Consumer Reports: Satisfaction Improving for Domestic Cars

Although Japanese cars continued to dominate Consumer Reports’ Car Owner Satisfaction Survey, domestic automakers scored some of their highest marks in the past five years. In the family car category, the Ford Fusion V-6 and Saturn Aura were both chosen by consumers as two of the top four Most Satisfying Vehicles. Also, for the first time in five years, the luxury/upscale category saw the introduction of a domestic vehicle, the Lincoln MKZ AWD.

Japan remained dominant, however, producing 18 of the 39 car models chosen, with Toyota responsible for 10 of those. For the fourth straight year, consumers chose the Toyota Prius hybrid as the most satisfying vehicle overall, outdistancing plush luxury vehicles like the BMW 335i and Porsche Boxster. Nine out of 10 Prius owners said they would buy the car again.

Comments

Would love to buy domestic, but won't for a very long time, or until domestic cars can prove themselves to be: 1) reliable, 2) gas efficient, and 3) hold it's retail price.

Resale is largely determined by the consumer. It doesn't matter how much they improve, if no one wants them, they resale is going to be lower. The Pontiac Solstice for instance is not considered very reliable at all, it is not practical or particularly good at anything either for that matter. It is desirable though and it has one of the highest resale values in the industry.

Funny how the leading "Domestic" cars aren't even designed in America! The Saturn Aura isn't American, neither is the Fusion- it is a Mazda! SADNESS for the American manufacturer's!

VW had quite a few most satisfied entries also- the GTI, Rabbit, Eos and the (Audi) S4.

some of the Japanese cars are at 80% satisfaction, but for only one model. the others obviously are not mentioned because they have a lower satisfaction rating than 80%. the camry, for example, is only mentioned in the hybrid form, while the others are absent. both the Rav4 and 4Runner are only mentioned in v6 forms, so that means that the other engines had lower satisfaction...

the same goes with the least satisfying. the cobalt coupe, nonturbo had a 48% rating, but who knows what the turbo's rating was. the jeep commander V6 also had a fairly low rating at 45%, but the other engines may be much higher.

actually dave,
the fusion is a ford- and if the 6 were criticized for anything everyone would call it a ford too. The 6 didn't make the list. Actually, it hasn't made any of the lists. I don't think it ever has. Does that mean Ford designs a better mazda?

Two words I've seen together for the past decade when it comes to discussing the US car market, 'domestic' and 'improving'. I'm not interested in #4 or below and that's exactly what the Detriot cars are. Give me Toyota, Honda, Nissan over Ford, GM, and Chrysler. Let's be honest, if you shop for value you buy Jap, if you shop on price you buy Detroit.

Why is there a picture of a Toyota Prius when the headline is about domestic autos as in Detroit? Last time I checked Toyota was not a Detroit brand. Also, why is there a picture of the Saturn Astra in the Kicking Tires banner? Is the Astra the official car of Cars.com?

I have had nothing but good service from Mitsubishi products,yet they rate low in satisfaction and problem areas.Guess I have been lucky,but it goes to show you get good amongst the bad too.(My workplace uses American /low rated/compact delivery pickups,and they are usually very trustworthy for 200,000+ miles.So,you cant always go by these surveys).

I don't even consider the cars listed there are domestic. The Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, and Lincoln MKZ are rebadged Mazda6, except with bigger interior room and longer wheelbase. That Saturn is rebadged Opel, which is also not American. They will have the same reliablities and performance as their foreign siblings but will NOT have the resale values. Just like Pontiac Vibe has lower resale value than Toyota Matrix even though they are the same car.

Is Toyota going to be the next Buick or Lincoln? Not many young people buys them. At least Lexus is more beautiful.

The least satisfying trio are the same POS! That's not fair for GM! (Sarcastic)

Toyota is already moving to the "older crowd." how many people in their 30's (and below) do you see driving Avalons, Solaras, or Land Cruisers?

Buick is trying to break away from the "old people car" image though, especially with the Enclave

Ford and Lincoln deserve hats off in an import drunk world! Great Job Team Ford. Saturn is strong as well.
Tell those Car and driver folks to get some more SAKE!

The Prius topped the survey overall hence the photo. We change the car in the KickingTires banner every month or so.

I sit here everyday at lunch and read the various comments on the articles at Cars.com and it seems to me that some people are just sitting there poised and ready at the keyboard to trash any thing (articles, comments etc.)about American cars. I understand some cars are better than others but NOT all American cars are a POS. I have driven foreign and domestics and there are good and bad in both. The domestic market has worked hard to get past the 80's and have done an outstanding job of bringing up the quality of there products. I try to buy American as much as I can because I am an American. I don't shop with blinders on, I still look and consider any car that interest me be it foreign or domestic.
There is a certain type out there that will trash American at all cost, only buy imports and probably has no clue as to the quality of the domestics.
I say them, go buy your import and drive to the country it hails from and then STAY there.

Stands up and applauds Ron.

I'm tired of listening to all of the people whining & rubbing their eyes over imports beating out domestic cars. they claim that domestics are just as good as imports but that some people just insist on having the 'status symbol' of owning an import. this is just B.S.! I've owned several of both over the years & can HONESTLY say that Japanese cars ARE better than ANYTHING detroit produces! PERIOD! everything from drivetrain to reliability to the quality of assembly to resale value. japanese cars beat domestics hands down. the people that still claim to know how good american cars are & are so dead set in their ways are the people who's parents owned an oldsmobile or buick. they bought a ford wagon to take the family on vacation. they've never owned anything BUT domestic cars & still believe that japanese cars are like the hondas & toyotas of the 70's. they are too pig headed & worried about being cut out of their WWII vet dads will, to open their eyes & see that they've been wasting their money on unreliable, boring, out of date P.O.S. american cars. im a midwestern red blooded american that's smart enough to know that id rather spend my money on a car that's exciting to drive & i'll get a good deal of my money back when I trade it in rather than a blah boring cheaply made detroit junker that will give me nothing but repair bills & a 50% loss in value after only 4 years. im not a traitor, I just know which cars are good enough to deserve my respect. detroit has a lot of make up to be done before it gets any of my respect(or money)

Good job Ron,

I am with you!

I say to them, go buy your import and drive to the country it hails from and then STAY there.

Regards,

PS. Boring, there is more stlying in my kitchen appliances than there is in most all toyotas and hondas. Chevrolet the only way! If the General don't make it, I don't need it!!!!

It is amazing to me how AMERICANS continue to support the economy of a country that loves to dump its Garbage (Yes!, Garbage) on America while it throws up protection barriers to keep American built cars out of its own market. if Toyota, Honda, and the rest of that brood are so G-R-E-A-T, why do we NOT see 40 year old versions of those "cars?" Answer: It is simple. Their lame assed baby motors can't hold together for that long, not to mention the rest of the cheap tin can.

GO BIG 3. If you like Jap crap so much, move to Japan!

American cars must be doing better; within two months I saw two broke-down BMWs on the road. How much money is that worth? The third car was a Pontiac. BMW's fancy twin turbo doesn't travel that fast when it's being towed. At least the pontiac owner got the same deal for 20K less.