This year, a range of Japanese brands are cleaning up and taking the top spots on the Consumer Reports and Auto Reliability Survey. Toyota’s three brands - Scion, Toyota, and Lexus - swept the top spots. When it comes to car reliability, no manufacturer can compare to Toyota. The Toyota Prius C earned Consumer Reports’ top overall score.

The Toyota brands were followed by Mazda, Subaru, Honda, and Acura - all Japanese brands. Of the 90 Japanese models reflected in the Consumer Reports Survey, 86 scored average or better, with 35 earning the highest rating.

Of European cars, Audi is by far taking the lead, moving up 18 spots from last year into eighth place. This makes Audi the most reliable European make and the top non-Japanese brand.

Wondering about domestic brands? While they aren’t topping the list this year, there are some U.S. brands that are standing out. Cadillac is currently the top U.S. brand, moving up 14 spots from last year. The CTS Coupe was rated the most reliable domestic car. Several other GM brands moved up in ranking as well, including Chevrolet, Buick, and GMC.

Next time you are in the market for a new vehicle, make sure you check out the latest Consumer Reports Auto Reliability Survey for a complete vehicle ranking.

 

 

With more room, a lower price tag, uncommon standard features, and a variety of engine options, the redesigned 2012 Volkswagen Passat beat out about 70 cars to be awarded Cars.com’s 2012 Best of the Year honor.

The Passat’s spacious interior provides comfort to both passengers and the driver. While the space in the car got bigger, its price got smaller, dropping more than $7,000 off the base price of the previous generation.  The lower price tag does not equate to lower standards. In fact, the 2012 Passat comes stocked with uncommon standard features, such as dual-zone automatic air conditioning.

By delivering value over flashiness, the 2012 Volkswagen Passat is a clear choice for Cars.com’s Best of 2012 Award.

 

Luxury has it rewards, and with Audi that means both now and in the future. Both the 2012 Audi A5 and 2012 Audi Q7 were awarded best in class honors for resale value by Kelley Blue Book.

The 2012 Audi A5 received the award for Best Luxury Car. The sleek sports car impresses with a uniquely refreshing exterior and brilliantly luxurious interior. The A5’s base 2.0 liter turbocharged engine performs well with 211-horsepower and 25 lb-ft of torque, while still providing excellent gas mileage: 21 city/31 highway MPG. The 2012 Audi A5 received a 9.1 out of 10 customer rating and an 8.5 out of 10 expert rating. The projected resale value for the 2012 A5 is 64.7% at 36 months and 41.0% at 60 months.

 

Not to be outdone by its sibling, the 2012 Audi Q7 took the honors of Best Resale Value for a Luxury SUV. The 7 passenger 2012 Q7 boasts a new base 3.0T gasoline engine, bringing a total of 280-horsepower to aesthetically pleasing SUV. Expert ratings give this vehicle 8.4 out of 10 while consumer ratings bestowed upon it 8.7 out of 10. The resale value of the 2012 Audi Q7 is 63.3% at 36 months and 44.3% at 60 months. Both 2012 Audi A5 and Q7 models are available in showrooms now.