CR: Malibu/Fusion Tops Accord/Camry; GM Shows "Bright Spots" @ 42% Above Avg

[Perian]

Link: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-relea...-66479522.html

Consumer Reports' 2009 Annual Car Reliability Survey: Ford Secures Place Among World's Most Reliable Carmakers

Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan Reliability Tops Honda Accord and Toyota Camry

YONKERS, N.Y., Oct. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Ford has secured its position as the only Detroit automaker with world-class reliability. About 90 percent (46 of 51) of Ford, Mercury, and Lincoln products were found to have average or better reliability, according to Consumer Reports' 2009 Annual Car Reliability Survey. The results were announced today at an Automotive Press Association luncheon in Detroit.

Ford's sustained production of vehicles that are as dependable--or better than--some of the industry's best dispels the notion that only Japanese manufacturers make reliable cars. Other than the Toyota Prius, the reliability of the 4-cylinder Fusion and Milan ranks higher than that of any other family sedan. Both of those Ford Motor Company products continue to beat the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, while the upscale Lincoln MKZ tops its rivals, the Acura TL and Lexus ES.

"It's rare for Consumer Reports to see family sedans from domestic carmakers continue to beat the reliability scores of such highly regarded Japanese models as the Camry and Accord," said David Champion, senior director of Consumer Reports' Automotive Test Center. The last domestic sedan that had better reliability than the Camry and Accord was the Buick Regal in 2004, he noted.

General Motors shows some bright spots, Chrysler still struggles

Some newer GM products are bright spots. Overall 20 of the 48 GM models Consumer Reports surveyed have average reliability scores, while the Chevrolet Malibu V6 has shown better-than-average scores and is on par with the most reliable family sedans. The Buick Lucerne did well in Consumer Reports road tests, and it scores average in reliability.

The Chevrolet Traverse SUV also makes the cut, as does its cousin, the Buick Enclave, but only in the all-wheel-drive version. The reliability scores of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500 pickups have improved enough to earn Consumer Reports' Recommendation. CR only Recommends vehicles that have performed well in its tests, have at least average predicted reliability based on the Annual Auto Survey, and performed at least adequately if crash-tested or included in a government rollover test.

GM has a number of strong contenders either just released or in the pipeline, but they are too new for CR to have reliability data on them.

Chrysler continues to struggle. More than one-third of Chrysler products are much worse than average, including its new car-based SUV, the Dodge Journey. Last year, Consumers Reports couldn't Recommend any of its products either because of mediocre performance, poor reliability scores, or both. However, this year CR can recommend one important vehicle in Chrysler's lineup: the four-wheel-drive version of the redesigned Dodge Ram 1500 pickup. It did well in CR road tests and rates average in reliability.

Findings are based on responses on more than 1.4 million vehicles owned or leased by subscribers to Consumer Reports or its Web site, www.ConsumerReports.org, the biggest response in the Annual Auto Survey's history. The survey was conducted in the spring of 2009 by Consumer Reports' National Survey Research Center and covered model years 2000 to 2009.

Consumer Reports' expert team of statisticians and automotive engineers used the survey data to predict reliability of new 2010 models. Predicted reliability is CR's forecast of how well models currently on sale are likely to hold up. To calculate predicted-reliability ratings, CR averages the overall reliability scores (used car verdicts) for the most recent three model years, provided that the model remained unchanged in that period and also didn't substantially change for 2010. If a model was new or redesigned in the past couple of years, one or two years' data may be used, or if that's all that's available.

Full press release at link.

[Perian]

Wow. Congratulations to Ford.

Truth in advertising: Quality (really) is Job One.

Really nice to see the GM pickup trucks mentioned as well!

[skylark68]

Good job for Ford, but that doesn't change my opinion about CR's methods.

[Bokl]

Good job ford. Now lets hear people say how CR is garbage and ignore reality like always.

