Consumer Reports releases top picks for 2009
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Consumer Reports magazine released its top new- and used-vehicle picks for 2009, and the results include two newcomers to the top of the rankings –- the Toyota Highlander as the top choice among mid-sized SUVs and the Chevrolet Avalanche as the best pickup truck.
Here are the top picks by category:
Small sedan: Hyundai Elantra SE
Mid-sized SUV: Toyota Highlander
Pickup truck: Chevrolet Avalanche
Best overall vehicle: Lexus LS 460
Family sedan: Honda Accord
Upscale sedan: Infiniti G37
Fun to drive: Mazda MX-5 Miata
Small SUV: Toyota RAV4
Minivan: Toyota Sienna
Green car: Toyota Prius
For more info. on the top picks, go to to the CR website.
CR also released its latest ranking of what it considers to be the most reliable used cars:
Small cars: Honda Civic, Toyota Echo, Scion xB, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Matrix, Pontiac Vibe, Mazda3, Mazda Protege, Subaru Impreza.
Family cars: Honda Accord, Toyota Prius, Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Toyota Camry (except ’08 V-6), Subaru Outback (6-cylinder), Nissan Altima.
Minivans: Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey.
Small SUVs: Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester, Mitsubishi Outlander.
Mid-sized and large SUVs: Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, Lexus RX, Toyota Land Cruiser, Toyota 4Runner, Infiniti FX35, Acura MDX, Infiniti QX4, Lexus GX, Hyundai Santa Fe, Subaru Tribeca, Nissan Xterra (’05-’08), Toyota Sequoia.
In its first-ever ranking of “best new-car value,” the magazine’s top pick was the Toyota Prius hybrid, which was cited for comparatively low cost of ownership, high fuel economy and relatively high road test scores.
CR also ranked the automakers in terms of their overall output for the U.S. market. Honda, Subaru and Toyota finished first, second and third, respectively. Chrysler finished last.
For a photo gallery of each category winner, click here.
-- Martin Zimmerman