agent Entrepreneur logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Detroit Automakers Still Lag Foreign Rivals in Consumer Reports' Annual Rankings

February 24, 2010
2 min to read


WASHINGTON -Detroit's automakers continue to trail their foreign rivals in Consumer Reports' annual new car report, The Detroit News reported. Despite recent recalls by Toyota Motor Corp., it was Chrysler Group LLC that was singled out by the magazine as the worst automaker. But the Auburn Hills automaker said it is working to improve its standing in what it acknowledges is one of the most influential annual rankings. As they did last year, Japan's Honda Motor Co. and Subaru topped the magazine's list, while General Motors Co. and Chrysler brought up the bottom. Chrysler products were rated the worst values in six of eight vehicle categories analyzed by the influential magazine -- including minivans, which have been the company's bread and butter for years. Only one of its vehicles, the Ram 1500 pickup, made Consumer Reports' list of recommended vehicles. Toyota remained the third-highest rated automobile manufacturer, despite its recent recalls. The Toyota Prius tied with the Honda Fit for first place among the 280 cars and trucks tested by Consumer Reports. The magazine has suspended its recommendations of eight Toyota models being recalled and now endorses only 47 percent of the company's nameplates. Ford Motor Co. moved up one place in this year's ranking and Consumer Reports now recommends more Fords than Toyotas. But the magazine said the Dearborn-based automaker still has a ways to go. None of Ford's cars or trucks was named a "Top Pick." Two GM models -- the Chevrolet Traverse and Silverado -- received "Top Pick" ratings, but Consumer Reports said the company's overall reliability "still lags behind most of the competition."

More Industry

Group photo of men outside storefront.
Industryby Hannah MitchellMay 28, 2026

Pennsylvania Dealership Under New Retailers

The sale of the Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram store puts a family auto group on a leaner path as first-time dealers take the helm.

Read More →
Hallway with lockered wiring and computer
Industryby Lauren LawrenceMay 28, 2026

Battery Storage Takes Priority Over EVs

U.S. automakers are prioritizing battery energy stationary storage over electric-vehicle production as the consumer demand for EVs lags the rest of the world.

Read More →
Gray-scale photo of a line of Mini cars in a dealership parking lot
Industryby Hannah MitchellMay 27, 2026

Auto Dealers Feel Better But Not Great

A second-quarter Cox Automotive poll of franchised retailers and independents found better views of the current market after a good spring but anticipation of third-quarter storminess.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Closeup photo of the front of a white car
Industryby Hannah MitchellMay 21, 2026

New-Vehicle Sales Picture Relative

A May forecast is complicated by last spring’s trade tariff effects on auto retail. Despite continued hard realities, many consumers took advantage of ways to bite the bullet.

Read More →
Nissan logo on front of building
Industryby Lauren LawrenceMay 21, 2026

Auto Group Acquires Third Nissan Rooftop

Iowa-based Coleman Automotive Group recently acquired its seventh dealership, McGrath Nissan, which it renamed Nissan of Elgin.

Read More →
Couple talking with auto salesman next to new car inside dealership
Industryby Hannah MitchellMay 20, 2026

April Less Affordable

Based on prices, reduced incentives and slower household income growth, consumers found it more challenging to buy new last month, Cox Automotive reported.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Wooden people figures of different colors in a row, similar to board game pieces
IndustryMay 20, 2026

Building an Extraordinary F&I Agency

Work to determine your specialized talent, because that fact will determine everything about your agency’s future.

Read More →
Ingredient card, policies and procedures, fixed operations, variable operations, data security, audit
Industryby Jim GantherMay 19, 2026

Recipe for Compliance

The secret to both amazing barbecue and compliance is the same: understanding the basics and committing to a process.

Read More →
Photo of new Chevrolet Bolt parked on a beach
Industryby Hannah MitchellMay 14, 2026

EVs Getting More Attractive

A growing percentage of U.S. consumers are open to switching and fewer are adverse to the idea, according to a recently completed survey. That’s despite the end of a tax break.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Benchmark bar graph showing April 2026 EV Sales
Industryby Lauren LawrenceMay 14, 2026

EV Sales Drop in April Following Surge

North American electric-vehicle sales were down 28% year-over-year, a sharp contrast from global EV sales growth of 6%.

Read More →