- In this report
- Family-friendly vehicles
- Fuel-efficient vehicles
- Fun-to-drive cars
- Luxury sedans & SUVs
- Owner satisfaction
- Safety
- SUVs, wagons & pickups
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Consumer Reports helps you make informed purchase decisions with: Detailed road-test reports Safety, reliability and performance Ratings Easy-to-use vehicle comparison tools Consumer Opinions What makes Consumer Reports different?  We accept no advertising We accept no free samples We buy every car we test and drive each thousands of miles
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Best in class: Safety
These vehicles are among Consumer Reports' top recommended models in their categories.
Consumer Reports has the most comprehensive, consumer-oriented autos-test program in the U.S. We anonymously buy our test cars from dealerships and conduct more than 50 evaluations on each vehicle, focusing on performance, safety, comfort, convenience, interior quality, fuel economy, cargo capacity, and
more.
Below, we've listed several vehicles that provide good overall safety, and are among the top recommended vehicles in their categories. Not only did each of these vehicles earn a high overall score in their class, but they also meet our stringent requirements to be recommended.
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Below, we've listed several vehicles that provide good overall safety, and are among the top recommended vehicles in their categories. Not only did each of these vehicles earn a high overall score in their class, but they also meet our stringent requirements to be recommended.
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SPORTY CARS Mazdaspeed3 The Mazdaspeed3 is based on the already fun-to-drive and practical Mazda3, but has a stronger powertrain and a sport-oriented suspension. The turbocharged, 263-hp, 2.3-liter, four-cylinder engine delivers smooth and very strong performance with minimal torque steer. Expect 24 mpg in mixed driving. This efficiency is good considering the high level of performance, but the Mazdaspeed3 requires premium fuel. It proved to be extremely quick and fun to drive with agile, secure handling. And yet, it has a usable rear seat, decent ride and interior noise, hatchback versatility and room for luggage. More sporty cars |
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LARGE SEDANS Toyota Avalon The Avalon features a large cabin trimmed in high-quality, luxurious materials. Passengers have abundant seating room, and the rear seats can even recline. Handling is responsive but not sporty. ABS and side-curtain air bags are standard, and ESC is optional. Crash-test results are excellent. More sedans |
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FAMILY SEDANS Honda Accord Redesigned for 2008, the Accord is a well rounded, roomy sedan with a comfortable ride and agile handling. It also has excellent driving position, visibility and the seats are supportive. The four-cylinder engine is smoother than some V6 engines and it got 23 mpg overall. The V6 model is very quick and got 21 mpg. Fuel economy for both engines isn't as good as in the previous generation. Electronic stability control is standard on all models, and crash-test results are impressive. More sedans |
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SMALL CARS Honda Civic The Honda Civic carries CR's top-tier recommendation. Handling is responsive and secure, and the ride is steady and compliant. The 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine is refined, works well with the smooth five-speed automatic, and returned 28 mpg overall in our tests. With a manual transmission, we got 31 mpg overall. The interior has generous storage space. Standard safety equipment includes antilock brake system and curtain air bags. Crash-test results are impressive. More small cars |
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UPSCALE SEDANS Lexus ES350 The redesigned, Camry-based Lexus ES350 is a solid and sedate sedan that emphasizes luxury over sport. The ride is very comfortable and the car is very quiet. Handling is not sporty, but is ultimately secure. The punchy V6 delivers strong acceleration and good fuel economy. Fit and finish is impressive. More sedans |
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LUXURY SEDANS Infiniti M35 The M35 is a luxurious, well-rounded sedan. It even outscored all of the luxury sedans in our tests. The ride and handling are well-suited for twisty roads as well as the highway. The V6 engine is strong and powerful. Interior accommodations are generous, and the materials are of high quality and well-constructed. AWD is available. More sedans |
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SMALL SUVs Toyota RAV4 The RAV4 is our top-rated small SUV. It has a flexible, well-designed interior and agile handling. It is much more substantial than its predecessor, with a quieter interior, a more comfortable ride, and better fuel economy in the four-cylinder. The 269-hp V6 is both powerful and efficient. Emergency handling is balanced and secure, aided by standard stability control. Curtain air bags are also standard. More SUVs |
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SMALL SUVs Honda CR-V The CR-V is one of the better small SUVs and is competitively priced. The four-cylinder engine is more energetic and refined than some competitors' V6 engines. The rear seat is roomy, the interior is flexible, and handling is fairly agile and secure. Simple controls, a steady ride, and a smooth, responsive powertrain are strengths. The tailgate is now a conventional top-hinged hatch rather than the swing-out style, but the new styling has compromised visibility and cargo space. More SUVs |
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