Consumer Reports – December 2018

TOYOTA

HIGHLANDER

Overall Score 85-87

Price as Tested

$41,169-$50,875

HONDA

FIT

Overall Score 71

Price as Tested

$19,025

KIA

SEDONA

Overall Score 73

Price as Tested

$34,795

TOYOTA

PRIUS

Overall Score 77

Price as Tested

$27,323

LEXUS
NX
Overall Score 78-80
Price as Tested
$43,284-$51,224

Newly

Recommended

Models

With Improved

Reliability

Cadillac XTS,

Chevrolet

Cruze, Chevrolet

Suburban,

Chrysler

3 00, Dodge

Charger, Infiniti

QX60, Lincoln

Continental,

Mazda CX-9,

Mazda MX-5

Miata, Mini

Cooper, Mini

Countryman,

Nissan Armada,

Nissan Maxima,

Subaru Impreza,

Volkswagen

Golf, Volkswagen

Tiguan

YOU WANT A new car but don’t want to get burned. Consumer
Reports is here to help. Our exclusive annual Auto Reliability
Survey—data from CR members on more than 500,000
vehicles—will help you igure out which new cars, minivans,
SUVs, and trucks are more likely to have reliability problems
and give you a headache.
So what should you do? For starters, avoid brand-new or
redesigned models. Wait until later model years, when an
automaker has worked out the kinks. Steer clear of models
that aren’t recommended, including the ones that lost their
CR recommendation this year (below). Also avoid those on

the list of the least reliable models. Focus instead on vehicles

that are recommended, including the new entries below or

those on our list of the most reliable.

Our prediction of new-car reliability is a key element

in CR’s Overall Score, which also includes road-test

performance, owner satisfaction survey results, whether a

vehicle comes with key safety systems, and results from crash

tests, if applicable. Vehicles with the highest Overall Scores in

their category get CR’s recommendation.

We contacted carmakers with vehicles that lost a recommendation

this year. For their responses, go to CR.org/reliability.

No Longer

Recommended

Models

With Declining

Reliability

BMW X1, BMW

X 3 , Chrysler

Pacifica,

Ford Fusion,

Genesis G90,

Honda Clarity,

Honda Odyssey,

Kia Cadenza,

Lincoln MKZ,

Mazda CX- 3 ,

Mercedes-Benz

E-Class,

Tesla Model S

88 87 84 82 81

16 18

BUICK

ENCLAVE

Overall Score 59

Price as Tested $55,680

Trouble Spots:

Transmission minor,

climate system,

emissions/fuel system

HONDA

ODYSSEY

Overall Score 58

Price as Tested $40,300

Trouble Spots:

In-car electronics,

power equipment, body

hardware

VOLKSWAGEN

ATL AS

Overall Score 62

Price as Tested $44,165

Trouble Spots:

Climate system,

transmission minor,

noises and leaks

KIA
CADENZA
Overall Score 62
Price as Tested $36,945
Trouble Spots:
Climate control, fuel/
emission system

CHEVROLET

SILVERADO/ GMC

SIERRA 2500HD

Overall Score 37

Price as Tested $62,995

Trouble Spots:

Engine major, noises and

leaks, in-car electronics

CR.ORG 51