Consumer Reports two thousand sixteen auto reliability survey: A few surprises amid the standbys
October 25, 2016
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Consumer Reports has released the results of its two thousand sixteen Auto Reliability Survey. While the annual report doesn`t rank vehicles based on what enthusiasts want in four-wheel transportation — as its name suggests, it`s all about reliability and predictability — it most likely plays a big role in how your neighbor who doesn`t care at all about cars will make his next auto-buying decision.
This year, there`s some of the expected shuffling of brand rankings common as fresh products and technologies inject the market and older products get perfected, plus a few totally predictable results. To the shock of no one, Toyota and Lexus topped the list thanks to their «conservative, evolutionary treatment» to vehicle production (however in the case of the latter marque, not necessarily exterior styling).
There are a few surprises, as well. Subaru slipped from the top-10 brands over serious Legacy and Outback recalls and WRX reliability concerns. Notably, Buick moved into third place, a very first for an American automaker.
It was a mixed bag for other GM offerings, with Chevrolet cars tending to fare better than Chevy or GMC trucks. It`s even worse for Fiat-Chrysler. Out of a lineup spanning Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati and Ram, only the Chrysler three hundred got the CR nod of approval. FCA nameplates tend to pack out the bottom of the brand reliability rankings, along with . Tesla.
Speaking of Tesla, the Model S, which has (somewhat confusingly) been all over the place in CR`s rankings, has swung back into «recommended» territory. Yet the complicated, malfunction-prone Model X remains off the list.
Not a single Jaguar-Land Rover product made it, which highlights another caveat with the report: CR`s list isn`t necessarily predictive of sales. JLR vehicles have never been known for sterling reliability, yet people keep buying them. Two thousand sixteen is shaping up to be a good year for the company and its cars, «recommended» status or not.
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DETROIT — Baby boomers in the U.S. are embarking to outgrow their midlife crisis years, and that`s bad news for automakers who want to sell sports cars.It was a sign of things to come this month .
The all-new Honda Civic didn`t earn a recommendation this time around; this situation parallels that of the last-all fresh Civic, which Consumer Reports sharply criticized after its debut in 2011. In the fresh car`s case, this seems to be tied to a frustrating touchscreen-based infotainment system, driving safety tech and, curiously, lack of availability of certain configurations at dealerships (how that is a reliability concern is beyond us). Perhaps a fix is already in the works: The upcoming two thousand seventeen CR-V adds a volume knob to its infotainment system, likely a response to persistent griping from reviewers and buyers alike.
Graham Kozak – Graham Kozak drove a one thousand nine hundred fifty one Packard two hundred sedan in high school because he desired something that would be effortless to find in a parking lot. He thinks all the things they’re doing with fuel injection and seatbelts these days are pretty nifty too.
Consumer Reports two thousand sixteen auto reliability survey results
Consumer Reports two thousand sixteen auto reliability survey: A few surprises amid the standbys
October 25, 2016
- Tweet
Consumer Reports has released the results of its two thousand sixteen Auto Reliability Survey. While the annual report doesn`t rank vehicles based on what enthusiasts want in four-wheel transportation — as its name suggests, it`s all about reliability and predictability — it very likely plays a big role in how your neighbor who doesn`t care at all about cars will make his next auto-buying decision.
This year, there`s some of the expected shuffling of brand rankings common as fresh products and technologies come in the market and older products get perfected, plus a few totally predictable results. To the shock of no one, Toyota and Lexus topped the list thanks to their «conservative, evolutionary treatment» to vehicle production (however in the case of the latter marque, not necessarily exterior styling).
There are a few surprises, as well. Subaru slipped from the top-10 brands over serious Legacy and Outback recalls and WRX reliability concerns. Notably, Buick moved into third place, a very first for an American automaker.
It was a mixed bag for other GM offerings, with Chevrolet cars tending to fare better than Chevy or GMC trucks. It`s even worse for Fiat-Chrysler. Out of a lineup spanning Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati and Ram, only the Chrysler three hundred got the CR nod of approval. FCA nameplates tend to pack out the bottom of the brand reliability rankings, along with . Tesla.
Speaking of Tesla, the Model S, which has (somewhat confusingly) been all over the place in CR`s rankings, has swung back into «recommended» territory. Yet the complicated, malfunction-prone Model X remains off the list.
Not a single Jaguar-Land Rover product made it, which highlights another caveat with the report: CR`s list isn`t necessarily predictive of sales. JLR vehicles have never been known for sterling reliability, yet people keep buying them. Two thousand sixteen is shaping up to be a good year for the company and its cars, «recommended» status or not.
Car News
Sports car sales fall as baby boomers grow up
DETROIT — Baby boomers in the U.S. are kicking off to outgrow their midlife crisis years, and that`s bad news for automakers who want to sell sports cars.It was a sign of things to come this month .
The all-new Honda Civic didn`t earn a recommendation this time around; this situation parallels that of the last-all fresh Civic, which Consumer Reports sharply criticized after its debut in 2011. In the fresh car`s case, this seems to be tied to a frustrating touchscreen-based infotainment system, driving safety tech and, curiously, lack of availability of certain configurations at dealerships (how that is a reliability concern is beyond us). Perhaps a fix is already in the works: The upcoming two thousand seventeen CR-V adds a volume knob to its infotainment system, likely a response to persistent griping from reviewers and buyers alike.
Graham Kozak – Graham Kozak drove a one thousand nine hundred fifty one Packard two hundred sedan in high school because he wished something that would be effortless to find in a parking lot. He thinks all the things they’re doing with fuel injection and seatbelts these days are pretty nifty too.
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