Consumer Reports recently announced the results of its annual car tests. Manufacturers relish being on the top-10 list and, of course, don’t appreciate being on the 10-worst list. Consumer Reports tests more than 50 vehicles each year in a program that includes 45 individual tests — emergency handling to acceleration, fuel economy to bumper impact.
Here’s the list of 10-worst (actually 11) vehicles. That is, the vehicles with the 11 lowest scores (out of 100 points) and Consumer Report testers’ highs and lows comments:
1. Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Score: 17; Highs: Off-road ability; Lows: Ride, handling, braking, noise, fuel economy, fit and finish, visibility, front seat comfort, access, reliability. 2. Hummer H3 (5 Cylinder) Score: 27; Highs: Off-road ability, turning circle; Lows: Acceleration, fuel economy, access, visibility, ride, heavy tailgate, emergency handling, reliability. 3. Jeep Liberty Sport, Score: 27; Highs: Off-road ability; Lows: Fuel economy, noise, agility, fit and finish. 4. Chevrolet Aveo5, Score: 32; Highs: Front access, turning circle, hatchback; Lows: Acceleration, handling. 5. Dodge Nitro SLT, Score: 33; Highs: None; Lows: Ride, handling, braking, noise, fuel economy, fit and finish, visibility, access, reliability.
6. Toyota FJ Cruiser, Score: 36; Highs: Off-road ability, powertrain, reliability; Lows: Visibility, ride, handling, noise, fit and finish, premium fuel, access. 7. Toyota Yaris (base, manual transmission), Score: 36; Highs: Front access, turning circle, hatchback versatility; Lows: Acceleration, handling, vague shifter. 8. Suzuki Forenza (base), Score: 36; Highs: Turning circle Lows: Acceleration, fuel economy, ride, IIHS sidecrash result, ABS option hard to find. 9. Jeep Patriot Limited, Score: 42; Highs: Transmission, unusual interior features; Lows: Acceleration, engine noise, driving position, visibility, front-seat comfort, fit and finish. 10. Chevrolet TrailBlazer LT (6-cylinder), Score: 43; Highs: Low-speed ride; Lows: Clumsy handling, braking, fuel economy, noise, uncomfortable front safety belts, fit and finish. 11. Mercury Grand Marquis, Score: 43; Highs: Large trunk; Lows: Engine noise, seat comfort, ride, fuel economy, IIHS side-crash result without side air bags, no curtain air bags.
Article Last Updated: March 25, 2008.
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A sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004.
In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida.
An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast from 2017 to 2024.
