Audi repeats as Consumer Reports top brand; Tesla leads domestics

Audi repeats as Consumer Reports’ top brand; Tesla leads domestics

Audi paced the industry for the 2nd consecutive year in Consumer Reports` latest Brand Report Card , while Tesla was the highest-ranked domestic brand — ending Buick`s three-year streak.

Buick, however, did remain in the top ten for the third straight year.

Meantime, three brands — Porsche, BMW and Mazda — had all of their vehicles earn Consumer Reports` recommended designation. Mazda also had all of its models recommended in last year`s report.

Consumer Reports calculated overall scores by taking into account road test spectacle, predicted reliability, holder satisfaction and safety results for each tested model of a brand. The magazine`s auto team then averages those scores at the brand level to showcase which ones are making the best cars, the magazine says.

Consumer Reports ranked thirty one brands. The magazine says brands must have at least two tested models to be included in the list, which leaves out Alfa Romeo, Genesis, Maserati, Ram and Clever.

The top five brands remained the same, but several switched places. While Audi (81) stayed in the top spot, Porsche (78) stir up two catches sight of to 2nd place; BMW (77) rose two catches sight of to third place; Lexus (77) dropped one spot to fourth; and Subaru (74) slipped three catches sight of to fifth.

Kia, Mazda, Tesla, Honda and Buick rounded out the top Ten.

«From year to year we see movements in brand rankings because of switches in reliability and fresh road tests,» the magazine said. «Subaru dropped from 2nd to fifth place because the previously very reliable Legacy and Outback are now rated only average, and the WRX/STI dropped to below average.»

The bottom of the list was anchored by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles brands. Fiat (41) came in last, with Jeep (45), Mitsubishi (51), Land Rover (52) and Dodge (56) coming in just above Fiat.

But the news wasn`t all bad for FCA. Chrysler, which had only the three hundred and Pacifica tested this year, witnessed the largest rise of any brand after moving up seven catches sight of to 19th place.

While Chrysler`s ranking was aided by its puny lineup, its vehicles were among the top road-test performers after registering an eighty four in that portion. Chrysler`s eighty four road-test score was good enough to top upscale brands such as Lexus and Mercedes-Benz.

However, Chrysler`s road-test spectacles weren`t good enough to garner Consumer Reports` recommendations for the three hundred or Pacifica.

Acura, Infiniti and Cadillac were the other big gainers this year, with each brand leaping six catches sight of. Acura rose to the 13th spot, Infiniti landed in 16th place and Cadillac ticked up to 18th.

«Chrysler is on the right track with the capable and sophisticated fresh Pacifica minivan, which is a real standout,» said Jake Fisher, Consumer Reports` director of automotive testing, in a statement, adding: «If the company can spread that quality via its fleet, and improve its uneven reliability, its ranking in our annual analysis could proceed to rise.»

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