front- and all-wheel-drive versions will be available. True to Hyundai’s lots-for-the-money marketing strategy, uplevel Tucsons will offer leather upholstery, a navigation system, keyless ignition with push-button start, and other premium touches. 

—Gordon Hard