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Cars

Subcompact: Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, Hyundai Accent.

Compact: Toyota Prius, Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Elantra, Honda Civic.

Compact sporty: Mazda MX-5.

Midsize sport: Ford Mustang.

Midsize: Honda Accord, Ford Fusion, Chevrolet Malibu.

Large: Ford Taurus, Nissan Maxima.

Compact premium sporty: Mercedes-Benz E-Class coupe.

Entry premium: Cadillac CTS, Acura TL.

Midsize premium: Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan.

Large premium: Lexus LS 460.

Premium sporty: Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, Porsche 911.

Light trucks

Compact Multi-activity vehicle (MAV): Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester.

Large MAV: Honda Accord Crosstour.

Large pickup: Ford F-Series, Chevrolet Avalanche.

Midsize pickup: Ford Ranger, Honda Ridgeline, Ford Explorer Sport Trac.

Van: Toyota Sienna, Dodge Grand Caravan/Chrysler Town & Country.

Midsize premium MAV: Lexus GX, Infiniti FX.

Large premium MAV: Mercedes GL, Land Rover Range Rover.

*****

Consumer Reports' "Rating the car makers" is in its Annual Auto Issue and also online. The overall score for each auto maker is based on the average of its vehicles' overall scores in CR's road tests and their average predicted-reliability ratings from CR's Annual Auto Survey. Manufacturers received a report card only if five or more of their vehicles were tested.

Honda continues to make many of the best all-around vehicles. Overall, its Honda and Acura models, are the most reliable vehicles in CR's predicted-reliability ratings. The most recent models from Honda, however, have not shown the same dedication to interior quality and fuel economy that earlier models did. Despite its outstanding reliability, CR doesn't recommend the new Insight because of subpar emergency handling and a compromised rear seat.

The redesigned 2010 Legacy sedan and Outback wagon raised Subaru's overall test score from 78 points to 81. That helped contribute to its tie with Honda in CR's rankings. However, Consumer Reports no longer recommends the Subaru Impreza WRX because its subscribers reported a relatively high number of problems, including transmission troubles, in the latest survey. Last year, CR recommended every Subaru model.

Hyundai/Kia showed a dramatic improvement in CR's report-card rankings, led by newer models such as the Hyundai Genesis and Elantra sedans, Santa Fe SUV, and Kia Optima sedan. Their reliability continues to improve with only the Kia Sedona minivan below average.

*****

This ranking is based on responses of 82,000 people who were surveyed within 90 days of buying or leasing a vehicle from the 2010 model year. (Problems per 100 vehicles)

2010 IQS Nameplate Ranking

1. Porsche 83

2. Acura 86

3. Mercedes-Benz 87

4. Lexus 88

5. Ford 93

6. Honda 95

7. Hyundai 102

8. Lincoln 106

9. Infiniti 107

10. Volvo 109

Industry Average 109

11. Ram 110

12. Audi 111

12. Cadillac 111

12. Chevrolet 111

12. Nissan 111

16. BMW 113

16. Mercury 113

18. Buick 114

18. Mazda 114

18. Scion 114

21. Toyota 117

22. Subaru 121

23. Chrysler 122

23. Suzuki 122

25. GMC 126

25. Kia 126

27. Jeep 129

28. Dodge 130

28. Jaguar 130

30. Mini 133

31. Volkswagen 135

32. Mitsubishi 146

33. Land Rover 170

*****

The APEAL Study (Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout) examines how gratifying a new vehicle is to own and drive, says J.D. Power and Associates. The results are based on owner evaluations of more than 80 vehicle attributes. The 2010 APEAL Study is based on responses gathered from more than 76,000 purchasers and lessees of new 2010 model-year cars and trucks who were surveyed after the first 90 days of ownership.

1. Porsche 877

2. Jaguar 854

3. BMW 846

4. Mercedes-Benz 842

5. Land Rover 836

6. Audi 832

7. Lexus 827

8. Acura 822

9. Lincoln 820

10. Cadillac 818

11. MINI 816

12. Infiniti 805

13. Buick 802

14. Volkswagen 797

15. Volvo 795

16. Ford 794

17. GMC 792

18. Chevrolet 789

19. Ram 780

Industry Average 778

20. Mazda 774

21. Mercury 769

22. Mitsubishi 767

23. Honda 766

24. Scion 764

25. Nissan 763

26. Dodge 761

26. Kia 761

28. Hyundai 760

29. Subaru 755

30. Suzuki 750

31. Chrysler 748

32. Toyota 745

33. Jeep 727

*****

J.D. Power's dependability study is one of the more useful measures of long-term quality. It measures the problems experienced by the original owners of three-year-old vehicles and includes 198 different problem areas. The rankings then are determined by the number of problems per 100 vehicles; and the lower the number, the better. This year's study was based on responses from more than 52,000 owners.

2010 VDS Nameplate Ranking

Problems per 100 Vehicles

1. Porsche, 110

2. Lincoln, 114

3. Buick, 115

3. Lexus, 115

5. Mercury, 121

6. Toyota, 128

7. Honda, 132

8. Ford, 141

9. Mercedes-Benz, 142

10. Acura, 143

11. Hyundai, 148

12. Cadillac, 150

12. Infiniti, 150

14. Subaru, 155

14. Industry Average, 155

16. SAAB, 158

17. Saturn, 164

18. BMW, 165

18. GMC, 165

20. Chrysler, 166

21. Kia, 167

21. Volvo, 167

23. HUMMER, 169

24. Jaguar, 175

24. Chevrolet, 176

26. Nissan, 180

27. Audi, 182

28. Dodge, 190

29. Pontiac, 192

30. Mazda, 195

31. Scion, 201

32. Mitsubishi, 202

33. MINI, 203

34. Jeep, 222

35. Volkswagen, 225

36. Suzuki, 253

37. Land Rover, 255