Toyota FJ Cruiser

Lexus, Porsche top J.D. Power reliability survey

Lexus and Porsche are the most dependable car brands after three years of ownership, according to the 28th annual survey conducted J.D. Power, the global marketing research company. It is the sixth consecutive year that Lexus topped J.D. Power’s annual U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study. The streak puts Lexus halfway to tying its record of 12 consecutive titles for most dependable brand between from 1997 to 2008. Toyota, Buick and Mercedes-Benz rounded out the top five brands overall. Mercedes, Hyundai (No. 6), BMW (No. 7) and Jaguar (No. 10) were newcomers to the Top 10 this year, while GMC, Acura, Ram and Lincoln dropped out. The industry averaged 156 problems per 100 vehicles in the latest dependability study, up by four

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Toyota, Nissan styles among 7 cars gone in 2015

Some cars, like the Ford Mustang, Volkswagen Beetle and Chevy Impala, have seemingly been around since the model T. It’s what happens when carmakers get lucky. A new car catches on with the public quickly and stays on the market through many generations — like the Mustang — which just turned age 50. And then there are other cars that, for one reason or another, nearly instantly fail like the Fisker Karma, the Finnish electric vehicle. After poor marketing and vast mechanical issues it folded quickly after about one year of abominable sales in 2012. For other reasons, most notably, slow sales, some vehicles or vehicle trims fade at the end of the calendar year after a few years of

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Toyota cans FJ Cruiser, Yaris, Venza next?

Toyota manufactures the most successful gas and most successful hybrid car in history. The Japanese carmaker makes the Corolla and the Prius, of course. And it makes the perennially popular Camry, Avalon and Highlander. But Toyota also makes the some vehicles that don’t sell particularly well. And it’s about to discontinue a model and may consider abandoning a few other models. According a report on WardAuto.com, Toyota, as previously announced, will discontinue its FJ Cruiser in mid-2014. Through November, FJ Cruiser sales were down 2.6 percent in 2013 to 11,826 units, according to WardsAuto data. The model’s best year was its debut in 2006 when 56,225 FJ Cruisers were sold. The Toyota Venza and Yaris aren’t scheduled to be discontinued,

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Consumer Reports: 11 Japanese cars best not to buy

Honda and Toyota make cars annually on best-of-the-year lists and perennially among the best-selling automobiles in history. Who’s to argue against the enduring success of the Honda Accord or Toyota Camry? But Consumer Reports knows plenty about cars and the respected publication has a a lot to write about Japanese cars it believes should be avoided. The Consumer Reports list is based on the company’s overall testing criteria the Japanese cars to avoid had total score below 60 and were given “F” grades. Here’s the list of the vehicles, each car’s total and comments why the vehicle is rated so poorly. Vehicle/Overall Road-Test Score/Problems 1. Scion IQ, 29, ride, noise, acceleration, steering, driving position, fit and finish, radio controls, blind

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Jaguar XJ, Kia Sedona among five cars you should never buy

A 2013 Jaguar XJ and a Kia Sedona may not seem to have much in common. And they don’t unless a potential of either car is interested in depreciation value. If that’s the case, don’t buy either. The $76,000 Jaguar and $25,000 Kia have among the worst depreciaton values over a five-year ownership. At least, that’s the opinion of IntelliChoice, the Campbell, Calif.-based research firm. In its findings, according to an article on Bankrate.com, logic often rules in the auto industry. Cars in high demand tend to have a high resale value, as do sporty cars, compact cars and the base-line model of a lineup.Large vehicles, midsize cars and minivans tend to lose their value. Here are five vehicles that

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Toyota dominates new ALG top resale value rankings

Toyota and its automotive Lexus and Scion families combined for nine top spots among 22 vehicle categories in the annual list of highest projected resale values offered by ALG, Inc. The Southern California source for automotive residual values provides the list for buying or leasing consumers. The reason: Depreciation is the largest percentage of overall vehicle ownership costs. Among mainstream brands, Honda was top-ranked for resale value, followed by Hyundai and Scion. Among premium brands, Acura was top-ranked followed by Infiniti and Audi. Toyota, however, had the most vehicles chosen at the top of their category Category Rankings Sub Compact, Honda Fit; Compact, Hyundai Elantra; Midsize, Honda Accord; Fullsize, Hyundai Azera; Sports Car, Scion FR-S; Alt-Fuel Vehicle, Toyota Prius c;

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Lexus tops Consumer Reports 2012 best list, Jeep gets top two worst spots

The Lexus 460L luxury sedan has been awarded top honors for best road test, while Jeep has dubious honors with vehicles receiving the worst two scores in Consumer Reports best and worst lists for 2012. Consumer Reports ranked the Lexus LS 460L at the top with a road test score of 99, followed by BMW 135i at 97; Infiniti G37 sedan at 95; Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE; Audi A6 (3.0T); Infiniti M37 and Nissan Altima 3.5 SR at 93. The Audi A8 L, Lexus ES 350 and Nissan Altima 2.5 S all appeared on the list as well with a score of 91 each. The magazine’s list is determined by 50 individualized tests and evaluations. Scores reflect how well a

