Consumer Reports Auto Experts Rate Best and Worst Used Cars; "High Value, Lower Risk" Report Presents Good Bets and Exclusive Reliability Ratings
YONKERS, N.Y.--March 12, 2002--HOW CONSUMERS REPORTS (CR) TESTS CARS:
| - | CR maintains its IMPARTIALITY by buying all the cars it tests from dealers, just as consumers do, accepting no ads, and barring the commercial use of its reports. |
| - | CR automotive EXPERTS test all cars at our track and on public roads, for performance, convenience, and comfort, with safety in mind. |
| - | CR surveys its subscribers to provide RELEVANT information on auto reliability, dealer satisfaction, and more. |
| - | CR is published by Consumers Union, an INDEPENDENT, NON-PROFIT champion for consumers. |
Consumer Reports'(R) (CR) auto experts have selected many Good Bets representing the best of the best in used vehicles. These models have performed well in CR's impartial road tests and have been consistently better than average in overall reliability, as indicated in CR's unique surveys of its readers' experiences. The 2002 April Auto Issue report, "High value, lower risk," also includes an extensive list of reliable used cars in nine price ranges from less than $8,000 to $30,000 and up, which have proved to be above-average in reliability. At the other end of the spectrum, CR lists many Reliability Risks, which have exhibited several years of poor overall reliability, and an extensive listing of Used Cars to Avoid, which are models that have consistently had below-average reliability.
While a used car often represents an excellent value, buying one is risky because the shopper can't always be sure it was well maintained. That risk can be limited by buying a used vehicle with a proven track record of reliability. CR's unbiased reliability data and objective Ratings and Recommendations can help guide car buyers to models to look for and models they'd do well to avoid.
CR Good Bets (R)
The following models have performed well in Consumer Reports tests
over the years and have proved to be consistently better than average
in overall reliability. They are listed alphabetically.
Acura Integra
Acura RL
Acura TL
BMW 3-Series
Ford Escort
Ford F-150 (2WD)
Geo/Chevrolet Prizm
Honda Accord
Honda Civic
Honda CR-V
Honda Odyssey
Infiniti G20
Infiniti I30
Isuzu Oasis
Lexus ES300
Lexus GS300/GS400
Lexus LS400
Lexus RX300
Lincoln Town Car
Mazda Millenia
Mazda MX-5 Miata
Mazda Protege
Mercury Tracer
Nissan Altima
Nissan Maxima
Nissan Pathfinder
Nissan Sentra
Saab 9-5
Saturn S-Series
Subaru Forester
Subaru Impreza
Subaru Legacy
Toyota 4Runner
Toyota Avalon
Toyota Camry
Toyota Camry Solara
Toyota Celica
Toyota Corolla
Toyota RAV4
Toyota Sienna
Toyota Tacoma
Reliable used cars $10,000 to $12,000
These models have shown above-average reliability and are listed
alphabetically.
Acura Integra `95-96 - Buick Century '98 - Chevrolet Prism `99-00 -
Chrysler Cirrus V6 '98 - Ford Crown Victoria '97, F-150 (2WD) '95 -
Honda Accord '95, Civic `97-98, Prelude `94-95 - Infiniti G20 '96, J30
`94-95 - Lincoln Town Car '94 - Mazda B-Series (2WD) '98, MX-5 Miata
'97, Protege `99-00 - Mercury Grand Marquis '96 - Nissan Altima '98,
Maxima '96, Pathfinder `94-95, Pickup '97, Sentra '99 - Plymouth
Breeze '00 - Saturn S-Series `99-00 - Subaru Impreza `97-98 - Toyota
Avalon '95, Camry `95-96, Celica '95, Corolla `99-00, Echo '00, Previa
'94, RAV4 '96, Tacoma '95 - Volvo 940 '94.
CR offers advice on five major sources for a used car, including new-car dealers, "superstores," independent used-car dealers, online services, and private sellers. A five-point checklist of actions shoppers should take before making a buying decision is a handy reference tool. CR provides resources for checking on a model's safety history.
Consumer Reports Family of Used Car Publications and Services
Consumer Reports Used Car Buying Guide 2002, $9.95, 240 pages, is a comprehensive guide to the most reliable used car, SUV, pick-up, wagon, or minivan. Featuring expert profiles of 256 models sold between 1994 and 2001, this book includes strategies on how to buy a used car, reliability data for a wide range of model years, price ranges, photos, and the CR Safety Assessment, as well as buying information on cargo boxes, tires, windshield wipers, battery boosters, and more. The Guide is available wherever books and magazines are sold, and can be ordered online at www.ConsumerReports.org/usedcars. Consumer Reports Used Car Yearbook, $5.95, 144 pages, four-color, includes reliability, safety and price information on 244 models sold between 1993-2000, CR's choices for the best used cars in many categories, as well as 10 ways to lower the cost of driving, buying a car for a teen-aged driver, and using the Web to shop and finance. The Yearbook can be ordered online at www.ConsumerReports.org/usedcars. Consumer Reports Used Car Price Service, $10, is for those who are buying, selling, or trading-in a used car and need to know what the car is worth. This service provides a reliability history and current price ranges for 1983 through 2000 vehicles, advice on determining a realistic sale price, a worksheet, negotiating tips - and more. It can be ordered online and is also available by mail or fax by calling 1-800-258-0327.
CR Good Bets and Reliability Risks in this Annual April Auto Issue report - plus CR's trusted buying advice and unbiased information on used vehicles - are available in the free Autos area at www.ConsumerReports.org.
The April Auto Issue ($4.95) goes on sale March 19th through June 19th and is generally available where magazines are sold. It may also be ordered online at www.ConsumerReports.org/newcars. To subscribe to Consumer Reports call 1-800-234-1645.
Several Consumer Reports April issue stories and corresponding news releases are accessible to journalists via fax on demand. To request instructions, send an e-mail to opi@consumer.org or call 914-378-2430. Available stories: Best & Worst Used Cars, Crash Test, Top Picks, and a fact sheet, "Anatomy of a Rating."