5 new cars to avoid: Consumer Reports
8 August 2012
(MoneyWatch) Consumer Reports has picked popular new cars it
cautions shoppers to avoid because of poor test drive results or subpar
reliability. And the list contains some surprises: The Honda Civic and Prius C
small hybrid.
Traditionally, Toyota and Honda vehicles have scored well
with CR's test drivers and in reliability and usually have been recommended.
But the testers this time found a lot to dislike with the Civic and Prius C.
The rest of the top five models to avoid are more typical of past CR lists: The
Jeep Liberty, Ford Edge and Dodge Grand Caravan minivan.
Here is a more detailed look at CR's critiques of these five
models:
1) Honda Civic
While conceding that the Civic remains
reliable with good gas mileage, CR test drivers criticized Honda's 2012
redesign. "The current model suffers from a choppy ride, noisy cabin,
vague steering and mediocre interior quality," they say in the September
issue of the magazine, also available on the magazine website to subscribers. The
magazine recommends as compact car alternatives the Subaru Impreza, Hyundai
Elantra and Mazda3.
2) Toyota Prius C
Starting at $19,564 and with mileage
ratings of 53 MPG in city driving and 46 on the highway, this smaller extension
of the Prius family has been a sales success for Toyota after its introduction
this year. CR continues to recommend the full-size Prius but says that in the C
"all-around quality really drops." The magazine criticizes a stiff
ride, noisy cabin and slow acceleration. The Honda Fit is cited as a good
alternative.
3) Jeep Liberty
While acknowledging superior off-road
performance typical of Jeeps, CR testers liked the Liberty a lot less when it
drove out of the woods and onto the road. "On pavement the its ride is
unsettled and handling clumsy," they said. "The interior is cramped
and cheap-feeling and the engine is noisy and thirsty." They suggest the
Toyota RAV4 and Subaru Forester as alternatives.
4) Ford Edge
The unusual boxy styling and grooved sides have
their partisans among Edge owners. But CR says the styling doesn't offset the
disadvantages of the Edge. They cite a jittery ride, pronounced road noise and
distracting controls. The CR testers give another whack here to the MyFordTouch
infotainment system, which they have consistently criticized (as have many Ford
owners). They suggest as alternatives the Toyota Highlander, Nissan Murano and
Mazda CX-9.
5) Dodge Grand Caravan
Chrysler Group, parent of Dodge,
invented the minivan and still sells a lot of them. In this case, the test
drive is not the problem, with the magazine describing the vehicle as
versatile, quiet, comfortable and well-equipped. Instead, it is all about
reliability. CR's survey of owners turned up reports of squeaks and rattles,
loose interior trim and problems with power equipment and sliding doors. CR
suggests the Toyota Sienna as a more reliable minivan alternative.
Consumer Reports (CR) is an expert, independent, nonprofit
organization whose mission is to work for a fair, just, and safe marketplace
for all consumers and to empower consumers to protect themselves. The
organization was founded in 1936 when advertising first flooded the mass media.
Consumers lacked a reliable source of information they could depend on to help
them distinguish hype from fact and good products from bad ones. Since then CR
has filled that vacuum with a broad range of consumer information. To maintain
its independence and impartiality, CR accepts no outside advertising and no
free samples and employs several hundred mystery shoppers and technical experts
to buy and test the products it evaluates.
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