Hyundai earns cheers, Honda Insight gets jeers in new tally on clarkhoward.com

Hyundai is on a roll. Just recently, Clark told you how the Korean automaker was praised by JD Power. Now the August issue of Consumer Reports says the Hyundai Elantra is one of the best and most affordable small wagons/hatchbacks.

Earlier this year, Hyundai started offering buyer's assurance as an incentive. Now their marketing wizs are on to gas. If you buy a new car, they will fill up you at $1.49/gallon for 12 months.

Mind you, the cost of gas is likely headed down, barring unexpected world events or weather patterns…but Clark doesn't think it's going down to $1.49! So Hyundai's offer is very generous.

Meanwhile, Consumer Reports trashes the new hybrid Honda Insight. The vehicle received an overall score of 54, which is the second lowest for any small vehicle. This is perhaps the first time ever that a Honda has gotten a low F from Consumer Reports.

Yet the lowest score of all goes to the Dodge Caliber with a 49.

On the other end of the spectrum, the No. 1 hatchback/station wagon is the Mazda 5, which earned a score of 86. That's right up there with some very expensive luxury vehicles. The Mazda 5 has a street price of around $17,000 with power gizmos included.

But what a stunner for the Insight, which Honda was marketing as an affordable hybrid at around $18,500. The people at Honda must be licking their wounds after having put so much research and resources into the Insight.

Other top picks from Consumer Reports in the small car category include the Volkswagen Rabbit, the Volkswagen Jetta-SE and the 2009 Toyota Prius.

What others are saying

American vs. "Import"
You people need to rethink the "american" made idea. The majority of cars you think are "american" are made anywhere but america. More and more "imports" are made right here in the U.S. Until America can make it and make it right, I won't buy a traditional american car. Also, lots of the cars are interchangeable - my Pontiac Vibe comes down the same assembly line as the Toyota Matrix. Don't you people do any research?? It seems too many just buy anything they believe is an american automobile. It doesn't matter how good it looks if you're sitting on the side of the road.
By B Osipov @ 07/22/09 03:47:36 PMreport abuse
Loyal 2000 Insight owner
I've had my Honda Insight for over 8 years now and still love driving it. At 64 mpg, the Insight has yet to be beaten by any competitor on gas mileage. Granted, I'm 5'8" and wouldn't recommend this car to anyone 6' or over. Car and Driver gave this little gem of a car a stellar review. I think Consumer Reports is missing the point of this car; best in fuel economy, next to zero emissions and an awesome dash board.
By Rob @ 07/20/09 07:44:42 PMreport abuse
2003 Prius
We liked our 2003 Prius so much, that we bought a 2005 model. We still drive both cars. I can report that we have done nothing to either car except for regular oil changes and tire replacement. Last week was our FIRST genuine repair. A little squeak appeared in the steering column on the 2003 Prius at 60,000 miles.
Even though it sounded like something that would be fixed by a quick squirt of oil, I figured that the dealer would know exactly where to squirt.
Well, they replaced the rack and pinion steering and the Electronic control unit for the steering. The parts had to be ordered from somewhere, so they gave us a free loaner (brand new Camry) from their rental car division for the July 4th weekend.
Again, both cars have been trouble-free until now.
By AlphaCharlie @ 07/15/09 02:32:12 AMreport abuse
Ford - STILL real american
Obama does not own Ford. Ford is still the only true American car / truck on the road. They did not take any bailout so they earned my respect and future car purchase.
By Ctech @ 07/14/09 03:45:49 PMreport abuse
Hyundai? Consumer Reports got it right.
It's true that the older Hyundai's from the 90's could not compare to Honda/Toyota. But they've turned things around. I bought a 2007 Elantra and love everything about it. Solid, comfortable, and trouble free.
By jaz @ 07/14/09 05:06:43 AMreport abuse
GM lost me
I've decided to change to foreign cars vs GM becuaes anything the Gov is involved with will get screwed up and I am not willing to take such a chance. I suspect Obama can cancel warranties on whim or if they cost too much and his word isn't worth much so good by GM, Ford and Chrysler
By zwamus @ 07/13/09 07:36:32 PMreport abuse
JEEP SUV RATINGS
I have a 2004 Jeep Cherokee and a 2008
Jeep Compass. Strange but true they
both have been great SUV's. I got what I
paid for. The Cherokee is a perfect
winter car plus very comfortable. The
Campass gets great fuel mileage and
lots of pep with it's 2.4 VVT World
engine. Neither SUV has ever given me
one bit of trouble. I would recommend
A jeep any day.
By Bob D @ 07/13/09 07:25:29 PMreport abuse
cars
I trust what my friends, family, and neighbors are saying. Take a look at American cars again. They have been getting better & better since their lows about 15 years ago. That's when the Japanese drove a wedge between Americans and the cars their neighbors & brothers and sisters built. But it's time to open your mind. My Chrysler 300 was rated tops in it's category...by several rating firms. I would but a Charger, a Corvette, a Cadillac, etc. since they are great cars AND they are made by Canadian and American UNION employees. I would not feel good buying a Japanese car.
By jeff @ 07/13/09 07:08:39 PMreport abuse
Consusmer Reports
There is no better source of objective reports of car quality than Consumer Reports.
By nelson parks @ 07/13/09 06:40:29 PMreport abuse
Who to trust?
"...worships on the altar of Consumer Reports, but he should know better. JD Power is a much more trustworthy place to go to get ratings." What a strange comment! What should we believe: a 90-day initial impression of a new purchase, or the 200,000+ reliability survey answers that CR publishes annually> True, they make some big mistakes but the survey results are objective and correct them. For example, survey results demonstrate the low reliability of the VW line so CR will have to correct their evaluations soon.
By Cary Reinstein @ 07/13/09 03:11:02 PMreport abuse
Hyundai? I don't think so either...
I agree with the previous comments about Hyundai. I purchased a new Sonata in 2005 thinking the 100,000 mile warranty would protect me if anything went wrong. At 15,000 miles the clutch went out, Hyundai said it wasn't covered under the drivetrain warranty, and they would have to order the part from Korea which would take 6 months. No way in the world would I ever own or recommend one. It also had the same kind of fit and finish issues and the materials used were cheap and poorly made, the car was just a big pile of junk. I'll stick with my Toyotas and Hondas, I've never had a problem with any of them outside of regular maintenance. American car builders burned their bridges long ago with the junk they produced, RIP! Long live the Japaneese cars made in America by Americans who really care what they produce.
By Brian @ 07/13/09 02:31:15 PMreport abuse
Hyundai? I don't think so...
Honestly, I would NEVER consider a Hyundai, ever. And would strongly advise anybody from ever getting one. PERIOD.