[Buick61]

Perian, maybe you should edit your post:

The Malibu V6 also beat the Accord and Camry:

The front-wheel-drive Fusion, its Milan twin, and Chevrolet Malibu V6 scored higher than both the V6 Honda Accord or Toyota Camry.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/c...y-findings.htm

[Hitman1970]

At least Mulally is bright enough to go find out what the rules of the game were before playing. I am not a CR fan but see the importance of these ratings to the appliance driver masses. Now when is Fritz, Lutz, or Sheppard heading to those testing grounds for a brief on the rules of the game?

[fastball]

Oh, how biased CR is..... Ford must be paying them under the table

[K-1]

It's nice to see one of the Big3 on top in some categories, but until CR surveys more than just their subscribers (themselves suspect) and actually releases that data, along with their methodologies, this is still nothing more than litter box liner.

[yamahr1]

Originally Posted by Bokl

Good job ford. Now lets hear people say how CR is garbage and ignore reality like always.

They are garbage. To prove it, can you tell me what "much worse than average" means in terms of problems per 100 cars? No you can't, because CR refuses to publish that data. They go on to imply that the word "reliable" only applies to the "average" and up crowd, while those below are considered unreliable. What if the difference between high and low is 1%? Should I shun a car that I like because it's 1% less reliable than the one they recommend? There's no way to tell. Not to mention they survey only their own readers, and without verifying the results that I know of (i.e., does the person sending in a survey about an Accord been verified as an Accord owner, with a valid registration?) Garbage.

[Perian]

Originally Posted by Buick61

Perian, maybe you should edit your post:

The Malibu V6 also beat the Accord and Camry:

Thank you for the update.

I'm willing to bet that the reason the FWD versions of the Enclave/Acadia/Outlook did not get an above average rating was that the returned survey results were not enough to make a determination. The FWD versions of these vehicles are very slow sellers.

[prototype66]

Originally Posted by Bokl

Good job ford. Now lets hear people say how CR is garbage and ignore reality like always.

CR has just finally realized they cant just ignore the improvements in the domestics but CR still suck!
I bought a "recommended washing machine and dryer (set) because of their review ans so far they both suck!
Congratulations to Ford and GM for a well deserved heads up!

[MM1281]

Good press for Ford but the source is questionable. There, I said it and Im a Ford guy but not a hypocrite. CR needs to stick to testing toasters. Still, I wouldnt buy a Camcord if you gave it to me.

[ksr]

Originally Posted by yamahr1

They are garbage. To prove it, can you tell me what "much worse than average" means in terms of problems per 100 cars? No you can't, because CR refuses to publish that data. They go on to imply that the word "reliable" only applies to the "average" and up crowd, while those below are considered unreliable. What if the difference between high and low is 1%? Should I shun a car that I like because it's 1% less reliable than the one they recommend? There's no way to tell. Not to mention they survey only their own readers, and without verifying the results that I know of (i.e., does the person sending in a survey about an Accord been verified as an Accord owner, with a valid registration?) Garbage.

I'll still say it too. They are garbage.

They have this self-rightous, holier-than-thou attitude. People have been cowed into believing that because CR is non-profit, this means that CR has this high, moral, "we're on your side" purpose.

Baloney.

They're in business to sell magazines.

They won't release the numbers that you mentioned because the simple truth is that nearly all cars are incredibly reliable these days.

There is little difference between the best cars and all but the very worst in their testing. Their testing for reliability has very little statistical value and adds virtually nothing meaningful to a car-buying decision.

If they published all their numbers, more people would realize this and they'd sell fewer magazines.

[goochman]

With Toyota's recent troubles, Ford/GM need to continue their progress in this area.

Only years of continued improvement will change the tide, just like it took years to destroy it.

[Ach]

Originally Posted by Perian

Thank you for the update.

I'm willing to bet that the reason the FWD versions of the Enclave/Acadia/Outlook did not get an above average rating was that the returned survey results were not enough to make a determination. The FWD versions of these vehicles are very slow sellers.

I agree (if anything, the added complexity and weight of AWD would detract from reliability) but the unfortunate implication of the news release is that those models were below average. Things like this make me question CR's credibility.