March 12, 2007
2007 Top Picks: American Style

For the second year in a row, all of Consumer Reports' April issue Top Picks have Japanese nameplates. While these cars excel both in our tests and in our subscriber reliability survey, there are also plenty of good alternatives, as a scan down the list of vehicles A-Z reveals.

We talk to people everyday who say, "I just want to buy American." To that end, for the second year we offer our list of Top Picks, American style.

By our definition, Top Picks must be recommended models--even when creating unofficial lists. So, let's review the ground rules: For CR to recommend any model, it must have average or better reliability; and if tested, provide good overall crash protection, based on our composite of insurance-industry and government crash tests. SUVs also must not have tipped up onto two wheels in the government's rollover test or, if not tested, must have available electronic stability control (ESC).

The list below features the highest-rated, American-branded vehicles in their category that received a Consumer Reports recommendation.

Fun to drive: Cadillac CTS-V
Small sedan: Ford Focus ZX4 SES
Family sedan: Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan
Upscale sedan: Lincoln MKZ
Luxury sedan: Cadillac DTS
Small SUV: Pontiac Torrent
Midsized SUV: Ford Freestyle
Minivan: (None apply)
Budget car: Ford Focus ZX3
Green car: (None apply)

As we did last year when creating this list, we'll look at some trends. Most of these models are repeats, but there is some positive progress:

For all of Ford's financial problems, the company offers some strong products. The Fusion/Milan/MKZ siblings are well-designed vehicles that have had impressive first-year reliability. That reliability record for these relatively new models is all the more impressive given Ford's past history of problem-plagued introductions, as with the Focus and Escape.
Despite its age, the Focus remains a fun-to-drive car with an inviting balance of handling and ride comfort. Hopefully, the 2008 freshening improves on that.We are disappointed that the hatchback and wagon will be dropped from the line-up.
Ford has been slow to implement electronic stability control (ESC) to its products. The efficiently-packaged Freestyle makes our list as our top-scoring, Recommended domestic midsized SUV, but it lacks ESC to quell its tail-wagging in an emergency maneuver. The MKZ is one of the few upscale cars still available without ESC. (Ford says standard ESC is coming for both vehicles.)
The Pontiac Torrent is a mid-pack-scoring small SUV, but it was reliable in its first year, so it makes this list. The considerably better Ford Escape would have been listed here, but again, the lack of ESC holds it back. Since the Escape tipped up onto two wheels in NHTSA's dynamic stability test, CR can not recommend it. Most versions of the Escape get standard ESC for 2008.
It's not really worth complaining about the CTS-V sedan being on the list for Fun to Drive. The car is a blast and has four doors to boot. But it's a shame that the Chevrolet Corvette isn't reliable enough to allow us to recommend it or the rocket-ship Z06 version. The DTS's strong first-year reliability lets us recommend it, claiming here the Luxury Sedan pick.
Ford and GM are exiting the minivan market, leaving Chrysler as the only domestic contender. The reliability for the Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Caravan keeps us from recommending them. Hopefully the 2008 redesign will yield a more modern and competitive van.
And if you were curious, the Fusion/Milan/MKZ are built in Mexico, and the Torrent is built in Canada. Hence, it's not so easy determining what is (or isn't) an American car.

--Tom Mutchler