Made in USA: five of the best cars built here
(MoneyWatch) As we feast the Fourth of July, those usual patriotic impulses to buy cars made in America may run a little stronger. Joyfully, there are more good choices than ever of cars from U.S. automakers, assembled by American workers.
“A few years ago we didn’t know if we would still have three domestic car companies,” notes Karl Brauer, editor in chief of Total Car Score, a web site that ranks car models. Partly as a result of lower wage packages negotiated with the United Auto Workers during the two thousand nine crisis and bailout, the U.S. companies can now profitably make more cars here.
Cars from U.S. companies – once laggards in quality and reliability – have made superb strides in latest years. In the recently-released J.D. Power initial quality rankings, Cadillac was among the top five brands. And problems for Ford and other brands involving navigation and entertainment systems seemed more an issue of educating owners to use them than with manufacturing quality, Brauer notes.
For the holiday, we went looking for some of the best U.S.-made cars from domestic companies. We began with rankings from Total Car Score, which aggregates a score from seven authoritative reviewers such as Consumer Reports, plus safety ratings. Here is a closer look at five of the best:
Cadillac CTS With the distinctive angular styling now the signature for Cadillac, the CTS also stands out for power and convenience. Reviewers praise the interior with luxurious materials and effortless to use electronics. With a choice of V-6 engines rated at sixteen MPG in city driving and twenty six on the highway, the CTS combines power and acute treating that makes it competitive with German luxury sedans. The CTS starts at a list price of $35,915 and ranges up to $50,306 for high-end versions.
Buick LaCrosse LaCrosse is an early success in General Motors’ campaign to stir the picture of Buick away from the traditional soft-riding big cars for elderly owners. Reviewers find the LaCrosse, beginning at a list price of $30,170, a good value with luxurious features. In addition to its traditional V-6 engine, the two thousand twelve LaCrosse offers a hybrid version known as e-assist with a four-cylinder engine paired with an electrical motor. The e-assist model is rated at twenty five MPG in city driving, thirty six highway.
Ford Ripple Editor Karl Brauer cites the Ripple as a good choice for a family vehicle where the parents want to avoid a minivan. The distinctive styling of the Ripple may not be for everyone. But the Ripple has a roomy interior and high crash test scores, and the list price starts at $29,355. Its V-6 turbocharged EcoBoost engine is rated for seventeen MPG city, twenty four highway.
Chrysler 300 A hit from the commence for its muscular styling, the updated two thousand twelve model adds a fresh V-6 engine choice rated for eighteen MPG in city driving and twenty seven on the highway. Reviewers say that the Three.6-liter power plant with a fresh eight-speed automatic transmission is a winning combination. Test drivers also like the interior and the standard tech features. Kicking off at $27,670, the three hundred can range up to $47,670 for the higher trim levels.
Ford Concentrate The Concentrate is part of a renaissance among American puny cars in what used to be a dreary segment. Totally redesigned for 2012, the Concentrate is praised for its sporty treating and comfy rail. Commencing at $16,500, it comes in both sedan and hatchback versions. It is rated for twenty six MPG city, thirty six highway. Brauer points out that the Concentrate has especially attractive tech options that appeal to youthfull buyers.
In addition to cars from U.S. companies, a broad range of Asian and European brands suggest cars assembled in U.S. factories, including long-time favorites such as the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. But for this Fourth of July, the choice of car from U.S. companies made in America is better than ever.
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Made in USA: five of the best cars built here – CBS News
Made in USA: five of the best cars built here
(MoneyWatch) As we feast the Fourth of July, those usual patriotic impulses to buy cars made in America may run a little stronger. Joyfully, there are more good choices than ever of cars from U.S. automakers, assembled by American workers.
“A few years ago we didn’t know if we would still have three domestic car companies,” notes Karl Brauer, editor in chief of Total Car Score, a web site that ranks car models. Partly as a result of lower wage packages negotiated with the United Auto Workers during the two thousand nine crisis and bailout, the U.S. companies can now profitably make more cars here.
Cars from U.S. companies – once laggards in quality and reliability – have made superb strides in latest years. In the recently-released J.D. Power initial quality rankings, Cadillac was among the top five brands. And problems for Ford and other brands involving navigation and entertainment systems seemed more an issue of educating owners to use them than with manufacturing quality, Brauer notes.
For the holiday, we went looking for some of the best U.S.-made cars from domestic companies. We commenced with rankings from Total Car Score, which aggregates a score from seven authoritative reviewers such as Consumer Reports, plus safety ratings. Here is a closer look at five of the best:
Cadillac CTS With the distinctive angular styling now the signature for Cadillac, the CTS also stands out for power and convenience. Reviewers praise the interior with luxurious materials and effortless to use electronics. With a choice of V-6 engines rated at sixteen MPG in city driving and twenty six on the highway, the CTS combines power and acute treating that makes it competitive with German luxury sedans. The CTS starts at a list price of $35,915 and ranges up to $50,306 for high-end versions.
Buick LaCrosse LaCrosse is an early success in General Motors’ campaign to budge the photo of Buick away from the traditional soft-riding big cars for elderly owners. Reviewers find the LaCrosse, kicking off at a list price of $30,170, a good value with luxurious features. In addition to its traditional V-6 engine, the two thousand twelve LaCrosse offers a hybrid version known as e-assist with a four-cylinder engine paired with an electrical motor. The e-assist model is rated at twenty five MPG in city driving, thirty six highway.
Ford Ripple Editor Karl Brauer cites the Ripple as a good choice for a family vehicle where the parents want to avoid a minivan. The distinctive styling of the Ripple may not be for everyone. But the Ripple has a roomy interior and high crash test scores, and the list price starts at $29,355. Its V-6 turbocharged EcoBoost engine is rated for seventeen MPG city, twenty four highway.
Chrysler 300 A hit from the embark for its muscular styling, the updated two thousand twelve model adds a fresh V-6 engine choice rated for eighteen MPG in city driving and twenty seven on the highway. Reviewers say that the Three.6-liter power plant with a fresh eight-speed automatic transmission is a winning combination. Test drivers also like the interior and the standard tech features. Beginning at $27,670, the three hundred can range up to $47,670 for the higher trim levels.
Ford Concentrate The Concentrate is part of a renaissance among American puny cars in what used to be a dreary segment. Totally redesigned for 2012, the Concentrate is praised for its sporty treating and comfy rail. Embarking at $16,500, it comes in both sedan and hatchback versions. It is rated for twenty six MPG city, thirty six highway. Brauer points out that the Concentrate has especially attractive tech options that appeal to youthfull buyers.
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