Do hybrids pay?

Hybrid technology is spreading to both cars and SUVs, but in most cases you’ll pay dearly for the privilege of electric assist, and all hybrids are not created equally.

Using our owner cost estimates, we checked out the actual cost of owning a hybrid over time. Of the seven hybrids we recently tested, we found that three, the Toyota Prius, Toyota Camry Hybrid, and Honda Civic Hybrid, save owners money compared with their all-gas alternatives, while others depend on tax breaks to break even. Overall, hybrid costs range from $4,250 in savings to a $1,750 deficit over five years, compared with their most similar gas counterparts. The Toyota Prius costs thousands more to buy than either the Toyota Corolla or the Toyota Matrix, but it costs less to own than either: $250 less than the Corolla, and $4,250 less than the Matrix 2.4.

The four-cylinder Toyota Camry XLE and Camry Hybrid cost about the same to buy. The Hybrid gets 34 mpg overall versus 24 mpg for the non-hybrid Camry.

More expensive hybrids with smooth, powerful V6 engines, such as the Lexus RX 400h and the Toyota Highlander cost hundreds more to own over five years than their gasoline counterparts, even though they save thousands of dollars in fuel costs.

Hybrids’ fuel savings are real, however. The base Prius delivered an excellent 44 mpg overall, the highest of any five-passenger vehicle we have ever tested. The Toyota Highlander Hybrid, which achieved the best fuel economy of any current SUV we’ve tested, can save you nearly $700 per year in gasoline costs, compared with the V6 model.

For more information on hybrid vehicles, see How hybrids work. To learn about alternative fuels and fuel economy, see our Guide to driving green.

Consumer Reports' Top Picks 2008

This year's Top Picks in 10 categories include four new models. For the first time since 2005, a U.S. model, the redesigned Chevrolet Silverado, made the list as our choice in pickup trucks. And for the first time ever, a South Korean automaker is represented: The Hyundai Elantra SE and Santa Fe are our top small sedan and midsized SUV, respectively. The fourth new entry is the Lexus LS 460L, the highest-scoring vehicle we've tested and best among luxury sedans.

Choosing the Top Picks
Our Top Picks are the most well-rounded models in their categories. Each must meet these stringent requirements:

• Road tests: Each Top Pick scores at or near the top of its category among more than 260 vehicles we've recently tested at our Auto Test Center.
• Reliability: Each has an average or better predicted-reliability Rating, based on the problems subscribers reported on almost 1.3 million vehicles in our Annual Car Reliability Survey.
• Safety: Top Picks have performed adequately in overall safety if tested by the government or the insurance industry. Starting this year, they also must provide a critical safety feature, electronic stability control (ESC), either as standard equipment or as a readily available option. That's why the Honda Accord, for example, is the Top Pick in family sedans over the Nissan Altima. The Altima scored slightly higher in CR's testing, but offers ESC only as a pricey option on the V6 and standard on the hybrid model.

"All the vehicles in Consumer Reports' Top Picks list are standouts for performance, versatility, reliability, and safety," says David Champion, senior director of automotive testing, Consumer Reports. "CR's Top Picks list is a great place for consumers to start when they're looking for a new car."

Consumer Reports' testing procedures are the most comprehensive of any U.S. publication or Web site. More than 50 individual tests are performed on every vehicle, including evaluations of braking, handling, comfort, convenience, safety, and fuel economy. Around 6,000 miles of general driving and evaluations are racked up on each test car during the testing process.

Here, by category, are the Top Picks:

Green car - Toyota Prius
Small sedan - Hyundai Elantra SE
Family sedan - Honda Accord
Upscale sedan - Infiniti G35
Luxury sedan - Lexus LS 460L
Fun to drive - Mazda MX-5 Miata
Small SUV - Toyota RAV4
Midsized SUV - Hyundai Santa Fe
Minivan - Toyota Sienna
Pickup truck - Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab

Read the full story and watch the Top Picks videos.

Consumer Reports' Annual April Auto Issue is on sale from March 4 through June 4, and it is available wherever magazines are sold. Visit the April Auto Issue special section.

Toyota passes Ford for second spot in U.S. sales

Toyota Motor Corporation has broken Ford’s 75-year history to become the #2 auto sales leader in the United States for 2007, according to the Associated Press. This is the 12th consecutive year of record-breaking sales for Toyota.

