BMW Tops Consumer Reports brands which make the best vehicles

[RichF90M5C]

Originally Posted by TheBingoBalls

It makes sense if you work for Mercedes. You read about how pretty and luxurious Mercedes are in the media but when you sit in one, what you thought was a 10/10, in reality, is only a 7/10.

These are not terrible cars by any means, but when it comes to Mercedes, the media only likes to talk about what you can see at first glance. Start looking at the details, it’s not always perfect.

Take that into consideration, I could see why Mercedes is that low.

Mercedes always strike me as a fur coat and no knickers brand. We’ve had a few in the family, I’ve been driven in a lot of S Classes, and am always left wondering what all the fuss is about.

[VICG20M]

I work for GM and can tell you their new vehicles are being rushed through production and having major issues. The 6.2L we’re having engine issues and needed new engine replacements. The transmissions were also having issues. Escalade would completely stop and break down on the road undrivable with less then 5k miles. Not sure how Buick is so high on the list but Cadillac and GMC on the lower end makes total sense based on the factory trying to crank units out in a rush.

Anyone else shocked to see Tesla so low on the list?

[Llarry]

Where's Fiat? They should be anchoring the ratings...

[Penguino]

None of the customers surveyed must have had iDrive8.

[Ugly Kar]

BMW also topped the list of ugliest.

[///M TOWN]

Originally Posted by Ugly Kar

BMW also topped the list of ugliest.

That might be befitting for you Ugly Kar considering you’re clearly into that sort of thing

[kgelfen360]

All this stuff is irrelevant. I own 2 BMWs I like them. This forum is full of horror stories of brand new cars shutting down and needing massive repairs.
If CR article validates your feelings toward BMW that’s awesome but it makes zero difference when u going to need to repair it.

[pharding]

For me the rankings are spot on. BMW is the top car company. After 8 BMWs, Tesla Model 3, I currently own an Audi Q4. The Q4 itself is a fine choice for a BEV SUV in the $63,000 price range. But Audi sucks as a car company. Their car software expertise is incredibly mediocre. BMW treat its customers light years better than Audi.

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by 440i6MT

I'm confused as to how Porsche comes in so low.

Maybe I've only ever looked at their models ranging above $80k+
Possibly anything underneath is badly disappointing.

Perhaps it's the accumulation of miles of Porsche SUVs unlike their 'garage queen' sports car bretheren?

I've always felt that Porsche scored well because the primary and secondary owners hardly drove them. SUV's are firmly used as daily drivers so more miles and units offers an opportunity for more problems.

[sharkymcpeterson]

Still, I’ll bump into people who scream that bmw is unreliable. Anyways, this is awesome for bmw. Also-didn’t expect to see jeep and Land Rover at the bottom but maybe new vehicles will do that to a brand.

[///MPhatic]

If you trust JD Power or CR I have a bridge to sell you.

[RigaTony1982]

Originally Posted by ///MPhatic

If you trust JD Power or CR I have a bridge to sell you.

I'd give CR a little more credibility than JD Power. I'm pretty sure companies can just pay their way into JD Power. Not the case with CR.

[NomoTesla]

Originally Posted by VICG20M

Anyone else shocked to see Tesla so low on the list?

I'm shocked to see them so high!

Originally Posted by ///MPhatic

If you trust JD Power or CR I have a bridge to sell you.

I trust them more than random, anonymous people on the internet!

[///MPhatic]

Originally Posted by NomoTesla

I trust them more than random, anonymous people on the internet!

Message boards like this aren't random people, they're owners, people who keep their cars past 90 days, and who have to deal with the dealer networks. They are the chosen ones, and I'll take their advice over JD or CR any day of the week. True, it requires joining the board, and some effort to ask questions, but the answers you get are vastly superior to those that are paid for in advance...

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by F32Fleet

Perhaps it's the accumulation of miles of Porsche SUVs unlike their 'garage queen' sports car bretheren?

I've always felt that Porsche scored well because the primary and secondary owners hardly drove them. SUV's are firmly used as daily drivers so more miles and units offers an opportunity for more problems.

This is a fair assessment, and one I didn’t consider until you mentioned it.

Originally Posted by sharkymcpeterson

Still, I’ll bump into people who scream that bmw is unreliable. Anyways, this is awesome for bmw. Also-didn’t expect to see jeep and Land Rover at the bottom but maybe new vehicles will do that to a brand.

