SAN ANTONIO – Consumer Reports recently released reliability ratings that cover more than 300 vehicle models. This year, the winners are the Lexus CT 200H and Toyota Prius, both hybrids. The worst, according to the ratings, is the Cadillac Escalade. Its trouble spots include the transmission, power equipment and infotainment system.
Consumer Reports surveyed its subscribers, and has data on 500,000 vehicles. It used that information to determine which cars are going to be more reliable, and which are going to give consumers more problems.
Ford came in at the bottom in two categories. The Ford Focus ranked as the least reliable compact car, and the Ford Fiesta as the least reliable among subcompacts.
The compact Honda Civic, once a very reliable car, also took a tumble with this year’s redesign. This is the biggest redesign the Civic has had in many years. And as Consumer Reports often sees with redesigns, when a lot of things are changed, sometimes there are a lot of problems, too.
The most reliable new compact cars are the Chevy Cruze and the Toyota Corolla.
In the popular compact SUV category, Consumer Reports shows the Jeep Cherokee at the bottom. On top is the Toyota RAV4.
Among pickup trucks, the Ford F-150's reliability score dropped to the point where Consumer Reports no longer recommends it. The most reliable pickup is the Toyota Tundra.