Hybrid Car Review

Once again, hybrid cars have been rated highly by consumer reports. Nine different hybrid models were rated as above average in predicted reliability. The Toyota Prius, Camry Hybrid, Nissan Altima Hybrid, Lexus GS450h were among the most reliable. The Lexus RX400h, Toyota Highlander Hybrid were also among the most reliable for midsize SUVs.

The Honda Civic Hybrid, Ford Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid were all rated above average. They also found some of the small compact cars, like the Honda Fit, Scion xD, Smart ForTwo, and Toyota Yaris had few problems. The Scion Xd has the best predicted reliability score for all new cars with about 80% fewer problems than the average model.

Probably most surprising, for those who haven't been following Ford's progress, is how well Ford was rated. Ford's three nameplates - Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury - lead the domestic automakers and continue to pull away from the rest of Detroit. Except for some truck-based vehicles, almost all Ford products are now average or better. Excluding those, Ford's reliability is now on par with good Japanese automakers. The Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan continued to rank among the most reliable family cars. The freshened Ford Focus sedan rated above average, a vast improvement from when the new model debuted in 2000 with below-average reliability.

Given how highly the Fusion and Milan have been rated, that's good news for those looking for a hybrid in the next year. Ford will be building hybrid versions of those two vehicles in the coming months.

Read the full press release below.

YONKERS, N.Y., Oct. 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Fuel-efficient
vehicles are a very reliable segment overall, European cars are improving,
and, on average, Ford continues to build the most reliable American cars.
Those are some of the results of Consumer Reports' 2008 Annual Car
Reliability Survey announced today at an Automotive Press Association
luncheon in Detroit.

More details, and a list of models with the best and worst
predicted-reliability Ratings, will appear first on
http://www.ConsumerReports.org. The reliability report will also appear in the
December issue of Consumer Reports, on sale November 4 and in the latest
Consumer Reports Cars publication, Best & Worst for '09, which also
includes predicted-reliability ratings for more than 350 models.

A total of nine hybrid models for which Consumer Reports has sufficient
data rated above average in predicted reliability, most from Japanese
automakers. From the Family Cars category, the Toyota Prius, the Toyota
Camry Hybrid, and the Nissan Altima Hybrid, as well as the luxury Lexus
GS450h Hybrid sedan are all among the most reliable. The Lexus RX400h and
the Toyota Highlander Hybrid are among the most reliable in midsized SUVs,
while the Ford Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid small SUVs rated
above average in predicted reliability. The Honda Civic Hybrid is also
above average. In addition, conventional gas sippers such as the Honda Fit,
Scion xD, Smart ForTwo, and Toyota Yaris had few problems.

Ford's three nameplates - Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury - lead the
domestic automakers and continue to pull away from the rest of Detroit.
Except for some truck-based vehicles, almost all Ford products are now
average or better. Excluding those, Ford's reliability is now on par with
good Japanese automakers. The Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan continued to
rank among the most reliable family cars. The freshened Ford Focus sedan
rated above average, a vast improvement from when the new model debuted in
2000 with below-average reliability.

European automakers, particularly Mercedes-Benz, showed signs of a
comeback. Six Mercedes models, including the redesigned C-Class and E-Class
(V6) sedans and the ML350 SUV have improved to average reliability and are
now recommended. Last year, no Mercedes models had average or better
reliability and so could not be recommended by Consumer Reports.

Still, Japanese cars are the most reliable overall, leading 15 of 16
categories in Consumer Reports' predicted reliability ratings. The Scion xD
has the best predicted reliability score for all new cars with about 80%
fewer problems than the average model.

European, Japanese Brands Rebound; Korean Brands Excel; Chrysler
Struggles

Though Mercedes-Benz has shown improvement, a third of its models still
have reliability problems, and no models scored above average. Overall, the
brand moved up five places, from last year's 32 to this year's 27, in
Consumer Reports survey. Audi and BMW also continue to improve. Two-thirds
of Audi's lineup scored average or better, while most versions of the BMW 3
Series and some 5 Series are average or better. Volvo also improved leaving
only the redesigned XC70 wagon rated below average in reliability.

