Consumer Reports Rates the Most Reliable Cars for 2011
Consumer Reports has released their annual Automaker Report Cards where they rank the most reliable vehicles based on their comprehensive testing program.
Honda, Subaru and Toyota remain the most well-regarded brands, but Ford and Volvo are coming on strong.
Honda is the most reliable, with Subaru close behind. The Acura MDX, Honda Fit and the Subaru Legacy scored near the top of the their individual vehicle segments with above-average reliability.
Ford was the biggest mover of the year — last year it ranked 11th out of 14 — and is now ranked fifth, ahead of Hyundai but behind Volvo.
That's mainly the result of continued improvements in reliability and road-test scores.
While General Motors saw its score improve, it still has a long way to catch up with Ford, let alone the top Asian automakers.
Chrysler remains the lowest-ranked manufacturer in the survey, with only the four-wheel-drive Ram 1500 being recommended by Consumer Reports.
Mercedes-Benz had the least reliable vehicles in three vehicle categories, and six of its 13 vehicles have below-average reliability. BMW also suffers from poor reliability which might come as a surprise to most readers.
(Overall score out of a possible 100)
- Honda (74)
- Subaru (73)
- Toyota (71)
- Volvo (68)
- Ford (67)
- Hyundai (66)
- Mazda (65)
- Nissan (65)
- Volkswagen (63)
- Mercedes-Benz (57)
- BMW (57)
- General Motors (56)
- Chrysler (43)
My Recommendation for Car Shoppers
TrueCar No-Haggle, Edmunds Price Promise, and 1-800 Car Show are the quickest way to see the lowest car prices in your area. These sites show you no-haggle prices from dealers closest to you - and the deals are usually really good. This should be the first step you take when negotiating your car price. Follow this up with my checklist to make sure you squeeze out every last bit of savings.California Residents - Important:
There is a new online car buying service called Roadster, available only to California residents, which I highly recommend you try - especially if you hate the stress of haggling with a car salesman. They provide an expert concierge who negotiates the price of the car and delivers it to your home with zero hassle - you never have to interact with a dealership. Here is my in-depth review of Roadster and why I recommend it.- Gregg Fidan
- Best Rebates, Incentives, and Lease Deals
- Latest Car Buying Scams and Tricks
- The Best & Worst Time to Buy a Car
- Which Cars You Should Avoid
About: Gregg Fidan
Gregg Fidan + is the founder of RealCarTips. After being ripped off on his first car purchase, he devoted several years to figuring out the best ways to avoid scams and negotiate the best car deals. He has written hundreds of articles on the subject of car buying and taught thousands of car shoppers how to get the best deals.
Latest Weekly Car Buying Tips
RSS Feed