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2012's Best All- and 4-Wheel-Drive
Vehicles Sold in North
America:
Table and Charts
by James Bleeker
This page provides the table giving the 2012 Auto Reliability GPAs of the
best all-wheel-drive and four-wheel drive vehicles in 2012, charts of manufacturer shares of the best
such vehicles in 2012, and a chart
depicting the Overall Reliability GPAs of the top 15 in 2012 and bottom 15 in 2012.
The Table
The table below provides the Auto Reliability GPAs and Grades of the best of
the all-wheel-drive and 4-wheel-drive cars and light trucks - including
minivans, SUVs, and pickup trucks - sold in the U.S.
Reliability GPAs for 4 age ranges are given so that the
visitor may examine more closely the age range that is of
greater interest to him or her. As well, an Overall Reliability GPA - an
average of the 4 Reliability GPAs - is provided; this may be of greatest
value to those interested in purchasing a new vehicle and owning it for decade,
or several.
Letter grades for automobile reliability are determined thusly: A if the Auto Reliability GPA is 3.50 to
4.00, B if the Auto Reliability GPA is 2.50 to 3.49, C if the Auto Reliability GPA is 1.50 to 2.49, D if
the Auto Reliability GPA is 0.50 to 1.49, and F if the Auto Reliability GPA < 0.50.
The cutoff for the list of the best cars and trucks in 2012 is an Overall Auto Reliability GPA of 2.75, a
modest B by letter grade. The list is in descending order of Overall GPA, i.e.,
from best to worst.
The Reliability
GPAs and Grades of the Best All- and 4-Wheel-Drive
Vehicles in 2012
|
| ID |
Auto Manufacturer |
Line |
Model |
Model GPA for 0-to-4 Year Old
Vehicles |
Model GPA for 2-to-6 Year Old
Vehicles |
Model GPA for 4-to-8 Year Old
Vehicles |
Model GPA for 6-to-10 Year Old
Vehicles |
Overall Reliability GPA |
Grade Based on Overall GPA |
Minimum Reliability GPA |
Grade Based on Minimum GPA |
Number of Model Years of Data |
| 23 |
Toyota |
Toyota |
Highlander, V6 |
4.00 |
4.00 |
4.00 |
4.00 |
4.00 |
A |
4.00 |
A |
10 |
| 13 |
Toyota |
Toyota |
4Runner, V6 |
3.50 |
3.75 |
4.00 |
4.00 |
3.81 |
A |
3.50 |
A |
10 |
| 55 |
Honda |
Honda |
CR-V |
3.75 |
4.00 |
4.00 |
3.50 |
3.81 |
A |
3.50 |
A |
10 |
| 60 |
Honda |
Honda |
Element |
3.67 |
3.75 |
3.75 |
4.00 |
3.79 |
A |
3.67 |
A |
8 |
| 10 |
Toyota |
Lexus |
RX Hybrid |
3.33 |
4.00 |
4.00 |
|
3.78 |
A |
3.33 |
B |
5 |
| 65 |
Honda |
Honda |
Ridgeline |
3.25 |
4.00 |
4.00 |
|
3.75 |
A |
3.25 |
B |
6 |
| 27 |
Toyota |
Toyota |
RAV4,
4-cylinder |
4.00 |
3.50 |
3.50 |
3.75 |
3.69 |
A |
3.50 |
A |
10 |
| 22 |
Toyota |
Toyota |
FJ Cruiser |
3.00 |
4.00 |
4.00 |
|
3.67 |
A |
3.00 |
B |
3 |
| 64 |
Honda |
Honda |
Pilot |
3.00 |
3.75 |
4.00 |
3.67 |
3.60 |
A |
3.00 |
B |
9 |
| 24 |
Toyota |
Toyota |
Highlander
Hybrid |
3.00 |
3.75 |
4.00 |
|
3.58 |
A |
