Cruz_msl

Japanese companies snag all 10 top picks in Consumer Reports ratings

Japanese automakers achieved another milestone in the ongoing humiliation of their U.S. counterparts Wednesday as they captured the top positions in all 10 vehicle categories rated by influential Consumer Reports magazine.

It was the first time in the nine-year history of the respected annual survey that Asian nameplates swept the list of “best” automobiles, which the magazine selects from among a slate of more than 230 vehicle models based on a series of 150 tests, ranging from braking distance to crash ratings and fuel efficiency.

Historically, the Consumer Reports “Top Picks” list has been a blend of Japanese, European and domestic auto models. But this year the Honda Civic, the Infiniti M35 and the Honda Ridgeline all join the list as new entrants, while the fuel-efficient Toyota Highlander Hybrid, which was named the top midsized sport utility vehicle, became the second hybrid-engine vehicle to be featured as a top pick, joining the popular Toyota Prius, which was named the top vehicle in the green car category.

The Honda Civic was named the magazine’s top small sedan, while the Infiniti M35 was named the top luxury sedan. Vehicles from Nissan and Subaru round out the top picks in the magazine’s 10 auto categories.

Asian brands also fared best in the magazine’s survey of vehicle reliability. Toyota’s Lexus nameplate came in first, while the Honda brand was second and Toyota third. Ford’s Mercury brand was the only domestic nameplate to crack the top 10. An 8-year-old Toyota had about the same number of problems as a 2- or 3-year old vehicle from General Motors or Ford, according to the survey of the magazine's readers.

MORE: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11621992/

fuckleberry

ouch

fdl

how many were made in the US or Canada?

SeCsTaC

phirenze

This is OK with me. The US should stick to what they do best. We create the world's pharmaceuticals and let japan handle building cars.

knight rider

iTrader: (1)

OK by me. It is what it is. This won't stop a Red Neck (or one at heart) from buying a F150 FX4, or a 40 something from reliving his teen age dream in a retro Mustang. It surely won't stop a blingy black guy from buying a 300C and slappin' some 22s on it. And although I own a Acura. It won't make me buy another one, well unless a new coupe arrives in the Acura line up.

RandyMax

wow, honda got 5 out of 10 top picks: Civic, Accord, TL, Odyssey, and Ridgeline.

Crazy88

Trojanman750

haha this is awesome

when will american car makers ever learn, that cheap plasticly rattly interiors and overall shitty build quality is NOT THE WAY TO GO

id rather drive a 1992 accord sedan than a new dodge or chevy midsize compact

Water-S

I think we also build some of the best miltary defense planes/tanks and trucks money can buy.
However as far as asian cars. as far as dependablity and cost to own yes they are the best.
German cars: I think are the best engineered. IMHO they are usually the best looking cars(CLS Benz, new 3 series, 5 series,R class). They have the "latest cutting edge technology" Most people don't know this but Benz holds patents on OVER 10,000 items. (10,000 THINGS!!!) so Germans I think are more innovative.
However Germans also put things on the market before "fine tuning" them.

it usually goes like this:
Germans come up with the concept or idea first.
American car makers copy it (usually f-- it up)
then Asian car makers sit back a couple years then fine tune it so it's dependable and works correctly.

M TYPE X

Accord Coupe V6, loaded, is $30K now. If Acura doesn't have a coupe and you don't like the Accord, try Infiniti.

or the Pontiac G6 Coupe!

Mokos23

That's why I haven't bought a domestic car yet and probably never will.

I would feel embarrassed though if I was in the US auto industry. Back in the heydey of the 1950's to the mid-1980's American cars had great quality build and reliability than the Japanese cars. What happened???

LuvMyTSX

Humiliating for the US manufacturers, but they brought it upon themselves.

cob3683

There are only a handful of US cars that I still think are better or are on equal footing with foreign cars:
Tahoe/Suburban/Yukon
Corvette
F-150

In my opinion: European cars > Japanese Cars > US Cars (excluding the 3 above)

SodaLuvr

And yes, I personally think Japanese cars are extremely overrated.

So much for Honda's being the top pick...I'm still wondering how reliable the transmissions will be. For one thing, the GM 4T40/4T45/4L60/4L65 transmissions have been rock solid for the 5+ years they've been in use. Some extremely abused (170K on original ATF in a truck) and they still work fine.

I can buy an American car for much less than a new Japanese car after one year. The price difference is amazing.

And also, the build quality may be worse on the American cars (slightly), but its understandable considering the price difference.

Thus, don't be surprised if you see me buy another American car in the near future, as I've always have.

phile

IMO that's pretty naive. You're overemphasizing one particularly bad aspect of Honda's lineup (which was what? 1 or 2% of the total transmissions?), and completely disregarding the other pluses.

SodaLuvr

To be honest with you guys, I'm just trying to play devil's advocate here....

But remember that GM hasn't had any serious mechanical failures (i.e. transmissions) within the last few years with their products. yes, the GM 3.4 was a notorious leaker, but other than that, their engines and transmissions are quite solid, though not the best.

I don't disagree that their int/fit&finish/workmanship/etc can be improved, but the price difference between a GM and its Japanese competitors justifies some trade-offs.

For example, I can't buy a V6 Honda for $13K after one-yr, which I can with a GM 3.5L Malibu.

ghost_masterCL

that's just saying that the depreciation of the american cars is fucking terrible, not that they are better in any way.

subinf

i think thats a pretty good approach. GM has improved a lot over the past few years. Although I dont follow GM too much, when I do work on their cars I notice a difference from the ones made in the 90's.

teranfon

My 05' Accord six speed coupe is my first car from a Japanese manufacturer. Except for a couple Europeans, I have always owned domestic vehicles. All my farm trucks are Ford products and will continue to be so, but if the Honda is representative of Japanese based products, then there will ALWAYS be one in my garage. Its refreshing to drive a car assembled properly and not having to make a monthly trip to the dealership warranty work or TSB's. All this being said, my rattling, poorly assembled, and quickly depreciating C5 still brings a smile to my face when its 5.7 turns over. American cars are generally poorly assembled and crude, but the sound and thrust of an American V8 is still hard to beat.

Terry

Mokos23

How about a German or Japanese V8? I think the sound of the M45 and the M3 are more badass than an American V8.

subinf

thats just preference...cant beat a muscle car sound

Mokos23

Well if I put a magnaflow exhaust subinf could a German or Japanese car sound like a muscle car? :P

subinf

i run flowmasters, my avatar is confusing, i have the magnaflow exh on my TL...

ive put some magnaflows on audi's and bmz before, actually the mercedes sounded pretty bad ass. the magnaflow system for the new bmw m3 sounds really good as well...just doesnt quite hit the same chord as the muscle cars do.

teranfon

Absolutely.

The intoxicating sound of a 429 SCJ with 11.3:1 compression or even the subdued gurgle of a new 4.6 Mustang GT...........