According to 2007 manufacturer-supplied figures, General Motors retains the top position selling 3.87 million vehicles, down 6 percent from the previous year. Toyota sales were 2.62 million, up 2.7 percent over 2006. Ford sold 2.57 million vehicles, down 12 percent.

Toyota’s rise to the second seed in the United States was helped by a surge in sales of a number of popular models. The Prius hybrid, despite the fact that its design isn’t new (it was last redone in 2004), saw an increase of almost 69 percent amid rising fuel costs and increasing environmental awareness. The all-new Toyota Tundra boasted a 57 percent increase and, in our tests, ranked second only to the Chevrolet Avalanche. It’s clearly a strong competitor. The redesigned Lexus LS460/600h luxury sedans had an 80 percent boost in sales.

Even though Ford posted an overall decline in sales from last year, a few vehicles, such as the Ford Focus, Ford Fusion, and Mercury Milan, enjoyed an increase in sales over last year. The Ford F-150 was still the best-selling truck in America for the 31st year in a row.

Worldwide sales figures are due to come out later this month and the race is tight between GM and Toyota to win the coveted title of world’s largest automaker.

—Liza Barth

2008 Lexus LX 570 pricing - more bucks, more lux

Lexus has announced pricing for its new 2008 LX 570 luxury sport utility vehicle, which replaces the LX 470. This new models adds a variety of new technologies, but it comes at a price--a base MSRP of $73,800, plus a $765 destination fee.  The 2007 Lexus LX 470 started at $67,395.

The LX 570 is equipped with a powerful 5.7-liter V8 engine that produces 383 hp, which is 112 hp more than the vehicle it replaces. The engine is matched to a new six-speed sequential-shift automatic transmission, and this powertrain enables the LX to tow up to 8,500 lbs. Lexus says there are also significant upgrades to the suspension and the full-time four-wheel-drive system that allows it to react more quickly and allow for greater range of adjustment.

Lexus has built into the LX a feature called Crawl Control that operates like an off-road cruise control in that helps maintain control and a low speed when driving over rough or difficult surfaces. Another new feature of the LX is the addition of blind-spot cameras within the grille and under the passenger side-view mirror to assist in monitoring hard-to-see areas. The video imagery can be displayed on the navigation screen.

The Lexus LX 570 will go on sale in early 2008.

—Liza Barth

Discuss Lexus in the Cars forums.

Cars as status symbols

With cars, you wear your status on the road. Everyone knows which ones are the most expensive. The brand marking is clear. In our recent Mercedes E-Class sedan, I was constantly reminded of what vehicle I was driving, because the emblem on the hood was staring right at me, as well as several Tri-Star logos throughout the interior. With clothing, you can buy cheap knock offs and still look presentable. There is no hiding a brand while driving a car. Removing the trunk-mounted badge doesn't fool anyone.

A friend of mine recently learned a thing about rolling status symbols when he purchased a Lexus ES350. He was previously driving a Corolla and spends a lot of time on the road. He was looking for something roomier and more comfortable. He bought the 2007 ES used and got a great deal, spending about as much as one would for a new, well-equipped Toyota Camry. He drove the new car to work and immediately got many comments from co-workers like, "Nice car, you must be doing well." His colleagues inquired about his increase in status and remarked on his assumed financial situation. He told me he felt very uncomfortable by everyone's comments and didn't expect those reactions.

Of course, many people buy expensive cars (even if they can't afford it) just to show-off or project an image or wealth or importance. Those people would probably welcome the comments my friend received. However, not all wealthy people prefer driving expensive cars. For Sam Walton, founder of Wal-Mart, he preferred practical over showy. He commented on his choice of vehicle: "Why do I drive a pickup truck? What am I supposed to haul my dogs around in, a Rolls-Royce?"

The hybrid image
Besides buying a car for status, now people buy cars for the image or message it makes. Take the Toyota Prius, for example. It has become a rolling bumper sticker for the environmental movement. Driving one makes a strong statement, proving the owner practices what they preach. In a recent New York Times article Prius owners said they liked the fact that they drive a car that is known as a hybrid rather than buying, for example, a Ford Escape with a small hybrid logo. They like that it is obvious and clear. It seems others agree since sales of the Prius are up almost 70 percent so far this year. At a time when conscious environmentalism has become cool and politically correct--and high fuel economy desirable—a hybrid vehicle serves as a symbol of commitment to saving fuel and preserving the environment.

