Consumer Reports Best Car Values

March 22, 2010, 11:32:33 AM

Check out the list at:
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/new-cars/buying-advice/best-values/best-and-worst-values/index.htm

Here's the top ten for the car categories. I didn't put the scores, but each car is given a score that is calculated based on each vehicle's five-year owner cost (shown as cost per mile), road-test score, and predicted-reliability rating.

So my question is, what is involved in this reliability rating and also, where the hell are the American cars? Some have accused Consumer Reports of being biased against American cars in the past. Does anyone still think that is the case?

The U.S. manufacturers wiped the floor with the competition in the large SUV and truck segments, but only four American vehicles made it into the top ten in five different segments with a total of fifty cars. The Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan, and the Cadillac CTS and DTS.

Small Cars
[LIST=1]

Honda Fit Sport (manual)
Honda Civic EX (manual)
Honda Fit (base)
VW Golf TDI (manual)
VW Golf (2.5)
Toyota Corolla (base, manual)
Honda Civic EX
Scion xD (manual)
Hyundai Elantra SE
Toyota Corolla LE

Family Cars
[LIST=1]

Toyota Prius IV
VW Jetta TDI
Honda Accord LX-P (4-cyl., manual)
Toyota Camry LE (4-cyl.)
Toyota Camry Hybrid
Nissan Altima 2.5S (4-cyl.)
Ford Fusion SE (4-cyl.)
Honda Accord LX-P (4-cyl.)
Mercury Milan (base, 4-cyl.)
Subaru Legacy 2.5i Premium

Upscale Sedans
[LIST=1]

Acura TSX (4-cyl.)
Toyota Avalon XLS
Infiniti G37 Journey
Lexus ES 350
Volkswagen CC Luxury (4-cyl.)
Acura TL (base)
Hyundai Azera Limited
Hyundai Genesis 3.8
Lexus IS 250

Luxury Sedans
[LIST=1]

Infiniti M35 (RWD)
Infiniti M35 X (AWD)
Acura RL
Lexus LS 460L
Volvo S80 3.2
Cadillac CTS Premium (3.6)
Cadillac DTS Luxury II
Lexus GS 450h Hybrid
Lexus GS 350 (AWD)
BMW 535i

Sporty Cars
[LIST=1]

Mini Cooper (base)
Scion tC
Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring
Honda Civic Si
Mini Cooper S
Volkswagen GTI (4-door)
MazdaSpeed 3 Sport
Volvo C30 T5 1.0
BMW 135i
Subaru Impreza WRX