Posts from ‘Car Ratings’
The Best 2013 Compact SUVs
The Volkswagen Tiguan is Consumer Guide’s top-rated 2013 compact SUV.
Each year, Consumer Guide Automotive editors test drive and evaluate nearly every vehicle sold in the United States. Together, the editors rate each vehicle 1–10 in the following categories: Acceleration, Fuel Economy, Ride Quality, Steering/Handling/Braking, Quietness, Controls, Details, Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front), Room/Comfort (rear), Cargo Room, and Value Within Class.
The editors add those numbers to produce a total CG Rating score for each vehicle. Below are the total rating scores for all 2013 compact SUVs (excluding luxury vehicles). Click the name of the SUV for a detailed review of that vehicle.
Note that the Consumer Guide Automotive Best Buy Awards are not entirely based on the CG Rating scores. A vehicle may be rated a few notches lower than No. 1, but if its pricing is attractive, it could be dubbed a Best Buy. Also, Best Buy selections are based on personal, informed judgments, not just rating numbers.
1) Volkswagen Tiguan
Base MSRP: $22,995; Consumer Guide Rating: 77
Tiguan’s prices are higher than most compact sport-utility competitors, with loaded versions crossing into premium-compact-SUV territory. However, sporty-for-the-class road manners, a comfortable interior, and three years of no-cost scheduled maintenance help offset the difference.
The Best 2013 Midsize Cars
The 2013 Nissan Altima is Consumer Guide Automotive’s No. 1-rated midsize car.
Each year, Consumer Guide Automotive editors test drive and evaluate nearly every vehicle sold in the United States. Together, the editors rate each vehicle 1–10 in the following categories: Acceleration, Fuel Economy, Ride Quality, Steering/Handling/Braking, Quietness, Controls, Details, Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front), Room/Comfort (rear), Cargo Room, and Value Within Class.
The editors add those numbers to produce a total CG Rating score for each vehicle. Below are the total rating scores for all 2013 midsize cars (excluding luxury cars). Click the name of the car for a detailed review of that vehicle.
Note that the Consumer Guide Automotive Best Buy Awards are not entirely based on the CG Rating scores. A car may be rated No. 4, but if its pricing is pleasingly low, it could be dubbed a Best Buy. Also, a car’s maximum rating for an individual category is 10. A car could be “off the charts” in a particular category—such as the Toyota Prius with fuel economy (it gets 50 mpg)—which adds to its Best Buy value. Finally, Best Buy selections are based on personal, informed judgments, not just rating numbers.
The 3 Best 2012 Minivans
Consumer Guide Automotive presents its Best Buy Awards to three 2012 minivans. These Best Buys represent the best balance of attributes and price within the minivan class. Also check out our 2012 Best Buy and Recommended selections for the 17 other vehicle classes.
1. 2012 Chrysler Town & Country
Base MSRP: $29,995; Consumer Guide Rating: 80
1. 2012 Honda Odyssey
Base MSRP: $28,225; Consumer Guide Rating: 80
3. 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan
Base MSRP: $20,995; Consumer Guide Rating: 79
Each year, Consumer Guide Automotive editors test drive and evaluate nearly every vehicle sold in the United States. Together, the editors rate each vehicle 1–10 in the following categories: Acceleration, Fuel Economy, Ride Quality, Steering/Handling/Braking, Quietness, Controls, Details, Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front), Room/Comfort (rear), Cargo Room, and Value Within Class.
The editors add those numbers to produce a total rating score for each vehicle. Below are the total rating scores for all 2012 Subcompact Cars. Click the name of the car for a detailed review of that vehicle. Or simply check out The Consumer Guide to 2012 Subcompact Cars.
1. Nissan Cube
Base MSRP: $14,980; Consumer Guide Rating: 69
2. Kia Soul
Base MSRP: $13,900; Consumer Guide Rating: 67
3. Honda Fit
Base MSRP: $15,175; Consumer Guide Rating: 65
3. Kia Rio
Base MSRP: $13,400; Consumer Guide Rating: 65
5. Hyundai Accent
Base MSRP: $12,445; Consumer Guide Rating: 64
6. Ford Fiesta
Base MSRP: $13,200; Consumer Guide Rating: 63
6. Mazda 2
Base MSRP: $14,370; Consumer Guide Rating: 63
Each year, Consumer Guide Automotive editors test drive and evaluate nearly every vehicle sold in the United States. Together, the editors rate each vehicle 1–10 in the following categories: Acceleration, Fuel Economy, Ride Quality, Steering/Handling/Braking, Quietness, Controls, Details, Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front), Room/Comfort (rear), Cargo Room, and Value Within Class.
The editors add those numbers to produce a total rating score for each vehicle. Below are the total rating scores for all 2012 Large Pick Up Trucks. Click the name of the car for a detailed review of that vehicle. Or simply check out The Consumer Guide to 2012 Large Pick Up Trucks.
1. Chevrolet Avalanche
Base MSRP: $36,720; Consumer Guide Rating: 70
2. Ram 1500
Base MSRP: $21,475; Consumer Guide Rating: 67
3. GMC Sierra 1500
Base MSRP: $21,945; Consumer Guide Rating: 62
4. Ford F-150
Base MSRP: $22,990; Consumer Guide Rating: 60
5. Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Base MSRP: $21,945; Consumer Guide Rating: 59
6. Nissan Titan
Base MSRP: $27,710; Consumer Guide Rating: 55
Rating the 2012 Midsize SUVs, #1–24
Each year, Consumer Guide Automotive editors test drive and evaluate nearly every vehicle sold in the United States. Together, the editors rate each vehicle 1–10 in the following categories: Acceleration, Fuel Economy, Ride Quality, Steering/Handling/Braking, Quietness, Controls, Details, Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front), Room/Comfort (rear), Cargo Room, and Value Within Class.