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Jeep Wrangler, 2012: Rugged off-road master gets road features redesign

Now at the end of its first decade, the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is the iconic brand’s most rugged option. It features the standard seven vertical slat grille and round headlamps of all Jeeps, but it’s named after the 22-mile Rubicon Trail in the Sierra Nevada that begins about 80 miles east of Sacramento. The famous trail has road segments, but the rocky sections are where off-road vehicles can quickly shine or fail. if you name one of your vehicles after the trail, it should probably thrive on rutted, rugged terrain, water crossings and the unexpected proverbial fork in the road. Since its debut in 2003, off-road enthusiasts have often commented that for handling trail adversity, the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon does

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Jeep Wrangler, Toyota FJ get 2012 best resale value honors

The Jeep Wrangler‘s for 2012 has a more powerful and more fuel-efficient V6 engine and its gets the top spot in the overall top-10 best used car value designation from Kelley Blue Book based on its 68.0 percent resale value after three years and 55.0 percent  resale value after five years. The resale designations signify automakers achievements in producing vehicles that best retain their value over the first five years of new-vehicle ownership. The awards are presented annually just prior to the L.A. Auto Show, which begins Thursday at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The awards are presented to top vehicles in 19 vehicle categories and to the Overall Top 10 vehicles across all categories. Here’s the top-10 list and

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Jeep Wrangler worst ranked in Consumer Reports’ 2011 list

Consumer Reports buys the vehicles it tests, and through the years, the publication’s editors and testers have refined their assessment approach. It’s arguably the most detailed and respected evaluation of new cars and trucks in the automotive industry. As the publication’s editors like to say: “Not all cars are created equal, and we have the data to prove it.” Lexus has been at or near the top of the list of best cars for years, and like Jeep has been been in the dubious position among the lowest scoring vehicles. Vehicle are rated in categories — family cars to sports cars — and there’s an overall list based on 100 points and via more than 50 testing areas. Here’s the

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Toyota recall: Test your pedal mettle, read manufacturer's suggestions

The precautionary test the Q&A format of frequently asked concerns follow: Precautionary Test Drive to empty parking lot and practice how to put your car in “N” (neutral) position. Get the feeling of how the car responds to your actions, especially braking and turning, while the car’s gears are in “N” position. You must have learned this in your driver’s education class, but a refresher may be a good idea. If you are not sure what putting the car in “N” means, then you really should ask an experienced (and good) driver to teach you. The FAQs list: Which models are affected by the recall/stop sale? Toyota‘s accelerator pedal recall and suspension of sales is confined to the following:  2009-2010

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Toyota recall: Tips for owners of Camry, Corolla, Matrix, other suspended cars

When the sale and production of the Toyota Corolla, the biggest selling car in history, and the Toyota Camry, the top-selling passenger in the United Sates the past seven years, comes to a sudden halt, something is obviously wrong Toyota Motor Co., confronted the problem with a sudden and unprecedented announcement. Sales of several years of the Corolla and Camry models as well as six other Toyota models have ceased. Likewise, a temporary production halt of the same eight models from numerous North American production plants has been announced. The models which will no longer be sold and which will stop production in early February include: 2009-10 RAV4, 2009-10 Corolla, 2009-10 Matrix, 2005-10 Avalon, 2007-10 Camry, 2010 Highlander, 2007-10 Tundra,

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Scion Tops Consumer Reports 2009 Reliability List, Chrysler Falters

The Consumer Reports study is compilation of more than 1.4 million readers’ responses this spring to vehicles from previous years. The results are used to predict reliability for 2009 model. Here are top two best and worst cars (if available) from each category in the Consumer Reports’ reliability issue, available on newsstands Nov. 11. Small Car Best: Scion xD, Mini Cooper Clubman Worst: Nissan Versa (sedan), (no second pick) Family Car Best: Toyota Prius, Kia Optima Worst: Dodge Avenger, Chrysler Sebring (V-6) Sporty Car, Coupes & Convertibles Best: Lexus SC, Volvo C30 Worst: Chrysler Sebring (convertible), Saturn Sky Upscale/Luxury Car Best: Infinity M35 (rear-wheel drive), Lexus IS250 Worst: Cadillac STS (V-8), Mercedes-Benz E-Class (V-8) Wagons & Minivan Best: Toyota Matrix,

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Consumer Reports Selects Its Worst-10 Vehicles For 2008

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,

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Ford, Volvo, Honda, Acura dominate Institute For Highway Safety's 34 Vehicles Top Pick

Winners also have to be equipped with electronic stability control (ESC), which research shows can significantly reduce the risk of crashing. At the beginning of the 2007 model year, 13 models qualified, but as manufacturers have made changes and introduced new and safer vehicle designs, 10 additional vehicles qualified during the year. Now another 11 vehicles are being added to the list for 2008. Designating winners based on the tests makes it easier for consumers to identify vehicles that afford the best overall protection without sifting through multiple sets of comparative crash test results. Eight vehicles from Ford and its subsidiary, Volvo, make the list of winners for 2008. Seven winners are from Honda and its subsidiary, Acura. For first

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