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The Consumer Reports annual auto issue landed in my mailbox on Saturday. Like last year, I spent the afternoon leafing through it. Unlike past years, I think I managed to avoid the new-car itch. Here are their top-rated vehicles in ten categories (with last year’s top cars in parentheses):
- Pickup Truck: Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab (no pick in 2007)
- Fun-to-drive: Mazda MX-5 Miata (2007: Mazda MX-5 Miata)
- Small sedan: Hyundai Elantra SE (2007: Honda Civic)
- Family sedan: Honda Accord (2007: Honda Accord)
- Upscale sedan: Infiniti G35 (2007: Infiniti G35)
- Luxury sedan: Lexus LS 460L (2007: Infiniti M35)
- Small SUV: Toyota RAV4 (2007: Toyota RAV4)
- Midsized SUV: Hyundai Santa Fe (2007: Toyota Highlander Hybrid)
- Minivan: Toyota Sienna (2007: Toyota Sienna)
- Green car: Toyota Prius (2007: Toyota Prius)
The car with the best fuel economy was the Toyota Prius at 44mpg. Many vehicles — all SUVs — tied for the worst gas mileage at 13mpg. The least satisfying vehicle was again the Chevrolet Uplander — only 34% of owners would buy it again. The Toyota Prius had the greatest customer satisfaction with 92% support, which is the same as 2007. (In Sellwood, the community five miles north of here, every other car is a Prius!) The least expensive car overall was the Toyota Yaris with manual transmission, which would cost just $23,250 for the first five years.
As expected, the car-buying issue features certain standard reports:
- An examination of the actual cost to own a vehicle. (Keep away from Land Rovers!)
- A look at reliability trends across various makes (Volkswagens are unreliable, Toyotas give few problems).
- A survey of 8,000 new-car buyers that reveals extended warranties are usually a poor deal.
- And, of course, there are 12 page of vehicle ratings, 32 pages of vehicle profiles, and 11 pages of vehicle reliability reports.
Readers of this site would probably get the most value from the four dense pages of used car recommendations. My 2000 Ford Focus? It’s on the list of “used cars to avoid”. No kidding. Tell me about it. (Ironically, I think it was recommended by Consumer Reports when it came out.) There’s also a long feature article answering the question, “Who makes the best cars?” (Honda and Toyota make the best cars. Chrysler and Suzuki make the worst.)
Don’t forget that Get Rich Slowly features car-buying tips from time-to-time. Notable articles include:
- The best way to buy a new car and A real fighting chance
- Two approaches to car-buying
- Fritz buys a new car
- How to sell a used car
- Dave Ramsey says ‘Drive free, retire rich’
I also recommend two older AskMetafilter threads:
- Fix it or junk it? At what point is a car not worth repairing?
- What is a reasonable offer for a new car? Don’t miss this fantastic response from a fellow who just bought a car.
The Consumer Reports car issue is an excellent resource. If you think you might purchase a vehicle soon, I recommend it. But I think it’s a little dangerous to pick up just for the sake of browsing.
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March 3rd, 2008 at 11:13 am
I also received this issue. However, it’s usually a quick read for me as I only buy used and so generally focus on their lists of “best used cars”. Otherwise, it always seems to be the same song…Honda or Toyota - pick (not entirely true, but close).
Since I’m here, I’ll also emphasize again that buying used is one of the smartest, most effective ways to build wealth:
* Costs less (more money for debt or savings)
* Pay it off faster (a lot you can do with an extra $300 a month)
* Better bang for your buck (less depreciation versus when it was new)
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:34 am
I here you on the Ford Focus. We had a 2002, and only could survive a year with it. It gave us so many problems and was so cheaply made I was amazed. The back doors wouldn’t open. Coolant crack. Engine light run around. Right front shock blowout. And on and on in only a year.
My 1994 Nissan Sentra continues to run strong and and I don’t ever have to pay any attention to it!!!
That will eventually give way, so I am always eying the best new/used lists for ideas. Thanks for the info JD.
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:47 am
Biased statistics aren’t reliable.