As learned from my automotive personality experiment, whether you buy a car for status, fashion, comfort, or the environment, you are what you drive. For me, it's nice to drive various test vehicles that I wouldn't normally have the opportunity to, but I still enjoy getting back into my own cars. They are more a reflection of me. I don't need to be showy, bold, or flashy. I opt for safe, reliable, affordable and fuel efficient. Of course, there are cars on my list that I would like to own someday, but in the meantime, I'll enjoy taking on these temporary personalities.

—Liza Barth 

What does your car say about your personality? Is that the image you want to convey? Or does image not matter to you? Post your comments below.

Luxury cars - What is luxury?

We recently tested an array of luxury and ultra-luxury sedans, treating the staff to some of the finest automobiles in the land. Rotating through a seemingly endless series of BMW, Lexus, and Mercedes-Benz models gave the team a taste of the good life, and it was sweet.

Premium goodness could be savored just sitting in these sedans, pushing the "Start" button and fine-tuning the infinite seating adjustments. Good thing, too, as serious driveway time can be needed to scan through the tomes that serve as owner's manuals. The multi-volume Encyclopedia Daimler in the Mercedes E-Class occupies the entire glove box, with barely space for even the Post-it notes needed to flag pages that answer frequent questions.

Rotating through these hedonistic machines requires Sudoku-honed mental dexterity to make even basic control adjustments while driving. Commuting home, I was often reminded of past leading-edge electronics purchases, be it cell phone, stereo receiver, or computer--I'm fairly convinced that 98 percent of the gee-whiz, bragging-rights features go unused in daily life. Likewise with these cars, much of the brochure-padding, electro-gadgetry goes unused and/or unappreciated because operating the controls requires a night class that I just couldn't afford to take if I needed to make the mortgage-like car payments.

Wonderful powerplants, sublime handling, coddling cockpits, and country-club prestige are assured with much of the tested group, but is that really luxury? Sure, those characteristics lay a nice foundation, but for my hard-earned dollars, luxury also includes a balance of driving pleasure and stress reduction. A good car should have me pleased to be driving it, turning an errand into a treasured journey. A great car, especially a pricey one, should not just enhance a cross-town trek, but improve my quality of life.

Depending on the test car du jour, I would struggle on my lux sedan commute to activate a turn signal without engaging cruise control, change radio stations (often by manually tuning to personal favorites that remain hidden to the Seek function), or brave the greatest driver distraction of all, programming a the navigation system. Of course, if I owned the vehicle, in a matter of days (ahem, weeks) I would have mastered the most-common features. And given up on the rest, just like with the home entertainment system remote control that could manage a NASA moon mission, but just shows wear marks on only the Channel and Volume buttons.

This week, I rotated into a Mitsubishi Lancer from a previous test group. And I was happy. Really. I rediscovered luxuries from the moment I sat in the car. First off, there is a convenient "garage" for the key--right there in the steering column! Stick the key in and turn. Vroom, the car starts right up. How novel. Need a little more air? There is a simple dial with a fan symbol on it. No need to work a rotating hockey puck through a series of menus, reminding me the whole time of playing Atari's arcade coin-op Warlords in the early 1980s. Spin, press, release, and hope I hit a target. Sure, with this car exchange I gave up the navigation system. But, I can find my way home on most days. On others, a $250 portable navi would do the trick, or a Google Maps printout in a pinch. Easily amused, I chuckled when backing out of the parking spot all on my own, without the aid of a rear-view camera or parking sensors. Turns out, good visibility trumps technology. Being able to just turn and look through the windows is a whole lot more effective than peering around over-stuffed headrests and thick roof pillars.

Functionally, the Lancer provides me with ample front seat space. If the car were leather-lined and three feet longer, I'd still sit just as close to the steering wheel. (Rear-seat passengers may have other feelings, but then again, they aren't making the theoretical monthly payment.)

Cruising out to the highway, I relished the thought of getting fuel economy in the high 20s, or maybe more if I feather the throttle like grandma with bunions. As I get up to speed, the little four-banger chatters and struggles, throwing cold water on my short-lived dream of working-man's luxury. The 55-mph denouement continues as wind and road noise compete with a stereo that is simply inferior to the audiophile-grade systems in the lux-branded cars.

