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Imports Outscore Domestics in recent Consumer Reports Survey

As is often the case with reviews and test drives coming from the folks at Consumer Reports, import automobiles seem to take the lead when it comes to owner satisfaction.

CR’s April issue is the coveted Bible of automotive review and test drives during this month of the year. Complete with satisfaction surveys, test drives, as well as such consumer information as leasing, buying and maintaining an automobile, Consumer Reports includes it all. What they’ve discovered in their most recent survey of domestic, Asian and European automobiles, the Asian and European models outscore the domestically-built automobiles.

According to Consumer Reports, Asian and European brands fill all but three of the 33 slots within its list of Most Satisfying vehicles. The three domestic vehicles that made the list include the Chevrolet Avalanche, Corvette and Hummer H2, all General Motors products.

As part of the annual questionnaire, CR asked its subscribers if they would buy their current car or truck again, considering its price, performance, reliability and comfort. Receiving more than 226,000 responses, CR used these responses to determine owner-satisfaction ratings and lists of Most Satisfying and Least Satisfying vehicles.

Published in the April CR issue are the following findings:

Most Satisfying

Small Cars: Toyota Prius, Mini Cooper, Honda Civic Hybrid
Midsized/Large Cars: Honda Accord, Toyota Avalon
Upscale/Luxury Cars: Lexus LS430, BMW 3-Series
Coupes/Convertibles: Infiniti G35 Coupe, Lexus SC430
Sports/Sporty Cars: Chevrolet Corvette, Honda S2000, BMW Z4, Nissan 350Z, Mazda MX-5 Miata, Subaru Impreza WRX, BMW M3, Porsche Boxster
Minivans: Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey
Car-based SUVs: Lexus RX330, Honda Element, Nissan Murano, Honda Pilot, Volvo XC90, Toyota Highlander, Acura MDX, Infiniti FX, Subaru Forester
Conventional SUVs: Toyota 4Runner (V8), Lexus GX470, Hummer H2
Pickup Trucks: Toyota Tundra, Chevrolet Avalanche

Least Satisfying

Small Cars: Hyundai Accent, Nissan Sentra, Chevy Cavalier
Midsized/Large Cars: Chrysler Sebring sedan, Dodge Stratus sedan
Coupes: Chrysler Sebring coupe, Dodge Stratus coupe, Chevrolet Cavalier coupe, Pontiac Sunfire coupe
Sports/Sporty Cars: Mitsubishi Eclipse
Minivans: Dodge Caravan (4-cyl.), Chevrolet Venture (regular length)
Conventional SUVS: Suzuki Vitara, Suzuki Grand Vitara, Nissan Xterra, Jeep Grand Cherokee (6 cyl.), Mitsubishi Montero, Chevrolet Tracker, Land Rover Discovery, Mercedes-Benz ML500, Chevrolet Blazer, Mitsubishi Montero Sport, Isuzu Rodeo
Pickup Trucks: Nissan Frontier, Dodge Dakota (V6), GMC Sonoma S-15 (V6, 4WD), Chevrolet S-10 (V6, 4WD)

Among other findings in CR’s survey were that Hybrids are very popular. The first-generation 2001-2003 gas-electric Toyota Prius tied with the Lexus LS430, non hybrid as the most satisfying vehicle overall. Honda Civic Hybrid came in a close second.

The car-based, unibody sport-utility vehicles are more popular than the conventional body-on-frame models, and more than 25 percent of satisfaction reports were for SUVs. Owner’s preferences were clearly indicated on this year’s Most Satisfying List which includes nine car-based SUVs and only three with a separate frame. Although large SUVs are still popular, conventional body-on-frame SUVs account for most of the low scorers.

Sports car and sport-car owners were most satisfied overall, and those least enthused were owners of minivans.