Recently, Consumer Reports has published its predictions about short-term reliability for sports cars. Projections are based on the irregularity of serious problems over the last 3 years or less of the model, depending on the availability of data. This article lists the Top 5 and Bottom 10 by the predicted CR reliability in each of the categories: small SUVs, midsize SUVs, luxury SUVs and large SUVs.
Top 5 small SUVs from the predicted short-term reliability of the CR:
Honda CR-V
V6 Toyota RAV4
Mitsubishi Outlander
4-cylinder Toyota RAV4
Non-turbo Subaru Forester.
Honda CR-V and 4-cylinder RAV4 have an excellent reliability history for 2010. CR-V has a high reliability rating of Consumer Reports (much better than the average) for 8 model years from 2000 to 2009 and the second largest rating (better than average) for the remaining two model years. The 4-cylinder RAV4 has the highest CR rating for 9 model years and the second largest rating for the remaining model year.
Top 5 Midsize SUVs 2011:
Toyota FJ Cruiser
4-cylinder Toyota Highlander
V6 Toyota Highlander
V6 Hyundai Santa Fe
Nissan Pathfinder.
Of these 5, the V6 Toyota Highlander has an excellent long-term history of reliability. For models from 2000 to 2009, it has the highest CR rating for 9 model years and the second largest rating for the remaining model year.
Top 5 Luxury SUVs 2011:
Lexus LX
Acura mdx
Lincoln Navigator
Lexus RX350
Lincoln MKT.
Lexus RX and Lexus LX have excellent long-term reliability ratings. In 2010, the RX has a high CR reliability rating for 9 of the last ten years of the model and the second largest rating for the remaining model year. The large Japanese Lexus LX has the highest CR rating for 8 of the 9-year history of data and the second largest rating for the remaining year.
Acura MDX has a less noticeable history with a Much-Better-Than-Average rating in just 3 model years and a higher rating in the last 6 years.
Top 5 large SUVs are:
Ecoboost Ford Flex
Toyota Sequoia
Front-wheel drive Chevrolet Traverse
Chevrolet Suburban 2500
Yukon XL 2500.
Ecoboost rating is based on only one model year of data. Toyota Sequoia has only mediocre long-term reliability, although it has a noticeable 2011 reliability rating. The 2011 rating for Traverse, Suburban and XL is rather mediocre. It is best to avoid this group, unless the price of a luxury sports vehicle is prohibitive or automotive.
Bottom part 10 (11 ties) Small SUVs By 2011, short-term reliability is predicted, in ascending order (worst of all):
Dodge nitro
Jeep liberty
4-cylinder, all-wheel drive Mazda Tribute
4-cylinder, all-wheel drive Ford Escape
V6, all-wheel drive Mazda Tribute
V6, all-wheel drive Ford Escape
Jeep compass
V6, front-wheel drive Mazda Tribute
V6, front-wheel drive Ford Escape
4-cylinder, front-wheel drive Mazda Tribute
4-cylinder, front-wheel drive Ford Escape.
Dodge Nitro and Jeep Liberty did a poor job of avoiding serious problems. For model years 2007 and 2008 (only two reliability indicators in 2010), Nitro had one indicator Much-Worse-Than-Average and one Worse-Than-Average rating. For the four most recent model years of the Jeep Liberty, the two reliability ratings for 2010 were much worse than the average, and the two were worse than the average.
Bottom of 10 midsize SUVs The worst first are:
Dodge journey
4-door jeep wrangler
4-cylinder GMC Terrain
V6 GMC Terrain
Nissan xtrerra
Turbo Mazda CX-7
Hyundai veracruz
2-door Jeep Wrangler
V6 Chevrolet Equinox
V6 Kia Sorento.
It is noteworthy that for the long-term reliability ratings of 2010 - Chevrolet Equinox and Kia Sorento. The equinox has 3 Much-Worse-Than-Average or Worse-Than-Average values from a 5-year history of data, and Sorento has 4 such from its 6-year data history.
Bottom 10 Luxury SUVs The worst first are:
Mercedes-Benz GL-Class turbo diesel
6 cylinder BMW X5
BMW X5 Turbodiesel
V8 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
Mercedes-Benz R-Class
Audi Q7
Cadillac escalade
All-wheel drive Buick Enclave
V6 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
Lexus GX.
The Mercedes-Benz GL-Class V8 has below average reliability for both model years of its data history for 2 years of 2010, the 6-cylinder BMW X5 has lower odds for 7 of the 9-year reliability history, the Buick Enclave wheel-drive below average rating for a 2-year history of data. The Lexus GX has one rating below average, but the remaining 5 ratings are above average, and one is much higher than the average. Therefore, as soon as this is discussed, long-term reliability seems to improve with predicted short-term reliability.
Bottom 10 Large SUVs The worst first are:
GMC Yukon Hybrid
Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid
Front-wheel drive GMC Acadia
All-wheel drive GMC Acadia
4WD Ford Flex
Nissan armada
GMC Yukon
Chevrolet tahoe
GMC Yukon XL 1500
Chevrolet Suburban 1500.
Consumer Reports reliability ratings are generally respected, followed by North American consumers who are looking for high-quality products. ha low probability of serious problems.
