Law and Rights
A short while back, Consumer Reports recently published its annual "Best & Worst Cars" issue. Perusing the best car models is always fun, but it is equally important to pay attention to models that received the lowest scores. Consumer Reports rates each car on a 100 point scale, based on more than 50 unbiased tests and evaluations.
Considerations when testing vehicles include:
- Safety. Each car is tested at its handing limit, determining how the vehicle will respond to emergency avoidance maneuvers and extreme road conditions.
- Real World Fuel Economy. Those who test the vehicles gauge the fuel economy of both everyday driving and driving on a controlled track.
- Ride Comfort. Ech vehicle is driven for thousands of miles and comfort is one of many important factors when rating an automobile.
With those considerations in mind, Consumer Reports' highest scoring vehicle (Lexus LS460L) earned a 99 on the 100 point scale. Below are the five lowest scoring vehicles for 2008.
1. Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara
Score: 17
Main Areas of Concern: Braking, Noise Level, Reliability, Fuel Economy
2. Hummer H3 (5 cyl)
Score: 27
Main Areas of Concern: Acceleration, Fuel Economy, Emergency Handling
3. Jeep Liberty Sport
Score: 27
Main Areas of Concern: Fuel Economy, Noise, Agility
4. Chevrolet Aveo LS (Manual)
Score: 30
Main Areas of Concern: Acceleration, Handling
5. Chevrolet Aveo LS (Automatic)
Score: 32
Main Areas of Concern: Acceleration, Handling
While Consumer Reports isn't the only organization that is currently testing vehicles, it is important to remember that these evaluations are completely unbiased. Consumer Reports receives no money for advertising or any other services. For that reason alone, it would be shrewd for drivers to consider the magazine's opinions when purchasing a new vehicle.
By-line: Heather Johnson is a freelance business, finance and credit writer, as well as a regular contributor for Business Credit Cards, a site for comparing business credit cards. She welcomes questions, comments, and freelancing job inquiries at her email address [email protected].
Subscribe in a reader
- Consumer Reports' Top Vehicles For The Money Includes
Each year Consumer Reports April issue of its magazine releases the list of best vehicles for the money - and the worst. Best of Value, you could call it. Based on a mix of how well a vehicle performs in the magaine's tests and also the anticipated...
- Top 15 Fuel Efficient Cars And The Model T
Good Magazine is out with its list of the 15 most fuel efficient cars on the road. And the most remarkable thing about it? After over 100 years of US automotive engineering since the 1908 Model T, things haven't gotten that much better. A couple of...
- Your Credit Score, Understanding It
A study in 2007 by Bankrate showed that 45% of US consumers don't know their own credit score and 32% have never even looked at their credit report. The current numbers are probably not much better and it's no wonder. Everyone may be in debt,...
- Jeep Investigation By Feds
Federal safety investigators have opened a "preliminary evaluation" safety investigation of 2005 Jeep Liberty and 2006 Jeep Liberty and 2006 Jeep Liberty 4x4 vehicles powered by a 2.8 liter 4 cylinder turbo charged diesel engine. The National Highway...
- Who Builds The Best Cars?
The popular myth is that the Japanese do, but that's not what Consumer Reports is saying ... sort of. In its annual car reliability survey, CR says that VW and Audi are tops at building the cars that perform the best "on average" overall. But when...
Law and Rights
Consumer Reports Top 5 Vehicles to Avoid
A short while back, Consumer Reports recently published its annual "Best & Worst Cars" issue. Perusing the best car models is always fun, but it is equally important to pay attention to models that received the lowest scores. Consumer Reports rates each car on a 100 point scale, based on more than 50 unbiased tests and evaluations.
Considerations when testing vehicles include:
- Safety. Each car is tested at its handing limit, determining how the vehicle will respond to emergency avoidance maneuvers and extreme road conditions.
- Real World Fuel Economy. Those who test the vehicles gauge the fuel economy of both everyday driving and driving on a controlled track.
- Ride Comfort. Ech vehicle is driven for thousands of miles and comfort is one of many important factors when rating an automobile.
With those considerations in mind, Consumer Reports' highest scoring vehicle (Lexus LS460L) earned a 99 on the 100 point scale. Below are the five lowest scoring vehicles for 2008.
1. Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara
Score: 17
Main Areas of Concern: Braking, Noise Level, Reliability, Fuel Economy
2. Hummer H3 (5 cyl)
Score: 27
Main Areas of Concern: Acceleration, Fuel Economy, Emergency Handling
3. Jeep Liberty Sport
Score: 27
Main Areas of Concern: Fuel Economy, Noise, Agility
4. Chevrolet Aveo LS (Manual)
Score: 30
Main Areas of Concern: Acceleration, Handling
5. Chevrolet Aveo LS (Automatic)
Score: 32
Main Areas of Concern: Acceleration, Handling
While Consumer Reports isn't the only organization that is currently testing vehicles, it is important to remember that these evaluations are completely unbiased. Consumer Reports receives no money for advertising or any other services. For that reason alone, it would be shrewd for drivers to consider the magazine's opinions when purchasing a new vehicle.
By-line: Heather Johnson is a freelance business, finance and credit writer, as well as a regular contributor for Business Credit Cards, a site for comparing business credit cards. She welcomes questions, comments, and freelancing job inquiries at her email address [email protected].
Subscribe in a reader- Consumer Reports' Top Vehicles For The Money Includes
Each year Consumer Reports April issue of its magazine releases the list of best vehicles for the money - and the worst. Best of Value, you could call it. Based on a mix of how well a vehicle performs in the magaine's tests and also the anticipated...
- Top 15 Fuel Efficient Cars And The Model T
Good Magazine is out with its list of the 15 most fuel efficient cars on the road. And the most remarkable thing about it? After over 100 years of US automotive engineering since the 1908 Model T, things haven't gotten that much better. A couple of...
- Your Credit Score, Understanding It
A study in 2007 by Bankrate showed that 45% of US consumers don't know their own credit score and 32% have never even looked at their credit report. The current numbers are probably not much better and it's no wonder. Everyone may be in debt,...
- Jeep Investigation By Feds
Federal safety investigators have opened a "preliminary evaluation" safety investigation of 2005 Jeep Liberty and 2006 Jeep Liberty and 2006 Jeep Liberty 4x4 vehicles powered by a 2.8 liter 4 cylinder turbo charged diesel engine. The National Highway...
- Who Builds The Best Cars?
The popular myth is that the Japanese do, but that's not what Consumer Reports is saying ... sort of. In its annual car reliability survey, CR says that VW and Audi are tops at building the cars that perform the best "on average" overall. But when...