Consumer Reports published their latest top picks for the best cars of 2008, and some of the selections may surprise faithful followers of the magazine. Here’s the list.
Green car: Toyota Prius. This was the same selection as last year, so there’s no surprise here. A co-worker who owns a Honda Fit, who’s happy with the mileage he gets but is unsatisfied with just about everything else, eyes the Prius when we see one.
Small sedan: Hyundai Elantra SE. The Elantra may be the first surprise on the list. This car usually loses to the Honda Civic (which I own). Apparently, electronic stability control in the lower-priced models made the difference in the magazine’s selection.
Family sedan: Honda Accord. The Accord took this prize last year, as well.
Upscale sedan: Infiniti G35 Sedan. The G35 is another repeat winner.
Luxury sedan: Lexus LS 460L. Last year, the winner for luxury sedan was the Infiniti M35. For $77,000, the 460L was the best performing car tested by Consumer Reports.
Fun to drive: Mazda MX-5 Miata. The MX-5 Miata was last year’s winner for the “fun to drive” category. It’s about half the price of the Porsche Boxter but provides the same experience.
Small SUV: Toyota RAV4. My girlfriend is eying this car for her next purchase (when necessary). It was last year’s winner in the same category.
Midsized SUV: Hyundai Santa Fe. The Toyota Highlander Hybrid was last year’s pick, but it lost out to the improved Santa Fe.
Minivan: Toyota Sienna. This is last year’s winner, but this year, Consumer Reports also recommends the Honda Odyssey.
Pickup Truck: Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab. What’s this? An “American” car on a list from Consumer Reports? Well, they do qualify their choice: “The redesigned Toyota Tundra outscored the Silverado in our tests, but first-year reliability of the 4WD, V8 version was below average.”
Members of Consumer Reports can compare the new ratings they have compiled for 2008 cars.
Top Picks 2008 [Consumer Reports]
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I am commenting on the Toyota Rav4: I have a 2002 model that I bought new using the Consumer Reports recommendation. I have had more engine problems with this vehicle. Buyers Beware! I have just had to have a new transmission and ECU replaced at only 81,000 miles which is ridiculous!! My old Honda lasted to 147,000 miles before it needed a transmission. I will not be buying another Toyota.
I have no idea how you drive & maintain your vehicles, but they can make a major difference how the engine and transmission hold up.
Twenty two months ago I bought a 92 Camry (with 287K on it at the time) as a runner. It is very mechanically sound as the original transmission is smooth and strong and the previous owner had just rebuilt the motor (at 280K), so I am confident that it will last for many more years. Other than normal maintenance, such as oil changes, adding a lifetime air filter, replacing a 6yr old battery, and rotating the tires, this baby just keeps on going!
My experience sounds way more typical than yours, so it’s sounds like you just got one of the few lemons that Toyota ever produces. I wish you luck finding a better value in a automobile manufacturer.
As far as the Accords go, we have a 2001 LX-4cyl, and other than replacing the timing belt this past fall (fairly common with Honda’s), it’s never been in the shop for anything other than the typical oil changes, or tire rotations (replaced original set of tires @ 50K).
The only thing I would have changed from this purchase would have been to go with a V6 for better power when passing people on the freeway. The ‘01 4cyl only produced about 150HP, while the newest versions put out about 170, with the V6 around 260.
All in all, a very good value in a sedan.
I have faithfully maintained Rav4 through the dealership that I bought it from, going by the manuals mileage maintenance. The rav is kept in a garage and is not off roaded or driven for long mileage. This was also explained to Toyota but I guess that they even stand by their lemons.
Don’t be surprised that the Hyundai Elantra made the top rating. I have a 1997 bought used that I have been very happy with and I know someone with a 2002 model that has served them quite well. I get 32 mpg on the highway, much better than the 28 mpg from my 2005 Ford Focus. I have had only one major repair in 2 years which cost under $300.
Consumer Reports has flawed methods. They only survey subscribers who tend to follow the magazine’s advice in the first place. They tend to think that their preferences are right, and if you read their workding closely, you’ll see biases baked in when one vehicle has the same issue as another where one is domestic and the other Japanese. Our family has had many GM products that lasted 125K + without any major issues. the one exception was a 1981 Buick Park Avenue which needed a new engine, but that’s really old. Out of the two Toyotas that we’ve owned, one was flawless, (1987 Corolla), and the other needed two exhaust systems and a rebuilt engine within 8 years, (1987 Camry).
For a great rundown on the issues with Consumer Reports, see this site…
http://truedelta.com/pieces/shortcomings.php?session_code=
I’m not affiliated with the site, but I respect the guy’s website and methods.
Atul
Ok I’m not sure why everyone seems to think toyotas and hondas last forever. I owned nothing but domestic and never experienced any break downs. I had a oldsmobile cutlass that was ten years old and had 197k on it, with original engine and trans….you couldnt even feel the motor running, on the other hand my friend had a honda accord with less mileage and was a few years newer and the whole inside vibrated and rattled which i noticed is VERY common on civics and corollas. My second car was a 01 chevrolet malibu which hit 110k and yet again no break downs or problems, my friends 2003 nissan pathfinder has needed two repairs in one year well over 2k. My third car a 05 ford taurus has 60k on it and AGAIN not one problem, runs great and gets about 20 city mpg and 29 hwy mpg. I wouldn’t trade it in for a corolla or civic getting 30 city mpg cause I want a ‘nice’ 4 door sedan with a comfortable ride….plus I wanna feel safe. I don’t care how many airbags those cars have if you get t-boned by a suv or van your injuries will be far more severe than if you were in a chevrolet impala, mercury sable, pontiac grand prix/g8, etc.