Ford Drops; Lexus, Mazda and Jeep Improve in Latest Consumer Reports Survey

Ford's dashboard doldrums persist. The automaker's buggy MyFord Touch multimedia system, rolled out in summer 2010, contributed toward a steep decline in J.D. Power and Associates' 2011 Initial Quality Study. Now it has become a sore spot for Ford owners responding to Consumer Reports' latest reliability surveys.

Problems with the dual-clutch automatic transmission in the Fiesta and Focus also tarnished the brand, which tumbled 10 spots in overall reliability to 20th among 28 major carmakers. Ford's Lincoln division, whose MKX SUV uses a variant of MyFord Touch, improved one spot to 14th place. Other movers included Lexus (up seven spots to second place), Mazda (up eight spots to third) and Jeep (up seven spots to 13th).

The survey, based on responses from the magazine's 1.3 million subscribers, covered cars from the 2002 to 2011 model years, from which Consumer Reports predicts reliability for 2012 models. Consumer Reports says other Ford models, most notably the Fusion Hybrid sedan, remain as reliable as ever. And Ford appears committed to MyFord Touch, with plans to introduce it in the 2013 Taurus.

Recall Alert: 2012 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep Vehicles

Chrysler is recalling about 667 2012-model-year vehicles equipped with a 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 over an engine issue that can lead to power loss, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 2012 models included in the recall are the Chrysler 200, Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Charger, Dodge Durango, Dodge Grand Caravan, Dodge Journey and Jeep Grand Cherokee.

In the affected vehicles, which were built between Aug. 25 and Sept. 5, the engine blocks weren’t cleaned properly. The result is hard debris can damage the connecting rod, main bearings and crankshaft, leading to engine failure. If the engine seizes up while driving, the risk of a crash can increase.

The recall is expected to begin in early October. Chrysler dealerships will replace the engine, free of charge. If owners already have repaired the problem, Chrysler will reimburse the expense if it wasn’t covered by the warranty.  Owners can call Chrysler at 800-853-1403 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.

2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Gets $3,000 Price Cut, Upgraded Wrangler Price Unchanged

The popular fourth-generation 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee sees a price cut of $3,220 for the base Laredo trim when it goes on sale next month. It will now start at $26,995. The 2012 Grand Cherokee also gets some new powertrain tech that should increase fuel economy for both V-6- and V-8-equipped models.

The 2012 Jeep Wrangler — with a much needed new V-6 that's more efficient and powerful — will go on sale with the same entry-level price as the 2011 model. 

Jeep Compass Proves It's What's on the Outside That Counts

As the least Jeep-like Jeep, the entry-level Compass has never gotten much respect. When it debuted in 2007, the awkwardly styled compact SUV was overshadowed by the significantly more Jeep-like Patriot. Aside from the looks, the two were otherwise identical.
 
Much to our surprise, the game has changed with the face-lifted 2011 Compass. New interest has revved up its sales, as the 2011 is outselling the original Compass during its inaugural year. July 2011 saw the Compass’ sales grow 240 percent compared with July 2010, up from 1,302 units to 4,430. The 2011 Patriot saw a modest increase of 7 percent, but it outsold the Compass by just 168 units.
 
We unanimously deemed the 2011 Compass a Loser in our Winners and Losers list when the SUV was revealed at the 2011 Detroit auto show. So what’s going on?

2012 Jeep Wrangler Rated at 21 MPG Highway

We reported earlier that the 2012 Jeep Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited would shed their old pushrod V-6 engines and four-speed automatic transmissions for Chrysler’s more modern Pentastar V-6. Today, we learned that the new setup earned a 17/21 mpg city/highway rating from the EPA. It also gets 18 mpg combined city/highway. That EPA rating is for the traditional two-door Wrangler, with either a six-speed manual or the new for 2012 five-speed automatic transmission.

While that score may not sound amazing in a world of 40 mpg compact cars, it’s considerably better than the 15/19 mpg rating of the 2011 Wrangler.

The 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited gets a rating of 16/21 mpg with a six-speed manual and 16/20 mpg with the five-speed automatic. Both models come with standard shift-on-the-fly, full-time four-wheel-drive system.

Jeep still hasn’t announced power ratings for the Wrangler’s new 3.6-liter V-6 engine, but we know it will be substantially more powerful than the anemic 202-hp, 3.8-liter V-6 found on the 2011. So far, Chrysler’s new V-6 has produced anywhere from 283 hp on the 2011 Chrysler 200 and Dodge Grand Caravan to 305 hp on the 2011 Dodge Challenger.

We already have 75 listings on Cars.com for the 2012 Wrangler, and there are plenty of window stickers and VIN codes floating around the internet for the 2012 model, which leads us to believe the model is or will soon be on sale.

