Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week

In Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays' critique of the 2014 Lexus IS 250, he says the new model's practical improvements are what make it stand out among competing sport sedans, but in a field where being fun to drive is the key concept, it stands little chance of leading the pack. The same goes for its chances on our list of most-read reviews, where the IS 250 — the lone newcomer to this week's list — finished sixth. Still at No. 1, where it has now spent a full three months, is the seemingly unstoppable 2013 Toyota RAV4 — though it's worth noting that the 2014 Subaru Forester came within about 400 page views this week, closer than any review in recent memory.

Check out what was popular this week:

1. 2013 Toyota RAV4
2. 2014 Subaru Forester
3. 2013 Honda Accord
4. 2013 Ford Fusion
5. 2013 Ford Escape
6. 2014 Lexus IS 250
7. 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe
8. 2014 Mazda CX-5
9. 2013 Nissan Pathfinder
10. 2013 Ford Explorer

Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week

In Cars.com reviewer Mike Hanley's critique of the 2014 Chevrolet Impala, he describes the sedan’s triumphant return to a form worthy of its flagship status. That triumph was validated by the review rocketing straight up to No. 2 in its debut on our list of most-read reviews. It still wasn't enough to interrupt the 2013 Toyota RAV4's nearly three-month reign at No. 1.

Check out what was popular this week:

1. 2013 Toyota RAV4
2. 2014 Chevrolet Impala
3. 2014 Subaru Forester
4. 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe
5. 2013 Honda Accord
6. 2014 Mazda CX-5
7. 2013 Ford Fusion
8. 2013 Ford Escape
9. 2013 Nissan Pathfinder
10. 2013 Ford Explorer

Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week

Now halfway through its third month atop our list of most-read car reviews, the 2013 Toyota RAV4 remained holed up at No. 1 this week with no other vehicle even coming close to smoking it out. The 2013 Ford Fusion, Ford Escape and Hyundai Santa Fe also stayed put at Nos. 5, 6 and 10, while all the other returning reviews shuffled around again.

Check out what was popular this week:

1. 2013 Toyota RAV4
2. 2014 Subaru Forester
3. 2013 Honda Accord
4. 2014 Mazda CX-5
5. 2013 Ford Fusion
6. 2013 Ford Escape
7. 2013 Nissan Pathfinder
8. 2013 Toyota Avalon
9. 2013 Ford Explorer
10. 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe

Recall Alert: 2013 Ford C-Max, Focus and Escape

Ford is recalling 5,675 model-year 2013 versions of the C-Max, Focus and Escape due to faulty child safety door locks, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It's the first recall for Ford's new C-Max hatchback.

The affected vehicles were manufactured from Nov. 16-21, 2012 (check your vehicle's build date on a sticker on the driver-side doorjamb). In these vehicles, the child lock mechanism on the door may not engage, increasing the risk of accident and injury if a child is able to get the door open. Ford reports that there have been no injuries associated with the defect.

The automaker will notify owners later this month, and dealers will inspect and replace the affected parts for free. Owners can call Ford at 866-436-7332 or NHTSA's vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info. 

Related
More Ford News on Cars.com 
More Safety News on Cars.com
Check Out Other Recalls

10 Cars for $10K: The Best Used Cars for $10,000

At Cars.com, we focus on new cars, but when it comes to overall car sales, used cars own the field. CNW Marketing Research reports shoppers bought more than 40 million of them in 2012, the highest total since 2007. For every new car sold, nearly three used cars changed hands.

Shoppers are still taking the used route despite near-record used-car prices, which soared so high that we suspended our $10,000 used-car recommendations — once a regular Cars.com feature — for two years. Blame the recession, which slashed new-car sales and the resulting supply of late-model used cars that are typically traded in for them.

Used-car prices are coming back to earth, according to Manheim's Used Vehicle Value Index, but that's not to say used-car prices are low again. They have ebbed enough to give $10K cars another go.

Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week

The 2013 Toyota RAV4 review refused to budge from the top position, which it has held the entire year. Meanwhile, the 2013 Honda Accord and 2014 Subaru Forester hung onto second and third place, respectively. The balance of the list is composed of last week's holdovers.