So, what is luxury for me? It could be described as one of the lux sedans stripped down to its functional essence. Give me the powertrain, chassis, seating, basic amenities, and a payment that keeps me off a Ramen noodle diet. Keep the geek-grade gadgetry and corresponding litany of acronyms. In Europe, this would mean ordering essentially a taxi package and saving thousands. Here, it means buying less uppity cars.

So what is automotive luxury to you? What features and function make the difference and justify a premium that you are willing to pay? Let us know in the Comments below, or in the Cars forums.

Watch our luxury and ultra-luxury sedan videos.

--Jeff Bartlett

Luxury and ultra-luxury sedan tests and videos

Last month we looked at affordable small and sporty small cars. This month we drove vehicles on other end of the price spectrum by testing luxury and ultra-luxury sedans for the November 2007 issue. These vehicles offer a high level of comfort, roominess, and luxury features at a premium price.

The full road tests from the magazine have been posted at ConsumerReports.org, along with videos from our auto staff experts. These videos highlight our tests of each vehicle, plus our experts demonstrate some of the latest technologies.

"The Money Class" features the BMW 535i (ahem, drifting), Infiniti M35, Mercedes-Benz E-Class (which includes the E320 diesel engine as well as the E350), Lexus GS 450h, and the Volvo S80. Watch the videos.

"Ultra-lux face-off" features a one-on-one showdown of the Lexus LS 460L and Mercedes-Benz S550. These cars were covered in a comparison article in print, though we will soon have full road tests posted in the model overview pages (available to online subscribers). Watch the videos.

--Liza Barth

Lexus and Toyota recall floor mats

Toyota Motor Sales, USA, along with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), has announced it will recall 55,000 All-Weather Floor Mats due to a problem with the mats potentially getting stuck under the accelerator pedal in certain cars. If not secured properly using the provided retention hooks, the heavy-duty rubber mats can slide forward causing the vehicle to accelerate uncontrollably. The recall affects driver's side floor mats that were an option on 2007 and early 2008 Lexus ES 350 and Toyota Camry models.   

Toyota will notify owners by mail in early October and will begin replacing the mats in November at no charge to consumers.

Toyota also urges all drivers utilizing a driver's side floor mat to make sure they are properly secured and not placed on top of another floor mat. The hooks for the mats are designed to accommodate only one floor mat at a time.

If you have any questions on the recall, contact your local Toyota (888-270-9371) or Lexus (800-255-3987) dealer. Or call the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Hotline at 888-327-4236.

Although this recall affected Toyota and Lexus vehicles, improper mat usage can pose risks in any vehicle. When installing factory or aftermarket mats, follow the directions. If your vehicle has them, utilize the mat anchors; they provide a real safety benefit of keeping the mats secure and out of the way of the pedals. And do not stack a new mat on the old one. The combined height of the two mats or a loose upper mat may interfere with pedal operation.

--Liza Barth

Discuss Lexus and Toyota in the Consumer Reports Forums.

Personal pick: An SUV with direction

While my colleagues have discussed the merits of two- and three-row SUVs in their Personal Picks, I want focus this month on a pet peeve of mine that came up while driving models from the August test group. The nit I will pick here is with built-in GPS systems that can't be used when driving.

One day in June, Associate Editor Jim Travers picked me up at my house and we spent the day at the Consumer Reports Auto Test Center driving the full-size pickups we're now writing up. During our drive across Connecticut in the Lexus RX350, we encountered a mysterious traffic jam. There was no warning on the radio. It was just five or so miles of unreported, slow-moving, stop-and-go traffic.

I figured we'd just call up the destination on the integrated navigation system and find a route around the mess. Unfortunately, Lexus had other ideas.

In order to minimize driver distraction (and possibly to avoid lawsuits), addresses can't be entered or modified in the Lexus GPS systems if the vehicle is moving. (Admittedly, this is also true of many integrated systems.) So, in the slow creep of a traffic jam, as the passenger, I couldn't use the GPS. Our choices were to get off the road and stop, pull off to the shoulder, or stay stuck in traffic.

The first choice, getting off of the road at a random exit, defeats the purpose of GPS. You use GPS to KNOW where to go, not guess. Sure, the system could re-route you, but the exit could also put you on a road heading in the wrong direction, without an accompanying on-ramp to return to the highway. Pulling off was unappealing, with the narrow shoulder and clogged, bumper-to-bumper traffic.

