Most Reliable Vehicles

Most of the vehicles found at Earthy Cars are small and good for families . And we have several hybrids.   Earthy Cars generally finds the most reliable car models. - Earthy Cars

Most Reliable Cars
Small, family, and hybrid cars lead the way, and Ford continues its strong showing.

By Consumer Reports

Article via MSN Autos 

Paying more for a new car doesn't guarantee better reliability. As a group, inexpensive small cars and midsized family sedans are the most reliable. That's one of the findings of our 2009 Annual Auto Survey, based on our subscribers' experiences with 1.4 million vehicles.

Small cars stand out. Twenty of 37 small cars have above-average predicted-reliability scores. Family cars fare nearly as well, with 21 out of 41 scoring above average. Other interesting findings include the following:

-A wide gulf separates the best from the worst. The least reliable vehicle, the Volkswagen Touareg, is 27 times more likely to have a problem than the most reliable car, the Honda Insight.

-Ford is tops among the domestic automakers. The Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan once again beat the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. The upscale Lincoln MKZ beat its rivals, the Acura TL and Lexus ES.

-Even good brands falter. Among the least reliable in their respective classes are the all-wheel-drive Lexus GS, the Nissan Versa sedan and the Subaru Impreza WRX.

-Five of the eight most reliable family cars are hybrids.

But reliability isn't everything. Some very reliable models do not perform well enough in our road tests for us to recommend them. One example is the Toyota Yaris: Its ironclad reliability doesn't make up for its below-average performance. The same applies to the Honda Insight and the Volvo S40, one of the most reliable nonhybrid family cars.

For full reliability charts and predicted reliability on hundreds of 2010 models, plus a list of what's up and what's down, visit ConsumerReports.org.

Ford Dominates the Domestics

Ford has consolidated its position as the only Detroit automaker with world-class reliability. Of the 51 Ford, Mercury, and Lincoln products that we surveyed, 46 — or about 90 percent — are average or better, including the new Ford Flex SUV. But the Lincoln division has mixed results; some models score below their Ford equivalents. All-wheel-drive versions of the Lincoln MKS, MKX and MKZ, essentially high-end versions of the Ford Taurus, Edge and Fusion, respectively, are all below average.

GM shed the Hummer, Pontiac, and Saturn brands after emerging from bankruptcy. It now consists of Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC. Of the 48 models we surveyed from those brands, 20 have average scores, and only the Malibu v6 sedan is better than average.
Some newer GM products are bright spots. In addition to the Malibu, the Buick Lucerne did well in our road tests, and it scores average in reliability. The Chevrolet Traverse SUV also makes the cut, as does its cousin, the Buick Enclave, but only in the all-wheel-drive version. The Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500 pickups, two good performers, earn our recommendation as well. GM has a number of strong contenders either just released or in the pipeline, but they are too new for us to have reliability data on them.

We recommend the Pontiac Vibe, the V8 version of the Pontiac G8, and the Saturn Aura, which have average or better reliability. Some of those cars can still be found on dealer lots.

As for Chrysler, we couldn't recommend any of its products in last year's survey because of mediocre performance, poor reliability, or both. Now we can recommend one: the four-wheel-drive version of the redesigned Dodge Ram 1500 pickup. It did well in our road tests and rates average in reliability. Still, more than one-third of Chrysler products are much worse than average, including its new car-based SUV, the Dodge Journey.

Asian Brands Still Command

The major Japanese brands and South Korea's Hyundai and Kia make plenty of reliable vehicles. Of the 48 models with top reliability scores, 36 are Asian. Toyota accounts for 18; Honda, eight; Nissan, four; and Hyundai/Kia and Subaru, three each.

Japanese vehicles are consistently good. All Hondas and Acuras are average or above. Toyota, with its Lexus and Scion brands, provides a broader product range. The Lexus GS AWD is the only Toyota model below average in reliability.

Nissan and its Infiniti luxury division have mostly been very reliable. The once-troublesome Infiniti QX56 and Nissan Armada are now average, as is the four-wheel-drive Nissan Titan, although its rear-wheel-drive version is still troublesome. The Nissan Versa has produced uneven results. Over the last two surveys, the hatchback has been average while the sedan has been far below average. The Nissan Quest minivan also remains troublesome.

