Detroit's Resurgence: American Automakers Make a Comeback in Consumer Reports' Brand Report Card

Just a few short years after staring bankruptcy in the face, Detroit's automakers are back, and they're building world-class competitive vehicles that are not only fun to drive but also reliable. General Motors and Ford Motor Company have been working hard to improve their products, and it's paid off. Consumer Reports' brand report card tallies the average road test score of vehicles purchased and tested by the organization, combined with the average predicted reliability of all the vehicles in a particular brand.

Lexus Takes the Top Spot

This year, Lexus again tops Consumer Reports' list, thanks to its very good reliability and strong road test scores across the board. If you look at any reliability category, chances are the top performer is Lexus. The Japanese automaker's reputation for building reliable vehicles is well-deserved, and it shows in this report card. Mazda comes in next, surprising many with its strong performance despite introducing or redesigning half of its model line just three years ago. Typically, new models tend to have teething problems when they come off the line, but not Mazda.

The Top Five Brands

Rounding out the top five brands are Toyota, Audi, and Subaru. These automakers have consistently delivered reliable vehicles that are also fun to drive. However, no mention of Detroit automakers has been made yet, as Chrysler's products still struggle in both road tests and predicted reliability. But that's about to change.

A Surprise at Seventh Place

You might be surprised to see GMC and Lincoln showing strong mid-pack results, even Chevrolet finishing 19th with a fraction of a point improvement that would have placed it 14th overall. This shows just how compressed the middle of the pack has become. Of course, these ratings are moving targets, and some competition is falling short in both reliability scores and road test performance.

The Rise of American Brands

However, the rise of American brands isn't just about road test scores and reliability ratings. Three American-branded vehicles have made Consumer Reports' list of top picks: the Chevrolet Impala, the Buick Regal, and the Tesla Model S. This is a first-time occurrence in nearly two decades that domestic brands have had three top picks. But it's not just the top picks that are doing well; several American cars are also topping Consumer Reports' new car value ratings.

New Car Value Ratings

The new car value ratings incorporate 5-year projected owner costs, and several American cars are coming out on top. The Buick Regal, Chevrolet Impala, and Chevrolet Traverse were first in their respective segments, while the Lincoln MKZ, Buick Verono, and Dodge Durango came in second. This resurgence in building reliable, practical, and fun-to-drive cars is a good sign from Detroit not only for the American economy but also for the entire automotive industry.

A New Era for Detroit

The rise of American brands is a good sign that all the world's automakers will be upping their game. With Detroit's automakers back in the game, it's clear that they're committed to building high-quality vehicles that meet consumer demands. This resurgence is a testament to the hard work and dedication of General Motors and Ford Motor Company. As Consumer Reports' report card shows, American brands are back and better than ever.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enjust a few short years after staring bankruptcy in the face Detroit's automakers are back well not back back but at least back to building worldclass competitive Vehicles General Motors and Ford Motor Company are building vehicles that are not only more fun to drive but are more reliable as well as for Chrysler well some product challenges remain that's the finding of the consumer reports brand report card which tallies the average road test score of vehicles we purchase and test right here at our track and combines it with the average predicted reliability of all the vehicles in a particular brand this year Lexus again tops our list thanks to very good reliability and also strong road test scores across the board if you look at any reliability category chances are the top performer is Al Lexus next up is Mazda which is surprising because half of its model line has been introduced or redesigned in the last 3 years typically new models tend to have teething problems when they come off the line not Mazda rounding out the top five brands are Toyota Audi and Subaru so no mention of Detroit automakers yet why are we making such a fuss well you might be surprised to know that uick passed such stalwarts as Honda Acura and BMW for a strong Seventh Place GMC and Lincoln showed strong mid-pack results even Chevrolet which finished 19th with a fraction of a point Improvement would have finished 14th which just goes to show how compressed the middle of the pack has become of course these ratings are moving targets and some of the competition we're looking at new Infinity and Mercedes-Benz Dro because of lower reliability scores and less impressive road test scores that helps Detroit's Brands move up with one exception Chrysler now owned by Fiat Chrysler technically is an Italian car company but more importantly the Chrysler Dodge Jeep and RAM products are fairing poorly in both road tests and in predicted reliability but the rise of American brand isn't just about road test scores and reliability ratings three American branded Vehicles the Chevrolet Impala and the Buick Regal and our best scoring model ever the Tesla Model S made our list of top picks that's the first time in nearly two decades that domestic brands have had three top picks what's more quite a few American cars are also topping our new car value ratings which incorporate 5-year projected owner costs the Buick Regal Chevrolet Impala and Chevrolet Traverse were first in their respective segments and the Lincoln MKZ Buick verono and Dodge Durango came in second this Resurgence in building reliable practical and fun to drive cars is a good sign from Detroit not only for the American economy but also in that it will spur all the world's automakers to up their game as welljust a few short years after staring bankruptcy in the face Detroit's automakers are back well not back back but at least back to building worldclass competitive Vehicles General Motors and Ford Motor Company are building vehicles that are not only more fun to drive but are more reliable as well as for Chrysler well some product challenges remain that's the finding of the consumer reports brand report card which tallies the average road test score of vehicles we purchase and test right here at our track and combines it with the average predicted reliability of all the vehicles in a particular brand this year Lexus again tops our list thanks to very good reliability and also strong road test scores across the board if you look at any reliability category chances are the top performer is Al Lexus next up is Mazda which is surprising because half of its model line has been introduced or redesigned in the last 3 years typically new models tend to have teething problems when they come off the line not Mazda rounding out the top five brands are Toyota Audi and Subaru so no mention of Detroit automakers yet why are we making such a fuss well you might be surprised to know that uick passed such stalwarts as Honda Acura and BMW for a strong Seventh Place GMC and Lincoln showed strong mid-pack results even Chevrolet which finished 19th with a fraction of a point Improvement would have finished 14th which just goes to show how compressed the middle of the pack has become of course these ratings are moving targets and some of the competition we're looking at new Infinity and Mercedes-Benz Dro because of lower reliability scores and less impressive road test scores that helps Detroit's Brands move up with one exception Chrysler now owned by Fiat Chrysler technically is an Italian car company but more importantly the Chrysler Dodge Jeep and RAM products are fairing poorly in both road tests and in predicted reliability but the rise of American brand isn't just about road test scores and reliability ratings three American branded Vehicles the Chevrolet Impala and the Buick Regal and our best scoring model ever the Tesla Model S made our list of top picks that's the first time in nearly two decades that domestic brands have had three top picks what's more quite a few American cars are also topping our new car value ratings which incorporate 5-year projected owner costs the Buick Regal Chevrolet Impala and Chevrolet Traverse were first in their respective segments and the Lincoln MKZ Buick verono and Dodge Durango came in second this Resurgence in building reliable practical and fun to drive cars is a good sign from Detroit not only for the American economy but also in that it will spur all the world's automakers to up their game as well\n"