Made in USA: 5 of the best cars built here

Cadillac CTS / General Motors

(MoneyWatch) As we celebrate the Fourth of July, those usual patriotic impulses to buy cars made in America may run a little stronger. Happily, there are more good choices than ever of cars from U.S. automakers, assembled by American workers.

"A few years ago we didn't know if we would still have three domestic car companies," notes Karl Brauer, editor in chief of Total Car Score, a web site that ranks car models. Partly as a result of lower wage packages negotiated with the United Auto Workers during the 2009 crisis and bailout, the U.S. companies can now profitably make more cars here.

Cars from U.S. companies - once laggards in quality and reliability - have made great strides in recent years. In the recently-released J.D. Power initial quality rankings, Cadillac was among the top five brands. And problems for Ford and other brands involving navigation and entertainment systems seemed more an issue of educating owners to use them than with manufacturing quality, Brauer notes.

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For the holiday, we went looking for some of the best U.S.-made cars from domestic companies. We started with rankings from Total Car Score, which aggregates a score from seven authoritative reviewers such as Consumer Reports, plus safety ratings. Here is a closer look at five of the best:

Cadillac CTS With the distinctive angular styling now the signature for Cadillac, the CTS also stands out for power and comfort. Reviewers praise the interior with luxurious materials and easy to use electronics. With a choice of V-6 engines rated at 16 MPG in city driving and 26 on the highway, the CTS combines power and sharp handling that makes it competitive with German luxury sedans. The CTS starts at a list price of $35,915 and ranges up to $50,306 for high-end versions.

Buick LaCrosse LaCrosse is an early success in General Motors' campaign to move the image of Buick away from the traditional soft-riding big cars for elderly owners. Reviewers find the LaCrosse, starting at a list price of $30,170, a good value with luxurious features. In addition to its traditional V-6 engine, the 2012 LaCrosse offers a hybrid version known as e-assist with a four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor. The e-assist model is rated at 25 MPG in city driving, 36 highway.

Ford Flex

/ Ford Motor Co.

Ford Flex Editor Karl Brauer cites the Flex as a good choice for a family vehicle where the parents want to avoid a minivan. The distinctive styling of the Flex may not be for everyone. But the Flex has a roomy interior and high crash test scores, and the list price starts at $29,355. Its V-6 turbocharged EcoBoost engine is rated for 17 MPG city, 24 highway.

Chrysler 300 A hit from the start for its muscular styling, the updated 2012 model adds a new V-6 engine choice rated for 18 MPG in city driving and 27 on the highway. Reviewers say that the 3.6-liter power plant with a new eight-speed automatic transmission is a winning combination. Test drivers also like the interior and the standard tech features. Starting at $27,670, the 300 can range up to $47,670 for the higher trim levels.

Ford Focus The Focus is part of a renaissance among American small cars in what used to be a dreary segment. Totally redesigned for 2012, the Focus is praised for its sporty handling and comfortable ride. Starting at $16,500, it comes in both sedan and hatchback versions. It is rated for 26 MPG city, 36 highway. Brauer points out that the Focus has especially attractive tech options that appeal to young buyers.

In addition to cars from U.S. companies, a wide range of Asian and European brands offer cars assembled in U.S. factories, including long-time favorites such as the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. But for this Fourth of July, the choice of car from U.S. companies made in America is better than ever.

[joeyslaptop]

Someone needs to tell CBS that the Cadillac is now made in China.

[bigtimecynic]

CTS units sold in the US are made exclusively in GM's Lansing Michigan plant. CTS units sold in China are made in China.

[Joseph_Wallace]

For those idiots calling American cars foreign. The three American brands employ more Americans per car built. Foreign brands sell a lot and employ a tiny fraction of Americans. Foreign brands just throw us a bone and have us assemble a few cars. While American brands have their whole operations stationed right here in USA, including white collar workers, engineers, and any profits stay here.

[emagdux]

The unions are asking for to much money and benefits in the first place, thats the reason why the auto industry tanked.

[hypnotoad72]

The Ford Focus (and Fusion)... the engine is put together here, but the electronics are made in China, the transmission made in Mexico, etc...

They are not completely made, from the ground up, in America.

Many other car brands have similar tactics. Offshore more, while still collecting taxpayer-funded subsidies that would be better-used in bailing out the middle class workers being gutted by these companies for crying out loud.