Subaru has been a very reliable brand. But this year the turbocharged Impreza WRX turned up with a worse-than-average reliability score, even though other Imprezas have been average or better, as are all other Subarus.

Hyundai and Kia continue to make reliable cars. The Hyundai Elantra and Hyundai Tucson, and the Kia Sportage get top marks. The new Hyundai Genesis V6 is better than average; the V8 version is average. Only Kia's Sedona minivan and Sorento SUV score below average.

Good News From Europe

European brands continue to improve. Mercedes-Benz has significantly rebounded, with most models average or better, and the GLK does exceptionally well in its first year in our survey. Scores from rival BMW are more mixed. The 535i sedan and X3 SUV declined in reliability, and the 135i, debuting in this survey, scores below average. Some BMW models have average or better reliability, but the 328i versions are the only ones that we have tested and can recommend.

Volkswagen and Audi are also staging a nice recovery. The Volkswagen Rabbit (Golf) and the new CC get top scores. The VW Jetta's recommendation now extends to the diesel version, making it the only diesel we currently recommend. Both the Passat and Audi A3 have improved so that they now have average reliability scores. The new VW Tiguan SUV is average. The Audi Q7 SUV continues to be much worse than average, but not as bad as its platform mate, the VW Touareg, which not only scores poorly but has the worst new-car prediction score in the survey.

All of Volvo's sedans are average or better, but Volvo's XC90 SUV is below average. Porsche, which has been doing quite well in our survey of late, has one serious hiccup this year: The Boxster drops to below average, which strikes it from our recommended list. But the Cayenne SUV improved to average.

How We Assess Reliability

Our data are based on an annual survey of subscribers to Consumer Reports and ConsumerReports.org and are not derived from our vehicle testing. A model needs at least 100 responses for us to score it.

From the survey, we create a reliability history for each model over the course of 10 years, 2000 to 2009. We use the data, in part, to help readers determine which used cars to choose. We also use it to forecast how 2010 models will hold up. That predicted-reliability score is based on a model's overall reliability for the latest three model years, provided that the 2010 version hasn't changed significantly. If a model was new or redesigned in that period, we might use one or two years of data. We will make a prediction for a newly redesigned model only if previous versions had outstanding reliability.

Article was produced by Consumer Reports and MSN, not Earthy Cars.

EARTHY CAR OF THE WEEK: 2008 Red Toyota Yaris Hatchback

This car has been on our lot for almost half a year now, and we think it's time it find an owner.

The Yaris is ideal for someone concerned with fuel economy, music lovers, and need a decent amount of passenger width. Even though the Yaris is a sub-compact car, it actually has a lot of exterior room for passengers. It is one of the most fuel efficient car models currently on the road, with a 33 average MPG (29 city / 35 highway). It features a stereo that can play MP3's/WMA's and comes with an auxiliary jack. In addition, its design is funkier than most sub-compact cars.

This makes the Yaris perfect for a small family (couple with a few small kids), or a single young city dweller. Our 2008 Yaris has low mileage on it - 24,318.

This car is currently sitting in the very front of our lot, so check it out if you're driving by, or even stop in.

From MSN Autos:

"The Yaris is Toyota’s subcompact passenger car that replaced the ECHO for the U.S. market as a 2007 model in the spring of 2006. First launched in Europe in 1999, the Yaris was named the 2000 European "Car of the Year" and has become Toyota's best-selling model in the European market. The second-generation Yaris was styled at Toyota's European design studio, ED² and Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) Design Division. The Yaris is offered as both a liftback and a sedan for the U.S. and is designed to offer a level of style and fun-to-drive performance that is often not found in the subcompact class while the interior provides a surprising level of roominess and comfort."

"After making its debut for 2007, the 2008 Toyota Yaris receives a direct type tire-pressure-monitoring system and a parking brake unlock reminder system. A Sport Grade package features front and rear spoilers, amber optitron meter, tachometer, sport seat fabric, leather steering wheel and shift knob and S badging."

For more information about the car, check out our inventory at our website.

For more information about the Toyota Yaris, check out MSN Autos.

