Toyota Stages Consumer Reports Comeback
YONKERS, NY (WWJ) - Toyota has scored five of the ten "top picks" designations from Consumer Reports.
"They may not be the most exciting cars," said Consumer Reports managing editor for autos Jonathan Lincove. "But, they know what to do best, in the sense that they've been doing these reliability fuel efficient vehicles for a while now."
Toyota's Camry Hybrid, Highlander, Sienna, RAV 4 and Prius were named tops in their categories.
LINK: Consumer Reports Top Picks
This comes as good news for Toyota, which is still trying to rebound from last year's earthquake and big recalls the year before.
Consumer Reports Auto Top Picks
INTERVIEW: Consumer Reports Managing Editor, Autos Jonathan Lincove talks with WWJ AutoBeat Reporter Jeff Gilbert.
"The whole unintended acceleration issue really hurt them," said Lincove. "And, for a while, they've been going forward and cheapening their cars out a little bit."
The "top picks" designation comes from Consumer Reports own testing and a survey of its readers.
Only two domestic vehicles won the designation, the Chevy Avalanche pickup and the Ford Mustang.
"It's really a good car in both versions, the V-6 and the V-8," said Lincove of the Mustang. "We got really good fuel economy in the V-6. Both are powerful, fun to drive."
Subaru's Impreza, the Infiniti M and the Hyundai Sonata rounded out the "top picks" list.
Consumer Reports also handing out Manufacturer's Report Cards. Subaru finished at the top of the list, praised for a number of redesigned models. Ford was criticized for problems with its My Ford Touch system.
While Chrysler has improved, it still finished at the bottom of the Consumer Reports list.
While car companies change positions on these Consumer Reports rankings every year, Lincove says the industry in general has been showing improvement year-over-year.
"Cars are much more reliable today than they were five, ten, definitely fifteen or twenty years ago. You're getting more for your money."
Connect with Jeff Gilbert
Email: jdgilbert@cbs.com
Twitter: @jefferygilbert
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