Each year, Consumers Union rates cars for the infrequency of reported serious problems by model and model year. Rate a model, for each model year that provides the necessary data, such as “Much better than average”, “Better than average”, “Average”, “Worse than average” and “Much worse than average”. In 2010, he reported these ratings in the April 2010 issue of consumer reports, Consumer Reports: New Car Buying Guide: 2010Y Consumer Reports: Used Car Buying Guide: 2010.
To obtain a four-year reliability rating for a model, Consumer Union’s model year reliability ratings must first be converted to numerical values. To do this, standard academic convention is followed. A letter grade of A and a grade of 4.00 is attributed to a “Much better than average” grade, a letter grade of B and a grade of 3.00 is attributed to a “Better than average” grade, a letter grade of C and a grade point of 2.00 is attributed to an “average” grade, a letter grade of D and a grade point of 1.00 is attributed to a “worse than average” grade, and a letter grade of F and a grade point of 0 is attributed to a rating of “Much worse than average”.
To calculate a 2010 car reliability rating for 6- to 10-year-old convertibles, coupes, sedans, and hatchbacks, the average of each model’s rating points for the years 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003 is taken. The 2010 Auto Reliability Scorecard provides the 2010 Auto Reliability Grade Point Average (GPA) for vehicles 6 to 10 years old.
From the above, a 2010 Car Reliability GPA must be between 0 and 4.00 or one of the two final values, and a higher 2010 Car Reliability GPA for a model means a better multi-year reliability track record .
With the 2010 Car Reliability GPAs for vehicles 6 to 10 years old calculated, the top twenty convertibles, coupes, sedans, and hatchbacks from the period 2000 to 2003 can be established. The Top Twenty, Twenty-three by a tie, are listed below, along with their corresponding 2010 Auto Reliability GPA, and are ranked in descending order of reliability.
Toyota Motor Corporation Lexus ENa luxury sedan with a 2010 GPA of 4.00,
Toyota Motor Corporation Rear Wheel Drive LexusGSa luxury sedan with a 4.00 GPA in 2010,
Toyota Motor Corporation lexus lsa flagship luxury sedan with a 4.00 grade point average in 2010,
Toyota Motor Corporation Lexus SCa hardtop convertible with a 2010 GPA of 4.00,
Tea toyota avalana full-size sedan with a 2010 GPA of 4.00,
Tea eco toyotaa small sedan or 2-door hatchback with a 2010 GPA of 4.00,
Tea Toyota Priusa 4-door hatchback hybrid with a 2010 GPA of 4.00,
Honda Motor Company Acura RSXa sporty 2-door hatchback with a 2010 GPA of 4.00,
Tea honda civic sedanwith a 2010 GPA of 4.00,
Tea honda s2000a convertible with a 2010 GPA of 4.00,
the 4 cylinder toyota camrya midsize sedan with a 2010 GPA of 3.75,
Tea Toyota Corollaa small sedan with a 3.75 GPA in 2010,
the 4 cylinder honda accorda midsize sedan with a 2010 GPA of 3.75,
Tea Mazda MX-5 Miataa convertible with a 2010 GPA of 3.75,
Toyota Motor Corporation Lexus IS300, IS350a somewhat sporty luxury sedan or 4-door hatchback with a 2010 GPA of 3.67,
Tea Honda Civic Sia sports coupe or sedan with a 3.67 GPA in 2010,
Tea toyota celicaa sporty 2-door hatchback with a 2010 GPA of 3.50,
Honda Motor Company Acura RLa sedan with a 2010 GPA of 3.50,
Tea Honda perspectivea 2-door hatchback hybrid with a 2010 GPA of 3.50,
the 4 cylinder toyota camry solaraa convertible or coupe with a 2010 GPA of 3.25,
Tea BMW Z3, Z4convertible with a 2010 GPA of 3.25,
Ford Motor Company lincoln town cara large luxury sedan with a 2010 GPA of 3.25,
Nissan Motor Company Infiniti I30, I35a luxury sedan with a 3.25 GPA in Car Reliability in 2010.
Of the top twenty-three, Toyota Motor Corporation represents 12, Honda Motor Company represents another 7, and Mazda Motor Corporation, BMW AG, Ford Motor Company, and Nissan Motor Company each represent one.