Vehicle Facts and Figures
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Written by SwitchYard Media
SwitchYard Media, Inc. - contact | website
Designed and produced by Kent Harris
Tin Can Rocket, LLC. - contact | website
A production of SwitchYard Media, Inc.
Photo Credit: Courtesy Toyota
Best Green Car: Toyota Prius
For the fifth year in a row, the gas/electric Prius hybrid tops Consumer Reports' environmentally friendly category.
There are plenty of hybrids to choose from these days, but the Prius' fuel efficiency -- 44 miles per gallon -- and its efficiency, versatility and comfort continue to make it a standout in the category.
When this car hit the market in Japan in 1997, it was the first mass-produced gas/electric hybrid. It debuted in the U.S. in 2000, and is the best selling hybrid in the world. The Prius is a roomy, five-passenger car that sells for $24,000.
ABOUT THE RATINGS: Consumer Reports scores the vehicles based on road test performance; reliability as reported by subscribers on some 1.3 million vehicles; and on safety testing performed by the government or insurers.
Photo Credit: Courtesy Hyundai
Best Small Sedan: Hyundai Elantra SE
At a bargain $18,000, the redesigned Elantra provides all the essentials. It gets good gas mileage, provides a comfortable ride, is roomy inside and is quiet.
The Elantra has also received excellent safety ratings from Consumer Reports. It comes with a standard electronic stability control, a safety feature that most small cars don't have.
This compact sedan is Hyundai's best seller in the U.S., first imported in 1991 and redesigned multiple times since. For 2007, it received a total overall from headlight to tail-light.
A KOREAN FIRST: For the first time since Consumer Reports has been making the annual picks, a South Korean automaker is represented: The Hyundai Elantra SE and Santa Fe are the top small sedan and midsized SUV, respectively.
Photo Credit: Courtesy Honda
Best Family Sedan: Honda Accord
The Consumer Reports testers put this car through the paces and liked what they saw.
The Accord was redesigned for 2008, and scored high in the safety and comfort categories. It is a roomy sedan that handles well and drives smoothly. It rated very high on crash test results, and it comes with standard electronic stability control.
This car, which was first introduced to the American market in 1976 as a compact car, has evolved into a roomier and more luxurious vehicle over the years. It sells for $22,000 to $31,000.
WHO MAKES THE BEST CARS?: After testing 262 for reliability, performance, fuel economy, comfort, interior fit and finish, and ergonomics, Consumer Reports concluded that Honda sells the best cars in the U.S., followed closely by Toyota and Subaru.
Photo Credit: Courtesy Infiniti
Best Upscale Sedan: Infiniti G35
The Infiniti G35 is a fast and sporty luxury car with a price tag in the $33,000 to $35,000 range. Overall, Consumer Reports call the G35 "an inviting package."
The car comes in rear- and all-wheel drive, has an excellent powertrain, well-crafted interior and is fun to drive. If there are any drawbacks, it is that it gets just 19 miles per gallon and it has a small trunk.
The G35 debuted with its 2003 model. The second generation G sedan came out for the 2007 model year with a restyled look that builds upon its iconic features.
MOST AND LEAST EXPENSIVE: The priciest car Consumer Reports tested was the $105,855 Mercedes-Benz SL550. The $12,596 Toyota Yaris (hatchback, manual), was the least expensive car tested.
Photo Credit: Courtesy Lexus
Best Luxury Sedan: Lexus LS 460L
The Lexus LS 460L comes with a steep price tag -- $77,000 -- but you pay for excellence.
This car scored 99 out of 100 in the Consumer Reports' road test , making it the highest-rated vehicle. "It provides a no-compromise environment of comfort and roominess, coupled with an isolating quietness," according to Consumer Reports.
The testers were impressed by the car's quick acceleration, relatively good fuel economy and a wide array of electronics that were easy to use. This is the fourth generation LS, originally brought out when Toyota launched the Lexus line in 1990.
ACCELERATION: The fastest car Consumer Reports tested was the Dodge Viper SRT10, which went from 0-to-60 mph in 4.2 seconds. The slowest car tested was the Kia Rio LX, which took 12.8 seconds to reach 60 mph.
