Toyota, Lexus get new telematics system

Toyota is launching a new telematics system called Safety Connect to replace Lexus Link, a rebranded version of General Motors’ OnStar service.

Rolling out beginning with 2010 Toyota and Lexus models, Safety Connect will offer subscribers a menu of services similar to OnStar’s, including emergency crash notification and assistance, stolen vehicle locator, and roadside assistance. Like all telematics systems, Safety Connect uses a combination of cellular telephone, GPS, and computing technology to track vehicle location and communicate with a call center.

In the event of a collision serious enough to deploy air bags, the system will automatically notify the call center and report the vehicle location. An operator will then call the car to speak with occupants and determine what help is needed. If the operator is unable to speak with anyone, emergency personnel will be dispatched. Subscribers also will have the option of calling the center anytime with the push of a button for roadside assistance.

Lexus owners will have the option of upgrading to Lexus Enform, which adds services like weather reports and turn-by-turn directions. Users can contact the call center and ask an operator for directions to a specific address, nearby gas station, restaurant, or other location. The operator will then download turn-by-turn directions to the car.

Lexus Enform subscribers will also have the option of sending directions to their vehicle from any computer. Once they log into their account, the eDestination feature will allow owners to ask for directions to a specific address or access the same point of interest database used by Lexus’ navigation systems.

Prices and specific vehicle availability for Safety Connect and Lexus Enform have not yet been announced. A company representative said Lexus Link subscribers will be able to continue to use that service for the life of their vehicles. The Lexus Web site lists Lexus Link as a $900 option, with a $199 annual subscription. Adding turn-by-turn directions costs another $100 a year. In contrast, OnStar is standard equipment on most new GM vehicles, and its Directions and Connections plan is $299 a year.

To learn about the latest, high-tech road trip gear, check out our mobile electronic guide. There you can learn about the latest options in car audio systems such as satellite and HD radio, and MP3 connectivity; GPS navigation systems including Ratings of the latest models; and car video systems to help you take the show on the road.

—Jim Travers

Perils of being an auto tester

Returning home from an evening walk with the family, an oncoming car slowed down at it approached us: a 2009 Toyota Camry. I didn’t recognize the sedan as belonging to anyone I know. Then it stopped, the driver’s window motored down, and I immediately see it is one of my neighbors. Before I can say a word he says, “Gene, thank you for recommending the Camry. The previous Camry that I bought based on your recommendation was absolutely reliable just like Consumer Reports said it would be. I put over the 250,000 miles on that car over the last eight years, and it never let me down. So I bought another Camry. Thanks again, Gene, I really appreciate the advice.”

After some small chit-chat, the neighbor drove away. My wife and son think I’m “The Man” for giving out such great advice. I must admit I felt pretty good, too.

We continued walking toward our home when a Honda Odyssey passed us and cut into a driveway. It’s another neighbor, and I can see the mother is remotely opening the passenger-side power sliding door to let in her daughter. The retracting door caught my eye; it was binding on the track as it opens. I heard it scraping against the body-side of the car. I tried to walk by quietly, but then I saw the mother peering out from the rear-view mirror. She saw me. I think that I’m only a heartbeat away from being busted.

As I passed the driver’s side of the car, she opened the door and yelled to me, “Gene, did you see that door open? It’s scraping a gash across the rear panel of the car. I thought you said the Odyssey was a reliable, recommended minivan? That’s the last time I listen to you.” I tried to reply quickly that Honda did have some reliability issues with power doors, but that is not what she wanted to hear. She backed out quickly and was gone before I can get another word out.

My witty wife looked at me and said, “You’re an idiot. From now on, you take your walks alone and don’t give anyone in the neighborhood car advice.”

Yep, in less than five minute I went from expert car guy to just another chump. Such is life. Consumer Reports performs extensive testing and research on cars, though anecdotal problems do occur that defy our results and survey ratings. Hopefully we are making more people satisfied buyers than not.

As for me, I think I will buy a treadmill. Anyone have any advice on a good model to buy?

—Gene Petersen

Car brands: Who owns what?

The auto industry is very complicated these days, with constant change across all corners of the globe. The worldwide economic slowdown dictates widespread cost reductions, inspiring partnerships and changes in ownership. Further confusing the scene are past commitments between companies: For example, the new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee is based on a Mercedes-Benz platform–even though Chrysler and Mercedes are no longer joined at the hip.

To help clear up some of the confusion, here is a road map to navigate who owns what brands among the major companies that sell in the U.S. car market.