We also have a blue 2007 Yaris Hatchback and a green 2008 Yaris Sedan, if you're interested in Yaris's.

EARTHY CAR OF THE WEEK: Volkswagen New Beetle

If you are a fan of Volkswagen’s or German vehicles in general, and you are looking for something stylish, powerful, and/or cheap, then you should come to Earthy Cars and take a look at the 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle GL on our lot.

The New Beetle is similar to the VW Jetta or VW Golf/Rabbit, but it has an eccentric design that the Jetta and Gold doesn’t. With 1.8 turbopower, it has more power than a regular Jetta or Golf/Rabbit would.

Our New Beetle is priced very cheap at $6,900. It has 76,171 miles on it, below average for a 2003 car. It has a silver exterior and a black interior. It has a 5-speed manual transmission.

For more information, see our website.

From MSN Autos:

“The New Beetle is Volkswagen’s modern interpretation of the original Beetle and is offered as both a coupe and a convertible. Built on a front-engine front-wheel-drive platform, the New Beetle first launched in 1998 and offers all of the modern amenities that the original Beetle lacked. The convertible was added for the 2003 model year and the 2006 New Beetle received some updates and a new 5-cyinder engine.”

“Seven years ago Volkswagen showed a design study called the Concept 1 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, and the response was overwhelming. The final rendition of that design study was introduced at the 1998 Detroit show as the New Beetle. While reminiscent of the original Beetle, of which more than 20 million have been sold, there are no shared parts between the original and the new model. Featuring a front-engine, front-wheel-drive design, the New Beetle has all the modern amenities that its predecessor lacked.”

New for 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle: “A convertible is added to the New Beetle lineup for 2003. In addition, 1.8T engine is available on the GL trim level of the Volkswagen New Beetle, and the 1.9L TDI engine is optional. Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) is standard on the Turbo S, optional on GL, GLS, and GLX. New 16-inch alloy wheels and a power sunroof are standard on the GLS.”

From Edmunds.com:

“Technically, the Volkswagen New Beetle is still in its first generation, having debuted way back in 1998. Models up to 2005 used the GL, GLS and GLX designations to reflect the various trim levels; since then there have been one or two other trim levels by various designations. From 1998-2005, the base engine was a 115-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder. A 100-hp 1.9-liter Turbo Direct Injection turbodiesel was also offered (the TDI trim) until the end of 2006, when it failed to meet new emissions regulations.”

“Until recently, turbocharged gasoline engines have been a big part of the New Beetle's trim lineup. Sold from 1999-2006, the New Beetle 1.8T was powered by a 1.8-liter turbo four-cylinder, which put out 150 hp. For 2002, VW added the Turbo S trim to the coupe lineup. It was equipped with a retuned 180-hp version of the 1.8T turbo engine and a six-speed manual transmission. The Turbo S was discontinued after 2004, while the current 2.5-liter engine showed up for 2006.”

“Throughout the years, Volkswagen has released several special-edition models, including limited-edition colors and trim packages. For 2002, VW added a Sport edition, which essentially was a 1.8T with a five-speed manual, 17-inch wheels and a leather interior. The convertible was launched for the 2003 model year.”

Newbeetle.org: http://newbeetle.org/

Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VW_New_Beetle

12 Greenest Vehicles in the U.S.

In 2008, the green advocacy organization American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy listed what they conclude are the 12 most fuel efficient cars sold in the United States: Honda Civic, Honda Civic Hybrid, Honda Civic GX, Toyota Corolla, Honda Fit, Toyota Camry Hybrid, Ford Focus, Toyota Prius, Toyota Yaris, smart fortwo, Mini Cooper, and the Nissan Altima Hybrid.

10 out of 12 of the vehicles are currently or commonly found on the Earthy Cars lot. Over half of vehicles on our lot currently are models that are included on the list, or models that are the same fuel efficiency. Most of the cars on our lot that are included on the list are the 2008 models.

'Earthy' Cars lives up to its name. Check out our inventory at www.earthycars.com. There is quite a selection of Prius's, Yaris's, Civic's, a Focus, as well as Scion's (not on the list, but just as good as the cars listed).

