Consumer Report Latest Reliability Report

Toyota tied with Honda Motor Co. for the most models with top scores in Consumer Reports’ annual reliability survey.

Toyota and Honda each led in five categories and continue to “dominate” the ratings, the Yonkers, New York-based magazine said in a statement today. Ford Motor Co. was the only U.S. automaker with top scores, in two categories. General Motors Co. improved the most among the domestic companies.

Consumer Reports based its findings on responses of subscribers who owned or leased 1.3 million cars and trucks.

For Toyota City, Japan-based Toyota, the Yaris small car, FJ Cruiser mid-size sport-utility vehicle, Lexus LX luxury SUV, Sienna minivan with V-6 engine and front-wheel drive and Tundra full-size pickup truck led in Consumer Reports’ categories.

Tokyo-based Honda’s top scorers were the front-wheel-drive Acura TL for upscale cars, Acura RL luxury car, CR-V small SUV, Acura RDX upscale compact SUV and Ridgeline compact pickup.

Cadillac, Chevrolet Gains

For Detroit-based GM’s Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC brands, 69 percent had at least average reliability. Cadillac rose seven places from a year earlier, the biggest improvement, and the percentage of Chevrolet models with average or better reliability increased to 83 percent from 50 percent.

Ford’s Category Leaders

Ford, which today reported record third-quarter profit of $1.69 billion, won top scores for its Fusion Hybrid family car and Flex EcoBoost large SUV. Consumer Reports said 90 percent of the Dearborn, Michigan-based company’s models had at least average reliability.

None of Chrysler Group LLC’s vehicles scored above average, and 12 of the 20 models for which enough data were available for a rating were below average, the magazine said.

Three European luxury brands, Volkswagen AG’s Audi, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG’s BMW and Daimler AG’s Mercedes- Benz, scored among the worst this year, Consumer Reports said. Almost three-fourths of Audi models and about half of BMW and Mercedes vehicles were rated below average, the magazine said.

Porsche SE’s Boxster had the best score, and the Audi A6 3.0T and Tata Motors Ltd.’s Jaguar XF had the worst, according to the magazine’s statement.

Consumer Reports, published by the nonprofit advocacy group Consumers Union, surveyed magazine or online subscribers earlier this year. Each vehicle is evaluated 50 different ways, from handling to fuel economy to seat comfort, the magazine said.