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Japanese cars lead in latest `Consumer Reports' rankings

Consumer Reports' latest auto reliability survey and rankings have found overall domination by Japanese automakers, strides from Detroit, Michigan's Big Three and stumbles from Europe.

The findings, released on Wednesday and featured in next month's issue, are based on more than 250 tested vehicles and data collected from 1.3 million subscribers' vehicles.

For the second time in 10 years, all the magazine's top-10 picks are Japanese nameplates. This year's list includes five new models: the Toyota RAV4, Infiniti G35, Toyota Sienna, Mazda MX-5 Miata and the Honda Fit.

The list features vehicles that performed well in Consumer Reports' tests, have at least average predicted reliability and adequate performance in government and insurance industry crash protection tests.

The Toyota Prius ranked as the most satisfying vehicle overall for the fourth straight year based on the percentage of respondents who said they would buy the same model again, according to the magazine's annual car owner satisfaction survey.

Seven US models made the top cut, compared with four last year. Japanese models fell from 31 to 26, and European models increased from nine to 11.

The magazine found that Volkswagen leads in overall test performance, followed by Honda, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, Mazda and Nissan. But Honda, Subaru and Toyota get the highest marks when it comes to reliability.

Vehicles are given a single score that reflects their performance in Consumer Reports' own testing.

Mercedes-Benz received the fourth-highest test score with 77 out of a possible 100.

But not one of the German automaker's vehicles received a recommendation from Consumer Reports because of reliability concerns. Honda's test score was 78, but the magazine recommended all the automaker's vehicles it tested.

Recommendations are based on performance, reliability in surveys, and crash-test results.

The reliability of cars from Detroit varies greatly, Consumer Reports said.

Chrysler posted the lowest score at 51, with 21 percent of the tested vehicles getting a recommendation. Ford's score was 64, with 54 percent of its tested vehicles getting a recommendation; General Motors received a 57 with 36 percent recommendation rate.

David Champion, the magazine's senior director of automotive testing said that shining stars from the US included the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan.

The Fusion and Milan were on Consumer Reports' "most impressive" list, described as having a nimble handling and a comfortable ride. Unlike many cars in their first year, the magazine said, reliability for both has been excellent.

While Ford's Fusion and Milan were on the top of the heap, Toyota's subcompact Yaris made the "most disappointing" list.

The magazine said the Yaris had excellent fuel economy and reliability but sloppy emergency handling, a lot of noise and an uncomfortable driving position.
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