Some people will buy a cheap car, like a Hyundai and be suprised and pleased because it’s more reliable and nicer than they expected. On the other hand, a VW owner like myself demands a high standard of reliability and driving pleasure. So, when you get good cars like Hondas and team them up with practical people who probably have balanced expectations, you get extremely good reports.
Anyway, all I’m saying is that you have to take these things with a grain of salt. I stopped reading consumer reports regularly because of this. I go to them when I want to see hard data but I ignore customer satisfaction reports. Too many products don’t match up to a wide base.
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:48 am
I’m not sure Hybrids are the way forward, but it’s difficult to argue with anything that has a 92% customer satisfaction rating.
March 3rd, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Coming off your ‘Dave Ramsey says Drive free, retire rich’ article from 14 months ago, you finish with a statement about paying off your home equity loan this month (March 08). Are you still on track to use that money to prepay your next car?
March 3rd, 2008 at 12:14 pm
“it’s difficult to argue with anything that has a 92% customer satisfaction rating.”
Not to mention the 100% customer self-satisfaction rating.
March 3rd, 2008 at 12:41 pm
I have a hard time believing anything by Hyundai would ever be considered the best of anything. I know things change but I guess I now have some manufacturer prejudices just like the old people I used to hate when I was in sales. I had an Excel and I knew 3-4 people with Accents. They all fell apart before 80,000 miles. The worst was my friend who got a 5 year loan ( with extra warranties and all that expensive junk that didn’t actually pay for anything) on a 2 year old used Hyundai. I think I would have to go for Honda or Toyota instead, even if it cost a little more. Heck, I will even buy a Ford ( I have a 1995 Ford car that probably SHOULD suck but has lasted me about 190,000 miles with only expected issues here and there).
March 3rd, 2008 at 1:37 pm
i am disappointed in the increased dimensions of the toyota lineup. i don’t see it as necessary to make the rav4 almost as big as the old highlander and the highlander a big bloated-butt land cruiser-wannabe.
as nice a car as the prius is, it does have areas where it could use improvement. like a more comfortable seat and the gas tank (no, no pun intended) is annoying to deal with.
there’s just one thing i want to add, many people already know but it bears repeating. never buy the first year of a new design or new model. let them work out the kinks before you get involved.
March 3rd, 2008 at 1:51 pm
I managed to pay off that loan early, on December 3rd. I *am* on track to prepay my next car, but the problem is, I just don’t want to buy one. I *do* want a Mini Cooper, but not for $15k or $20k (or more). I’ll just drive my current car until it dies, and then hope to have enough saved that I can pay cash for something I want…
March 3rd, 2008 at 1:58 pm
We should run a competition to see how long you can go without mentioning the Mini Cooper in a blog post
. Of course, you’re not the only one that covets one, if I actually needed a car, I’d love to have a Mini Cooper.
March 3rd, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Actually, as I may have mentioned already, though I want the Mini, I no longer feel the insane desire to have one now. I *know* that I will get one. I’m gong to allow myself that pleasure. But first I need to wear out my old car.
Somehow knowing that I’m going to allow myself to purchase the car I want makes a huge difference. I don’t feel the need to go buy it now, because I know that I can have it when the time comes.
Does that make sense? It’s like a whole new me…
March 3rd, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Let every Miata fan join me in celebrating another year as the most fun car to drive.
Really, they are the best! I can’t remember the streak, but I believe the Miata’s held that title for quite a few years now… I wouldn’t trade mine for anything in the world.
I agree with the negative comments about Hyundai’s. They still don’t make very good cars, but I think people buy them because it sounds better to say, “My car’s a 2005,” rather than, “I drive a 2000.”
I have a nice soft spot for the Mini Cooper, especially the Cooper S. It’s one of the few things I’ve run into that’s about as small as my Miata, but somewhat a bit more practical. (At least the back seat can hold stuff, if not people.)
March 3rd, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Greg,
Hyundais have been very reliable for the past five years or so. About 8 years ago, they fired all of the designers and engineers and started over.
There’s a car-buying book series here in Canada called Lemon-Aid that follows repairs and recalls for a good 10 years for cars. The author bought his wife a Hyundai Elantra.