BMW owns: BMW, Mini, and Rolls Royce

Fiat owns: Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Fiat, Lancia, Maserati; Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep–20-percent stake

Ford Motor Company owns: Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo (for now), and still owns 13.4 percent of Mazda

General Motors owns: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC. Also owns a controlling interest in Daewoo, as well as Opel and Vauxhall in Europe and Holden in Australia. (Pontiac to be discontinued)

Honda owns: Honda, Acura

Hyundai owns: Hyundai, Kia

Tata Motors (India) owns: Jaguar and Land Rover

Mazda (partially owned by Ford)

Mitsubishi

Daimler AG owns: Mercedes-Benz and Smart

Nissan owns: Nissan and Infiniti (Nissan is owned by Renault--France)

Porsche owns: Porsche and a majority share in Volkswagen

Subaru (A controlling interest of Subaru is owned by Toyota)

Suzuki

Toyota Motor Company owns: Lexus, Toyota, Scion, Daihatsu and Hino Motors, with a stake in Fuji Industries (Subaru’s parent company) and Isuzu

Volkswagen owns: Audi, Volkswagen, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, and overseas SEAT and Skoda.

In formal negotiations to be sold:
Hummer: Tengzhong (China)
Saturn: Penske Automotive Group
Saab: Koenigsegg (Sweden)

--Liza Barth

IIHS Top Safety Picks: Audi, Lexus, Toyota, Volkswagen

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has announced four vehicles that earn its Top Safety Pick award: the 2009 Audi Q5, 2010 Lexus RX, 2009 Toyota Venza, and 2009 Volkswagen CC.

To qualify for the Top Safety Pick accolade, a vehicle must earn the highest rating of good in the Institute's three main tests: front-, side-, and rear-impacts. In addition it must be equipped with electronic stability control (ESC). All four of these vehicles come equipped with standard ESC and side air bags.

We recently tested all four. Our full Ratings are in the model overview pages of each vehicle (available to online subscribers).

There are currently 77 2009 models, so far, that earn the Top Pick award, up from 43 for the 2008 model year. Among them are most of the Subaru and Honda/Acura line as well as several Ford products and Volvo models. One reason for the increase is that IIHS has pushed manufacturers to make vehicles more crashworthy, improving occupant protection. Another reason is the addition of standard ESC, which will be required equipment on all vehicles by the 2012 model year. However, many manufacturers have wisely chosen to add this important safety feature to their line up before the deadline.

See Crash test 101 for more information on how the IIHS evaluates and tests vehicles. Also, check out our more than 300 crash test videos to see how vehicles perform in IIHS' front and side crash tests.

—Liza Barth  

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has announced four vehicles that earn its Top Safety Pick award: the 2009 Audi Q5, 2010 Lexus RX, 2009 Toyota Venza, and 2009 Volkswagen CC.

To qualify for the Top Safety Pick accolade, a vehicle must earn the highest rating of good in the Institute's three main tests: front-, side-, and rear-impacts. In addition it must be equipped with electronic stability control (ESC). All four of these vehicles come equipped with standard ESC and side air bags.

We recently tested all four. Our full Ratings are in the model overview pages of each vehicle (available to online subscribers).

There are currently 77 2009 models, so far, that earn the Top Pick award, up from 43 for the 2008 model year. Among them are most of the Subaru and Honda/Acura line as well as several Ford products and Volvo models. One reason for the increase is that IIHS has pushed manufacturers to make vehicles more crashworthy, improving occupant protection. Another reason is the addition of standard ESC, which will be required equipment on all vehicles by the 2012 model year. However, many manufacturers have wisely chosen to add this important safety feature to their line up before the deadline.

See Crash test 101 for more information on how the IIHS evaluates and tests vehicles. Also, check out our more than 300 crash test videos to see how vehicles perform in IIHS' front and side crash tests.

—Liza Barth  

Toyota: Electrics coming, but won’t replace gas cars

Electric cars are no replacement for conventional cars, despite what you might have read.

That’s the conclusion of Bill Reinert, Toyota’s manager of advanced technology planning. In an interview at a New York City conference on sustainable development, Reinert said the company would produce an electric version of it’s tiny Scion iQ. He added that the company is looking at new business models for electric cars, and it won’t be focused on suburban use.