MSN Autos published an article about the report:

If you want to drive the most environmentally friendly or "greenest" vehicle, you need to think small or think hybrid. According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), one third of the top 12 vehicles that rank as the greenest of 2008 feature hybrid powertrains. These vehicles combine an internal-combustion engine with an electric motor for improved fuel economy and reduced emissions.

A nonprofit organization, the ACEEE is dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of protecting the environment and strengthening the economy. Each year the ACEEE publishes the Green Book, listing the Green Scores and environmental information about vehicles available in the new model year, as well as a list of the 12 "greenest" vehicles available that year.

"Hybrids stand out, even after being taken down a notch by the new fuel economy calculations," said ACEEE vehicle analyst Shruti Vaidyanathan. "And sales rose by a whopping 40 percent last year. This interest in hybrid vehicles should shine the spotlight on other green vehicle technologies that can significantly improve fuel efficiency."

One of the mainstays of the ACEEE "Greenest Vehicles" list for the last several years — and repeating at the top of the list for the second consecutive year — is the natural-gas-powered Honda Civic GX. Scoring 57 points for 2008, the Civic GX operates on compressed natural gas (CNG). While it may not go as far on each gallon of fuel as some other entries, its combination of high efficiency and near-zero emissions makes it the highest-ranking vehicle for the environment. Note that the Civic GX is for sale to retail customers only in California and New York.

The Green Score is a numeric value of a vehicle's environmental friendliness, as assigned by the ACEEE. Determined by more factors than just fuel economy, the score also incorporates tailpipe and other emissions that can cause global warming. The higher the Green Score the more environmentally friendly the vehicle, based on the ACEEE evaluation.

There are a couple of newcomers to the Greenest list for 2008. Most notable is the smart fortwo, which was ranked fourth on the list. At just under nine feet long, the two-seat coupe or convertible is the smallest new car currently sold in America. Its 1.0-liter engine is also the smallest available, and while it lacks power, it does deliver 41 mpg on the highway.

Another European model added to the list for 2008 is the MINI Cooper / MINI Clubman. The fun-to-drive MINI lands in the eighth position with a Green Score of 44. And unlike last year when there were no domestic cars on the list, Ford has the sole domestic offering to make the cut. The Ford Focus takes the ninth position with its 2.0-liter PZEV 4-cylinder engine.

The second, third and sixth eco-friendliest vehicles in the U.S. are all hybrids — the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic Hybrid and Nissan Altima Hybrid, respectively. The only other hybrid to make it into the ACEEE's top 12 happens to be the largest car on the list — the Camry Hybrid. Coming in tenth, this midsize hybrid earns a Green Score of 44, matching the MINI Cooper, Ford Focus, Honda Civic and Honda Fit.

EARTHY CAR OF THE WEEK: 2006 Scion xA

At Earthy Cars, we are selling a gray 2006 Scion xA.  It sells for $9,900 and has 71,122 miles on it. 

The Scion xA is a stylish, 4-door hatchback. It is a sub-compact car, so it is very easy to move around and park. It is one of the more fuel-efficient vehicles on the road - it gets 31-32 MPG in the city and 37-38 MPG on the highway.  It is the perfect car for a 20- or 30- something year old who's main use of their vehicle is getting to and from work and driving around the city, anybody who desires a car with a high MPG rating, a single city person of any age, or a couple with no or one child.

As a bonus, our model includes a Pioneer stereo system that can play MP3's, is XM Radio ready, and includes an auxilary jack. Music lovers need not upgrade the stereo system on this car.

Here's MSN Auto's description of the 2006 Scion xA:

"The xA is Scion’s compact hatchback and was one of the two models that launched Scion as an all-new brand for Toyota. Scion is geared toward the youth market, offering highly customizable vehicles with generous standard equipment for a value-oriented price. Sold as the ist in Japan, the xA was introduced for sale in California early in 2003 and extended to the rest of America throughout 2004."

"The 2006 Scion xA gets a slight makeover with a new grille, redesigned front bumper, color-keyed rocker panels and rear bumper, headlights, tail lights and side mirrors with integrated turn signals. Interior upgrades include new seat fabric, speedometer with a new silver background and a new steering wheel with integrated audio controls."

