bagwell

http://www.newsday.com/classifieds/c...ota-1.10387053

The Consumer Reports 2015 Car Brand Report Cards ranks automakers across the world by reliability, road test performance and other factors. For the second year in a row, Lexus topped the list, nearly matched by Mazda, and followed by Toyota and Audi. The bottom of the list included Ford, Dodge, Mini, Jeep and Fiat.

The publication ranked the carmakers with an overall score, which was a combination of each brand's road test score and average reliability score. The road test score factored in the average results from Consumer Reports' many tests on the cars, and a reliability rating provides a guide on how likely the cars from each brand are likely to hold up on average.

Not all automakers were factored into Consumer Reports' study. Jaguar, Land Rover, Maserati, Mitsubishi, Ram, Smart and Tesla did "not have sufficient data" to be reviewed by the publication.

here's the top 10...

1. Lexus
2. Mazda
3. Toyota
4. Audi
5. Subaru
6. Porsche
7. Buick
8. Honda
9. Kia
10. BMW

mmarshall

Notice how Buick is the top American nameplate on the list....beating both Cadillac and Lincoln, which aren't on the list at all (though Lincoln probably would be if they had more vehicles like the MKC). Part of Buick's good position is due to the fact that several of their products are Opel-derived rather than strictly American-engineered.

Another interesting observation is Mazda as #2. Though the reliability of some of their SUVs is below average, the driving-dynamics of many Mazda products tends to impress a lot of reviewers.

Toys4RJill

The Cruze, Verano, and Opel models are built ofF the Delta II platforms. Same basic vehicles with different parts bins resourced.

Same thing for the Lacrosse, XTS, Impala and Malibu. They use the Epsilon 2.

It's is no different than how Toyota uses the same Toyota K platform for the Avalon, ES, RX, Camry etc etc.

bagwell

Caddy & Lincoln ARE way down on the list.....

Mazda was a surprise for me as well.

bagwell

bottom half...


11. Acura
12. Volvo
13. Hyundai
14. GMC
15. Volkswagen
16. Lincoln
17. Infiniti
18. Nissan
19. Chevrolet
20. Cadillac
21. Mercedes-Benz
22. Scion
23. Chrysler
24. Ford
25. Dodge
26. Mini
27. Jeep
28. Fiat

mmarshall

Correct, but the reason I said Opel is that Opel designed it, and GM uses it for the Verano and to a lesser extent) the Cruze. You left out the fourth application (the upcoming Buick Cascada convertible)...though that version of course, has a lot of extra bracing and weight for convertible rigidity.



The Epsilon 2 is also an Opel-designed platform (used for the Opel Insignia) that GM also uses (in stretched form) for the other sedans you mention.

GM is relying on Opel for a number of its current and future American-marke designs....perhaps not surprising since the Holden-sourced designs will soon be discontinued.

mmarshall

Yes...thanks for extending the list and clarifying it.

I agree it can be tedious and tiring to reconstruct lists like that.......from my experience, neither Windows or Apple Mac allows a simple copy/paste of lists arranged in that kind of format. You have to copy, space, and paste line-by line...a PITA.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

Ram didn't have sufficient data?! Third best selling truck in the US

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Strong showing by the top 10

Middle of the pack. Most of these are trying to reinvent themselves, good offerings coming down the line but overall reliability still falls short.

Ouch to Benz. As good as Lexus and Toyota are its kind of unacceptable for Scion to be so low. Chrysler Ford and Dodge are massively improved over the past five years but then the competition wasn't standing still either. Mini has never been all that impressive. Sad to see Jeep down here, love the JGC and robust Wrangler. Fiat.. well mom always said not to say anything if you don't have anything nice to say

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

congrats to lexus!

as usual though, the 'methodology' is vague at best.

so a combo of their own tests (this assumes they tested every model of every brand in the rankings which they didn't and the 'reliability score' comes from surveys to their subscribers (who knows how many they got, and they're also subject to the whims of the consumers).



i'm sure mercedes being at 21st has them panicking.
and jeep, second to last, has sales way better than ever.

i bet the rankings correspond closely to the distribution of subscribers to brands.

bagwell

in the case of MB....it's just a badge....

SNiiP3R

iTrader: (3)

Looks like the Range Rover did not even make it.... and I thought their reliability was improving.

And Audi is stepping on Toyota's feet

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

from the article:

i suspect people who drive jags, land rover / ranger rovers, etc. don't give a crap about CR

S2000toIS350

Outstanding results regarding the FCA brands

I applaud this presentation of illustration of how putrid their product offerings score

Hopefully the Chrysler brand will drop down some more next year to sit closer to their rotten relatives

Gojirra99

Yep the Mercedes CLA is garbage, should never have existed

dengreene

Lucky me owning two Lexus and a Mazda...love it!

Menace