Subaru Tops Mazda, Toyota, And Honda In Consumer Reports' New Rankings

Subaru edged Mazda, Toyota, and Honda to earn the highest score in Consumer Reports' latest report card ranking thirteen automakers based on road tests and reliability. The magazine said Subaru, with an overall score of seventy-five, two points higher than last year, benefited from the redesigned Impreza, Legacy, and Outback models over the last few years. Subaru was followed by Mazda, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Volvo, Hyundai, BMW, and Volkswagen.

The magazine's annual report card ranks automakers based on the performance, comfort, utility, and reliability of more than 275 vehicles recently tested. The report -- part of a guide to manufacturers that produce the best all-around models -- will be published in the magazine's April issue, available March 6. Overall scores are based on the average road test scores and reliability ratings of models tested by the magazine.

"While Japanese automakers still hold the top five spots, their lead is shrinking. In some of Honda's and Toyota's recently redesigned models, cost-cutting has become more noticeable," David Champion, Senior Director of the Consumer Reports automotive test center, said in a statement.

Ford dropped from 5th place to tenth place. Ford was followed by Mercedes-Benz, GM and Chrysler, the magazine said. Subaru's average road-test score, eighty-two, is the highest in Consumer Reports' analysis. The magazine also recommends all of the Subaru models it has tested.

Honda, the winner for the past four years, has been hurt by several redesigned vehicles -- including the Civic and Odyssey minivan -- that didn't measure up to previous models, the magazine said.

Ford's road-test score improved by two points over 2011, but subpar reliability on some new models hurt the automaker. The magazine cited "the troublesome MyFord Touch infotainment system and Power-Shift automatic transmission."

Volvo posted the top score of any European automaker, reflecting the redesigned S60 sedan. But average reliability and subpar test scores kept Volvo from making further progress.

Redesigned versions of some of VW's best-selling models, notably the Jetta and the Passat, dropped in Consumer Reports' road-test scores.

BMW and Mercedes-Benz receive high scores in Consumer Reports road tests but were hurt by the reliability of some popular models. Mercedes' flagship S-Class sedan joined the automaker's large GL SUV with subpar reliability, the magazine said.

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