A Consumer Reports survey gives American cars higher marks, but respondents say they still prefer the imports.
By Associated Press
Published March 10, 2004
DETROIT - For the first time in 25 years, U.S. carmakers can say they make more reliable cars than their competitors in Europe. Asian manufacturers still hold top bragging rights, however.
The consumer survey in Consumer Reports' 2004 auto issue, which hit newsstands Tuesday, showed imports still outscoring domestically built cars in owner satisfaction.
But on the issue of reliability, cars and trucks from General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group topped those made in Europe - something that hasn't happened in 25 years, the publication said.
Prestigious European brands Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volkswagen, Audi, Volvo, Mini and Jaguar all ranked below average for reliability.
"To our subscribers and to many people, reliability is what they're looking for," David Champion, senior director of Consumer Reports' auto test staff, said Monday in a conference call. "The domestics are making tremendous progress in putting to bed a lot of the problems they were stuck with."
Consumer Reports, known for its scrutiny of products, sent questionnaires to 4.1-million subscribers of its magazine and Web site, seeking insight on vehicles they own.
Reliability trends are based on the survey's 675,000 responses. Consumer Reports asked subscribers to report problems in any of 14 areas, such as engine or electrical trouble, for vehicles up to 8 years old.
For the 2003 model year, the industry average was 17 problems per 100 vehicles, down from 18 in the 2002 survey.
The survey revealed that among cars and trucks less than a year old, the average problem rate for European brands was 20 per 100 vehicles - two more than domestic brands. Last year, U.S. and European automakers were tied at 21 problems per 100 vehicles less than a year old.
The problem rate for the newest models from Japanese and Korean automakers held steady year-over-year at 12 per 100 vehicles. The magazine said vehicles from Acura, Honda, Infiniti, Lexus, Mazda and Toyota have been the most reliable over the past five years.
In owner satisfaction, Asian and European brands filled all but three of 33 slots in Consumer Reports' list of "most satisfying" vehicles. The list was based on responses from 226,000 subscribers.
Consumer Reports said it also gave an "excellent" overall safety rating in the new issue to 21 sedans, up from nine three years ago. The number of sport utility vehicles with an excellent rating rose to 11 from only two during the same period.
The magazine said the higher ratings are the result of general improvements in both crash-protection and accident-avoidance scores. Consumer Reports combines crash-test results produced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety with its own performance ratings to form its assessment.
Consumers Reports, published by the Consumers Union in Yonkers, N.Y., buys all vehicles it tests and accepts no advertising.
TOP-RANKED VEHICLES
Consumer Reports ranked these vehicles this year as the best overall in their categories, based on a 40-point testing program, owner-reported reliability and results of crash tests performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and/or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
SMALL SEDAN: Ford Focus
FAMILY SEDAN: VW Passat/Honda Accord
SMALL SUV: Subaru Forester
MIDSIZED SUV: Lexus RX330
UPSCALE SEDAN: Acura TL
LUXURY SEDAN: Lexus LS430
FUN TO DRIVE: Ford Focus SVT
THREE-ROW SUV: Honda Pilot
MINIVAN: Toyota Sienna
GREEN CAR: Toyota Prius[Last modified March 10, 2004, 12:15:07]
