LOS ANGELES — Consumer Reports released its annual auto choices Monday, giving high marks to such vehicles as the Honda Fit, the Hyundai Elantra and the Chevrolet Avalanche.
In its annual “automakers report card,” the consumer magazine said Honda and Subaru make the best vehicles overall, while Ford posted the largest quality gains among the major automakers. Ford improved in both the road tests of its vehicles and in its reliability scores.
Ford has made more strides than rival American automakers General Motors and Chrysler in recent years, according to Consumer Reports. With a score of 67 based on combined road tests and reliability, it was ranked the top U.S.-based auto company.
“Current offerings such as the Fusion, Flex, and Mustang have been impressive, and even the new Fiesta scored well in tests,” the magazine said.
Honda, including its Acura division, had the highest overall score, 74, and the best reliability record of any manufacturer, the magazine said.
Subaru was just behind in second place with a score of 73.
Despite a year of big recalls for unintended acceleration, sticking gas pedals and other problems, Toyota still did well in the Consumer Reports tests, finishing in third place with 71 points. The magazine said that the company’s Toyota, Lexus, and Scion models “remain solid choices overall,” although some of the newer vehicles “have slipped in interior fit and finish.”
Toyota vehicles also made up three of Consumer Reports’ 10 top picks.
General Motors, with 56 points, has also improved in both its average road-test and reliability scores. Consumer Reports said it liked newer GM models such as the Buick Enclave and LaCrosse and the Chevrolet Equinox and Traverse. But the company was still well down in rankings because of its older models.
Chrysler came in last in the class, with a score of 43.
The magazine named the Honda Fit best budget car and the Hyundai Elantra the best small car. It said the Nissan Altima was the best family sedan and that the Toyota RAV4 was the best small SUV. The Toyota Prius hybrid was the best “green” car and the Kia Sorento was the best family SUV. That was the first Kia to make the Consumer Reports list of top picks.
The Ford Mustang was the best sporty car and the Toyota Sienna was the best family hauler. The Infiniti G37 was named the best sports sedan and the Chevrolet Avalanche was best pickup truck.