MSN Auto: 2006 Scion xA Overview

Small Passenger Cars

The following article from MSN Autos highlighted what they term "Small Passenger Cars":
Small Passenger Cars - MSN Autos

Small passenger cars are sub-compact or compact cars. Most of the cars at Earthy Cars fall into this category. We specialize in fuel-thrifty vehicles and affordable yet quality vehicles. As MSN says, most of these type of vehicles are found among small passenger cars.

Our current lot includes small passenger cars that are sedans/coupes (4 Toyota Corolla's, 2 Toyota Yaris's, 6 Honda Civic's, 2 Scion xB's, VW Jetta, Ford Focus), hatchbacks (2 Toyota Yaris's, Toyota Matrix, Honda Fit, Scion xA, VW Beetle), SUV (Chrysler PT Cruiser, Honda CRV), and luxury (BMW 3 Series).

Check out our inventory here: Earthy Cars - Pre-owned inventory

Excepts from the article (credits to MSN Auto):

"Listen up, car shoppers. The easiest place to find fuel-thrifty autos is in the small car segment.

The small car class also is where you can find the lowest-priced new cars. And the segment has new entries, including the Honda Fit, Nissan Versa, Toyota Yaris and Chevrolet HHR, that are getting a lot of attention.

But expect to spend some time shopping around. There are nearly four dozen small-car nameplates sold in the U.S., and manufacturer's suggested retail prices start around $10,000.

Among the small cars with the lowest starting prices are the Chevrolet Aveo, Kia Rio and Toyota Yaris."

Photo Gallery: Small Passenger Cars

Body Styles and Fuel Economy
"Small cars come in several body types—sedans, 3- and 5-door hatchbacks, wagons and even a compact, 6-passenger van of sorts.

Yes, "small car" refers to all sorts of vehicles, including sedans such as the long-running Toyota Corolla and Nissan Sentra as well as coupes such as the Chevrolet Cobalt, Mitsubishi Eclipse and Chrysler Crossfire. Other types of small cars are hatchbacks such as the Chrysler PT Cruiser and wagons such as the Subaru Impreza Wagon and Ford Focus Wagon.

But don't let the word "small" fool you. Today's new small vehicles can be big on value, flexibility and safety features, not to mention fuel savings.

Indeed, the 2007 Toyota Yaris ranks as the best fuel-sipping, gasoline-only-powered small car in the country with a federal government mileage rating of 34 miles per gallon in city driving and 40 mpg on the highway. This is for a 106-horsepower Yaris with 5-speed manual transmission. Note that the Yaris is available both as a sedan and a 3-door hatchback.

The overall highest mileage small car, though, is the 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid. An electrical motor supplements this hybrid's 110-horsepower 1.3-liter 4-cylinder gas engine. The result is a government fuel economy rating of 49/51 mpg for this sedan. (Honda's previous best-mileage hybrid, the Insight hatchback, was dropped as of the 2007 model year.)

Small Car Characteristics

"Most small cars are available only with naturally aspirated 4-cylinder engines, and why not? With their small size, vehicles in this class typically don't need a lot of power to get them from place to place.

But shoppers can find small vehicles with larger engines, too. For example, all versions of Volvo's smallest car, the S40 sedan, are powered by 5-cylinder engines, while Infiniti's G35 has a 280-horsepower V6 and Ford's Mustang is available with V8s. Indeed, the top Mustang, a limited edition Ford Shelby GT500, has a 500-horsepower 5.4-liter V8.

Most small cars are front-wheel-drive vehicles, which means engine power goes to the front wheels which then pull the rear wheels along. Front-wheel-drive cars tend to weigh less than rear- or all-wheel-drive vehicles and they include the Hyundai Accent and Elantra, Ford Focus, Saturn Ion, MINI Cooper, Kia Spectra and Scion xA, xB and tC.

In recent years, more small cars have come to market offering all-wheel drive. Examples include the Audi A3, which uses Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system that's controlled electronically and doesn't require any input from the driver, and the new-for-2007 Dodge Caliber hatchback. The Suzuki Aerio, with a starting price of just over $16,000, is the least-expensive all-wheel-drive vehicle on the market.