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Chrysler Details Future Upgrades to 2012 Jeep, Dodge, Fiat Vehicles

Chrysler's SRT8 Lineup Priced

Chrysler confirmed pricing on its 2012 SRT8 lineup today. The 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 will start at $54,470; the 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 will come in at $47,170; the 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 at $45,795; and the refreshed 2012 Dodge Challenger at $43,995, said Wendy Orthman, Chrysler spokeswoman. All prices exclude a destination fee.

All models include daylong track eligibility, with a “first-rate” driving instructor who will help teach basic performance street and track driving techniques, according to Chrysler.

Overall, the Challenger SRT8 sees the smallest price increase — up $1,215 from 2011 — but it gets more power. The brand-new Grand Cherokee SRT8 is a whopping $11,145 more expensive than its 2010 predecessor. The Charger SRT8 sees a more than $7,000 increase and the Chrysler 300 SRT8 about a $2,000 increase over their older models.

Continue reading below to see what you get for the price.

Chrysler SRT8 Models Get Even More Power for 2012

During the past year’s auto show circuit, Chrysler debuted all three of its ultra-high-performance models for its three marquee brands: the Chrysler 300 SRT8, Dodge Charger SRT8 and Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8.

At the shows, the company quoted horsepower and torque ratings for the lineup – powered by a new 6.4-liter V-8 engine – as 465 horsepower and 465 pounds-feet of torque. But as car companies with muscle cars are wont to do, they’ve updated those figures before the group goes on sale this fall.

The 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8, Dodge Challenger 392 and Dodge Charger SRT8 are all now rated at 470 hp and 470 pounds-feet of torque. The 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 is rated at 470 hp and 465 pounds-feet of torque.

You can read more about the models from our auto show coverage below, and we’ll have first-drive impressions closer to the cars’ on-sale date.

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2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8: In the Wild
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 Video
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8: Up Close
2012 Dodge Charger SRT8: Up Close
2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 Video
2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 at 2011 Chicago Auto Show
2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 Video
2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 at the 2011 New York Auto Show
2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8, S and Executive: Up Close

Americans Still Love SUVs ... From Detroit

June car sales proved the theory that America’s love affair with the sport-utility vehicle is far from over, despite high gas prices. And last month they wanted their SUV from a domestic automaker.

The SUV may be labeled differently these days — perhaps as a CUV, crossover or tall wagon — and the specific objects of affection are generally smaller than in the past.

But that doesn’t take the luster off of GM, Ford, and Chrysler combining to post a 28% year-over-year improvement in utility-vehicle sales in June. The overall U.S. light-vehicle market improved by just 7% in that same period. That's also in stark comparison to a decline of 1% for Japanese SUVs. Since that figure is likely impacted by the recent Japanese earthquake, we also looked at SUV sales from Korean automakers Kia and Hyundai. The two saw SUV sales up 18%.

No SUV sold in greater numbers last month than the Ford Escape.

Toyota, Chrysler, Nissan and Chevrolet Make the Least Expensive Vehicles to Insure

Toyota, Chrysler, Nissan and Chevrolet have the least expensive cars, vans, SUVs and or trucks to insure in 2011, according to Insure.com, an insurance research website.

Insure.com arrived at these rankings through a commissioned study by Quadrant Information Services, which calculated premiums for a 40-year-old male driver. The rates come from a compilation of six major insurance carriers’ premiums in 10 ZIP codes in each state.

According to the study, the least expensive cars to insure are the four- and six-cylinder front-wheel-drive variants of the Toyota Highlander, at $1,154 and $1,183 per year, respectively. (We would categorize the Highlander as more of a car-based crossover/SUV, but food for thought anyways.) The Chrysler Town & Country LX is the least expensive minivan to insure at $1,092 per year and is actually the most affordably priced car to insure, period, for 2011. The Nissan Murano SL is the least expensive SUV, at $1,128 per year, and the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with a V-8 and two-wheel drive is the least expensive truck to insure, at $1,174 per year.

Recall Alert: 11,351 Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep Vehicles

Chrysler Group is recalling 11,351 vehicles across the Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep brands over an incorrectly installed steering column, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Listed in the recall are 2011 models of the Chrysler 200, Chrysler 200 convertible, Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Avenger, Dodge Nitro, Dodge Caliber, Dodge Grand Caravan, Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Liberty, Jeep Compass and Jeep Patriot. The affected vehicles were built between April 13 and May 6.

In some of the vehicles, the steering column may have been improperly installed, with either a missing or incorrectly installed steering column pivot rivet. On vehicles where the rivet is out of sorts, the steering column can cause more physical harm to passengers in the event of a frontal crash.  

Chrysler dealers will inspect the rivet and the alignment of the steering column and make repairs if necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin this month. Owners can contact Chrysler at 800-853-1403 or NHTSA’s hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.