4U4ME
11-18-2004, 09:12 AM
Reliability: What models rate highest
and lowest?
A first look at CR's biggest reliability survey ever
Knowing how troublesome or trouble-free a vehicle has been is a critical part of choosing a car. However, it is also one of the most difficult aspects to gauge.
To guide you in making the right choice, every year Consumer Reports conducts an extensive reliability survey of its approximately 5 million magazine and online subscribers, asking them about any recent problems they have had with their vehicles. The survey underpins the most comprehensive reliability scores you will find anywhere.
Our 2004 Annual Questionnaire yielded the largest response we have ever had. We were able to compile reliability portraits of more than 800,000 vehicles, with ConsumerReports.org subscribers contributing nearly half the survey responses.
We use this survey data to develop two sets of comparisons. Most useful for new-car shoppers is our Predicted Reliability Ratings, which forecast how the models that are now on sale are likely to hold up. The second is our Reliability History charts, which show how a model has fared in 14 categories over eight model years.
Following are some of the more notable survey findings.
Among the 32 models with the highest reliability rating, 29 carry Japanese nameplates, with Toyota (16) and Honda (7) claiming the most.
Among the 38 models with the lowest rating, more than half (20) are European.
So far, so good for hybrids. The Toyota Prius and Honda Civic gas/electric hybrids were among the most reliable cars.
Subaru was the only brand whose entire model line is now recommended.
A full half of the sedans and small cars that earned our highest Reliability Rating are made by Toyota, including Lexus and Scion models.
Asian models also monopolized the top ratings in the SUV segment, with the lowest ratings going to a mix of European and U.S. models.
No minivans earned the highest Reliability Rating.
The only pickup to earn the top rating is the Toyota Tundra
and lowest?
A first look at CR's biggest reliability survey ever
Knowing how troublesome or trouble-free a vehicle has been is a critical part of choosing a car. However, it is also one of the most difficult aspects to gauge.
To guide you in making the right choice, every year Consumer Reports conducts an extensive reliability survey of its approximately 5 million magazine and online subscribers, asking them about any recent problems they have had with their vehicles. The survey underpins the most comprehensive reliability scores you will find anywhere.
Our 2004 Annual Questionnaire yielded the largest response we have ever had. We were able to compile reliability portraits of more than 800,000 vehicles, with ConsumerReports.org subscribers contributing nearly half the survey responses.
We use this survey data to develop two sets of comparisons. Most useful for new-car shoppers is our Predicted Reliability Ratings, which forecast how the models that are now on sale are likely to hold up. The second is our Reliability History charts, which show how a model has fared in 14 categories over eight model years.
Following are some of the more notable survey findings.
Among the 32 models with the highest reliability rating, 29 carry Japanese nameplates, with Toyota (16) and Honda (7) claiming the most.
Among the 38 models with the lowest rating, more than half (20) are European.
So far, so good for hybrids. The Toyota Prius and Honda Civic gas/electric hybrids were among the most reliable cars.
Subaru was the only brand whose entire model line is now recommended.
A full half of the sedans and small cars that earned our highest Reliability Rating are made by Toyota, including Lexus and Scion models.
Asian models also monopolized the top ratings in the SUV segment, with the lowest ratings going to a mix of European and U.S. models.
No minivans earned the highest Reliability Rating.
The only pickup to earn the top rating is the Toyota Tundra