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Consumer Reports Which Brands make the best Cars Full Table

RobStark

Well-Known Member
Jul 2, 2013
10,228
52,291
City of Champions, USA
Tesla does not qualify this year because CR only has data on one Tesla model. Next year it will have data on Model S and Model X then it will qualify for a Brand score.

crcars.gif
 

Eclectic

Member
Nov 8, 2014
773
919
Bay Area & Montana
CR did have some things to say about Tesla, though:

"Jake Fisher, director of auto testing, said because of faltering reliability scores, the Model S is no longer the top ultraluxury car and ranks behind the BMW 750i xDrive, Lexus LS 460L and Audi A8 L. He said Tesla's quality problems including issues with hatches, door handles, electric motors and batteries have increased as the automaker has ramped up production."They are having issues and they need to work that out before they introduce new models," Fisher said."
 

rxlawdude

Active Member
Jul 10, 2015
2,089
1,393
Orange County, CA
CR did have some things to say about Tesla, though:

"Jake Fisher, director of auto testing, said because of faltering reliability scores, the Model S is no longer the top ultraluxury car and ranks behind the BMW 750i xDrive, Lexus LS 460L and Audi A8 L. He said Tesla's quality problems including issues with hatches, door handles, electric motors and batteries have increased as the automaker has ramped up production."They are having issues and they need to work that out before they introduce new models," Fisher said."
Oops.
 

Todd Burch

Voltage makes me tingle.
Nov 3, 2009
7,801
28,498
Smithfield, VA
CR did have some things to say about Tesla, though:

"Jake Fisher, director of auto testing, said because of faltering reliability scores, the Model S is no longer the top ultraluxury car and ranks behind the BMW 750i xDrive, Lexus LS 460L and Audi A8 L. He said Tesla's quality problems including issues with hatches, door handles, electric motors and batteries have increased as the automaker has ramped up production."They are having issues and they need to work that out before they introduce new models," Fisher said."

As an early owner who lived through early issues with the car, I think Jake has this backward.

Reliability of things like the drivetrain and door handles have undoubtedly gone up, not gotten worse.
 

RobStark

Well-Known Member
Jul 2, 2013
10,228
52,291
City of Champions, USA
As an early owner who lived through early issues with the car, I think Jake has this backward.

Reliability of things like the drivetrain and door handles have undoubtedly gone up, not gotten worse.

It seems bad in 2012-2013.

Better in 2014.

Then fallen in 2015 as Tesla went from ~31k units to ~50k units per year.

CR uses a rolling 3 year average.

I am hoping for average reliability for the brand in next year's ratings.
 

sandpiper

Active Member
Sep 25, 2014
2,833
2,139
Ontario, Canada
It wouldn't have this year. The Model S got a 77 overall (dinged for reliability), so it would have come in at #3. Something tells me they're not going to be happy with the initial X quality in next year's issue...

That's what scares me. The X is incredibly complex and has the potential to be be either a balloon or an anchor.
 

gnxs

Member
May 14, 2015
242
107
South Florida
I may be wrong, but I thought one of the other issues CR pointed to as a problem with the Tesla was "Vampire Drain". I think that's one of the "Battery Issues" they noted. Really surprised that would be considered some sort of quality issue.
 

RobStark

Well-Known Member
Jul 2, 2013
10,228
52,291
City of Champions, USA
What is an "issue" is not determined by Consumer Reports but what owners consider an issue.

And what requires a service call.

BTW My guess is if Tesla handles "issues" well for the first 10k or so Model X owners( and these early owners are the vast majority that will be sampled for next years survey) they will under report problems to CR. People that plopped down large amounts of cash 3-4 years ago for Model X are fans and friends of Tesla and really want the company to succeed.
 

brucet999

Active Member
Mar 12, 2015
2,671
1,482
Huntington Beach, CA
Tesla does not qualify this year because CR only has data on one Tesla model. Next year it will have data on Model S and Model X then it will qualify for a Brand score.

I think I read that CR requires 3 different models in order to qualify for brand classification, so you'll likely have to wait until 2018 (Tesla time) or 2019.
 

tinm

2020 Model S LR+ Owner
May 3, 2015
2,463
11,889
New Mexico, USA
I owned an Audi for several years before getting my Model S.

The local Audi dealer I had to take it to for service (VERY OFTEN) practically threatened me to always give 10-out-of-10 scores when the massive, multi-page JD Power & Associates customer satisfaction surveys would be sent to me. The wording of the Audi survey was such that 10-scores meant "Exceptional service" or "Beyond exceptional" and so I never gave that. I found the service to be average to good, sometimes less than average. But never exceptional. And boy the did the service managers come down hard on me for that. Next time I'd visit the shop, they'd remind me that they saw that I did not give them 10-scores, and they let me know how DISPLEASED they were with me the customer, practically guilting me into making amends for it next time. In other words, the pressure was all on ME the customer to give THEM a superior service rating regardless of whether the service warranted it.

I finally sent emails to the CEO and President of Audi USA and told them in no uncertain terms that they did not deserve top service scores because they did not EARN them. Finally I told them I was glad to announce I had just ordered a Tesla Model S. I would get emails and physical mails (the latter of which were usually thick, glossy, 4-color brochures that must've cost a fortune) inviting me to Audi events galore, sneak previews, test drives of new models, etc. I would collect all that stuff, put it in an envelope, and send back to the CEO of Audi USA along with a photo of my new Model S. Eventually they got the message.

But when I see Audi at the top of this Consumer Reports list, it reminds me of the pressure tactics they resorted to in order to get unearned unfair high rankings. From everyone but me. They learned over time to stop pressuring me. Especially when I switched to Tesla.
 

Drumheller

Member
Jan 20, 2016
664
4,371
Phoenix, AZ
I don't understand how Audi is at the top of this list and is listed as having better than average reliability. That does not match what I have heard from Audi owners.
 

perdru

Member
Nov 21, 2013
34
0
Norway
I don't understand how Audi is at the top of this list and is listed as having better than average reliability. That does not match what I have heard from Audi owners.

Audi also tops German Dekra´s latest list.
I find it astonishing that Tesla owners without exception seem to have negative experiences with other brands and their dealers....
 

doctoxics

Member
Mar 26, 2014
523
991
Davis, CA
Just got our Consumer Report with car ratings. Tesla Model S is rated poorly for reliability even though the drive train problem appears to have been solved.

Tesla Model S rating by Consumer Reports 2016.jpg
 

FlatSix911

Porsche 918 Hybrid
Jun 15, 2015
6,473
5,884
Silicon Valley
As an early owner who lived through early issues with the car, I think Jake has this backward.

Reliability of things like the drivetrain and door handles have undoubtedly gone up, not gotten worse.

It seems bad in 2012-2013.Better in 2014.

Then fallen in 2015 as Tesla went from ~31k units to ~50k units per year.

CR uses a rolling 3 year average.

I am hoping for average reliability for the brand in next year's ratings.

The CR ratings do not make a lot of sense ... what is the criteria for the overall rating ?

attachment.php?attachmentid=112606&d=1456385151.jpg
 
Last edited:

RobStark

Well-Known Member
Jul 2, 2013
10,228
52,291
City of Champions, USA
The CR ratings do not make a lot of sense ... what is the criteria for the overall rating ?

CR Road Test,CR reliability survey, "would you buy the same brand again? would you recommend to a family/friends?" satisfaction question to owners in the survey,NHSTA IIHS crash test.

The only factor where Tesla scores poorly is the reliability survey.
 

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