Predicted Car Reliability 2011 – Consumer Reports’ Top 10 Small Cars

Yearly Consumer Reports predicts the short-term reliability of motor vehicle models for the new model year. This predicted reliability is based on the infrequency of serious problems in the three preceding model years, as reported in a survey of its subscribers. When data are lacking or insufficient for one or more model years, the predicted… Continue reading »

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Honda, Nissan, Hyundai U.S. Sales Climb; Toyota Drops on Recall Fallout

Hyundai Motor Co., the fastest growing mass-market auto company in the U.S., posted a 45 percent sales gain last month on the strength of its Sonata sedans and Genesis luxury cars as Toyota Motor Corp. missed out on resurgence in demand. Hyundai’s sales grew to 40,723 vehicles in November, a record for the month. Toyota’s… Continue reading »

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Car Brand Reliability Rankings 2011 – Consumer Reports’ Top 10

Consumer Reports’ recently announced its 2011 reliability ranking of car brands. By predicted short-term reliability, CR’s top 10 brands for model year 2011 are, in descending order: Scion Porsche Acura Honda Infiniti Toyota Subaru Volvo Lexus Ford. Toyota Motor Corporation’s three car lines – Scion, Toyota, and Lexus – and Honda Motor Company’s Acura and… Continue reading »

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Predicted Car Reliability 2011 – Consumer Reports’ Top 10 Small Cars Honda, Nissan, Hyundai U.S. Sales Climb; Toyota Drops on Recall Fallout Car Brand Reliability Rankings 2011 – Consumer Reports’ Top 10

Dec
09

Predicted Car Reliability 2011 – Consumer Reports’ Top 10 Small Cars

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Yearly Consumer Reports predicts the short-term reliability of motor vehicle models for the new model year. This predicted reliability is based on the infrequency of serious problems in the three preceding model years, as reported in a survey of its subscribers.

When data are lacking or insufficient for one or more model years, the predicted short-term reliability is based on fewer than the last three model years. In some instances, it is based on only one year – primarily when a model is new or newly redesigned.

By the reliability predictions for model year 2011, CR’s Top Ten small cars are listed below. The list omits all models whose reliability prediction is based on only one year.

Consumer Reports’ Top 10 Small Cars

  • The Toyota Yaris, a sedan or 2-door or 4-door hatchback
  • The Honda Fit, a 4-door hatchback
  • Toyota Motor Corporation’s Scion xD, a 4-door hatchback
  • The Honda Civic coupe
  • The Honda Civic sedan
  • Toyota’s Scion xB, a boxy wagon
  • The non-turbo Subaru Impreza, a sedan or wagon
  • The Mazda3 sedan
  • The Toyota Corolla, a sedan
  • The Hyundai Elantra wagon

CR’s next 5 are also of noteworthy reliability. They are:

  • The Toyota Matrix, a wagon
  • The Mazda3 hatchback
  • The Nissan Sentra
  • The Suzuki SX4, a sedan, a 4-door hatchback or wagon
  • The Ford Focus sedan.

Of the Top 10, Toyota Motor Corporation accounts for 4, Honda Motor Company for 3, and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (Subaru), Mazda Motor Corporation, and Hyundai Motor Company each account for one.

Below are the 2010 Auto Reliability GPAs, based on last year’s survey, of the above best. In most instances, the GPAs are based on more than the three most-recent model years, and may be a preferable guide for those consumers planning an intermediate- or long-term ownership.

  • Toyota Yaris/Echo: a perfect 4.00 over a 9-year data history
  • Honda Fit: 4.00 over 3 years
  • Scion xD: 4.00 over 2 years
  • Honda Civic coupe: N/A
  • Honda Civic sedan: 3.75 over 10 years
  • Scion xB: 3.78 over 5 years
  • Non-turbo Subaru wagon: 3.02 over 9 years
  • Mazda3 sedan: 3.33 over 6 years
  • Toyota Corolla: 3.81 over 10 years
  • Hyundai Elantra sedan and wagon: 2.38 over 10 years
  • Toyota Matrix: 3.40 over 7 years
  • Mazda3 hatchback: N/A
  • Nissan Sentra: 2.00 over 9 years
  • Suzuki SX4: 3.00 over 2 years
  • Ford Focus sedan: 2.38 over 10 years.

