[ifcar]

For its July issue, CR reviewed a selection of small sedans that it hadn't already tested recently.

Rankings of all current auto-trans small sedans tested by CR: (models tested this month in italics and recommended models (models that tested well and have reliability predicted at average or above) in bold)

EXCELLENT:
1. Hyundai Elantra SE: 82 points ($17,980)

VERY GOOD:
2. Honda Civic EX: 78 points ($19,610)
3. Mazda3 i: 72 points ($17,940)
4. Honda Civic Hybrid: 72 points ($22,400)
5. Volkswagen Jetta 2.5: 72 points ($23,580)
6. Subaru Impreza 2.5i: 72 points ($19,106)
7. Toyota Corolla LE: 71 points ($18,404)
8. Hyundai Elantra GLS: 70 points ($17,555)
9. Ford Focus SES: 65 points ($18,490)
10. Kia Rio: 64 points ($14,905)
11. Mitsubishi Lancer ES: 62 points ($17,515)
12. Hyundai Accent GLS: 62 points ($14,230)
13. Nissan Sentra 2.0S: 60 points ($18,855)

GOOD:
14. Kia Spectra EX: 57 points ($15,905)
15. Chevrolet Cobalt LT: 50 points ($17,450)
16. Toyota Yaris: 50 points ($15,543)

FAIR:
14. Chevrolet Aveo LT: 36 points ($16,205)
15. Suzuki Forenza: 36 points ($14,499)

Specific details and ratings of the cars in this month's report:

Hyundai Elantra SE:
Highs: Controls, ride, standard stability control, braking, transmission, emergency handling, reliability.
Lows: Steering feel.
Acceleration: 3/5 (10.4 seconds to 60)
Transmission: 5/5 (rpm at 60 mph: 2295)
Routine Handling: 4/5
Emergency Handling: 4/5 (avoidance maneuver max speed: 55.5 mph)
Braking: 5/5 (125 feet from 60 dry, 133 feet from 60 wet)
Headlights: 4/5
Ride: 4/5
Noise: 4/5
Driving Position: 4/5
Front Seat Comfort: 4/5
Front Access: 4/5
Rear Seat Comfort: 3/5
Rear Access: 3/5
Controls and Displays: 5/5
Interior fit and finish: 4/5
Cargo area: 3/5
Climate system: 3/5
Fuel Economy: 4/5 (27 mpg)
Reliability: 5/5

Subaru Impreza:
Highs: Ride, handling, controls, standard all-wheel drive, crash-test results, available ESC.
Lows: Fuel economy.
Acceleration: 3/5 (9.8 seconds to 60)
Transmission: 4/5 (rpm at 60 mph: 2575)
Routine Handling: 4/5
Emergency Handling: 3/5 (avoidance maneuver max speed: 52.5 mph)
Braking: 4/5 (135 feet from 60 dry, 145 feet from 60 wet)
Headlights: 4/5
Ride: 4/5
Noise: 4/5
Driving Position: 4/5
Front Seat Comfort: 4/5
Front Access: 4/5
Rear Seat Comfort: 3/5
Rear Access: 4/5
Controls and Displays: 5/5
Interior fit and finish: 4/5
Cargo area: 2/5
Climate system: 3/5
Fuel Economy: 3/5 (24 mpg)
Reliability: 4/5

Toyota Corolla:
Highs: Fuel economy, ride, quiet interior, turning circle, controls, available electronic stability control.
Lows: Steering feel, fit and finish, no dedicated clock display.
Acceleration: 3/5 (9.9 seconds to 60)
Transmission: 4/5 (rpm at 60 mph: 2420)
Routine Handling: 4/5
Emergency Handling: 3/5 (avoidance maneuver max speed: 51.0 mph)
Braking: 4/5 (136 feet from 60 dry, 145 feet from 60 wet)
Headlights: 4/5
Ride: 4/5
Noise: 4/5
Driving Position: 4/5
Front Seat Comfort: 4/5
Front Access: 4/5
Rear Seat Comfort: 3/5
Rear Access: 3/5
Controls and Displays: 5/5
Interior fit and finish: 3/5
Cargo area: 2/5
Climate system: 3/5
Fuel Economy: 5/5 (32 mpg)
Reliability: Unknown

