Five Popular Cars to Avoid: Consumer Reports

Sometimes the hype surrounding a car can make it seem like a better choice than it actually is, and to combat the false reputations some cars get, Consumer Reports has released a list of five popular vehicles that should be avoided.

The Honda Civic has been an icon of safety and reliability for years, but is apparently a popular car you should steer clear of. Consumer Reports cites a choppy ride, noisy cabin, vague steering and mediocre interior quality as the main reasons why the current generation Civic is not as great as it may seem.

Read AutoGuide’s 2012 Honda Civic Review Here

Next on the list is the Jeep Liberty. Although it is a capable off-road machine, on pavement the ride is unsettled and clumsy. A cramped and cheap feeling interior is also listed by Consumer Reports as an issue, as well as a noisy and thirsty engine.

The newest addition to the Prius family, the Prius C, also makes its way onto the list. Gas mileage of 37 mpg city and 43 mpg overall failed to impress Consumer Reports, as its only 1 mpg better than the larger Prius hatchback. A noisy cabin, cheap interior and a stiff ride were also listed as major problems with Toyota‘s small city car.

The Dodge Grand Caravan also makes the list, but not for a noisy cabin or stiff-ride. Consumer Reports even says that the van is versatile, comfortable and well equipped. The issue they cite is reliability. The Grand Caravan is apparently the most problematic minivan, as it suffers from squeaks, loose interior trim, power equipment issues and sliding door problems.

Last on the list is the Ford Edge. During Consumer Reports testing of a V6 all-wheel drive Edge, loud cabin noise, a stiff ride, and the unintuitive MyFord Touch system were all listed as major problems with the crossover.

[Source: Consumer Reports]