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as usual..mb on the bottom..?


Tags: 2007 consumer reports reliable reliability
So once again Toyota/Lexus and Honda dominate, while Mercedes, Volkswagen and the domestics make the very bottom. What's new anyway?

SMALL CAR
Most reliable (Best score first)
Honda Fit (pictured)*
Toyota Yaris*
Honda Civic Hybrid*
Toyota Corolla

Least reliable (Worst score first)
Chevrolet Cobalt
2006 Nissan Sentra
Volkswagen Jetta (5 cyl.)
Chevrolet Aveo

FAMILY CAR
Most reliable (Best score first)
Honda Accord Hybrid (pictured)
Toyota Prius
Honda Accord (4-cyl.)
Ford Fusion*
Mercury Milan*

Least reliable
Volkswagen Passat (4 cyl.)*

UPSCALE/LARGE CAR
Most reliable (Best score first)
Lexus ES350 (pictured)
Lincoln Zephyr*
Hyundai Azera*
Acura TSX
Acura TL

Least reliable (Worst score first)
Jaguar X-type
Chrysler 300 (V8)
Saab 9-3

LUXURY CAR
Most reliable (Best score first)
2006 Lexus LS (2007 model pictured)
Infiniti M*

Least reliable (Worst score first)
Cadillac STS (V8)
2006 Mercees-Benz S-class
Mercedes-Benz CLS*
Mercedes-Benz E-class sedan
BMW 7-series
Jaguar S-type

SPORT/SPORTY CAR
Most reliable (Best score first)
Lexus SC
Toyota Camry Solara (4-cyl.)
Subaru Impreza WRX
Honda S2000
Mitsubishi Eclipse*
2006 Mini Cooper hatchback

Least reliable (Worst score first)
Pontiac Solstice*
Mercedes-Benz SL
Mercedes-Benz CLK
Mercedes-Benz SLK (V6)
Chevrolet Corvette
Porshce 911 Carrera
Ford Mustang (V6)

WAGON/MINIVAN
Most reliable (Best score first)
Pontiac Vibe (pictured)
Scion xB
Toyota Matrix
Toyota Sienna

Least reliable (Worst score first)
Buick Terraza
Chevrolet Uplander
Saturn Relay
Nissan Quest

SMALL SUV
Most reliable (Best score first)
Toyota FJ Cruiser* (pictured)
Honda Element
2006 Honda CR-V
Toyota Rav4*
2006 Mitsubishi Outlander*
Subaru Forester

Least reliable
Kia Sportage

MIDSIZED SUV
Most reliable (Best score first)
Toyota Highlander Hybrid* (pictured)
Toyota 4Runner
Toyota Highlander
Honda Pilot
Lexus RX400h* (hybrid)
2006 Acura MDX

Least reliable (Worst score first)
Mercedes-Benz M-class*
Land Rover LR3 (V8)
Cadillac SRX (V8)
Mercedes-Benz R-class*
Volkswagen Touareg
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Hummer H3*
2006 BMW X5 (V8)
Volvo XC90 (I6 and V8)
Ford Explorer (V8)

LARGE SUV
Most reliable (Best score first)
Toyota Land Cruiser
Lexus LX
Toyota Sequoia
Chevrolet Tahoe*
GMC Yukon*

Least reliable (Worst score first)
Nissan Armada
Infiniti QX56
Lincoln Navigator
Hummer H2
Mercury Mountaineer (V8)

PICKUPS
Most reliable (Best score first)
Subaru Baja
Toyota Tundra
Toyota Tacoma
Nissan Frontier (V6)

Least reliable (Worst score first)
Nissan Titan
Ford F-250 (diesel)
Dodge Dakota (4WD)
2006 Cadillac Escalade EXT Read Article

 

Funny how Consumers Report rates the Porsche 911 as the worst yet JD Power just voted Porsche #1 overall manufacturer for 2006...........something smells funny!

 

What's new? we all know that these reports are flawed and not worth the paper it's written on. Comsumers vary dramatically from the person that buys a toyota to one that buys a merc, how many post's have you seen on these sites complaining about a precieved problem because their airmatic makes noise when they open their door? How many people who buy toyota's that may have had it in the shop more than a ford yet still tells everyone how reliable their toyota is. The last report I would look at to buy a car is one based on consumer perseptions.

 

Really sorry, but this report is just

 

Who gets to report how reliable consumer reports is?

 

Good point!

 

Porsche won the Initial Quality Survey, which only measures the first 90 days of ownership. The C/R report is longer-term.

I just hope BMW and M-B fix the problems, rather than deny their existence. As for Jaguar, I don't know. I guess it's tradition at work, although at least their engines don't catch fire as much anymore. Sigh.

 

Good point. As much as CR evaluates others, hardly anyone evaluates CR. Doing my best. You can read a couple of my critiques here:

Shortcomings of Consumer Reports

Problems with Consumer Reports' survey

Now, I doubt the problems with CR's methods can explain MB's showing. But the approach I'm taking in my own research will do two things:

1. Make it much clearer how large the difference between Mercedes and the competition is. Over a five-year period, are we talking one extra trip to the shop? Five? Ten? I suspect the number is lower than most people think.

My research will provide absolute numbers, including "trips to the shop."

2. CR releases results in November each year based on a spring survey. I'll be updating results quarterly about two months after the end of every quarter. With my system, if Mercedes does improve, it'll be apparent much more quickly.

The main thing I need is more participants. I'm not collecting data on any Mercedes models yet because not enough owners are signed up. Getting close with a few, though.

Details:
Vehicle reliability research