The article means well, but it's got more holes than Swiss cheese. Sorry.

[flacoface9]

A recent Car and Driver displayed sales statistics that showed that when Americans are offered a diesel option, they tend to select it over the same vehicle's gasoline counterpart. Only German's sell diesel cars here. I think it's time for American companies to offer that choice.

[kmcoates]

US car companies, yes. US-assembled vehicles, no. A little research would have let you know the Chrysler 300 and Ford Flex are assembled in Canada.

[hypnotoad72]

Canada?

Weird. Especially for Ford and its love affair with Mexico for a number of parts built...

Made elsewhere, sold here as an "American" car... sad...

[rmw194]

canislupus...I'm driving a 2012 Chrysler 300 with the V6 and 8 speed automatic that gets 21 mpg real world driving around town and 30 mpg on the highway...again real world. Not to bad for a "lousy mileage car" especially a full-size domestic automobile.

[tafhdyd]

I guess this article was not written by the right wing crowd. Mitt and the boys wanted the auto industries to go under. Probably so they could buy them at a discount and then job it out to overseas.

[RageAgainstIt]

Wow, unless you're a professional propagandist of the Main Stream Media, you must be a couple of bricks short of a load. In case you didn't realize it, bankruptcy does not usually mean out of business. It means restructuring, where debt, labor, suppliers re-negotiate, not the bypassing of law that the Obama administration did to throw a fat bone to fat cat unions.

And by the way, they have given billions to GM that will never be recovered, including big tax breaks.

And finally, fyi Ford did not take the bailout.

[hypnotoad72]

RageAgainstIt - you and tafhdyd both mention some fair and valid points.

tafhdyd's response is a tad more political, justifying your response... but don't forget Bush, in Dec 2012, did put in a stopgap to help GM as well... I bet Romney's bippy was bummed that day... but why bail out a company that offshored, used lower quality materials, and drove its reputation into the ground by putting out garbage... workers put together what management ordered, and if you told a manager what to do you'd be labeled "insubordinate" (and other anti-free country things...)

Those against the auto bailout (that Ford did not partake in) seem to be in two camps:
1) blind hatred of workers and the working class/middle class
2) not liking corporations that cut corners, quality, and workers being bailed out when they darn well don't deserve it

You can guess which camp I'm in, and it ain't #1 BTW...

http://anti-union.blogspot.com/2008/11/greedy-american-union-auto-workers-and.html

[erasmus111]

Ummmmmm, let me see. I think I'll take one of those Chrysler 300s, please. : )

[forumcomments]

Built in the US should say assembled in US. Most parts made in foreign countries.

[bsharkey]

true if you buy a Hyundai, et al.

many Fords, Chryslers, Chevies are made here of U.S. sourced parts, where domestic content is typically 65-75%. not to mention engineering jobs and marketing jobs and finance jobs and HR jobs, and of course the profits tend to stay here and are spent here.

can't say that for all the foreign jobs tooting their own horn because they're "made" here".

[hypnotoad72]

BSHARKEY -

Um, FORUMCOMMENTS is correct.

By and large, more car parts are made elsewhere and shipped here to bolt together.

I mentioned the Ford Focus and Fusion earlier, both going to Mexico (and no doubt improving the lives of their workers, uh-huh) for those fine quality transmissions...

Having said that, when jobs are here and workers get to earn money here and spend it here, that is how our economy is stabilized. These companies leeching via offshoring (while taking even a penny of taxpayer funds of any sort) upend the entire paradigm for their sole gain, at our expense. Doesn't seem fair to most of us, does it?

[askagain]

The quality of American cars may be improving but I remember being burned by poor quality American cars in the 1970s and 1980s. Once I bought a foreign car, there has been no turning back for me. It has been over 15 years since owning an American made car and I still have a sour taste from them. Since 1997, Lexus has been the car of choice for my wife and myself. Luxury, reliability, great dealer service for warranty work, and high resale value have kept us happy.

[askagain]

7-luckyseven - Yes and No. Lexus is owned by Toyota and more expensive than a comparably priced Toyota. However, on each Lexus that I've owned, Lexus has allowed me 50% trade-in toward a new Lexus after owning each Lexus for five years. That is hard to beat.

[retiredgustav]

Just don't put a proud to be an American sticker on it.