Consumer Reports Top 10 vehicles, Silverado!

[383_torque]

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/...st_cars/3.html

The Silverado is the first vehicle from a Detroit car company to make Consumer's top 10 since 2005.A bigger surprise is why the Silverado was chosen over the Toyota Tundra, even though the Tundra did better in Consumer Reports' performance testing. But the Toyota didn't score high enough on reliability to earn the pick.
The Silverado has a nice balance of work-truck attributes and day-to-day livability, Consumer Reports says.

[likearock00]

Great news. We'll see if customers will read this stuff and actually make a purchase because of it.

[Buick61]

So...do we now like Consumer Reports?


Apparently, base models of cars had to have ESC in order for CR to put those vehicles on this list. Did they apply that standard to Pickups? Does the Silverado have ESC even on the base level trims?

[steinravnik]

U.S., Korean vehicles crack Consumer Reports list

WASHINGTON, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Korean and U.S. automakers on Thursday broke Japan's two-year sweep of the top picks list ranked by Consumer Reports and four new models made the grade this year.

In a first for a South Korean manufacturer, the Hyundai Motor Co (005380.KS: Quote, Profile, Research) Elantra SE was the top small sedan and the Santa Fe, also made by Hyundai, was the top mid-sized sport utility vehicle.

The redesigned Chevrolet Silverado, made by General Motors Corp (GM.N: Quote, Profile, Research), led the pickup category. It was the first time since 2005 that a U.S. automaker was noted.

Japanese manufacturers, however, placed seven vehicles in the top 10 and continued their dominating showing in ratings for performance, safety and reliability.

This included the fourth new model on the list, Lexus LS 460L for best luxury sedan, and the gasoline/electric Prius, which capped 'green car' honors for the fifth straight year. Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T: Quote, Profile, Research) makes both.

Overall, however, "the best cars sold in the U.S. are still made by Honda," Consumer Reports said. Honda Motor Co. Ltd (7267.T: Quote, Profile, Research) had one car in the top 10, the Accord, but all of its vehicles evaluated for reliability and performance made Consumer Reports' longer list of recommended vehicles.

For the first time, all top picks offered rollover prevention technology as standard or easily obtainable optional equipment.

Automakers pay close attention to the annual ratings, first published in 1997. This year's reviews were kinder than in the past to struggling GM and Ford Motor Co (F.N: Quote, Profile, Research) but sharply critical of Chrysler LLC.

http://www.reuters.com/article/marke...0080228?rpc=44

[steinravnik]

Asian cars win again, says Consumer Reports

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Honda, Toyota and Subaru topped Consumer Reports' annual list of the best cars sold in the United States with Hyundai placing two models in the best of class categories.

But the magazine also praised American car makers General Motors (GM: General Motors Corporation for improving quality and reliability.

Detroit's other automaker Chrysler, now owned by Cerberus, got a lower rating this year due to what Consumer Reports said was underpowered engines, sub-par interior materials and noise.

David Champion, Consumer Reports Senior Director of Automotive Testing, said Thursday in releasing the findings that Honda is producing "very well rounded cars with excellent reliability," with Toyota garnering similar remarks.

And Detroit got a nod for moving in the right direction.

"I must say that GM and Ford have been making significant progress recently," Champion said, adding that 93% of Ford vehicles have average or better reliability. GM has "improved tremendously as well with their new products" such as the Chevrolet Malibu, Cadillac CTS and the Chevy Silverado, that was named the top pick up truck, the only domestic brand named as a class winner.

"All have performed extremely well in our testing. The big question in General Motors is, is the reliability going to be there" to go along with the new models, Champion said.

The findings are included in the annual auto edition of the magazine, which should hit newsstands early next month.

CR rated the Hyundai Elantra SE as the best small sedan, while another Hyundai, the Santa Fe, was named top midsized sport utility.

The top luxury sedan was the Lexus LS460L, a car so quiet on the road that Champion said, "I got caught speeding."

Other class winners included the Honda Accord as top family sedan, the Infiniti G35 as the best upscale sedan, and the two seater Mazda MX5 Miata was the most fun to drive.

Toyota cleaned up the final classes. Its RAV 4, Sienna and Prius were best small SUV, best minivan and top green car according to the magazine.

When it comes to extended new car warranties, CR officials warned consumers to beware of what they called "a high-priced gamble." They said the warranties seldom save consumers money in the long run and only 38% of the readers surveyed were happy with their warranties.

"That is a very low percentage for one of our owner satisfaction surveys," said Rik Paul, Automotive Editor of the magazine. "That's like below computer tech support and digital cable service."

A new magazine feature this year will track the cost of operating a vehicle over a five-year period. Car experts said in some cases, a car that costs less money when new might actually cost consumers more over the life of their loan when factors like depreciation, fuel and maintenance are factored in.

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/stor...D&siteid=yhoof

[gotz_otto]

Why was it necessary to bring up the Tundra, they could have just said it was the best truck or the right pick.

[GMusa]

Originally Posted by Buick61

So...do we now like Consumer Reports?


Apparently, base models of cars had to have ESC in order for CR to put those vehicles on this list. Did they apply that standard to Pickups? Does the Silverado have ESC even on the base level trims?

no we still do not like Consumer Reports...

there are cars on that list that really shouldnt be there.. GM deserves more cars on the list!

[Silverado14]

Shocking! I hope the sky is now not falling......

[goblue]

Originally Posted by Buick61

So...do we now like Consumer Reports?


Apparently, base models of cars had to have ESC in order for CR to put those vehicles on this list. Did they apply that standard to Pickups? Does the Silverado have ESC even on the base level trims?

No - we don't, Silverado is only there b/c Tundra has engine / transmission issues.

Either the CTS or Malibu should be on the list. G35 over CTS is an enthusiast only argument. And again, its close - but Malibu more meets the goals of the average buyer than Accord (more comfortable ride, etc) - and the Hyundais should not be on the list, let alone twice. Nothing class leading out of that company yet. Also, nice ommision of the full size SUV category. Enclave might have gotten that. There's only 10+ vehicles in the segment which CR ignores.

[ifcar]

Originally Posted by goblue

Either the CTS or Malibu should be on the list.

The CTS and Malibu are too new for CR to have reliability data.

[Uzzy]

Originally Posted by 383_torque

A bigger surprise is why the Silverado was chosen over the Toyota Tundra, even though the Tundra did better in Consumer Reports' performance testing. But the Toyota didn't score high enough on reliability to earn the pick.

That's hilarious! Consumer Reports doing automobile performance testing.

[A Bum In A Bus]

Consumer Reports = Fishwrap

[skylark68]

That's a pretty wretched band of vehicles right there, minus the Silverado.

I wouldn't consider any of those vehicles for a new ride.

[bone]

It would be so nice if Consumers Report never came up on this site again. I have no problem with articles from the enthusiast mags,sites and papers,however, CR has absolutely no credibility in my books. I might look at it if I'm in the market for an appliance, but that's it.

[member12]

What is the reliability rating on the Silverado?

The only issue I'd report to CR as being "unsatisfied" would be these seat covers collecting lint. Other then that, I love my truck.

That's really pushing if they consider things like that for their reliability rating. I know that recently, when they made engine and transmission issues more of a big deal in their system that Toyota's rating went down and GMs went up.