GM, Ford gain in reliability

Consumer Reports magazine said several Detroit-made vehicles top foreign competitors.

Bryce G. Hoffman / The Detroit News

A new analysis by Consumer Reports magazine shows that two of Detroit's automakers -- Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. -- are making "real progress" against foreign rivals while Chrysler LLC continues to lag behind the rest of the industry.

The report, which is featured in the magazine's February issue, shows that Ford now offers several cars with reliability "on par with Japanese models" and says it is now "in front of the class."

Newer GM models also have performed well in Consumer Reports' testing, but the magazine said "the reliability of some still falls short."

The influential magazine has compiled a list of the best American automobiles based on data from its own testing and reader surveys. To be included in the ranking, a vehicle had to have at least average reliability and perform adequately in crash tests.

It ranks the Chevrolet Malibu LTZ with the V-6 engine as the best American car, followed by:

• Ford Fusion SEL (V6) and Mercury Milan Premier (V6)

• Lincoln MKZ

• Cadillac DTS

• Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable

• Ford Taurus X

No Chrysler vehicles made the cut.

The magazine called Chrysler's lineup "very disappointing with little promise on the horizon."

"Detroit has been lagging behind leading foreign automakers like Honda and Toyota for a long time, but forward-thinking leadership, better design and improved quality would do much to drive the recovery that we are all hoping for," said Rik Paul, automotive editor for Consumer Reports. "Despite the inconsistencies across model lines, there are still some top performers that get an 'A' from owners as well as our testers.

"All three automakers should benchmark future product against these winners."

The magazine goes on sale at newsstands today.

You can reach Bryce Hoffman at (313) 222-2443 or bhoffman@detnews.com.