But don't forget Subaru, which makes all-wheel drive standard on all its cars, including its lowest-priced model—the Impreza small car. It starts at more than $18,000. Jaguar's smallest car, the X-TYPE, also comes only with all-wheel drive. There is no front- or rear-wheel model.

Shoppers can find only a few smaller cars that are rear-wheel drive. These tend to be sporty models such as the Ford Mustang and the BMW 3-Series."

Honda Small Car News
New for 2007, the Honda Fit is a 5-passenger, small hatchback designed to slot below the Honda Civic in showrooms. Sold in Asia and Europe for years, the Fit comes to the States with a 109-horsepower 1.5-liter VTEC 4-cylinder engine. An intriguing engine partner is a 5-speed automatic transmission. No other small car in America has this many gears in its automatic transmission. Honda officials note that more gears provide for better fuel economy and performance. A 5-speed manual transmission also is available.

Be sure to check out the Fit's rear seats. Yes, they split 60/40 and have seatbacks that fold down like those in other cars. But there's an additional feature if someone needs to haul tall cargo in this car. The Fit's rear seat cushions can be raised off the floor and folded against the seatbacks, providing what Honda calls the "tall object mode."

Other small-car news at Honda is the first-ever Civic Si. New for 2007, this sedan basically has the same, 197-horsepower 2.0-liter 4 cylinder with i-VTEC that's in the Civic Si coupe and deeply bolstered front seats, like those in the coupe. Civic Si coupes have been around in the States since 1986.

Toyota's New Small Car

"Toyota dropped its ECHO small car and replaced it in calendar 2006 with the 2007 Yaris. Also sold in Europe and Japan, the Yaris slots below the Toyota Corolla and is offered in two body styles: sedan and 3-door hatchback. But in the States, the Yaris rides on a longer and wider platform than it does in overseas models.

The Yaris' claim to fame is its long wheelbase—which, incidentally, is the distance from the center of one wheel on one side of the vehicle to the center of the other wheel on that same side. The Yaris wheelbase is longer than many competitors', which helps provide generous interior space. The engine is a 106-horsepower version of the 1.5-liter four cylinder, with VVT-i, that's in the Scion xA and xB cars. A 4-speed automatic and 5-speed manual are offered."

Luxury in Smaller Packages

"Small cars aren't just mainstream models. Some luxury makes also include small cars in their showrooms.

For example, Audi added the A3 to its lineup recently. With a starting price tag of less than $25,000 and a 5-door hatchback design, it is a decidedly "premium" small car powered by a 200-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged 4 cylinder or a 250-horsepower 3.2-liter V6. The A3's Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) automatic transmission is one of the hottest new automotive technologies in Europe, since it allows very quick gear shifts without loss of traction because of its use of an electro-hydraulically controlled twin clutch. Basically, it's designed to be an automatic transmission that provides the driving pleasure of a manual."

Versatility Available

"Cars in this segment may be small, but they can include versatile storage space and decent passenger room.

For example, the retro-styled Chrysler PT Cruiser includes a surprising 40.9 inches of rear-seat legroom, which is more than in some midsize sedans. The rear seats also are removable, which leaves an SUV-like 64.2 cubic feet of cargo space."

"And the Toyota Matrix, as well as its sibling, the Pontiac Vibe, features a high sitting position, which improves passengers' views out of the vehicles as well as passenger seat comfort. Total cargo space is 53.2 cubic feet. Note the front passenger seatback can fold down to accommodate long items to extend from the back all the way through the interior."

Old Faithfuls

"Many small cars have been on the market for some time and continue to receive upgrades and win buyers.

The Ford Mustang, for example, has been a strong seller among young and old alike ever since it was redesigned with strong heritage looks for the 2005 model year. The Mustang dates back to 1964 as the original "pony car." For 2007, Ford is selling new performance versions of the Mustang, including the Shelby GT and limited edition Shelby GT500.

Another long-lived nameplate is the VW New Beetle. VW's original Beetle dates to the 1940s in Europe and was a popular car for young Baby Boomers in the 1960s and '70s."

We also have a few mid-size cars if that's what you're looking for (Honda Accord, 2 Toyota Camry's, 2 Toyota Prius's, Volvo V70)