Check out what was popular this week:

1. 2013 Toyota RAV4
2. 2013 Honda Accord
3. 2014 Subaru Forester
4. 2013 Nissan Pathfinder
5. 2013 Ford Fusion
6. 2013 Ford Escape
7. 2014 Mazda CX-5
8. 2013 Ford Explorer
9. 2013 Toyota Avalon
10. 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week

Contrary to popular belief as per Benjamin Franklin, there are actually three certainties now: death, taxes and the RAV4 holding the No. 1 spot on our list of most-read reviews, as it has for all of 2013 so far. Among the less-certain aspects of this week's list, Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays' critique of the 2013 Honda Accord suddenly rocketed straight to No. 2 with nearly 81% of the RAV4's traffic. Mays says the Accord gained refinement and convenience features in its ninth generation, but at the expense of fun — something already lacking in the ultracompetitive family-sedan segment. Everyone else on the list was here last week &mdash and about half haven't even moved seats.

Check out what was popular this week:

1. 2013 Toyota RAV4
2. 2013 Honda Accord
3. 2014 Subaru Forester
4. 2014 Mazda CX-5
5. 2013 Ford Fusion
6. 2013 Ford Escape
7. 2013 Ford Explorer
8. 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
9. 2013 Toyota Avalon
10. 2013 Nissan Pathfinder

Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week

If the persevering popularity of the 2013 Toyota RAV4 is any indicator, we should've included it on our list of Top 10 Cars for the 2012 Apocalypse. As the scrappy crossover has been the lone occupant of the No. 1 spot on our list of most-read reviews for the entirety of 2013 so far, it seems an extinction-level event would leave behind only the cockroaches and the RAV4. Despite a spirited challenge to the RAV4's stranglehold on the top spot, list newcomer the 2014 Mazda CX-5 managed just better than two-thirds the traffic, good for second place. Otherwise, holdovers from last week did some spot swapping.

Check out what was popular this week:
1. 2013 Toyota RAV4
2. 2014 Mazda CX-5
3. 2014 Subaru Forester
4. 2013 Ford Explorer
5. 2013 Ford Fusion
6. 2013 Ford Escape
7. 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
8. 2014 Kia Sorento
9. 2013 Toyota Avalon
10. 2013 Nissan Pathfinder

Most-Read Car Reviews of the Week

Our review of the 2013 Toyota RAV4 crossover unsurprisingly extended its stay atop the list of most-read reviews this week. Aside from a bit of movement among the ranks and the 2014 Kia Sorento and 2013 Toyota Avalon joining the top 10, much of this week's roster should look familiar.

Check out what was popular this week:

1. 2013 Toyota RAV4
2. 2014 Subaru Forester
3. 2014 Kia Sorento
4. 2013 Ford Fusion
5. 2013 Ford Escape
6. 2013 Ford Explorer
7. 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid
8. 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
9. 2013 Toyota Avalon
10. 2013 Nissan Pathfinder

Ford Escape Tops List of Most-Stolen SUVs

The Ford Escape tops a new list of the most-stolen SUVs and crossovers, according to a study by the National Insurance Crime Bureau. The NICB — an insurance-supported nonprofit in Des Plaines, Ill. — combed through vehicle thefts from Jan. 1, 2008, to June 30, 2012, on 2009, 2010 and 2011 model-year cars.

Of nearly 20,000 reported thefts in those parameters, the Escape topped the list: 1,014 were stolen. Other hot SUVs included the Chevrolet Tahoe (856 thefts), the Toyota RAV4 (801), the Ford Edge (739) and the Dodge Journey (721). California, Texas and Florida experienced the most thefts, but New York City, Los Angeles and Detroit had the highest thefts for specific metropolitan areas.

The list suggests the Escape, Tahoe, RAV4, Edge and Journey may be the most-stolen vehicles in total. But like many stolen-vehicle lists, it gives little sense of how much theft risk you incur when buying a particular car.