Electric cars may make the most sense to operate in the city, where vehicles usually drive at low speeds and for short distances. However, a real challenge for city use is that most urban dwellings don’t have dedicated parking with access to a plug. So plug-in cars that work on the expectation that consumers will charge them every night at home won’t work.

So, Toyota says it is looking at “new business models,” such as car sharing, leasing batteries or cars, and fleet sales for its EVs. Some will be sold to traditional consumers as well, he says.

Toyota announced that it will put 500 plug-in Priuses on the street in a fleet demonstration program in 2009, with 200 examples in Japan, 150 in Europe, and 150 in the United States. Powered by lithium-ion batteries along with a gasoline engine, these initial plug-in vehicles will be for fleet use, with no opportunity for sale to customers.

In the end, Toyota predicts that perhaps 20 percent of vehicles will be electric by 2020.

—Eric Evarts

Updated 6/12/09

Minivans, mom-mobiles, and the best choices for family haulers

Minivans became popular in the mid-1980s, replacing station wagons with clever packaging. But over time, they became stigmatized and derided as “mommy-mobiles.” Minivans can seat up to eight people and have versatile interiors, making them helpful for busy parents having to cart around cargo, kids and their friends, and sometimes both at the same time. They are the right transport for many families, and with continued concern for fuel economy and a cultural trend to more multi-generation families cohabitating (often out of economic necessity), minivan appeal may increase. Mommy mobile? You betcha.

Minivans have evolved since the Dodge Caravan defined the segment, but still remaining true to the original mission and basic one-box design. Over time, a shift toward SUVs caused the segment to shrink and uncompetitive models from Ford and GM got discontinued. More families decided to choose three-row SUVs instead as their primary family hauler, since it offered the same amount of seating, go-anywhere pretensions, keeping up with the Joneses notion, and a tougher image.

Minivans have become ever more refined with clever packaging, abundant safety systems, available AWD, improved reliability, and road-trip-ready entertainment systems. The Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna are leaders in the dwindling class with excellent cargo space, a usable and comfortable third row, and both have better gas mileage than most three-row SUVs (19 mpg overall for the FWD versions of the Odyssey and Sienna).

In addition, minivans have been statistically safer. A recent study published in the Journal for Injury Prevention reported that SUVs are more dangerous than minivans. The study looked at crash data from 2000-2006 and found that children seated in minivans had a significantly lower risk of fatal and non-fatal injuries than those in an SUV. The rate was 35 percent less likely that a child would suffer an injury in a minivan and a 24 percent greater chance of fatality in an SUV than a minivan. Real factors that could influence these results include difference between driver psychographics/behavior and the increased risk for SUVs to rollover in crashes.

Interestingly, both Odyssey and Sienna both sell better than their three-row counterparts the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander. However, across brands, there are more choices for SUVs than minivans.

Bottom line:
When researching your next vehicle, focus on the attributes you seek, rather than the car type. By doing so, you might find some surprising choices. For large families seeking a safe, roomy model with a comfortable ride, versatile interior, and respectable fuel economy, the right answer may be a minivan. In general, we’ve found minivans to be a good alternative to large SUVs. They’re less expensive, get better mileage, generally ride and handle better, and provide easier access to the third-row seat. Smaller families may see similar appeal with the Kia Rondo and Mazda5, two Consumer Reports recommended models that are somewhat hidden treasures.

What ever model you seek, the interactive New Car Selector can help you quickly sort and filter models down to the attributes that matter most to you.

—Liza Barth 

Minivans became popular in the mid-1980s, replacing station wagons with clever packaging. But over time, they became stigmatized and derided as “mommy-mobiles.” Minivans can seat up to eight people and have versatile interiors, making them helpful for busy parents having to cart around cargo, kids and their friends, and sometimes both at the same time. They are the right transport for many families, and with continued concern for fuel economy and a cultural trend to more multi-generation families cohabitating (often out of economic necessity), minivan appeal may increase. Mommy mobile? You betcha.

Minivans have evolved since the Dodge Caravan defined the segment, but still remaining true to the original mission and basic one-box design. Over time, a shift toward SUVs caused the segment to shrink and uncompetitive models from Ford and GM got discontinued. More families decided to choose three-row SUVs instead as their primary family hauler, since it offered the same amount of seating, go-anywhere pretensions, keeping up with the Joneses notion, and a tougher image.

Minivans have become ever more refined with clever packaging, abundant safety systems, available AWD, improved reliability, and road-trip-ready entertainment systems. The Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna are leaders in the dwindling class with excellent cargo space, a usable and comfortable third row, and both have better gas mileage than most three-row SUVs (19 mpg overall for the FWD versions of the Odyssey and Sienna).

