Buick rates high for reliability
The U.S. auto brand is in the top three of Consumer Reports’ rankings.
Buick, the 117-year-old General Motors Co. brand seeking to shake its geriatric image, became the first from the U.S. to crack the top three in Consumer Reports’ reliability rankings, trailing only Toyota’S Lexus and namesake marques.
Tesla Motors’ Model S sedan recovered its recommendation, after losing it last year, in the annual survey of Consumer Reports readers. But its Model X SUV wasn’t recommended because of multiple issues, including issues with the electronic controls on its 17inch dashboard screen and failures of its falcon-winged doors, said Jake Fisher, the magazine’s director of automotive testing. The Tesla brand ranked 25th among the 29 rated.
The survey, a buying bible to car shoppers that has been dominated by Japanese automakers, has more international representation this year. As other automakers catch up to Japan’s manufacturers, both Subaru and Honda tumbled from the top group of “more reliable” brands, with Honda’s Civic compact car losing its longstanding recommendation from Consumer Reports. The Civic’s big problem was its electronic infotainment system,
Besides GM’s Buick, Volkswagen’s Audi luxury line ranked fourth, and Kia’s namesake brand came in fifth. Sedans, selling poorly amid low fuel prices, scored best, while hot-selling SUVs are among the most error-prone models because of their complexity, Fisher said. Dashboard infotainment systems and fuel-saving multispeed transmissions caused the most trouble.
“Certainly, Lexus and Toyota know what they’re doing, but look at the top five: We’ve got America, Germany and South Korea — it’s anybody’s ballgame at the top,” Fisher said in an interview Monday before the survey was released. “GM is making some very good cars today, and Buick’s cars are very reliable.”
The magazine’s survey started in 2001 and at the time looked back at more than 20 years of data. That means Buick’s entry into the top three is the first for a domestic brand in more than 35 years of record-keeping.
Buick has consistently scored in the top 10 of the magazine’s list and climbed higher this year in part because of the simplicity of its model line, which is heavy on sedans and short on SUVs. Buick’s most reliable model is the Verano compact car, one of its slowest sellers, while its Enclave SUV scored the lowest in the brand.
Buick’s high rating is “sure to be a wake-up call to other manufacturers,” Fisher said.
GM’s Chevrolet was the second-highest U.S. brand, moving up five places from last year to 15th. Its most reliable model was the Cruze subcompact, while its Suburban SUV scored the lowest. GM’s Cadillac Escalade SUV was the lowest scoring model among the more than 300 evaluated, earning a score of 3 on a scale of zero to 100. Cadillac rose four places to 21st, but remained among the “less reliable” brands. GM’s GMC fell five places to 24th, pulled down by a low score for its Yukon XL.
Ford’s namesake brand fell one spot to 18th, while its Lincoln luxury line fell four places to 20th, ranking it among the “less reliable” brands. Ford’s Expedition large SUV, based on a design that has been around for years, was the brand’s most reliable model, while its Focus compact car was the worst. Lincoln’s top scorer was the MKZ sedan, while its MKC compact SUV was its worst.
Four of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV’s brands — Dodge, Chrysler, Fiat and Ram — were at the bottom of the list.