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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Japanese vehicles rate most reliable
Toyota / MCT The 2012 Toyota Prius C is the most reliable fuel-efficient hatchback, Consumer Reports says. (TRIBUNE MEDIA MCT)
DETROIT -- And the winner is... Japan.
Japanese brands took seven of the top 10 spots in Consumer Reports' annual reliability rankings, pushing aside their U.S. and European rivals. Toyota Motor Co.'s Scion, Lexus and Toyota brands took the top three spots and the Toyota Prius C, a subcompact hybrid, got the best overall score. Mazda, Subaru and Honda were close behind.
The rankings, released Monday, predict the reliability of 2013 model-year vehicles based on surveys of Consumer Reports' readers. This year, 800,000 people submitted information on 1.2 million vehicles from the 2010 to 2012 model years.
Ford and Lincoln, once top performers, plummeted to the bottom of this year's rankings because of persistent problems with glitchy touch screens and bumpy transmissions. Ford was also hurt because three normally reliable models -- the Ford Escape, Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ -- are all new for 2013, so Consumer Reports couldn't predict their reliability.
Also near the bottom were Chrysler Group's Chrysler, Dodge and Ram brands, which have been getting a fast makeover since partnering with Italy's Fiat three years ago. Consumer Reports says models with more features and more powerful engines, such as the V-8 versions of the Chrysler 300 and Jeep Grand Cherokee -- had the most issues. The best-performing U.S. brand was Cadillac, from General Motors Co.
Volkswagen AG's luxury Audi brand made the biggest strides in this year's survey, climbing 18 spots to No. 8. It was the best-performing European brand. Glitch-free new models such as the A7 sedan got high marks from Jake Fisher, Consumer Reports' director of automotive testing.
-- The Canadian Press
Dependability on four wheels
Consumer Reports released its annual vehicle reliability survey Monday. These are the vehicles that had the fewest reported problems in each category:
Fuel-efficient hatchbacks: Toyota Prius C
Small hatchbacks: Scion xD
Small cars: Subaru Impreza
Midsize cars: Toyota Camry hybrid
Large cars: Nissan Maxima
Coupes and convertibles: Lexus IS C
Sporty cars: Nissan 370Z
Compact sports sedans: BMW 328i
Luxury cars: Audi A7
Wagons: Toyota Venza
Small SUVs: Mazda CX-5
Midsize SUVs: Toyota FJ Cruiser
Large SUVs: Toyota Sequoia
Luxury Small SUVs: Infiniti EX
Luxury SUVs: Lexus RX
Minivans: Toyota Sienna
Compact pickups: Toyota Tacoma
Full-size pickups: Toyota Tundra
-- source: Consumer Reports
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 30, 2012 B8
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