In addition, minivans have been statistically safer. A recent study published in the Journal for Injury Prevention reported that SUVs are more dangerous than minivans. The study looked at crash data from 2000-2006 and found that children seated in minivans had a significantly lower risk of fatal and non-fatal injuries than those in an SUV. The rate was 35 percent less likely that a child would suffer an injury in a minivan and a 24 percent greater chance of fatality in an SUV than a minivan. Real factors that could influence these results include difference between driver psychographics/behavior and the increased risk for SUVs to rollover in crashes.

Interestingly, both Odyssey and Sienna both sell better than their three-row counterparts the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander. However, across brands, there are more choices for SUVs than minivans.

Bottom line:
When researching your next vehicle, focus on the attributes you seek, rather than the car type. By doing so, you might find some surprising choices. For large families seeking a safe, roomy model with a comfortable ride, versatile interior, and respectable fuel economy, the right answer may be a minivan. In general, we’ve found minivans to be a good alternative to large SUVs. They’re less expensive, get better mileage, generally ride and handle better, and provide easier access to the third-row seat. Smaller families may see similar appeal with the Kia Rondo and Mazda5, two Consumer Reports recommended models that are somewhat hidden treasures.

What ever model you seek, the interactive New Car Selector can help you quickly sort and filter models down to the attributes that matter most to you.

—Liza Barth 

Signs of life: American auto sales are stronger than expected

By all rights, May could have been a disastrous month for Chrysler and General Motors sales as the companies publicly struggle through restructuring and bankruptcy proceedings, but that was not the case. May sales numbers were surprisingly strong for the American automakers, giving new hope for the future. Even still, the industry still faces clear challenges in the troubled economy.

An increase in consumer confidence, plus offers of incentives and rebates, helped Chrysler, Ford, and GM achieve their highest monthly sales so far in 2009. Ford outsold Toyota for the second month in a row and GM sales were relatively, as well. The two top-selling vehicles in America were the Ford F-150 and the Chevrolet Silverado. The Toyota Camry came in at a close third.

Chrysler’s bankruptcy didn’t have much negative effect on their sales numbers either with Chrysler vehicles seeing an increase of 32 percent, 23 percent for Dodge, and 21 percent for Jeep.

Record sales of the Fusion, Ford Flex, and the company’s hybrid vehicles helped Ford increase their numbers by 20 percent in May.

Even with GM’s pre-bankruptcy struggles, it still achieved an 11 percent increase.

Toyota also had a strong performance, gaining 20 percent.

However, Honda sales were down almost three percent from April to May.

Compared to last year, sales of both Toyota and Honda vehicles were down 39 percent, but as Honda noted in a press release, May 2008 was its best sales month ever. This was mostly due to last year’s high gas prices and consumers buying small fuel-efficient cars at a rapid pace. Both Honda and Toyota’s lineup were well positioned last year to respond to the high fuel costs, thus they saw a surge in sales. GM, Ford, and Chrysler didn’t have the small cars to compete and their numbers don’t reflect such a large decrease from last year in comparison.

The trouble in the auto industry is not just saved for the American automakers. Across the board, all manufacturers are seeing a down year with dismal sales, but the latest figures do show signs of hope.

Surveys conducted by CNW Research in January and repeated in May show a significant change in the attitude among new car intenders who are considering a domestic-brand vehicle. Initially, about half of the interviewed consumers said they would not buy from Ford or GM if they were in bankruptcy with a federal bailout, with a higher 59 percent stating they wouldn’t purchase from Chrysler. (Ford never requested federal assistance.) Those who would not buy without a bailout saw percentages climb to 86 to 91, depending on brand.

In contrast, the May CNW survey finds consumers were more willing to purchase from companies in bankruptcy with a bailout. (Percentages of those who would not buy: Chrysler 43, Ford 20, and GM 37.) Despite the prognostications, consumers became more comfortable with the thought of buying from a company undergoing bankruptcy proceedings. While there are myriad factors at play, including incentives and fire sales, at the core, it seems to be consumer confidence in the company and that it would continue to be there was a key factor in the recent sales uptick.

A number of sales offers and incentive programs are continuing for the month of June to help lure customers into dealerships. (See our Best new car deals for details). We’ll see if next month continues this upward trend and brings more hope to the ailing auto industry.

—Liza Barth

Toyota Venza: Wagon? No!

