Bartek Sikorski

Posted on Friday 29 February 2008

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Yesterday Consumer Reports released its annual ‘Top Pics’ list of the best cars of 2008 and now we have a list of the worst contenders. Judges compared over 260 vehicles in this year’s evaluation and once again American SUVs dominated the field although there were a number of Toyota models, usually the strong players, at the bottom of the field as well.

The worst cars are as follows:
• Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
The Wrangler Unlimited was characterised by its poor ride and handling as well as its subpar fuel-economy, fit and finish.
• Hummer H3 five-cylinder
Poor performance and fuel-economy as well as a low rating for handling and reliability ensured the Hummer H3 was at the bottom.
• Jeep Liberty Sport
Rated poorly for fuel-economy, NVH levels and fit and finish.
• Chevrolet Aveo5
The Aveo5 only suffered from poor acceleration and handling but compared to its rivals the South Korean hatch was the worst performer.
• Dodge Nitro SLT
One of the worst cars in the field, the Dodge Nitro SLT was rated as having poor ride, handling, braking, NVH levels and fuel-economy.
• Toyota FJ Cruiser
A work horse SUV that requires premium fuel and suffers from poor fit and finish and subpar ride and handling.
• Toyota Yaris
The Yaris is one of the most popular subcompacts in the world but its poor acceleration and vague steering meant it was one of the worst cars in this year’s compare.
• Suzuki Forenza
The Suzuki Forenza was rated poorly because of its inadequate acceleration, fuel economy, ride, and low results in the IIHS sidecrash result.
• Jeep Patriot Limited
Another Jeep model made the list of worst performance, once again for poor acceleration, engine noise, driving position, visibility, front-seat comfort and fit and finish.
• Chevrolet TrailBlazer LT
Poor handling, braking and fuel-economy ensure the Chevrolet TrailBlazer is at the bottom of the list.
• Mercury Grand Marquis
The ageing Grand Marquis rounds out the list of the 11 worst cars of 2008, and was picked because of its rough sounding engine, poor ride and fuel-economy and low IIHS side-crash result.

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cawimmer430

Come on, this is BS. I mean two Toyota's on that list? Simply not true. Someone go find the real list. The one with like 6 German cars on it...

ojis

I disagree on the Yaris. It is best in it's class... A real all-rounder.

Kowalski

What? No German car?! There must be something wrong with this survey.

Kowalski

I agree with you. Yaris is a lovely little car and very reliable too. My mother loves her Yaris.

cawimmer430

It might be that, but all of a sudden Consumer Reports cares about handling and acceleration!

Merc1

A couple of things. This isn't their usual survey type deal. This is worst of the worst cars that they've actually tested. Secondly believe it or not CR does like Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi if you read their annual auto issues from the past few years. They have nothing but praise for most Mercedes-Benz models, but of course can't recommend them due to (according to them) sub-par reliability.

There some threads over on MBWorld that talk about this latest issue. There was so much talk I actually ran out to buy the issue so I could examine it myself. Each and every Mercedes they say has excellent fit and finish, great safety, comfort, refinement, performance, superior accident avoidance and what not, but are not reliable enough for them to recommend.

They do recommend the previously dumped on BMW 7-Series. They also recommend the Audi A6, BMW 3-Series, Porsche 911 and BMW X5 (yes the new one) so they aren't as brain-dead as many make them out to be when it comes actual road testing of cars.

The part where I draw the line with them is the W221 S-Class. Everywhere else this car has proven to be more reliable many times over compared to the W220, yet CR still says that reliability has been "sub-par", whatever the @#$% that means. JD Powers releases their data later this spring which will also be based on the first year of ownership so it will be most interesting to see what they say.

Consumer Reports whines constantly about German cars having controls that are too complicated, BMW especially. Ok, a legitimate gripe for some people, but that has nothing to do with reliability!!!!

You may notice that they don't like all things Toyota either. Shocking.

Ok the whining about controls is one thing, but the fact that they still recommend cars that they think are severly lacking just because they are reliable is just down stupid. The BMW 7-Series, a car that they say "misses the mark as a luxury car" is still recommended? Ditto for the Saab 9-3? No true automotive publication would say or feel that way about a car and then turn around and recommend it. I just use those 2 as an example, not saying that I agree with CR's analysis.

This list of 11 worst cars isn't too far off IMO, with some exceptions. I don't think they grasp the intent and purpose of every car on the market, but still.

Either way I'm done with giving a damn about what CR says anymore. I had already said that if the the W221 didn't get their nod I was done and I am. The dealer service bays at any dealer you ask say that the W221 is reliable, moreso than any Benz in the last 10-15 years and JDP says it has been reliable also, at least for the first 90 days. Now CR is saying that the S-Class' reliability goes off the deep end after 90 days? BULLSHIT.




M

The Artist

thank you lord that no german is on that list

cawimmer430

Nicely said.

I was wondering why the current W221 S-Class isn't mentioned as being top in reliability. I mean I too have heard only good news about its reliability even in Europe. I believe JD Power even ranked the W221 higher in initial quality than the Lexus LS so this is obviously a sign that things have improved.

Yet the W221 is not recommended because of "poor reliability"? Huh?

And where is the W204? Oh wait, let me guess. It's not recommended because of predicted poor reliability.

Merc1

Well to be fair they don't have any data on the W204 yet because it is a 2008 model here. They didn't do their usual "prediction" crap based on the last year's W203 so I won't bad mouth them for that. They just list the W204 as being "New" which it is. This time next year we'll get the results for the W204.

M