Category: Car News

The amazingly spacious Honda Fit took top honors with 21.3 percent of the vote. Right behind in 2nd place was another Honda, the stalwart Civic, with 20.8 percent while 3rd went to the sporty Mazda 3 with 10.6 percent.

See how the rest of the field did in the full results below and make sure to exercise your right to vote in our next Consumers’ Favorites poll.

1. 

   1. Honda Fit (21.3%)

   What Edmunds.com says:
   The 2011 Honda Fit is no longer the only choice for a fun-to-drive, well-rounded subcompact, but it remains the hands-down utility champ.

2. 

   2. Honda Civic (20.8%)

   What Edmunds.com says:
   For a reliable and enjoyable-to-drive small car, you’re not going to do much better than the 2011 Honda Civic.

3. 

   3. Mazda 3 (10.6%) – [...]

Companies with the strongest showing included Subaru, which got top ratings for all five models it sells in the U.S. Toyota Motor North America got the most top picks, with 15 of its Toyota, Lexus and Scion models. That includes a top pick rating for the first time for the redesigned 2012 Camry. The Camry also got a 5-star rating in tests by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — more difficult now that those tests have been toughened for 2012 models.

Strong improvement from Honda

IIHS also cited Honda of America for the most improvement. Of the 18 vehicles new to top safety pick status this year, 10 of them were Honda or Acura models. “Honda buckled down and upgraded roofs on 10 models that missed winning last year because of rollover protection,” says IIHS President Lund.

If you are shopping, you can find a top pick model in almost every category. Among high-mileage [...]

Among the myriad factors to consider when shopping for a new car is reliability—a key predictor for how a vehicle will hold up in the years ahead. Choose a model with a below-average reliability rating and you risk greater post-warranty, out-of-pocket expenses and the headaches associated with frequent repair shop visits. And there are more than a few cars that could steer you down that dark path.

In the latest Consumer Reports’ Annual Auto Survey, data collected on more than 1 million vehicles across 10 model years provides great insights into the problems people have been experiencing, including their cost and severity. From this information, we’re able to predict how cars will hold up in the year ahead. While there are many cars with a promising outlook, there are also those with track records that are truly poor.

Of course, a model’s below-average reliability rating does not mean that [...]

Body Condition: Walk around the vehicle and take note of any signs of scratches, dents and rust. Little areas should be no worry, but large areas of those three items should be warning signs as to how the car was treated.

Also, take note of the body panels. They should line up evenly. If they don’t it may be a clue that the vehicle was involved in an accident.

Open and close all of the doors, hood and trunk. Note how easy or hard it is to complete this task.

Tires: Tires are a great way to figure out the life of vehicle. During your walk around, take note if all of the tires are of the same brand. Seeing a different brand on one or more of the wheels might raise some red flags. If you see any, be sure to ask the seller about it.

Look at each tire [...]

hen it comes to finding a reliable used car, knowing which used cars are generally rated as the most dependable and reliable can certainly help. Fortunately, Consumer Reports publishes a list of their best used cars every year. According to Consumer Reports the most reliable used cars are those used cars that have the fewest reported complaints and issues, and are reported to have the fewest number of mechanical breakdowns and failures.

Start your search for a used car >>

Japanese Cars Are Rated Highest
Consumer Reports states that Japanese manufactured automobiles are among the most dependable and reliable available. Furthermore, certain makes and models of Japanese cars appear in the Consumer Reports lists of most reliable used cars year after year. Therefore, this article will discuss some of the best Japanese used vehicles on the road today.

Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is often rated as the most reliable (or [...]

While two new studies don’t always agree on the fine points, they do find that Honda and Toyota are generally the best brands for holding their resale values after several years in service.

Import brands, on the whole, dominated the two studies by ALG – formerly known as the Automotive Lease Guide – and KelleyBlueBook.com, both released Monday.

Resale values are a significant factor that many motorists have learned to take into consideration when shopping for a new vehicle because, in some cases, that can make a more expensive price tag up front prove to be a bargain, longer-term, when it comes time to trade in.

“Toyota, Audi and Honda captured the most segment honors due to the consistent high value [...]