Ford Focus:
Highs: Steering, interior room, access, trunk, turning circle.
Lows: Noise, fit and finish, no rear head restraints, no stability control until '09 model.
Acceleration: 3/5 (10.1 seconds to 60)
Transmission: 4/5 (rpm at 60 mph: 2090)
Routine Handling: 4/5
Emergency Handling: 3/5 (avoidance maneuver max speed: 53.0 mph)
Braking: 4/5 (137 feet from 60 dry, 147 feet from 60 wet)
Headlights: 3/5
Ride: 4/5
Noise: 3/5
Driving Position: 4/5
Front Seat Comfort: 4/5
Front Access: 4/5
Rear Seat Comfort: 3/5
Rear Access: 3/5
Controls and Displays: 4/5
Interior fit and finish: 3/5
Cargo area: 3/5
Climate system: 3/5
Fuel Economy: 4/5 (26 mpg)
Reliability: 3/5

Chevrolet Cobalt:
Highs: Turning circle.
Lows: Engine noise, fuel economy, driving position, seating comfort, fit and finish.
Acceleration: 3/5 (9.3 seconds to 60)
Transmission: 4/5 (rpm at 60 mph: 2075)
Routine Handling: 4/5
Emergency Handling: 3/5 (avoidance maneuver max speed: 51.0 mph)
Braking: 3/5 (141 feet from 60 dry, 157 feet from 60 wet)
Headlights: 3/5
Ride: 3/5
Noise: 3/5
Driving Position: 3/5
Front Seat Comfort: 3/5
Front Access: 4/5
Rear Seat Comfort: 2/5
Rear Access: 3/5
Controls and Displays: 4/5
Interior fit and finish: 3/5
Cargo area: 3/5
Climate system: 3/5
Fuel Economy: 3/5 (24 mpg)
Reliability: 3/5

Chevrolet Aveo:
Highs: Turning circle.
Lows: Acceleration, agility, ride, noise, driving position, front-seat comfort, fit and finish, fuel economy, no ESC.
Acceleration: 2/5 (11.6 seconds to 60)
Transmission: 4/5 (rpm at 60 mph: 2450)
Routine Handling: 3/5
Emergency Handling: 3/5 (avoidance maneuver max speed: 52.0 mph)
Braking: 4/5 (133 feet from 60 dry, 145 feet from 60 wet)
Headlights: 2/5
Ride: 3/5
Noise: 2/5
Driving Position: 3/5
Front Seat Comfort: 3/5
Front Access: 4/5
Rear Seat Comfort: 2/5
Rear Access: 3/5
Controls and Displays: 4/5
Interior fit and finish: 3/5
Cargo area: 2/5
Climate system: 3/5
Fuel Economy: 3/5 (25 mpg)
Reliability: 2/5

And, as always, ask if you want more.

 

[FenwickHockey65]

What a surprise...
Consumer Reports hates GM.
Consumer Reports loves toyota...and apparently everybody else...especially hyundai...

 

[paul8488]

Chevrolet Cobalt LT: 50 points ($17,450): 24 mpg
Chevrolet Aveo LT: 36 points ($16,205): 25 mpg

For $1200 bucks more I don't know how many people can justify NOT buying the Cobalt over the Aveo. Same fuel mileage, much less room, less power, worse reliability... the Aveo should be $12,000.

 

[Old Dood]

For $1200 bucks more I don't know how many people can justify NOT buying the Cobalt over the Aveo. Same fuel mileage, much less room, less power, worse reliability... the Aveo should be $12,000.

Good point...
I would buy the Cobalt over the Aveo anyday...

 

[PMC the 1st]

Notice that the Toyota Corolla gets poor fit 'n finish for a 'LOW'. Thank God for the internet. It's forcing Consumer Repors to tell the truth.

Not so for the consumer who got fooled if they listned to Consumer Reports during the 90's. I will explain in depth exactly how the consumer was fooled by them pending the posting of my Consumer Reports thread, coming either later on today or tomorrow.

 

[Neanderthal]

This is clear evidence the CR crew writes their reports while smoking pot.

They include a 4-year-old Spectra (plural of spectrum), stick shifter. The Mighty Spectra (plural of spectrum) is close kin to their fave rave, the mighty Elantra.

But what is the singular of Elantra? Huh?

Obviously they think KIA is a division of General Motors or Ford Motor Co.

What a bunch of crazy, nutty guys!! :laugh:

 

[member12]

How do you get the same mileage with the Cobalt as you do the four wheel drive Impreza? Also, how on earth can the Corolla get 32mpg?

Do they just stand on the gas pedal when they test Chevrolets?

Does Consumer's Reports have a scientific way of collecting this data or did the Toyota get tested downhill? I don't understand how the average economy for a V6 Malibu back in 04 could be 26 mpg (later adjusted to 24mpg quietly) and now the 4 cylinder Cobalt is only 24mpg.

