Not surprisingly, some are better than others. It seems consumers have come to a similar consensus, with Consumer Reports claiming that Ford and Lincoln, Cadillac and Honda offer the worst user infotainment experiences. Not surprisingly, you won't find much argument among the Autoblog staff.
Take a look below to see just what it is about the latest batch of infotainment systems that grinds CR's gears. After that, scroll down into Comments and let us know if you agree with the mag's views.
Consumer Reports' 10 best car values
Consumer Reports thinks that real value is not necessarily how much you spend, but what you get for your money. Vehicles that are reliable, perform well, and don't cost much to own represent the best values. Overall, small cars and sedans provide the best bang for the buck, but there is a range of value available in every vehicle class.
Our list below highlights models in rank order that offer the best combination of overall performance and reliability for the money, considering all owner costs over a five-year period. All have an automatic transmission, except where noted, and typical options.
Toyota Prius Four
The Prius is the most economical five-passenger car that doesn't have to be plugged in. In our tests it averaged 44 mpg overall, and it returned an impressive 55 mpg on the highway. With light throttle input, it can quietly drive on electric power up to 25 mph. The ride is firm yet steady, and handling is sound and secure, but not particularly agile. Road noise is pronounced. The interior is roomy and the driving position has improved, but some controls take a bit of getting used to.
Honda Fit
The subcompact Fit four-door hatchback offers easy cabin access and very good visibility. It has an amazing amount of interior room and various seat-folding arrangements. While the Fit is not overly powerful, it feels responsive, with a smooth and willing engine, and agile handling. Fuel economy is an excellent 33 mpg overall for the manual and 30 mpg for the automatic. The ride is a bit choppy, and elevated road noise contributes to the din.
Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE
The Camry is refined, comfortable, and roomy. Handling is now more responsive, and the interior is nicer, with upgraded materials. Road and wind noise is slightly louder than in other Camrys, but the cabin remains civilized. The Camry Hybrid gets an amazing 38 mpg overall. Drawbacks include touch-screen radio controls that could be better designed. Bluetooth and a USB port are standard, and Toyota's Entune smartphone integration is available.
Scion xD
The xD is a boxier version of the previous-generation Toyota Yaris hatchback. The ride suffers from short, jumpy motions, and it feels jittery on the highway. Its 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine delivers adequate performance and is miserly with fuel, averaging 29 mpg overall with the automatic transmission and 34 with the manual. The cabin is noisy, and the driving position is awkward. The front seats are comfortable enough for some people, but our taller drivers found the bottom cushion too short. The rear seat has plenty of room for a small car, and cabin access is easy.
Toyota Corolla
The Corolla is a good small sedan, although it is rather bland. The 1.8-liter engine is relatively quiet and responsive. We got a very impressive 32 mpg overall in our test with both automatic and manual transmissions, making it one of the most frugal among nonhybrids or nondiesel sedans. By the standards of the small-car class, the Corolla has a comfortable ride. Handling is sound and secure. The interior is put together well, although hard plastic panels and trim are abundant.
Toyota Prius V Three
This wagon version of the Prius offers a very roomy rear seat and a generous cargo area. It's about the size of a Mazda5 but seats just five. The extra weight and a less aerodynamic shape take a small toll on fuel economy, but the V still got an excellent 41 mpg overall in our tests. Despite lower gearing, the electric motor and engine have to work fairly hard, especially when the car is loaded. It drives similarly to the standard Prius, but with better rear visibility.
Toyota Camry LE (4-cyl.)
The Camry is refined, comfortable, and roomy. Handling is now more responsive, and the interior is nicer, with upgraded materials. The base 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine returned an impressive 27 mpg overall in our tests. Drawbacks include touch-screen radio controls that could be better designed. Bluetooth and a USB port are standard, and Toyota's Entune smartphone integration is available.
Subaru Impreza Premium
The Impreza is a particularly well-rounded package and is our top-scoring small sedan. The ride is very absorbent and controlled. Handling is responsive and secure. Despite having a smaller engine with less horsepower than the previous model, the Impreza has good acceleration, and returns 27 mpg overall — impressive given the standard AWD. Complaints include a CVT transmission that exacerbates engine noise and pronounced road noise. The rear seat is spacious for the class, controls are straightforward and easy to use, and visibility is good.
Scion xB
The xB has a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine that delivers good performance but returns only 23 mpg overall. The ride is compliant, and handling is responsive. The interior is quiet, but the gauges mounted in the center of the dash are annoying, and the radio controls are a bit confusing. The rear seat is enormous, and cabin access is very easy. The cargo area is generous, but low windows and thick roof pillars make the cabin dark and impair visibility.
Honda Accord LX (4-cyl.)
The redesigned Accord is well-rounded, capable, and roomy, and is now our top-rated affordable family sedan. The new 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine works well with the CVT and got an impressive 30 mpg overall. The unobtrusive CVT acts like a conventional automatic. Handling is quite agile and secure, and the ride is supple and controlled. The cabin is comfortable, with supportive seats, but the rear bench is snug for three. A backup camera is standard, as is dual-zone climate control.
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