Mirror, Mirror On The Wall, Who's The Greenest Of Them All? (Starts With A T)

Cammy Corrigan
by Cammy Corrigan

Growing recalls, loss of customers’ confidence, questions about their management, falling stock price and congressional hearings. 2010 hasn’t been kind to Toyota, so any good news now would be welcome. Consumer Reports is here to help. Yes, Consumer Reports.

Sun Times reports that the Toyota Prius has retained its title as Consumer Reports’ top pick for environmentally friendly vehicles (I’ll leave you to debate how environmentally friendly it actually is), the recalls be damned. Not only did Toyota win that category, but the Lexus LS460L was named best overall vehicle. The ratings where based on average road test scores and predicted reliability (apparently, uninterrupted by any ghosts in the machine). CR names Honda (also subject to global recalls) and Subaru as best all round vehicle makers, with Toyota and Hyundai tying for second place. The maker which came bottom of the survey was, no prizes for guessing, Chrysler. Though CR does recommend the Ram pick up.

CR still seems to love Toyota, but not as much, like a seven year itch. It only recommended half as many Toyota vehicles as the previous year. Well, it wouldn’t be wise have an unabashed Toyota love-fest, given the circumstances.

Cammy Corrigan
Cammy Corrigan

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  • GarbageMotorsCo. GarbageMotorsCo. on Feb 24, 2010

    LMAFAO!!!!!!!!!!! Chevy Silverado best pickup! LMFAO what a joke. That has got to be the funniest, most ridiculous joke I have read all damn day. Let me drum up my complaints and issues that I had with my Silverado and Sierra trucks and lets see how CR thinks of them then! My Cadillac CTS was the biggest pile of garbage I have ever owned but the Sierra was a very close second and my Silverado was third. I would rather push my Ford F-150 than drive another Garbage Motors truck ever again. Thanks for another laugh CR.

  • Lorenzo Lorenzo on Feb 24, 2010

    "Unbiased Consumer Reports is starting to look a little biased." Actually, CR has always been biased. It's not because of some management policy, but the personal biases (and age and background) of their testers. In the late '60's and early '70's, you could see the preference of the testers for full-size American V8's over the smaller imported crackerboxes, even over the American enlarged compacts of the era. CR has gone big for fuel economy and ergonomics in recent decades, but one thing that hasn't changed is the emphasis on reliable, trouble-free drivetrains. That's where American makers have really thrown away an advantage.

    • Steven02 Steven02 on Feb 24, 2010

      I would actually disagree that the focus is really on reliable trouble-free drivetrains. Drivetrain reliability today by most, if not all, manufacturers is quite good. Defects today are more about wind noise, squeaks and rattles. Look at what J.D. Powers has turned into as most common complaints... http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/daily-news/080807-JD-Power-Study-Shows-Auto-Quality-Improving/ From the article... The AP notes that the most common complaint cited in the study was wind noise, "followed by noisy brakes, pulling to the left or right, dashboard issues and window fogging." Hardly talking about drivetrains anymore.

  • Ajla Ajla on Feb 24, 2010
    Consumer Reports is to Toyota as Car and Driver is to BMW.
  • Steven02 Steven02 on Feb 24, 2010

    If Honda and Subaru, are tied for first, wouldn't that make Hyundai and Toyota tied for third?

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