Consumer Reports: Some Japanese cars disappoint

While Japanese carmakers take top ratings, some models did not deliver

On who makes the best cars, Japanese carmakers took all five spots -- but not all got high marks on the test tracks.

Japanese carmakers took all five top spots in Consumer Reports' list of "who makes the best cars."

Those winning companies were Acura, Lexus, Mazda, Subaru and Toyota. However, not all Japanese cars earned accolades at the Consumer Reports test track.

Recommended Videos



One car that really disappointed Consumer Reports was the Acura RLX. The luxury sedan costs $55,000.  

For $16,000 less, Consumer Reports said  the Chevrolet Impala delivers a much more comfortable ride and handles better.

Another Japanese car that Consumer Reports did  not recommend is the Honda Crosstour.

"It aims to have the comfort of a sedan, the flexibility of an SUV, and the cargo space of a station wagon. The problem is,  it doesn't really do any of that well," said Consumer Reports' Tom Mutchler.

Some small Nissans also scored too low for a Consumer Report's recommendation.

"The Nissan Sentra is good on gas, but handling isn't agile, it's noisy inside, and the front seats are uncomfortable," Mutchler said.

The subcompact Nissan Versa has those same drawbacks, and it hasn't proved very reliable, according to testers.

Consumer Reports also doesn't recommend Toyota's least-expensive car, the Yaris.

"The Yaris is very reliable and fuel efficient, it just feels extremely cheap and unpleasant to drive," Mutchler said.

For the same money, about $16,000, Consumer Reports says you're better off with the Hyundai Accent.

Two other Japanese carmakers, Mazda and Subaru, have an excellent record at Consumer Reports' test track. Almost all of their models are recommended.

Though Japanese cars often earn top scores and are often quite reliable, Consumer Reports says it's not a sure thing.


About the Author

Marilyn Moritz is an award-winning journalist dedicated to digging up information that can make people’s lives a little bit better. As KSAT’S 12 On Your Side Consumer reporter, she focuses on exposing scams and dangerous products and helping people save money.

Recommended Videos