Photo Credit: Courtesy Mazda
Most Fun to Drive: Mazda MX-5 Miata
Selling for $27,000, this sporty little two-seater scored about even with the twice-as-expensive Porsche Boxster in the Consumer Reports test.
The testers were impressed with the Miata's "balanced handling, quick and precise steering, and crisp-shifting six-speed manual transmission." Consumer Reports called this a true sports car that is affordable, fun to drive and has the practicality of a four-door hatchback.
Consumer Reports called this rear-wheel drive convertible a true sports car that is affordable, fun to drive and has the practicality of a four-door hatchback. The Miata, which debuted in 1989, is the best selling two-seat roadster in the world.
MOST FUN TO DRIVE: The top five vehicles in this very subjective category were: Porsche 911 Carrera S, Porsche Boxster, Honda S2000, Mazda MX-5 Miata and the Chevrolet Corvette Z06.
Photo Credit: Courtesy Toyota
Best Small SUV: Toyota RAV4
The versatile RAV4 is comfortable and roomy, has good acceleration and gets an excellent 22 miles per gallon. The four-cylinder version gets 23 mpg, the best of any nonhybrid SUV that Consumer Reports tested.
This sporty and compact SUV, which also scored well in the Consumer Reports safety categories, first debuted in Japan in 1994 and began selling in the U.S. two years later.
The RAV received a total makeover in 2006, with a more powerful V6 and more interior room. It sells for $23,000 to $30,000.
BEST OFF ROAD VEHICLES: Consumer Reports top five performers in this category are: Toyota FJ Cruiser, Land Rover LR3, Toyota Tacoma TRD, Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and the Hummer H3.
Photo Credit: Courtesy Hyundai
Best Midsized SUV: Hyundai Santa Fe
The Santa Fe was redesigned for 2007 with a lot of improvements that impressed Consumer Reports' testers. Overall, the Santa Fe offered a comfortabe ride and a roomy interior that is now big enough for an optonal third-row seat.
Priced from $22,000 to $31,000, the Santa Fe handled well in road tests and showed reasonably good avoidance maneuvering. The cabin is well insulated from road and wind noise, and the safety features were rated high. Standard ESC helps provide secure handling.
This mid-sized SUV was designed specifically for the North American market and has been selling here since 2001.
MOST COMFORTABLE VEHICLES: The top five vehicles that Consumer Reports rated as the most comfortable to drive in are: Audi A6, Audi A8, BMW 650i, Cadillac DTS and the Cadillac STS.
Photo Credit: Courtesy Toyota
Best Minivan: Toyota Sienna
For the second year in a row the Sienna got tapped as the best overall minivan. Consumer Reports praised its quiet and roomy interior, saying that it was "on par with some luxury sedans."
With a price tag of $24,000 to $37,000, the Sienna offers a powerful and fuel efficient V6 engine and is the only minivan on the market with all-wheel drive.
Consumer Reports' testers found that the 3.5-liter V6 engine delivers the same 19-mpg overall fuel economy as the old 3.3-liter. And they expect better than average reliability from the vehicle.
OWNER SATISFACTION: Consumer Reports surveyed millions of car owners about price, performance, reliability, comfort, enjoyment and other factors. Overall owners were most satisfied with the Toyota Prius and least satisfied with the Chevrolet Uplander.
Photo Credit: Courtesy Chevrolet
Best Pickup: Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab
In the pickup truck category, the half-ton Silverado acheived a good work/livability balance, according to Consumer Reports. They praised the vehicle for its "generous payload rating, a comfortable ride, improved interior quality and steering feel, and easy access."
The Silverado has a selectable, full-time, four-wheel-drive system and the electronic stability control is standard in the crew-cab model but optional in the extended cab. The truck handled well and offered a steady ride. Its price tag is $27,000 to $39,000.
The 2008 Silverado, which includes standard XM Satellite Radio and brighter instrument gauges, handled well and offered a steady ride. Its price tag is $27,000 to $39,000.
AN AMERICAN ENTRY: For the first time since 2005, a U.S. model, the Silverado, made the Consumer Reports list of top vehicles. In general, Detroit automakers scored low in the tests though testers said they had seen improvements in Ford and GM vehicles.