Because nobody wants to get stuck on the side of the road. Nobody wants to end up driving around a lemon. Your life will become completely miserable. So your best bet is to avoid cars with crappy reliability records.
And Consumer Reports is perhaps the one publication that’s always on the lookout for your best interests. It’s not just a clever name. Every year CR releases its Annual Auto Survey, a collection of data consisting of the year’s new cars, trucks, SUVs and crossovers. All major makes and models are put through rigorous testing and the results are sometimes a bit surprising. Then again, perhaps not.
CR has released the new list consisting of the 10 lowest-rated models for reliability. Compared to recommended cars, these cars have a calculated reliability score of at least 125-percent lower. Issues ranged from poor crash test results to squeaks and rattles. The list is ranked starting from the worst score (percent below average):
- Fiat 500L – 219%
- Jeep Cherokee (4-cylinder) – 176
- Ford Fiesta – 162
- Nissan Pathfinder – 154
- Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 – 145
- Chevrolet Cruze (1.4T) – 143
- Dodge Dart (1.4T) – 140
- Jeep Grand Cherokee (diesel) – 134
- Infiniti Q50 – 127
- Mercedes-Benz S-Class - 127