The editors add those numbers to produce a total rating score for each vehicle. Below are the total rating scores for all 2012 midsize SUVs (excluding luxury cars). Click the name of the car for a detailed review of that vehicle. Or simply check out The Consumer Guide to 2012 Midsize SUVs.
1. Chevrolet Traverse
Base MSRP: $29,430; Consumer Guide Rating: 76
1. Ford Flex
Base MSRP: $29,220; Consumer Guide Rating: 76
3. GMC Acadia
Base MSRP: $32,605; Consumer Guide Rating: 74
4. Chevrolet Equinox
Base MSRP: $23,450; Consumer Guide Rating: 73
4. Ford Edge
Base MSRP: $27,640; Consumer Guide Rating: 73
4. GMC Terrain
Base MSRP: $25,480; Consumer Guide Rating: 73
7. Kia Sorento Base MSRP: $21,250; Consumer Guide Rating: 72
Rating the 2012 Compact SUVs, #1–17
Each year, Consumer Guide Automotive editors test drive and evaluate nearly every vehicle sold in the United States. Together, the editors rate each vehicle 1–10 in the following categories: Acceleration, Fuel Economy, Ride Quality, Steering/Handling/Braking, Quietness, Controls, Details, Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front), Room/Comfort (rear), Cargo Room, and Value Within Class.
The editors add those numbers to produce a total rating score for each vehicle. Below are the total rating scores for all 2012 compact SUVs (excluding luxury cars). Click the name of the car for a detailed review of that vehicle. Or simply check out The Consumer Guide to 2012 Compact SUVs.
1. Volkswagen Tiguan
Base MSRP: $22,840; Consumer Guide Rating: 77
2. Honda CR-V
Base MSRP: $22,295; Consumer Guide Rating: 72
2. Hyundai Tucson
Base MSRP: $19,045; Consumer Guide Rating: 72
4. Subaru Forester
Base MSRP: $20,595; Consumer Guide Rating: 70
5. Suzuki Grand Vitara
Base MSRP: $19,499; Consumer Guide Rating: 68
5. Toyota RAV4
Base MSRP: $21,925; Consumer Guide Rating: 68
7. Kia Sportage Base MSRP: $18,500; Consumer Guide Rating: 65
Acceleration, Fuel Economy, Ride Quality, Steering/Handling/Braking, Quietness, Controls, Details, Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front), Room/Comfort (rear), Cargo Room, and Value Within Class.
Drivers who “want it all”—for under $70,000—have one option: the Lexus LS. The 2012 LS earned a Consumer Guide Automotive score of 83, just one point lower than the Bentley Continental Flying Spur and Rolls-Royce Phantom Sedan. Those vehicles, of course, are prohibitively expensive. The LS even outscored the revered and costlier Mercedes-Benz S-Class, a fellow premium-large sedan that scored an 81.
LS earned perfect 10s for quietness and details, and it scored 9s for ride quality, room and comfort front, and room and comfort rear. Power is abundant, too, as LS’s three V8 engines generate 357 to 438 horsepower.
Check out Consumer Guide’s detailed review of the 2012 Lexus LS.
Rating the 2012 Compact Cars, #1–24
Each year, Consumer Guide Automotive editors test drive and evaluate nearly every vehicle sold in the United States. Together, the editors rate each vehicle 1–10 in the following categories: Acceleration, Fuel Economy, Ride Quality, Steering/Handling/Braking, Quietness, Controls, Details, Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front), Room/Comfort (rear), Cargo Room, and Value Within Class.
The editors add those numbers to produce a total rating score for each vehicle. Below are the total rating scores for all 2012 compact cars (excluding luxury cars). Click the name of the car for a detailed review of that vehicle. Or simply check out The Consumer Guide to 2012 Compact Cars.
1. Scion xB
Base MSRP: $16,300; Consumer Guide Rating: 73
2. Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen
Base MSRP: $19,995; Consumer Guide Rating: 72
Base MSRP: $17,995; Consumer Guide Rating: 71
4. Ford Focus
Base MSRP: $16,500; Consumer Guide Rating: 67
4. Nissan Leaf
Base MSRP: $35,200; Consumer Guide Rating: 67
6. Mazda 3 Base MSRP: $15,200; Consumer Guide Rating: 66
6. Subaru Impreza Base MSRP: $17,495; Consumer Guide Rating: 66
Rating the 2012 Midsize Cars, #1–21
Each year, Consumer Guide Automotive editors test drive and evaluate nearly every vehicle sold in the United States. Together, the editors rate each vehicle 1–10 in the following categories: Acceleration, Fuel Economy, Ride Quality, Steering/Handling/Braking, Quietness, Controls, Details, Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front), Room/Comfort (rear), Cargo Room, and Value Within Class.
The editors add those numbers to produce a total rating score for each vehicle. Below are the total rating scores for 2012 midsize cars. Click the name of the car for a detailed review of that vehicle. Or simply check out The Consumer Guide to 2012 Midsize Cars.
1. Mazda 5
Base MSRP: $19,195; Consumer Guide Rating: 74
Base MSRP: $19,795; Consumer Guide Rating: 73
Base MSRP: $23,295; Consumer Guide Rating: 73
4. Kia Optima
Base MSRP: $19,500; Consumer Guide Rating: 72
5. Nissan Altima Base MSRP: $20,410; Consumer Guide Rating: 71
5. Toyota Camry Base MSRP: $21,955; Consumer Guide Rating: 71
5. Toyota Prius v Base MSRP: $26,400; Consumer Guide Rating: 71
New Review!
2014 Kia Sorento
Editors
Classic Cars
