The Dirty Dozen or Disappointing Dozen?????

[David]

G. David Felt

Alternative Fuel Reporter

C&G Reporting

So Consumers report has released their annual Disappointing Dozen with some surprising auto's that make me wonder if they are just disappointing or actually Dirty?

Below, we present this year's dirty dozen with accompanying highlights where they came up short.

Make & model Test score Low points

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara 20 Ride, handling, braking, wind noise, access, driving position, seat comfort, fit and finish, visibility, fuel economy, reliability.

Smart ForTwo Passion 28 Transmission, acceleration, ride, agility, noise, seats only two, premium fuel.

Scion iQ 29 Ride, noise, acceleration, steering, driving position, fit and finish, radio controls, blind spots, tiny rear seat.

Mitsubishi i-MiEV SE 34 Short range, long charging time, weak cabin heat, Spartan accommodations, acceleration, ride, agility, seats only four, complicated radio, headlights.

Chevrolet Spark 1LT 34 Acceleration, transmission, ride, noise, front-seat comfort, driving position, controls. Toyota FJ Cruiser 36 Visibility, ride, handling, noise, fuel economy, fit and finish, access.

Toyota Yaris LE 41 Noise, ride, agility, driving position, front-seat comfort, fit and finish, radio controls, rear visibility.

Dodge Avenger SXT (4-cyl.) 43 Engine noise, acceleration, braking, handling, rear visibility, transmission, driving position, fuel economy.

Jeep Compass Latitude 49 Engine noise, acceleration, driving position, front-seat comfort, rear visibility, cornering limits, braking, reliability.

Ram 2500 Laramie (6.7L, inline 6) 49 Ride, noise, handling, transmission, high step-in, complicated optional radio, reliability.

Toyota Tacoma (V6) 50 Ride, handling, driving position, high step-in, low rear seat.

Jeep Patriot Latitude 52 Engine noise, acceleration, driving position, front-seat comfort, complicated optional radio.

So you can read the full release here:

http://autos.yahoo.com/news/the-disappointing-dozen--cars-that-fail-our-tests-223026019.html

Sound off, is this a Disappointing Dozen or Did consumers report get it wrong again?

List out your Disappointing Dozen for us as well.

[Intrepidation]

Load `o crap

[riviera74]

Wrangler aside, I actually agree with that list. I would not touch any of those vehicles with a 10 foot pole. GM for the most part has superior vehicles that would easily displace these antitheses of all-stars.

As for the likes of the Spark and the Smart ForTwo, why buy one?

[ocnblu]

Yup, load o' crap about sums that up.

[Robert Hall]

The Wrangler (and maybe the Ram) is the only one I'd be interested in driving. The rest are of zero interest to me.

[daves87rs]

BS as usual.....

[ocnblu]

Oh my God, a 3/4 ton 4X4 pickup truck has a HIGH STEP-IN? What a failure!

[Drew Dowdell]

UConnect is one of the best (least complicated) of the full screen radios out there.... it is super easy to operate.... This leads me to a certain conclusion about CR testers.

[Camino LS6]

Oh my God, a 3/4 ton 4X4 pickup truck has a HIGH STEP-IN? What a failure!

Had to laugh at that too.

[Robert Hall]

4x4 trucks need power folding step ladders..

[Intrepidation]

I laughed at the complaints they leveled at the Wrangler, you know, one of the few vehicles specifically designed for off-road prowess, not being like a Camry.

[ocnblu]

That too. People who buy Wranglers KNOW what they're getting in to, for the most part. This is a ridiculously asinine complaint list.

[Intrepidation]

UConnect is one of the best (least complicated) of the full screen radios out there.... it is super easy to operate.... This leads me to a certain conclusion about CR testers.

Yup, in fact Chrysler's infotainment system has won awards for its speed and easy of use.