So, we stayed in the traffic jam for a few miles, until we reached a familiar exit. Pulling off, we stopped at a traffic light long enough for me to call up our destination.

Jim and I both vented at the system for dictating to us what could be done during this situation. Another staffer ran in to the same scenario recently while on family vacation. In this case, the family was driving down the highway at speed when finding a lunch stop became a priority, yet the front passenger couldn’t use the point of interest feature to find a nearby restaurant.

These navigation systems are too expensive to be this frustrating. We both believe it would be better if the built-in navi would link to the occupant classification system in the front passenger seat. If the front seat is occupied by an adult, it should allow him/her to input route and destination changes.

And, if you must know, my personal pick for a mid-sized SUV is actually a sporty wagon such as the Audi A4 Avant, BMW 3 Series, or a Subaru Legacy GT.

--Jon Linkov

Video: Self-parking Lexus

Hate to parallel park? Lexus may have a solution for you. The Lexus LS460 has an optional $1,200 self-parking feature, but does it work?  Our engineers put it to the test.  Watch our video to find out if it’s worth the added cost on this luxury sedan.  And read about our experience with this new technology.

Personal picks: Luxury SUVs, part 1

By all accounts, many "luxury" SUVs aren't necessarily better than their cheaper counterparts. And, in our testing, some even don't score as well. For example, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid actually outscores the more expensive Lexus hybrid model, the RX400h (as well as the non-hybrid RX350). And the Nissan Murano outscores its Infiniti sibling, the FX35. Plus, the new Acura MDX outranks the Honda Pilot by one measly point.

Still, the luxury SUVs in the July issue of CR are an impressive group. We've driven these enough to know when the extra cash actually gets you something; we all can tell you which ones are more flash and not so much substance. Let's go beyond the Ratings (available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers) to view the staff's personal picks from this segment. -- Mike Quincy

Gene Petersen: What surprises me about luxury SUVs is how little value they offer over more mainstream models. Sure, they have more amenities -- chrome, and wood trim -- but are they really worth an extra $10,000 or $20,000? For some who want the nameplate prestige, the answer is clearly, "Yes." But if you're looking for a vehicle that is as pleasurable or more so to drive, then consider the Honda Pilot or Nissan Murano.  I tend to favor the Murano for its nimbleness, styling, and smooth powertrain. Granted, if you need a third-row seat, then the Pilot is logical pick. Sorry if I missed the point of these luxury SUVs, but its seems to me that there are better choices.

Tom Mutchler: You know, I don't see the point in buying a "seven-passenger" vehicle if it doesn't really have room for people in the third row. Why haul around a nearly-useless seat back there? Minivans do the people and cargo hauling thing much better -- so I'd buy a Honda Odyssey and a set of snow tires instead. (In fact, I did.) The other problem is that mid-level SUVs overlap these "upscale" SUVs in accommodations and driving capability -- for a lot less money.

That's why I'm having a hard time picking from this group. If I want a sporty SUV, I'd buy the five-seat Nissan Murano and skip the Acura MDX with its tiny third row. The Lexus RX and BMW X5 seem to be polar opposites: the cushy Lexus is easy-to-use and soft, while the insanely-priced BMW is technology-gone-amok and rides like a board. And I think it's insulting for Ford to tack a chrome grille (and a $7,000 price premium) to a loaded Ford Edge and sell it as a Lincoln MKX.

But if I needed a seven (or eight?) passenger SUV, the Saturn Outlook does it all. With a roomy cabin and a great ride and handling balance, it drives a lot smaller than its Tahoe-like proportions would suggest. The Outlook looks good, too. It's not perfect -- a high rear window impairs rear visibility, GM needs to fix the transmission programming, the hefty weight doesn't help real-world fuel economy, and who knows if this clean-sheet design will be reliable -- but the design hits so many bases so well.

Just in: 2007 Lexus RX350

We just took delivery of a 2007 Lexus RX350. While the last model had a refined and responsive 3.3-liter V6, we're intent on testing the new 270-hp, 3.5-liter V6--the standard powerplant for 2007.

Having purchased nearly 50 cars for CR's auto test program, I was pleasantly surprised at the attention to detail when I picked up the car. For example, my salesperson put a quarter, dime, and nickel (heads up, all facing the same way) in the coin holder. He also programmed my home address in the navigation system. And, unlike some cars I've picked up, the radio wasn't blaring at top volume, there was a full tank of gas, and the car was clean.

