LexFather

http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2011/12...-consumer.html

Consumer Reports has just announced its latest test results. This time, the nonprofit organization put two brand-new, family sedans under its microscope – and while the one came up trumps, the other was a mixed bag.
Starting with the new 2012 Toyota Camry, Consumer Reports tested three different models with a four-cylinder, a V6 and a Hybrid engine, all of which ranked amongst the best in their class.

As the magazines notes, compared to the model it replaces, the new Camry has a plusher interior, more responsive handling, improved ride and better fuel economy, with only the increased road noise and some cheap details tainting the overall picture.

In fact, while the 173HP 2.5-liter four-cylinder version ties with the Hyundai Sonata for best-in-class fuel consumption delivering 27 mpg (8.7 lt/100 km), the more powerful 268HP 3.5-liter V6 is just a smidgen more thirsty and, at 26 mpg (9.0 lt/100 km), beats most four-cylinder rivals.

The Camry Hybrid’s main disadvantage is that it has a slightly smaller trunk. Other than that, the qualities of the other versions combined with an average fuel economy of 38 mpg (6.2 lt/100 km), earns it not only the “Recommended” tag, but also the top spot in its class.

The second vehicle tested by CR is the all-new North American market 2012 VW Passat. The magazine says that while the Passat is a clean sheet design, its interior “feels more ordinary” compared to its predecessors and its handling is less agile.

“VW has made the redesigned Passat surprisingly similar to the Camry, but with so-so results”, said Consumer Reports’ Test Center director David Champion, who added that the 2012 Passat is too new to have reliability data.

The base 170HP 2.5-liter inline-five version was criticized for its "antiquated and gruff-sounding" engine and its 25 mpg (9.4 lt/100 km) combined fuel economy. The top-of-the-line 3.6-liter V6 version received much more positive comments thanks to its plusher interior and its smooth 280HP engine.

According to CR, though, it’s not the pick of the range: this title belongs to the 140HP, 2.0-liter TDI diesel model which unlike diesels of yore, is completely devoid of noise, smoke and exhaust smells. Its strongest point is its consumption: the 37 mpg (6.4 lt/100 km) average was quite impressive – though not as much as the 51 mpg (4.6 lt/100 km) it recorded on the highway.

ydooby

Good win for the Camry. The TDI's 51mpg highway is quite amazing for a midsize sedan though.

Fizzboy7

Looking forward to getting this issue soon. Today's mid-size sedan choices are bountiful and about to get even more so when the new Accord debuts in late 2012.

<VENOM>

Either car when bought, congratulations on achieving mediocrity

I8ABMR

BUT the Passat looks so much nicer and has a far better interior. It also has more room I think. I guess that will fade pretty quickly. Toyota knows how to make a car for the masses.

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

well done to Toyota, but this makes absolutely no sense.

recommending a NEW model based on reliability of the completely different OLD model is just bad analysis.

the new camry is noisier? do not want. but it seems most makers are giving up sound insulation in a quest for higher fuel economy (lowering weight) and i can't blame them because the EPA has a gun to their head.

so 51mpg (which i think blows away the camry hybrid) doesn't allow the car to be 'recommended'? smh.

ydooby

Well it's 51mpg on highway. The fact that it averages 37mpg overall likely means it did only 23mpg in city.

LeX2K

No it makes sense, because almost no new model is in fact 100% new, plus there is history involved. For a very long time, basically every new Toyota model was just as reliable as the last, based on that, CR automatically gave a new Toyota model a recommendation. That changed recently, in large part due to the falling quality of the generation 6 Camry.

Even a car like the Chevy Volt is not "all new" it is based on an existing platform, and uses a modified version of an existing engine.

camryphil

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/...nsumer-reports

Camry Hybrid tops family sedan class. 38 mpg overall on CR's testing loop.

"All three are given the Recommended tag, beating Volkswagen's all-new Passat comprehensively. The Camry was rated highly for its more agile handling, improved interior and better fuel economy. The hybrid model in particular was praised for its 38 mpg rating."

camryphil

Motortrend conducted their own test with mfg provided cars over what 1.5 days.

Camry hybrid
15.5 sec @ 91.5 mph
36.9 mpg

Passat TDI
16.6 sec @ 83.1 mph
34.3 mpg

overall Consumer Reports got 38 mpg from the Camry Hybrid and 37 mpg for the Passat TDI.

Also why would mpg matter for recommendations. The Civic topped its class in fuel economy on CR's test loop and isn't recommended.

spwolf

you have to understand that their car ratings and reccomendation are two separate things.... reccomendation is given based on rating AND reliability history of brand/vehicle/engine. ratings are based on very comprehensive tests of everything, without reliability factored in. Passat didnt fare well in those ratings. Camry won the class (old one didnt).

As to the TDI, well Camry Hybrid is significantly quicker car and gets better mg, which is probably why it was best in class. They score many other things though, not just the enginr. Civic was not reccomended because of its poor overall rating as an vehicle, even with its reliabilit record being good.

As to the reliability, what exactly do you want them to do? Reliability can be determed only after few years and even then there are often big changes like with new engines coming in. Thats why they go by history, brand, model and engine.

LexFather

Seriously...good news for the Camry and we continue to rip it here? Historically past Toyota quality has been an accurate indicator of the new models and they seem to have gotten past the recent quality issues.



Altima wishes it was as mediocre as the Camry

mmarshall

That 51 MPG is as good as a standard, non-v Prius.....and in a car that, IMO, is a lot more pleasant to sit in and drive than a Prius.

mmarshall

Totally agree, Paul. And, if you remember several years ago, that is EXACTLY what got CR in trouble with the 2006-redesign of the Camry, and its transmission problems. They recommended it based on the generally good reliability of previous models.....and the 2006 model just didn't stack up.

They said that they would stop doing that (recommending new or redesigned models based on reliability of past ones).


Look at the new Buick Verano compact, though. GM doesn't necessarily accept that doctrine. The Verano is packed so full of insulation blankets, triple-door-seals, double-laminated glass, spray-in sound deadener for nooks/crannies, etc.... that some of the press-reviewers are comparing it to the LS460 in quietness.



Perhaps, with the Passat, CR is sticking to it no-recommendation policy without an established reliability record. Why it may not with the Camry is anybody's guess.....especially after the 2006 debacle.

In all fairness, however, the new 2012 Camry DOES seem to be better-built, overall, than the 2006 model, though it admittedly lacks some door and sheet-metal solidness.

mmarshall

No, I disagree. Paul (bitkahuna) is correct. It DOESN'T make sense. The new Camry is substantially different from the old one, in many ways. CR itself, several years ago, said they would stop giving automatic recommendations to new or redesigned models based on past reliability.