Auto on Info: Car News and Commentary November 2007: The Best and Worst 2008 Automobiles by CR's Reliability-Verdict History: Toyota Models Dominate Best and Account for All Perfect Reliability-Verdict Histories of 6 or More Years; GM Models Dominate Worst

In Consumer Reports' Cars: Best & Worst for '08, the Consumers Union provides a history of reliability verdicts for most of the automobile models sold in the U.S. For each model year for which data exist, a model is accorded a reliability verdict of much better than average, better than average, average, worse than average, or much worse than average. The history of reliability verdicts for a model may be up to 10 model years (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007); however, if a manufacturer simultaneously refreshens and renames a model (as General Motors Corporation seems often disposed to do), CR's reliability history in this publication begins with the model year of refreshment.

By ascribing +1 to CR's verdict of much better than average, +.5 to CR's second-highest verdict, 0 to CR's average verdict, -.5 to CR's second-worst verdict, and -1 to CR's worst verdict, then adding together the numerical values so obtained for each model, and finally dividing by the number of verdicts for the model, a composite reliability value, ranging from +1 (perfect score) to -1 (worst-possible score), may be obtained.

To assist the consumer in selecting the best of 2008, two separate lists, with composite reliability values based on different sets of model years, are provided. The first list requires a reliability-verdict history that spans a minimum of 6 model years. This list is offered to those consumers who want the greatest possible assurance of both short-term and multi-year reliability. By this restriction, the best of 2008 are:

From the above table, it may be seen that all of the models with perfect highest-verdict reliability histories of 6 or more years are products by Toyota Motor Corporation - the Toyota Corolla, the 4-cylinder Toyota RAV4, the V6 Toyota Highlander, the Toyota Prius, and the Lexus SC. It may also be seen that the Reliable Two manufacturers - Toyota Motor Corporation and Honda Motor Company - account for all but one of the above models.

The following chart depicts each manufacturer's share of these more consistently high-reliability offerings.

The following table depicts Toyota's best of 2008 by this longer term reliability measure. The links are to on-site reviews of the model year 2007 editions.

The following table depicts Honda's best of 2008 by this longer term reliability measure. The links are to on-site reviews of the model year 2007 editions.

For the second list of the best of 2008, the composite reliability values are those obtained from the 5 most-recent model years. This second list is offered to those consumers who want strong assurance of short-term reliability with less, or much less, assurance of longer term higher reliability. By this second standard, the best of 2008 are:

The following chart depicts each manufacturer's share of these more recently higher reliability offerings.

The following table depicts Toyota's best of 2008 by this shorter term reliability measure. The links are to on-site reviews of the model year 2007 editions.

The following table depicts Honda's best of 2008 by this shorter term reliability measure. The links are to on-site reviews of the model year 2007 editions.

To assist the consumer in avoiding the worst of 2008, the following table lists those models with composite reliability values from 0 to -1 for the 5 most-recent model years.

Table of the Worst Cars and Trucks of 2008 by CR Reliability-Verdict History from the 5 Most-Recent Model Years
Model	Composite Reliability Value	Number of Model Years Offering Reliability Verdicts
BMW X3	0	4
General Motors' Cadillac STS V6	0	2
General Motors' Chevrolet Malibu V6	0	5
General Motors' Chevrolet TrailBlazer 6-cylinder	0	5
Chrysler 300 V8	0	3
Chrysler PT Cruiser turbo	0	4
Chrysler Sebring sedan V6	0	3
Ford F-150 V8 4-wheel-drive	0	5
Ford Mustang V8	0	5
Ford Ranger 4-wheel-drive	0	5
Ford Five Hundred/Taurus front-wheel-drive	0	3
General Motors' GMC Acadia	0	1
General Motors' GMC Envoy 6-cylinder	0	5
Ford's Jaguar XJ	0	1
Hyundai's Kia Spectra	0	2
Mazda B-Series	0	4
Mazda5	0	2
Mercedes-Benz C-Class V6	0	5
Mitsubishi Eclipse	0	3
Mitsubishi Lancer	0	1
Nissan 350Z	0	4
Nissan Versa hatchback	0	1
General Motors' Pontiac Grand Prix	0	4
Porsche Cayenne	0	3
General Motors' Saturn Outlook	0	1
Volkswagen Eos	0	1
Ford's Volvo C70	0	2
Ford's Volvo S80 6-cylinder	0	1
General Motors' Chevrolet Impala V6	-.10	4
Mazda6 V6