Consumer Reports’ 2010 survey provides data on 1.3 million vehicles. As it queries for serious problems, it is highly regarded by many consumers who plan to purchase a used, as well as new, vehicle. Reliability ratings for used cars based on its 2010 survey will out in very late 2010 and early and mid 2011, if past publication history holds in the present.

CR’s current predictions of short-term reliability for model year 2011 are based on model years 2008, 2009, and 2010.

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Dec
02

Honda, Nissan, Hyundai U.S. Sales Climb; Toyota Drops on Recall Fallout

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Hyundai Motor Co., the fastest growing mass-market auto company in the U.S., posted a 45 percent sales gain last month on the strength of its Sonata sedans and Genesis luxury cars as Toyota Motor Corp. missed out on resurgence in demand.

Hyundai’s sales grew to 40,723 vehicles in November, a record for the month. Toyota’s sales fell 3.3 percent, the sole decline among major automakers, and second consecutive monthly drop for the world’s largest car company. Honda Motor Co.’s sales rose 21 percent and Nissan Motor Co.’s grew 27 percent.

“Sonata has done phenomenally in the midsize car segment,” said Jeff Schuster, director of forecasting at researcher J.D. Power & Associates in Troy, Michigan. “Camry and Corolla really underperformed last month, which I think has to do with very competitive vehicles.”

Hyundai’s gains came as industrywide sales increased 17 percent in November, led by demand for pickups, crossovers vehicles and other light trucks. Seoul-based Hyundai’s surge this year coincided with Toyota’s efforts to reassure U.S. buyers about its quality after record recalls and the strengthening of the nation’s currency to a 15-year high against the dollar, which trims the competitiveness of its exporters.

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Dec
01

Car Brand Reliability Rankings 2011 – Consumer Reports’ Top 10

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Consumer Reports’ recently announced its 2011 reliability ranking of car brands. By predicted short-term reliability, CR’s top 10 brands for model year 2011 are, in descending order:

Scion
Porsche
Acura
Honda
Infiniti
Toyota
Subaru
Volvo
Lexus
Ford.

Toyota Motor Corporation’s three car lines – Scion, Toyota, and Lexus – and Honda Motor Company’s Acura and Honda have consistently placed within top 10 lists for short-term, mid-term, and longer term reliability. Nissan’s Infiniti line is often among this very select group as well.

With regard to best cars, the Scion xD, a small hatchback, is the Scion line’s highest ranked model, the Toyota Yaris, a small sedan or hatchback, is the Toyota brand’s highest ranked model, and the Lexus LX, a large luxury SUV, is Lexus’ best. The Scion xD has a 2010 Auto Reliability Grade Point Average for the first 4 years of a perfect 4.00, as does the Yaris hatchback. The first 4-year 2010 Auto Reliability GPA of the Lexus LX is 3.67.

Acura’s best is the Acura RL, a sedan, and Honda’s best is the Honda CR-V, a small SUV. Infiniti’s best is the all-wheel-drive Infiniti G sedan. The first 4-year Auto Reliability GPA of the CR-V is 3.75; the RL and G sedan have more modest GPAs.

Porsche’s ranking by CR’s predicted short-term reliability took a jump, from 9th place for the 2010 model year to 2nd place for the 2011 model year. However, its highest rated model for 2011 was its lowest rated model for 2010, suggesting that the data for this car marque may be too thin to give stable results.

Volvo’s ranking also took a sizable leap – from 18th place to 8th place – as did Ford’s – from 16th place to 10th place. Both indicate that Ford Motor Company has been quite earnest about improving quality.

Outside the top 10, both the Hyundai line, 11th place, and the Kia line, 13th place, outranked all of the lines of General Motors Corporation and Chrysler LLC, as they did last year as well. By CR’s Rank Change from Last Year, GM’s Chevrolet line rose 3 as its Buick line fell 3.

Consumer Reports’ predicted reliability for a car brand is based on the reliability performance of the brand’s models within the 3 most recent model years. A model’s reliability is a measure of the model’s infrequency of reported serious problems.

CR’s reliability rankings are closely followed by many as they are based on an infrequency of serious problems, rather than complaints that may be on rather trivial matters.

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