From the very beginning it is worth mentioning that the list of the ten
best cars of 2008, mentioned in Consumer
Reports, for the first time includes an American car for the last five years and first ever cars made in Korea. The list goes in accordance with
the category to which a certain car is attributed.
Small sedan: Hyundai Elantra
Price: $18,000
According to Consumer Reports this car is a "well-rounded small car that provides good fuel
economy, a comfortable ride, and an interior that's quiet, roomy and
well-equipped."
ESC, which stands for electronic stability control, is regular equipment. The ESC represents a system that helps the driver avoid loss of control while performing abrupt maneuvers. The system, by the way, is one of the main requirements for a Consumer Report in 2008. Although Honda Civic EX and Mazda3 had the same score as Hyundai Elantra, their producers didn't include ESC in their affordable models.
Midsize SUV: Hyundai
Price: $22,000 to
$31,000
This Hyundai Santa Fe model was recently redesigned and was able to score some great results that helped to outrun Honda Pilot in the testing performed by Consumer Reports. The magazine mentions that the car "provides a quiet and roomy interior, excellent fit and finish, a refined powertrain, a relatively good ride and an optional third-row seat." In addition, the electronic stability control is standard. It is worth mentioning that Elantra managed to surpass last year's trend, the Toyota Highlander.
Pickup: Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab
Price: $27,000 to
$39,000
This Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab is the
first ever car model from
Luxury sedan: Lexus LS460L
Price: $77,000
Lexus LS460L nearly registered a perfect
Family sedan: Honda Accord
Price: $22,000 to
$31,000
First of all it is worth mentioning that 2008 is the 6th year in a row that Honda Accord is chosen by Consumer Reports as the best family sedan. The magazine states that the new 2008 version of the car represents: "a well-rounded roomy sedan with a comfortable ride, agile handling and smooth, refined powertrains." As a matter of fact, Nissan Altima showed better results in Consumer Reports' test; however, more affordable models of Altima do not include ESC, which is a requirement for this year's Consumer Reports magazine.
Upscale sedan: Infiniti G35
Price: $33,000 to
$35,000
The experts at Consumer Reports stated that this upscale sedan "successfully blends sportiness and luxury." This upscale sedan is available with all-wheel-drive. It received good points for its well-done interior and good handling.
Fun to drive: Mazda MX-5
Price: $27,000
Mazda MX-5 registered nearly the same results as Porsche Boxter, but Consumer Reports had chosen MX-5 due to its price, which is half the price of a Porsche Boxter. The experts outlined the car's manually operate cloth top, which can be raised and lowered using only one hand. There is another variant for the top of MX-5 and that is a power-operated one.
Small SUV:
Price: $23,000 to
$27,000
Consumer Reports characterizes Rav4 as being "versatile,
comfortable, and roomy enough for a small third-row seat." According to magazine's experts this small SUV has a V6 engine that allows the car to
perform acceleration to
Minivan:
Price: $24,000 to
$37,000
Specialists from Consumer Reports call the interior of this Toyota Sienna "on par with some luxury sedans." Its 6-cylinder engine is both powerful and fuel-efficient. However, the magazine says that Honda Odyssey has a more powerful engine and at the same time it is fun to drive.
Green car:
Price: $24,000
Although some other great hybrid cars are being launched into the market
in the meantime, Toyota Prius still received great marks from Consumer Reports
for the last 5 years. According to the tests performed by Consumer Reports, Prius registers a
medium of 44 mile-per-gallon and it's the best CR ever estimated.
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