A friend of mine bought an Elantra in 2003. The only thing he has ever had to fix (that wasn’t routine maintenance) was a new radio antenna, and they did that for free (it broke in the first year)
March 3rd, 2008 at 3:55 pm
JD: As a new grad with an older car looking at buying a Honda Fit as a his first new car, I completely understand where you’re coming from with the want/don’t want angle.
When I see all my friends getting a new car, I look at my aging ‘93 Honda Civic and envision myself in a brand new car, one that could actually fit my bike for road trips, and it’s an exciting thought.
On the other hand, I’m not willing to go in to any type of debt for it. $15k is a lot to spend for ANYTHING, I certainly don’t want to *owe* that much.
But as loan rates go down, my will weakens…
March 3rd, 2008 at 4:06 pm
I never buy new cars.
So much lost value in the first year.
I really want to stop buying so much gas.
I think a used Prius is in my future.
March 3rd, 2008 at 5:51 pm
J.D.,
You’re killing me. Every time I manage to soothe the child in me that screams “I want a mini cooper”, I come read your blog and the desire comes rushing back.
I checked out the MINI Clubman and I’m now debating if I want to compromise on the cuteness of the Cooper to get a little more room. Oh yeah except the Clubman costs probably 10K more when all is said and done.
March 3rd, 2008 at 6:21 pm
I’ve lost faith in Consumer Reports. Like you, JD, when I bought my car it was on the list of recommended buys. Now it’s on the list of not recommended. I have an 01 Acura TL. Those cars have a serious transmission problem. I’ve replaced mine twice in the 30k mile I’ve owned it. I have to say that Acura stands behind their work cause it is still under warranty 7 years later…but still. I bought this car cause of Honda’s reputation and Consumer Reports’ recommendation - never again.
March 3rd, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Even better than the hybrids are the SMART cars. They run for about 17 thousand and go 40 mpg.
March 3rd, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Interesting post, I’ll keep this in mind when purchasing a new car (hopefully soon!).
-Mike
March 3rd, 2008 at 8:04 pm
I wonder where my beloved Honda Element ranks in this years list?
March 3rd, 2008 at 8:13 pm
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Great post! Toyota Prius is the way to go. We’ve driven it, its a beauty and extremely fuel efficient. However, the car uses computers, sensors and chips for even small functions. So the question to ponder over is what will be its maintenance cost in the long run when these tiny but expensive sensors and chips go awry!
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:10 pm
@Gina:
I’m just the opposite. I thought the Minis were cute but impractical, but then I saw the Clubman and that car is hawwwwwwt.
I’m not sure how that car’s going to be $10K more when the MSRP is $2k more…
I’m very curious to see the initial reviews. I noticed on fueleconomy.gov that it gets the same mileage as the normal mini despite being bigger.
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:26 pm
Yikes. I think your price for the Yaris is $10,000 off, no?
March 4th, 2008 at 6:30 am
March 4th, 2008 at 7:54 am
Totally agree with David in post #3. If you buy a cheap car with little expectations or requirements, of course you are going to be happy.
I’m a Chrysler owner and have enjoyed my cars since day one. Bought a heavily discounted Chrysler Crossfire and it is one of the smoothest running cars I’ve driven. Mercedes-Benz engine and Chrysler styling–the only product of the Daimler Chrysler-Mercedes merger back in the day. You could never get something like that from a Honda or Toyota.
March 4th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
As an interesting aside the “Canadian” Yaris (which is pretty much the same as the American) is almost 2 feet longer than the European one, and the Yaris is not the smallest vehicle I’ve seen here.
Diesels account for about 50% of new car sales here.
As well in Canada Toyotas hold their value so well it’s almost not worth buying used unless you go over 4 years old.
March 23rd, 2008 at 5:42 am
The luxury sedan pick for 2007 was the Infiniti M35 - not the G35 as you listed.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:02 am
April 6th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
I’d be surprised if any Audi made the list of recommended cars. I am finally trading in my 10 year old A6 (bought used) because after small electrical failures that are typical of all Audi cars(dash computer, seat controls, windows), the $1300 that went to fixing a coolant leak did me in. I can’t recommend the Audi brand to anyone - I love the way the car handles, but it’s a gas-guzzling beast that costs big bucks in the service shop. Better off with something that will make it past 100,000 miles.