15°c Clear
25°c Variable cloudiness
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
The 'disappointing dozen': Consumer Reports releases list of 12 cars you shouldn't be driving
Toyota Yaris (TOYOTA)
A group of 2013 Toyotas and domestic SUVs top the list of "disappointing dozen" vehicles that have failed Consumer Reports' vigorous testing.
The consumer magazine conducts tests all year round, and although it says it often comes across very good cars, the 12 on its "disappointing" list "fail miserably."
Some common faults the magazine finds in cars it tests are poor handling, uncomfortable driving position, tepid acceleration and too much engine noise among others -- simply, buyers can get better cars that have more value for the same price.
The following vehicles are listed on Consumer Reports' Disappointing Dozen from worst to "less terrible" and how they came up short:
-- Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara
Ride, handling, braking, wind noise, fit and finish, fuel economy, seat comfort, reliability, visibility, access.
-- Smart ForTwo Passion
Transmission, need for premium fuel, seats only two, acceleration, agility, noise.
-- Scion iQ
Ride, noise, acceleration, steering, driving position, fit and finish, radio controls, blind spots, tiny rear seat.
-- Mitsubishi i SE
Short range, long charging time, weak cabin heat, Spartan accommodations, acceleration, ride, agility, seats only four, complicated radio, headlights.
-- Chevrolet Spark 1LT
Acceleration, transmission, ride, noise, front-seat comfort, driving position, controls.
-- Toyota FJ Cruiser
Visibility, ride, handling, noise, fuel economy, fit and finish, access.
-- Toyota Yaris LE
Noise, ride, agility, driving position, front-seat comfort, fit and finish, radio controls, rear visibility.
-- Dodge Avenger SXT (four-cylinder)
Engine noise, acceleration, braking, handling, rear visibility, transmission, driving position, fuel economy.
-- Jeep Compass Latitude
Engine noise, acceleration, driving position, front-seat comfort, rear visibility, cornering limits, braking, reliability.
-- Dodge Ram 2500 Laramie (6.7L inline six-cylinder)
Ride, noise, handling, transmission, high step-in, complicated optional radio, reliability.
-- Toyota Tacoma (V-6)
Ride, handling, driving position, high step-in, low rear seat.
-- Jeep Patriot Latitude
Engine noise, acceleration, driving position, front-seat comfort, complicated optional radio.
-- Postmedia News
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 15, 2013 B4
More Latest News
- Back to Top
- Return to Latest News
More Latest News
(1 of 50 articles for this week)
100K protesters flood Brazil streets in protests venting anger over poor government services
1:29 AM 0
Poll
Most Popular Latest News
- Young girl found dead on railway tracks
- Toronto woman dead in rural Manitoba ATV wreck
- Report: Saatchi cautioned over London assault on TV presenter wife Nigella Lawson
- Kenyan wins Manitoba Marathon
- Three-year-old girl drowns at Cross Lake First Nation
- Montreal's interim mayor, a self-styled corruption fighter, faces fraud charges
- HSC Home Lottery winners announced
- UFC army conquers Winnipeg in one day
- Hong Kong flight with passenger who claimed everybody poisoned lands in US; police greet plane
- Family tweets indicate Kim Kardashian gives birth several weeks ahead of due date
- Young girl found dead on railway tracks
- Hailstorm wreaks havoc on Winnipeg garden centre
- HSC Home Lottery winners announced
- Jaimie Creasy becomes first woman to graduate from RRC with degree
- RCMP say woman deliberately murdered her sister with her car
- Toronto woman dead in rural Manitoba ATV wreck
- Manitoba restaurant stops selling giant hamburger "for obvious reasons"
- Bomber fans wowed by new stadium
- Portage Ave. stretch re-opens after Friday-night bomb scare
- Kenyan wins Manitoba Marathon
- Young girl found dead on railway tracks
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Hailstorm wreaks havoc on Winnipeg garden centre
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Two people killed in crash north of Winnipeg
- Two Winnipeg teens identified as victims of crash
- Father, daughter seriously injured in ATV crash
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Filipino singer Charice comes out as lesbian; Catholic official says she's in identity crisis
- HSC Home Lottery winners announced
- Three-year-old girl drowns at Cross Lake First Nation
- Report: Saatchi cautioned over London assault on TV presenter wife Nigella Lawson
- MTS providing tower, charging station for Dauphin Countryfest fans
- Winnipeg's got the REIT stuff
- The crime fighter's revolution
- To hike or not to hike? Retailers unsure what to charge for PST on July 1
- Blood, sweat and cheers: Mixed martial arts goes from gory nights to glory days
- Exchange District BIZ rolls out recycling bins
- HSC Home Lottery winners announced
- Two men dead in house fire near Elie
- App could give Winnipeggers chance to report bad parking, get paid
- Hailstorm wreaks havoc on Winnipeg garden centre
- Sobeys gobbles up Safeway
- Jaimie Creasy becomes first woman to graduate from RRC with degree
- Priest kept silent about accusations against Storheim, court hears
- Manitoba restaurant stops selling giant hamburger "for obvious reasons"
- Yaz and Yasmin pills linked to 23 deaths, say Health Canada documents
- Geothermal heat coming to some Manitoba First Nations
- Spiralling cost of land raises new home prices
- Rogers and MTS announce new network sharing agreement
- New owner for lumber stores
- Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Door openers being used to break into garages, police warn
- Province formally opens Mental Health Crisis Response Centre
- Hailstorm wreaks havoc on Winnipeg garden centre
- New rules let customers cancel phone contracts without penalty after two years
- App could give Winnipeggers chance to report bad parking, get paid
- MTS to sell Allstream to Egyptian investment group, focus on Manitoba market
- Police: US driver drove drunk while having sex, crashed, hid behind cactus
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
Have Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscribers only. why?
Login SubscribeHave Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press Subscribers only. why?
SubscribeThe Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.