3.00 |
B |
6 |
| 9 |
Toyota |
Lexus |
RX |
3.50 |
3.75 |
3.25 |
3.50 |
3.50 |
A |
3.25 |
B |
10 |
| 35 |
Toyota |
Toyota |
Tundra, V8, 4wd |
2.75 |
3.25 |
3.75 |
4.00 |
3.44 |
B |
2.75 |
B |
10 |
| 46 |
Honda |
Acura |
RDX |
3.50 |
3.33 |
|
|
3.42 |
B |
3.33 |
B |
5 |
| 313 |
Nissan |
Infiniti |
G Sedan, awd |
3.25 |
3.50 |
3.50 |
|
3.42 |
B |
3.25 |
B |
6 |
| 25 |
Toyota |
Toyota |
Matrix |
3.67 |
3.50 |
3.25 |
3.00 |
3.35 |
B |
3.00 |
B |
8 |
| 8 |
Toyota |
Lexus |
LX |
3.50 |
3.00 |
3.25 |
3.50 |
3.31 |
B |
3.00 |
B |
6 |
| 240 |
General Motors |
Pontiac |
Toyota-engineered Vibe |
3.33 |
3.25 |
3.25 |
3.33 |
3.29 |
B |
3.25 |
B |
8 |
| 315 |
Nissan |
Infiniti |
M |
3.00 |
3.25 |
3.50 |
|
3.25 |
B |
3.00 |
B |
6 |
| 311 |
Nissan |
Infiniti |
EX |
3.00 |
3.50 |
|
|
3.25 |
B |
3.00 |
B |
3 |
| 47 |
Honda |
Acura |
RL |
3.00 |
3.00 |
3.25 |
3.67 |
3.23 |
B |
3.00 |
B |
6 |
| 308 |
Mitsubishi |
Mitsubishi |
Outlander |
3.33 |
3.33 |
3.00 |
3.00 |
3.17 |
B |
3.00 |
B |
5 |
| 36 |
Toyota |
Toyota |
Venza, V6 |
3.33 |
3.00 |
|
|
3.17 |
B |
3.00 |
B |
3 |
| 45 |
Honda |
Acura |
MDX |
3.50 |
3.00 |
3.00 |
3.00 |
3.13 |
B |
3.00 |
B |
10 |
| 33 |
Toyota |
Toyota |
Tacoma, V6, 4wd |
2.50 |
3.25 |
3.25 |
3.50 |
3.13 |
B |
2.50 |
B |
10 |
| 344 |
Subaru |
Subaru |
Forester,
non-turbo |
3.75 |
3.50 |
2.75 |
2.25 |
3.06 |
B |
2.25 |
C |
10 |
| 4 |
Toyota |
Lexus |
GX |
3.00 |
3.00 |
3.00 |
3.00 |
3.00 |
B |
3.00 |
B |
8 |
| 151 |
Ford |
Ford |
Fusion,
4-cylinder |
2.75 |
3.25 |
3.00 |
|
3.00 |
B |
2.75 |
B |
6 |
| 353 |
Suzuki |
Suzuki |
SX4 |
3.00 |
3.00 |
|
|
3.00 |
B |
3.00 |
B |
3 |
| 379 |
Volvo - Geely |
Volvo |
C30 |
2.33 |
3.50 |
|
|
2.92 |
B |
2.33 |
C |
3 |
| 345 |
Subaru |
Subaru |
Impreza,
non-turbo |
3.25 |
2.75 |
3.00 |
2.50 |
2.88 |
B |
2.50 |
B |
10 |
| 312 |
Nissan |
Infiniti |
FX |
2.75 |
2.75 |
3.00 |
3.00 |
2.88 |
B |
2.75 |
B |
9 |
| 285 |
Kia |
Kia |
Sportage |
2.33 |
2.75 |
3.50 |
|
2.86 |
B |
2.33 |
C |
5 |
| 28 |
Toyota |
Toyota |
RAV4, V6 |
3.75 |
2.75 |
2.00 |
|
2.83 |
B |
2.00 |
C |
6 |
| 348 |
Subaru |
Subaru |
Legacy,
6-cylinder |
2.50 |
3.00 |
3.00 |
|
2.83 |
B |
2.50 |
B |
6 |
| 349 |
Subaru |
Subaru |
Outback,
4-cylinder |
3.75 |
3.25 |
2.25 |
2.00 |
2.81 |
B |
2.00 |
C |
10 |
| 32 |
Toyota |
Toyota |
Tacoma,
4-cylinder, 4wd |
2.67 |
2.67 |
3.00 |
|
2.78 |
B |
2.67 |
B |
5 |
| 76 |
BMW |
BMW |
X3 |
4.00 |
3.00 |
2.00 |
2.00 |
2.75 |
B |
2.00 |
C |
8 |
|
| Note: To be among the Best of 2012, the Overall
Reliability GPA must be based on at least 3 model years of
data. Also, where a model entry specifically includes "awd"
or "4wd," the GPAs and Grades are for this specific
driveline version of the model. |
Note that among these better vehicles in 2012, there is not one by
General Motors Corporation or the Chrysler Group, other than the
Toyota-engineered Vibe.
