Car Types
News by Car Type
Popular Green Cars
Consumer Reports, long respected by consumers for its unbiased analysis of everything from vacuum cleaners to children’s toys to cars, has published its list of the most reliable (and unreliable) vehicles.
Overall, the results are stunning — five of the top eight most reliable family cars were hybrids, and topping that short list is the Honda Insight. Though in its first year on the market, the Insight led the pack of reliable hybrids, finishing well ahead of the popular Toyota Prius, the best-selling hybrid in the U.S. Aside from the Insight, the other four hybrids that made the grade were the Ford Fusion Hybrid, Mercury Milan Hybrid, Nissan Altima Hybrid, and Toyota Camry Hybrid. Great news, considering that there were no hybrids on the list last year.
But Consumer Reports adds a caveat. Just because a vehicle ranks high on their new car reliability list does not mean they necessarily recommend it. Their report, which measures their subscribers’ experiences with 1.4 million vehicles, as well as their own testing, finds that the Insight, though extremely reliable, is “sluggish,” so they do not recommend it. Lest you think Consumer Reports is just biased against hybrids, note that also in this reliable-but-sluggish class are the non-hybrid Toyota Yaris and the Volvo S40.
Will the third-gen Prius top the list next year, or will the Insight win again? Can the Ford Fusion hybrid gather some steam and beat them both?
We’ll see in 2010.
Source: Consumer Reports
Use the form below to send us a tip, give us feedback, or just say hello.
Have an opinion?Join the conversation!
By jan Posted: 10/29/2009 8:11am PDT
By N Riley Posted: 10/29/2009 8:43am PDT
------------------------------
I am a CR subsCriber and all I have to say about that quote is: "YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!". There is nothing unbiased about many of CR's reports. Dependability ratings are based on subscriber responses and we know that is biased. This, of course, is only the opinion of someone who has been a CR subsdriber longer than many of the readers here have been alive.
By N Riley Posted: 10/29/2009 8:50am PDT
By yvette Posted: 10/29/2009 10:42am PDT
By omnimoeish Posted: 10/30/2009 9:15am PDT
According to autoblog, it ranked 21 out of 22 tested vehicles because the handling and everything was terrible. I was really surprised they say its so reliable.
5 out of 8 of the most reliable vehicles were hybrids. I'd say hybrids have definitely put all of the worry wort fears to rest about reliability. I still don't understand how the Chevy Malibu is still selling when it costs the same as 2010 Prius, has the same 0-60 time, has the same passenger capacity, more cargo capacity, is more reliable, and gets twice the gas mileage.
I guess people really don't like the "weird" looks or they just are trying to buy American.
By r4i Posted: 11/11/2009 2:12am PST
By r4i Posted: 11/11/2009 2:13am PST
By Cars for sale Posted: 1/29/2010 7:11am PST
By willis Posted: 7/7/2010 2:02am PDT
Will - Fox Rent A Car
Have an opinion?Join the conversation!