You might be the only person surprised by that. Land Rover has been ripe with issues for at least 20 years and Jeep’s current crop of cars are problematic. The Cherokee was a hit maybe 6-7 years ago, but the current one has many reliability issues.

Originally Posted by ///MPhatic

Message boards like this aren't random people, they're owners, people who keep their cars past 90 days, and who have to deal with the dealer networks. They are the chosen ones, and I'll take their advice over JD or CR any day of the week. True, it requires joining the board, and some effort to ask questions, but the answers you get are vastly superior to those that are paid for in advance...

These boards aren’t any better than JD or CR. Sure, you get the personal interaction and you can ask more detailed questions, but forums consist of a very small percentage of owners and issues are magnified beyond belief. You’d think the world is falling the way some issues are blown out of proportion on forums.

[ASAP]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

This is a fair assessment, and one I didn’t consider until you mentioned it.





You might be the only person surprised by that. Land Rover has been ripe with issues for at least 20 years and Jeep’s current crop of cars are problematic. The Cherokee was a hit maybe 6-7 years ago, but the current one has many reliability issues.





These boards aren’t any better than JD or CR. Sure, you get the personal interaction and you can ask more detailed questions, but forums consist of a very small percentage of owners and issues are magnified beyond belief. You’d think the world is falling the way some issues are blown out of proportion on forums.

it's very difficult to get any reasonable review until you read the "long term" tests which are done by the likes of car and driver and motortrend... they are extremely valuable

if you read any of their long term tests on something like the Alfa Giulia... they are extremely poor and this echoes everyone's feelings...

usually on youtube you won't find these reviews because they don't get the clicks because they aren't for new / just out cars... all u will find are some garbage youtubers "i sold my car after 5 months" blah blah and we find out he modded it in some unreliable way and wrecked 3 times in that time

[FCX5]

Originally Posted by DM5PAV

This is great!
I do have a hard time believing that BMW/Mini on the whole are more reliable than Toyota/Lexus, Honda/Acura.

But, times change and it is possible.
All cars are so much better than they were even 15 years ago. Huge improvements have been made.

I do agree that BMW is a reliable brand however. That has been my experience as well. If you treat it like a normal car and don’t thrash it, they run a long time.

I don’t think this is just a reliability ranking but a range of things that include reliability. It is amazing to see BMW at #1, but equally amazing to see Subaru at #2! Mini is just BMW, so that logically follows…

[Bob in IL]

Originally Posted by FCX5

I don’t think this is just a reliability ranking but a range of things that include reliability. It is amazing to see BMW at #1, but equally amazing to see Subaru at #2! Mini is just BMW, so that logically follows…

This is correct. The article says they base the brand ratings on the road test, reliability, satisfaction and safety.

[Bimmerfun82]

Originally Posted by pharding

For me the rankings are spot on. BMW is the top car company. After 8 BMWs, Tesla Model 3, I currently own an Audi Q4. The Q4 itself is a fine choice for a BEV SUV in the $63,000 price range. But Audi sucks as a car company. Their car software expertise is incredibly mediocre. BMW treat its customers light years better than Audi.

What, a 6 hour service visit for a software download is an issue for people? And an engine replacement at 3k miles for an SQ7? And the heater doesn't work? And the visor fell out of the headliner 3 times? And the coolant leaked? And no loaner upon arrival to service visit even though it was arranged in advance? Then when we returned for a loaner, it reeked? And 4 recalls requiring a service visit in <2 years? These were our experiences with 2 Audi Q7's in <10k miles. Audi is luxury in brand and interior veneer only, otherwise they're VW. Never again for us.

[FCX5]

Originally Posted by ///MPhatic

If you trust JD Power or CR I have a bridge to sell you.

While no review site is perfect. CR is by far the most objective. I don’t agree with all their assessments, but I respect their objectivity. Now, it important to bear in mind that CR focuses a lot on safety and reliability. They don’t really factor styling or build quality or luxury.

Also, most people would not think that Hyundai builds “better” vehicles than Porsche, but CR does. So always important to know what “better” means.

[ASAP]

Originally Posted by pharding

For me the rankings are spot on. BMW is the top car company. After 8 BMWs, Tesla Model 3, I currently own an Audi Q4. The Q4 itself is a fine choice for a BEV SUV in the $63,000 price range. But Audi sucks as a car company. Their car software expertise is incredibly mediocre. BMW treat its customers light years better than Audi.

correct, someone has experience w audi here... they cannot figure out something as basic as why the MMI continues to lose shortcut favorites

[TheDavidE]

Nice!