The manufacturers which have offered one or more of the least trouble prone
all-wheel-drive and 4-wheel-drive vehicles in 2012, as reported by Consumer Reports subscribers and
measured by the Overall Reliability GPA, are Toyota Motor Corporation (with
6 of the 10 best, 10 of the 20 best, and 15 of the 37 best), Honda Motor Company (with
4 of the 10 best, 6 of the 20 best,
and 7 of the 37 best), Nissan Motor Company (with 4 of the 37 best, all from
the Infiniti line), the Subaru Division of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd (with 4
of the 37 best), General Motors Corporation (by marketing the
Toyota-engineered Vibe), Suzuki Motor Corporation, Volvo, Kia Motors
Corporation, and BMW AG.
In summary, the best all-wheel-drive and 4-wheel-drive vehicles in 2012 are concentrated in two automobile manufacturers - Toyota Motor Corporation and Honda Motor
Company.
Charts of Manufacturer Shares of the Best in 2012
First is a bar graph of the auto manufacturer shares of the 10 best
all-wheel-drive and 4-wheel-drive vehicles in 2012.
All of the top 10 all-wheel- and 4-wheel-drive vehicles in 2012 have a Reliability Grade of A.
Next is a bar graph of the auto manufacturer shares of the 20 best
all-wheel-drive and 4-wheel-drive vehicles in 2012.
Next is a bar graph of the auto manufacturer shares of the 30 (31 by tie) best
all-wheel-drive and 4-wheel-drive vehicles in 2012.
Chart of the Reliability GPAs of the Top 15 and Bottom
15 All- and 4-Wheel-Drive Vehicles
The following bar graph depicts the Overall Reliability GPAs of the 15 best
all-wheel-drive and 4-wheel-drive cars and light trucks and 15 worst all-wheel-drive and 4-wheel-drive cars and light trucks in 2012.
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Caution |
When the number of model years of
data (appearing in the far right column) for a vehicle
is limited to more recent years, the reliability GPAs,
Average GPA, and Minimum GPA of that vehicle may be less
reflective of the vehicle's reliability over a longer
period of time. |
The Auto Reliability GPAs are automobile reliability
statistics that are obtained from Consumer Reports' auto reliability
survey data summarized in the reliability tables of (1) Consumer Reports: New Car
Buying Guide: 2012, (2) Consumer Reports: Used Car Buying Guide: 2012, and
(3) the April 2012 issue of the Consumer Reports magazine.
The method of computation of the GPAs is probably familiar to nearly every college, technical school, and high school student.
A Grade Point of 4.00 (that is, an A) is given to a Consumer Reports Used Car Verdict
of "Much Better Than Average," a GP of 3.00 (that is, a B) is given to a CR
"Better Than Average" rating, a GP of 2.00 (that is, a C) to an "Average"
rating, a GP of 1.00 (that is, a D) to a "Worse Than Average" rating, and a
GP of 0.00 (that is, an F) to a "Much Worse Than Average" rating. A
4-year Grade
Point Average (GPA) is an average of the Grade Points and is computed using
Microsoft's Average(a:b,[c:d],...) function. The Overall GPA given in the
table and chart above is the average of the four 4-year GPAs.
AutoOnInfo.net: Helping to inform consumers which autos, brands,
and manufacturers are better than good and worse than bad since 2001.
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