Also, how do they measure headlight performance? Is this based on styling of the headlights? Intensity? Quality of light? Brand of car the headlight is attached to?

 

[tom3]

Civic EX is $19k? Lot of money for that little car seems to me like. Couple grand more and get an Impala that gets 30mpg comfortably.

 

[Neanderthal]

Civic EX is $19k? Lot of money for that little car seems to me like. Couple grand more and get an Impala that gets 30mpg comfortably.

Among numerous odd attitudes is CR's rather cavalier (no pun intended) view regarding car prices.
Just because they have bucks falling out of their pockets, I guess they don't think twice that a 19 grand compact car is a fistfull of dollars for the average schmoo.

Wait, maybe it's only The Good, The Rich, and The Wise who read CR.

Price off the lot is probably cheaper for a comparable Impala. When I was shopping my Spectra (plural of spectrum) I did drop by the Honda dealer to check out the Civic.

Unfortunately the know-it-all salesman sent me packing with no further interest in a car that's "Only marked up a couple of hundred dollars." I can do internet searches as well as the next guy.
And I was just a wee bit skeptical :laugh: of his statement "These cars never have trouble. The only thing we do in our shop is oil and filter changes." Funny, my 03 Accord was in for times for unround rear drums.
That is not the first time I've heard such nonsense at a Honda dealership.

Stupid salesmen spouting the party line: Worst enemy of car sales. :yup:

 

[FenwickHockey65]

Also, how do they measure headlight performance? Is this based on styling of the headlights? Intensity? Quality of light? Brand of car the headlight is attached to?

It's actually a very simple process. First they measure the diameter of the headlight, divide it by two, multiply it by the radius of the tire, subtract that from the top speed of the car, add that to twice the number of cylinders in the engine, divide that by the trunk space (in cubic meters), then multiply by the engine displacement.
Once you get that number, substitute the number for (x) in the function F(x)=22x+131i, compose that function into the function g(x)=2x^2+13, and then convert that into a parametric equation. Then find the area under the curve of the graph, multiply that by the derivative of the first function F(x)=22x+131i, take the absolute value, and you'll get the headlight performance rating.
Easy!

 

[ifcar]

They turn the lights on and see how far they shine. The further the better.

 

[Old Dood]

They turn the lights on and see how far they shine. The further the better.

That works for me....
Simple is best.

 

[Family Man]

They turn the lights on and see how far they shine. The further the better.

Or, you can do what FenwickHockey65 said. Either way, it works out to the same thing.

 

[osv_alero]

Misprint - The Cobalt did rate average in their quality rankings.

They had good points on the Cobalt and as I can recall even mentioned the lower price advantage.

I have never been a consumer reports fan, but it does seem as of late that they are starting to make some major changes in their reporting. No longer are they bashing on American cars just for the fun of bashing on them.

I still don't believe their quality reports, but . . .

 

[Jesda]

Stupid salesmen spouting the party line: Worst enemy of car sales. :yup:

After you left he probably sold a dozen of them at sticker price, because its a Civic.

 

[Mr. Burns]

Notice that the Toyota Corolla gets poor fit 'n finish for a 'LOW'. Thank God for the internet. It's forcing Consumer Repors to tell the truth.

Not so for the consumer who got fooled if they listned to Consumer Reports during the 90's. I will explain in depth exactly how the consumer was fooled by them pending the posting of my Consumer Reports thread, coming either later on today or tomorrow.

Compared to the last model the new Corolla is very poor as far as fit and finish is concerned. From my experience the last one was best in class in that regard.

Consumer reports is "changing" because the industry is changing. No longer does toyota hold a clear lead in quality, and the domestics have introduced some really great products in the last few years.

 

[Neanderthal]

After you left he probably sold a dozen of them at sticker price, because its a Civic.

Someone should do a Buyers' IQ road test of various car brands and models.

Anyone who pays stickah for a Civic is a moe-ron.

 

[Tiger]

The Hyundai Elantra SE? Seriously. C'mon.

 

[Xenon]

What a surprise...
Consumer Reports hates GM.
Consumer Reports loves toyota...and apparently everybody else...especially hyundai...

Becuase you can get a lot better than a Cobalt for the money. Almost every car in the segment is a better choice than the Cobalt.

 

[CobaltSScrazy]

Cobalt is the most quiet small car based on decibel rating as I remember ~ 1 year ago...how did they rate that?

CobaltSS