Being recklessly optimistic, I'm hoping that he does this for everyone. CR's car buying policy is that we don't tell the dealership the car will be a test model until the day of delivery; we don't want to get a 'ringer' from a car company.

However, even as close to perfect as this transaction was, the dealer still uses purchase orders with a $189 "Preferred Customer Program" and $159 "VIN Etch Security Option'' preprinted on the form--both of which I declined. And while some customers might not realize that these are not required, the savvy consumer will make sure they are crossed out and not included in the bottom-line price.

And while my overall buying experience was positive, we'll have to wait and see how this popular luxury SUV fares against other competing upscale models, including the redesigned Acura MDX and BMW X5. --Mike Quincy

New Lexus LS helps park itself

That longtime favorite of futurists and sci-fi fans, the self-driving car, is about to come one step closer to reality when Lexus introduces its all-new LS 460 sedan later this month. The optional Advanced Parking Guidance System (APGS) enables parallel-parking-challenged drivers to safely sidle up to the curb. We recently had the opportunity to sample the system on a new LS 460 and its elongated version, the LS 460L. Remarkable as this new technology is, like a lot of high-tech wizardry, it may not be totally ready for prime time.

APGS works by using a back-up camera, sonar sensors, and electric power steering to guide the car into the space. The somewhat complicated process of parallel parking begins with stopping the LS sedan when your driver's seat is alongside the rear bumper of the car just ahead of an available parking space. Next, you roll forward until your seat is next to the front bumper of the other car. Then, holding the car in place via the brake pedal, put the car in reverse. A dashboard screen displays a video image of the target space, along with the cars in front and behind, with the space outlined in green. There's a choice between parallel parking or row parking, which you have to make on the screen. You then move a flag on the screen to a position next to the rear bumper of the car in front. Then you press "OK". Now, you can sit back and modulate the brakes while the car "automagically" steers itself through the reversing maneuver. Watching the steering wheel twirling by itself in front of you is quite an eerie experience. The system audibly announces its work is done, and all the driver has to do then is shift into drive and center the car in the space.

The system sounds helpful in theory, but the overall effectiveness is limited by numerous fail-safe measures. For example, if the driver touches the gas pedal while APGS performing its task, the system shuts down and leaves you to park on your own. While it's probably not a bad idea to discourage high-speed parking, the safety override prohibits enlisting the services of APGS on any surface with much more incline than a billiard table. On flat surfaces where the LS 460 can idle its way up to several miles per hour, it is necessary to apply sufficient brake to keep the car at a crawling speed APGS is comfortable with and clearly, more braking is needed when backing down a hill. Too fast, and once again, you're parking yourself.

Then there's the way APGS reads its target. During one experiment, we ended up neatly parked squarely between two cars, each more than a foot from the curb. Why so far away? The car in front of us was 15 inches from the curb and APGS uses the flanking cars to position itself. The driver can make some adjustment to where the car will end up by moving the flag on the video screen, but the instructions indicate the flag should be positioned at the rear bumper of the car in front. And speaking of the cars in front and behind, unless the space you've chosen is at least 6.5-feet longer than the LS 460, the parking space you chose doesn't qualify so keep looking for a spot. APCS is just as intimidated by a tight space as some of the drivers who need its help.   

Another key concern is the time it takes to simply operate the system, and patience is in short supply on city streets. While it takes but a few seconds to properly position the car, make any target adjustments on the touch screen, and let APGS rock and roll, seconds count. APGS will never be as quick as a grizzled, veteran city driver--the kind who is likely to steal your space or blare their horn while you're still fiddling with the touch screen.

To be fair to Lexus, some of our clumsiness with APGS can be chalked up to inexperience, and the system's limitations are not entirely their fault. A Lexus tech rep confirmed the technology exists to enable the car to perform a parking maneuver start to finish without the driver doing a thing, but as is often said, we are a litigious bunch here in the United States. APGS is very deliberately designed to make sure the driver stays involved in the process.

APGS will be a learning tool for some drivers; watching it work may even teach some drivers how to parallel park. But when it's time to pull out into the street, they'll just have to figure that out on their own.

APGS will be offered as part of an option package; prices have not yet been set.

--Jim Travers