As I’ve written in previous Personal Picks, I’m a big fan of station wagons. They’re a clever way to get added cargo space and utility, while still retaining the handling and ride of a sedan. Really good wagons can combine function and fun.

With the dearth of midsized or larger wagon choices, I was looking forward to the Toyota Venza. Maybe this would be the anticipated replacement for the long-defunct Camry wagon. You see, I think Toyota could sell a ton of Camry wagons--turn one of the most practical sedans out there into a practical wagon.

Now I know station wagons, and the Venza is no wagon.

Soon after we purchased our test Venza, I took it on a long drive to visit my parents. First thing that bothered me was the ride–it clops over expansion joints and impacts punch hard. Some of the blame for this goes to the 20-inch (dubs!) wheels, whose role is more style over function. This is very un-Toyota-like, and it goes a long way to erase the advantage of a quiet interior.

What is typical Toyota is the short seat cushion, which reduces thigh support even for short-legged me. I started squirming about an hour into the trip. It didn’t help that the steering wheel, despite a telescope adjustment, still was a far reach away. Driving the Venza is an enveloping experience, with a high dashboard and fairly short windows–again, not really sedan-like. The rear styling creates big blind zones in the corners. And the long trip gave my wife and I plenty of time to count all of the misaligned dash panels in our car.

When we left my parents’ house to return to Connecticut, there were a few inches of snow on the ground. The AWD system gave plenty of traction, but the wide tires squirmed somewhat in the slush--another disadvantage of 20-inch running gear.

So is the Venza a reincarnated Camry wagon? Nope. Despite a great drivetrain and a roomy back seat, there are a lot of compromises made for style rather than function. As I said in our Venza video, I’d rather buy a Highlander, despite my fondness for wagons. Even though it’s a SUV, the Highlander drives more like a car and has more utility.

--Tom Mutchler

Top 40 Best Deals on American-Made Cars

Memorial Day is a time to commemorate the sacrifices made by men and women to protect our freedoms and values. It is a time to rally around the flag, with picnics, parades, and yes, car sales. In the patriotic spirit, our Auto Price Services team has studied the market and compiled these best deals on American-made cars for the holiday weekend.

Made in America
Buying an American-made car puts a new car in your driveway, and it also stimulates the economy from the automaker down through the parts suppliers, factory workers, and neighborhood dealerships. Given the recent announcements from Chrysler and General Motors that they will be making drastic cuts in the number of franchised dealerships, there will now be a greater drive than ever for these stores to make a deal. Likewise, their competitors will also offer significant discounts.

As is the case with our Best New Car Deals, to make this list, a vehicle must meet our stringent requirements to be recommended. Specifically, the vehicle must have performed well in Consumer Reports' tests, have average or better reliability, and, if crash-tested, provide good overall safety. Vehicles also must not have tipped up in the government rollover test.

To truly judge the deals, we factored customer rebates as well as hidden dealer incentives, as available in our new car price reports. From a list of all discounted models, we whittled it down to the 40 American-made models that meet our recommended criteria and offered the greatest discounts.

The list showcases a diverse assortment of 11 brands, reflecting the global nature of the auto industry and the reality that most companies build cars in the United States. (Conversely, many models from Chrysler, Ford, and GM are imported from other countries.)

While pro-America motives may fuel your purchase, be sure to research the models that best suit your needs and budgets, weighing the potential risks in choosing from a brand in bankruptcy proceedings or being divested, such as Hummer, Pontiac, Saab, and Saturn. Tremendous up-front savings can be overshadowed by excessive depreciation unless you plan on keeping the car longer than five years. There also may be limited dealer access.

Regardless of the model that catches your eye from this list, buying these models will help keep America working and put you behind the wheel of a good car.

