Asian Cars Dominate Ratings...Again

March 17, 2009

Consumer Reports has published its annual vehicle reliability ratings in its April issue, and the results are predictable.

Just as they do every year, Asian cars dominate the list of the best. Twenty-nine of the 30 top vehicles stretching from 1999 to 2008 are Asian. Most are Toyotas.

North American and European vehicles, meanwhile, dominate the “worst” list. Of the worst thirty, 14 are North American and 14 are European. Two are Asian. In a separate graph of “problems per 100 vehicles,” Volkswagens seem to hold up the worst of all. “Older Volkswagens (and Audis) stood out as the most problematic,” the magazine reports. “A typical eight-year-old Volkswagen has almost three times the number of problems as a typical eight-year-old Toyota.”

As always, Consumer Reports‘ surveys are based on extraordinary numbers of respondents. This year, the organization received approximately 1.4 million responses.

No survey is perfect, of course, but I believe the Consumer Reports surveys are about as good as anything that’s available.

Readers, please tell us: Do you agree?

Posted by Charles Murray on March 17, 2009 | Comments (4)

March 30, 2009

In response to: Asian Cars Dominate Ratings...Again
P. Zervos commented:

I agree.

March 30, 2009

In response to: Asian Cars Dominate Ratings...Again
ted commented:

I do not agree the people who sign up for sonsumer reports surveys are the type that read it and the majority would not buy an american product no matter how good it was.

March 27, 2009

In response to: Asian Cars Dominate Ratings...Again
dreflap commented:

The best cars I have ever owned were: A 1985 Honda CRX HF model, a 2 seater that advertised 50 MPG highway and delivered! Second car was a 1991 Toyota Corolla sedan. Each car was driven by me for 11 years.

March 27, 2009

In response to: Asian Cars Dominate Ratings...Again
Brent commented:

Of the two Toyota's I've owned, both were running fine at 160,000. One, I still have at 200,000 miles. Of the 5 American made (Ford & Dodge) cars I've owned, all were starting to show some problems by 160,000 miles.

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