Reliability

Many Americans have a false perception of the American automobile’s reliability. Much of this perception is due to bad past experiences, not current status. This is exacerbated by poorly constructed media comparisons rife with biases.

I have found that many sub scores make sense when analyzed individually; however, when they are aggregated into overall rankings, they often compare vehicles of very different markets. U.S News’s most recent vehicle rankings for Affordable Large Cars has the Mercury Sable, Ford Taurus, and Buick Lucerne ranked second, third, and forth respectively with reliability sub scores 10, 9.0 and 10. The only car in the first four seats with a reliability score below a 9 is the Toyota Avalon ranked number one with a reliability score an entire point lower than all of the rivals I just listed. Additionally, the Avalon has a starting MSRP $2,000 greater than the Sable and Taurus, an 8% increase in price. For the 8% greater price, you’re getting better handling, not just handling in general, but “high speed cornering ability,” and what some reviewers claim is a less “boring” interior. I don’t feel a ranking agency has any business judging a car’s styling and factoring that into the rankings. Consumers can develop their own opinion. If you want to round corners at high speeds in a large family-size car and enjoy styling that is more accepted by auto reviewers, by all means spend the extra $2,000.

In the midsize car sector U.S News ranks the Ford Fusion #1, Chevrolet Malibu #2 and the Ford Fusion Hybrid #3. Each earned a 10-point reliability ranking, as did the Mercury Milan, and Buick LaCrosse. The Honda Accord on the other hand only faired a 7.0.