Last year Consumer Reports called out three Toyota models that slipped
to below average: the Camry V6, Tundra V8 4WD, and the Lexus GS AWD. But
Toyota seems to have rectified some of the problems since all 42 of the
Toyota, Lexus, and Scion models in the survey scored average or better. The
three models noted above scored average.

Nissan showed striking improvements, with the troublesome Armada SUV,
Titan pickup, and Infiniti QX56 SUV finally gaining average reliability.
The new Nissan Rogue and Infiniti EX have started out above average. Nissan
moved up in the Makes Rankings six places to fourteenth, while Infiniti
moved up one spot, to sixth place when compared to last year's results.

The two closely related South Korean nameplates, Hyundai and Kia, rank
right up there with the better Japanese makers. Most models scored above
average or better.

General Motors is a mixed bag. Among the bright spots is the redesigned
Chevrolet Malibu with above-average reliability for the 4-cylinder model
and average for the V6. The Buick Lucerne V8 and four-cylinder Pontiac G6
are both above average. The Chevrolet Avalanche is now average. But a
quarter of GM models are still well below average. Newer designs that did
well in our testing, like the highly rated Cadillac CTS and Buick Enclave,
GMC Acadia, and Saturn Outlook SUV triplets, were below average in
reliability.

Chrysler trails the pack. Though the Dodge Caliber hatchback and Jeep
Patriot SUV are above average, almost two-thirds of its products rate below
average. The new Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan minivans
earned low scores, as did the Chrysler Sebring V6 and Dodge Avenger sedans
and Jeep Liberty SUV. The Sebring convertible had the worst predicted
reliability score: 283% worse than average.

Full reliability history charts and predicted reliability on hundreds
of 2009 models, plus a list of what's up and what's down, best and worst
models, and a comparison chart of brands can be found online at
http://www.ConsumerReports.org and in the latest Consumer Reports Cars
publication, Best & Worst for '09 ($5.99 U.S./$6.99 Canada), on sale
November 11, 2008 everywhere magazines are sold.

Findings are based on responses on more than 1.4 million vehicles owned
or leased by subscribers to Consumer Reports or its web site,
http://www.ConsumerReports.org, the biggest response in the Annual Car Reliability
Survey's history. The survey was conducted in the spring of 2008 by
Consumer Reports' National Survey Research Center and covered model years
1999 to 2008.

Consumer Reports' expert team of statisticians and automotive engineers
used the survey data to predict reliability of new 2009 models. Predicted
reliability is CR's forecast of how well models currently on sale are
likely to hold up. To calculate predicted-reliability ratings, CR averages
the overall reliability scores (used car verdicts) for the most recent
three model years, provided that the model remained unchanged in that
period and also didn't substantially change for 2009. If a model was new or
redesigned in the past couple of years, one or two years' data may be used,
or if that's all that's available.

Consumer Reports Annual Car Reliability Survey is used in determining
which makes and models are recommended to consumers by CR. Consumer Reports
recommends only models that have performed well in tests conducted at its
327-acre Auto Test Center in Connecticut, and that have average or better
predicted reliability based on its annual survey. In addition, vehicles
must perform well in government or insurance-industry crash and rollover
tests, if tested, in order to be recommended. Occasionally, Consumer
Reports may recommend a redesigned model too new to have compiled a
reliability record if the previous generation, and the manufacturer's
reliability track record has been consistently outstanding, and if the
model meets the other criteria.

Consumer Reports is one of the most trusted sources for information and
advice on consumer products and services. CR has the most comprehensive
auto-test program of any American magazine or web site; CR's auto experts
have decades of experience in driving, testing, and reporting on cars.

2008 CR CAR RELIABILITY SURVEY - APA

The material above is intended for legitimate news entities only; it
may not be used for commercial or promotional purposes. Consumer Reports(R)
is published by Consumers Union, an expert, independent nonprofit
organization whose mission is to work for a fair, just, and safe
marketplace for all consumers and to empower consumers to protect
themselves. To achieve this mission, we test, inform, and protect. To
maintain our independence and impartiality, CU accepts no outside
advertising, no free test samples, and has no agenda other than the
interests of consumers. CU supports itself through the sale of our
information products and services, individual contributions, and a few
noncommercial grants.