Consumer Reports articles from April 2007

Consumer Reports archives from April 2007

Driving through the highs and lows.(Have You Heard?)(Annual Auto Issue)
April 1, 2007... Sixty years ago, CONSUMER REPORTS suggested that car-shoppers might want to "wait for '48" rather than buy a 1947 model. The '47s, we noted, had only "perfunctory grille or ornament changes--designed to create as much obsolescence as possible...

Top Picks 2007: the best models in 10 categories.(Annual Auto Issue)(Buyers guide)
April 1, 2007... Five new models join our Top Picks this year. Among small SUVs, the redesigned Toyota RAV4 now tops our Ratings. The updated Infiniti G35 beat all other upscale sedans. A new engine propelled the Toyota Sienna to the top of our minivan Ratings....

Best & worst: winners and losers from our testing and owner surveys.(Annual Auto Issue)(Buyers guide)
April 1, 2007... New or redesigned [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MOST IMPRESSIVE Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan As expected, these replacements for the Taurus and Sable are practical and roomy. But we were unexpectedly impressed with their nimble...

Back to the drawing board.(Annual Auto Issue)
April 1, 2007... During our testing of more than 80 vehicles a year, we see a lot of designs and features. Some are innovative, but others seem half-baked or conceived with a misguided sense of progress. Here are some we think should go back to the drawing...

Coming soon: our early take on the 2008 models.(Annual Auto Issue)(Buyers guide)
April 1, 2007... Much of the talk at this year's auto shows and especially from the domestic automakers is about the renewed focus on sedans. Most notable among this year's class are the redesigned Chevrolet Malibu and the luxurious Cadillac CTS, two sedans...

Which companies make the best cars? Global fight with intriguing results.(Annual Auto Issue)(Buyers guide)
April 1, 2007... Last year was a tough time to sell American cars. Ford lost $6.1 billion in North America in 2006. Chrysler built thousands of vehicles that even some of its own dealers didn't want. And the percentage of car buyers who bought American...

Buy better on the Web: now you're in the driver's seat.(Annual Auto Issue)
April 1, 2007... If you dread the idea of haggling face-to-face with a car salesperson, slogging from dealer to dealer, or searching in vain for the exact model you want, relief might be just a few mouse clicks away. The Internet can help you find the right...

Reliability trends: our latest survey tracks a decade's worth of trouble.(Annual Auto Issue)(Buyers guide)
April 1, 2007... Some 9- and 10-year old vehicles have aged gracefully and have fewer problems than much newer models. This is the news from our latest Annual Car Reliability Survey, which has expanded to include vehicles up to a decade old, spanning from the...

What's next in auto safety: innovative advances will soon make driving safer than ever.(Annual Auto Issue)
April 1, 2007... Electronic stability control (ESC), which selectively applies brakes to one or more wheels when a vehicle is about to slide out of control, is the most important safety advance since the safety belt. Recent studies have found that ESC could...

Safety features: crash-test Ratings and safety equipment for 250 vehicles.(Annual Auto Issue)(Buyers guide)(Table)
April 1, 2007... Each year more manufacturers add advanced safety features--such as electronic stability control (ESC), rear safety-belt pretensioners, and head-protecting curtain air bags--as standard or optional equipment. This is done in response to crash...

Vehicle Ratings and recommended models.(Annual Auto Issue)(Buyers guide)(Table)
April 1, 2007... Of the 255 vehicles that CONSUMER REPORTS has recently tested, 54 are standouts that have earned our top recommended Rating. These 41 cars, 8 SUVs, and 5 minivans have exhibited very good or excellent overall performance in our tests and high...

Vehicle profiles: our reviews, Ratings, and specifications for 250 models.(Part 1)(Annual Auto Issue)(Buyers guide)
April 1, 2007... With hundreds of major models on sale, it's difficult for prospective buyers to gather all the information they need to make a sound car-buying decision. These profiles, covering all major 2007 and early-2008 models, can get you started. On the...

Vehicle profiles: our reviews, Ratings, and specifications for 250 models.(Part 2)(Annual Auto Issue)(Buyers guide)
April 1, 2007... Kia Sorento The Sorento is priced similarly to many small SUVs, even though it's larger than most of its competitors. The previous 3.5-liter V6 has been upgraded to 3.8-liters and 262 hp for 2007. Acceleration with the old 3.5 was quite...

Used cars: the best & worst available.(USED CARS)(Annual Auto Issue)(Buyers guide)
April 1, 2007... These lists guide you to the most reliable vehicles for 10 model years, 1997 through 2006, and alert you to those that have been problematic. Reliable vehicles and Vehicles to avoid include all models that showed above- or below-average overall...

Reliability ratings: how 248 models are holding up in 16 trouble areas.(Annual Auto Issue)(Buyers guide)(Table)
April 1, 2007... These charts give you a model's reliability history for both its used versions (2001 through 2006) and the prediction of the new one currently on sale, based on our 2006 Annual Car Reliability Survey, for which we received responses for about...

Information from consumer reports[R] for Canadian readers.(Canada Extra)(Annual Auto Issue)(Buyers guide)
April 1, 2007... How to use the Canada extra section Every month, Canada Extra provides Canadian pricing and availability information about products tested for that issue. For the Annual Auto Issue of CONSUMER REPORTS though, the special Canada Extra...