Make & model	Expires	MSRP	Invoice price	Customer rebate	Dealer incentive	Bottom line price	Potential savings below MSRP
2009 Nissan Titan SE 4X4 Crew Cab SWB	6/1/2009	$33,200	$30,061	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	25%+
2009 Ford Focus SES Sedan	6/30/2009	17,865	16,552	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	20%+
2009 Ford Focus SES Coupe	6/30/2009	17,865	16,552	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	20%+
2009 Nissan Armada LE 4X4	6/1/2009	47,860	43,562	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	20%+
2009 Ford Mustang GT Premium Coupe	6/1/2009	29,160	26,734	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	20%+
2009 Ford Mustang V6 Premium Convertible	6/1/2009	27,345	25,100	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	20%+
2009 Ford F-150 XLT 4x4 SuperCrew 157-in.	6/1/2009	34,760	31,303	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	20%+
2009 Ford Escape XLT 2.5L 4WD	6/30/2009	25,205	23,381	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Honda Odyssey EX	6/1/2009	29,455	26,692	No	Yes	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Mercury Sable Premier	6/30/2009	29,380	26,917	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Ford Escape XLT 3.0L 4WD	6/30/2009	26,215	24,300	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Ford Taurus Limited FWD	6/30/2009	30,670	28,053	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Mercury Mariner Premier I4 4WD	6/30/2009	26,515	24,598	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Honda Ridgeline 3.5 Auto RTS	6/1/2009	31,305	28,363	No	Yes	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Nissan Frontier 4.0 LE Crew Cab 4X4 AT	6/1/2009	29,190	27,045	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Mercury Mariner Premier V6 4WD	6/30/2009	27,515	25,508	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Toyota Tundra 5.7 Auto 4WD SR5 Crew Max	6/1/2009	34,285	31,369	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Ford Taurus X Limited AWD	6/30/2009	34,175	31,272	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Toyota Camry 2.4 Auto Hybrid	6/1/2009	26,150	23,796	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Toyota Camry 2.4 Auto SE	6/1/2009	22,815	20,533	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Toyota Camry 2.4 Auto LE	6/1/2009	21,650	19,593	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Lincoln Navigator Luxury 4x4	6/1/2009	56,020	51,383	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer 4x4 EL	6/30/2009	45,730	41,628	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Subaru Outback 2.5 Auto I	6/1/2009	23,295	21,907	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Toyota Camry 3.5 Auto V6 XLE	6/1/2009	28,695	25,823	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Hyundai Sonata GLS I4	6/1/2009	18,700	17,922	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Subaru Tribeca Limited 5-Passenger	6/1/2009	32,595	30,727	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 1LT 4X4 Crew Cab	6/1/2009	34,295	31,723	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Mazda Tribute 2.5 Auto i Grand Touring 4WD	6/1/2009	26,375	24,681	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Subaru Outback 3.0R Limited w/Navigation Auto 4WD	6/1/2009	34,095	31,721	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Honda Accord 2.4 LX-P	6/1/2009	21,905	19,869	No	Yes	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Honda Pilot EX-L 4WD	6/1/2009	35,295	31,969	No	Yes	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Mazda Tribute 3.0 Auto S Grand Touring 4WD	6/1/2009	27,635	25,856	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Honda Accord 2.4 LX-P 5AT	6/1/2009	22,705	20,592	No	Yes	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Nissan Altima 2.5 HEV Auto	6/1/2009	26,650	24,976	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 GMC Sierra 4WD Crew Cab SLT SWB	6/1/2009	41,855	38,716	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	10%+
2009 Hyundai Sonata GLS V6 A/T	6/1/2009	22,450	21,466	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	10%+
2009 Nissan Altima 2.5 S Sedan	6/1/2009	21,040	19,728	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	10%+
2009 Nissan Altima 3.5 SE Auto Sedan	6/1/2009	25,680	23,800	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	10%+
2009 Honda Accord 3.5 EX-L V6 5AT	6/1/2009	28,955	26,240	No	Yes	Get the Bottom Line Price	10%+

—Jeff Bartlett and Michael Dempsey

 

Autos more affordable than ever

Automobiles are more affordable than ever before, technically. According to Comerica Bank’s Auto Affordability Index, it took only 21.5 weeks of median family income to purchase an average-priced vehicle of $26,000. That’s the lowest ratio on record since the index started in 1979. Median family income continued to fall, but the cost of buying a new car fell even more sharply. Average vehicle price is now down $1,700 from the last quarter of 2008.

Part of the decline is due to the recession and consumers cutting back on their spending. In addition, manufacturers are offering incentives and rebates to move vehicles off of dealer lots, so prices are getting slashed. Unfortunately, the lower prices have not been enough to keep the ailing auto industry firing on all cylinders. Chrysler is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy and GM will determine their fate in the coming weeks. Detroit automakers aren’t the only ones feeling the pinch--Toyota recorded its worst sales in decades with an operating loss of $8.6 billion this year.

If you’re in the market for a new car, now is a great time to cash in on the low prices and great deals. For more information on the latest vehicle incentives, see Consumer Reports list of best new car deals.

—Liza Barth