I just picked up the recent issue of Consumer Reports magazine and the issue is dedicated to cars: quality, reliability, performance, and safety.
Honda and Toyota are the best cars
It is little surprise to find out that Honda is number one on the list and Toyota is number two. These Japanese car companies have come to be synonymous with reliability. CR’s (Consumer Reports) rating was based on performance and reliability. They took each company’s score in these two categories to come up with the overall score. Here is how they all stacked up:
- 78 – Honda
- 75 – Toyota
- 72 – Subaru
- 71 – BMW
- 71 – Nissan
- 71 – VW
- 71 – Mazda
- 67 – Mercedes-Benz
- 66 – Hyundai
- 64 – Volvo
- 63 – Mitsubishi
- 61 – Ford
- 54 – GM
- 49 – Suzuki
- 49 – Chrysler
“Honda earned the top score in our analysis because it builds very reliable cars that perform very well.”
GM and Ford have improved
GM and Ford are still towards the bottom of the list, but have seen significant improvements over the last model year. I have owned a few Fords and am glad to see that they are taking it up a notch.
Japan is still making the best cars
A few points worth noting about Japanese cars:
- Only Honda and Subaru earned the distinction of having all of the models tested make it on the CR recommended list.
- Honda is the only automaker whose entire model lineup is currently recommended by CR.
- Seven-year-old vehicles from Toyota and Honda have roughly the same number of problems as three-year-old vehicles from most other car companies.
My personal choice
I have owned American cars all of my life until our purchase of our Honda Fit last year. I have been frustrated with the lack of reliability in all of the cars that I have owned. I have been diligent with the maintenance and have taken care of them, yet they still seem to have quite a few problems.
Meanwhile, I have had friends with old Toyotas or Hondas who do almost no maintenance and the cars go for 250,000 miles. That’s what caused me to go with Honda. So far, so good with the Fit. I will keep you updated if anything changes.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
My husband and I only buy Hondas and Toyotas. They are so reliable. Right now we have one of each. We got rid of my husband’s old Toyota in January 2007, and it had over 300,000 miles on it. You really can’t beat that.
@Lynnae
Wow!! Good, yours is the type of story that I have heard so many times and still love hearing!!
But I love my Ford Mustang! It’s actually given me very few problems, and nothing major.
My husband has a Honda Accord and a lot of things have needed fixing lately. It has over 130,000 miles on it, so maybe it’s just due. The gas tank got a leak in it, though, and that was *really* expensive to fix. I guess Honda gas tanks are really bad to replace b/c of where they’re placed on the car.
Anyway, I guess until the Mustang hits 130,000 (it’s at 85,000 now), I can’t really compare it’s repairs with the Honda’s.
Very interesting article!
@Becky
I am glad to hear that about your mustang – I hope it holds out for you!! My Focus hasn’t been too bad, just minor issues. Other Fords I have had have been another story!!
I have a ‘94 Toyota Tercel that’s still kicking with 175K+ miles on it. Aside from the normal wear and tear, I haven’t had to sink much money into it…which has been a blessing. It’s due for some more maintenance (new belts and and gaskets), but I have to hold out until my finances get more stable.
I am growing tired of the car, though. So if everything works out, I’d like to start car shopping next winter.
my friend had a 1979 plymouth horizon with a 2.2 liter engine 350,000 mi. no probs
Wow!! That is quite the long lasting car!!
Volvo has a car with 2.6 million…
I have a 2002 Toyota 4Runner and it is absolutley awesome. No problems ever. 68K on it and it is just breaking in..imagine that!
I have a 1982 dodge ram slant six amazing motor/transmission 300,000 miles!! wiring is terable though! *old farm truck* I know don’t see why so many people make a big deal of honda and there ratings I went through terable time with toyotas! had a camry bought it for $5000 115,000 miles it went bad at 130,000 went through a few engines untill finally junked it suspension was tranny went motor went I do drive my cars HARD and use them for everything plus some that they’re made for…. my best friend has taurus all original 278,000 miles runs great! I do have a mazda mx6 runing 20lbs of boost on turbo with 275,000 miles *rebuilding because I run it hard” I do like imports but I think they are highly over rated! Glad to hear luck with other poeple though
PS 200,000 miles on sl2 still ticking!
I think too many people are brain washed by the media about American cars being second best. I have never owned a foreign car, never intend to. I own three Fords, a 96 Mustang, a 2000 Mercury Grand Marquis and a 04 F-150 XLT 2WD. No problems with any of them, I love them all.
I remember in 1963 or 1964 Ford did an indurance run with one of their cars. It was an outstanding example of reliability. They drove a car for 100,000 miles and an average of 100 miles an hour, pit stopping for just fuel and tires and changing drivers. That’s a test of who’s what.
Say what you will. Ford is my car.
We have a 2000 Ford Expedition with over 270,000 miles on it and it still runs strong with no major repairs made to it. On the other hand, we have a 2001 F-150 who’s tranny just went out at about 115,000 miles. I know Japanese cars are reliable, but they are many times overrated.