I owned one in the 90's and it was by far the biggest piece of junk ever. The quality of craftsmanship and materials were a few steps lower than a child's Happy Meal toy (falling ceiling, seats wear and opened after 3 months, dash-cracks even though it was garage parked.) The engine had all sorts of major problems (the engine was REPLACED 3 times - the first time being after 1,500 miles!) Catalytic emission problems (fumes leaked into the cabin), strange wiring that gave odd throttle feedback through the radio, to even the way the car was balanced weight wise, the front right tires wore 3 times faster than the rate of the other tires. And no, this wasn't just me. Three other family friends had similar issues with a '92, '98, '00 Hyundai's.

When I personally got rid of the car after 2 years, the world got MUCH better and more reliable.

I don't care what JD or Consumer Reports says, the Hyundai cars are beyond bad.
Obviously, if they had changed they would have re-branded the "Hyundai" name similar to what Goldstar did with LG. Or Toyota with Lexus.

The Hyundai name right now might as well be Yugo.
By tony @ 07/13/09 01:26:25 PMreport abuse
Sampling Size Counts
About 15 years ago while enrolled in a Research methodology course at grad school the prof cited some recent cr findings to show how not to conduct "research." The sample selections were flawed from the start (in this case they were analyzing electonics products)because they had sampled a very small number of items and just extrapolated their count to suggest the results would be typical of what the product user might expect. The few product surveys they collected for study may have produced very different results what most product users might experience. Put another way studies of 1,000 surveys is more likely to be more accurate predictors than 100.
By Norb @ 07/13/09 01:10:08 PMreport abuse
Consumer's Reports
I remember years ago, buying a Mercury Topaz (can't remember what year) because aof a Best Buy rating from CR. The next year they rated that same car as a Wort Buy as a used car... We dropped our subscription immediately.
By Brian @ 07/13/09 12:47:56 PMreport abuse
JD Power vs CU
Just because some people disagree with CU's opinions doesn't negater that CU takes no advertisments, and they insist on purchasing everything they test anomyously, and then further demand that no company be allowed to use their ratings good or bad for these company's benefit. Take a look at any vehicle manufacturer, advertisments, and you will see JD Powers, now who would a thinking person believe was an impartial opinion. Looking for bias in anything then follow the noney.
Kudos to Clark for recognizing what is the truth.
By Rich S. @ 07/13/09 12:45:00 PMreport abuse
Truckers speed governor
Since according to the other comemnts so many businesses have these devices already and have experienced a reduction in trucking accidents, it seems like a good thing to extend the practice to the rest of the industry, including the independents. However the means of extending the practice does not have to be direct monitoring by the government. Insurance companies, if they are not already doing so, could reward truckers for using these devices on their rigs by lowering their insurance premiums and they could penalize truckers who don't have them by a financial penalty as well: for example an at-fault accident usually raises rates on a vehicle--if the trucker was at fault in the accident and didn't have the device in operation then his premium could be adjusted upward even more than if he were at fault and had the device in operation. Then the "competitive edge" of high speeds aiming for quicker turnaround and more hauls per week would not be as profitable. This would also allow for a judgment call to disengage the device in an emergency if a burst of speed is needed to avoid an accident. But I imagine given the momentum and centers of gravity on big trucks that this situation would not apply so much to them as it does to cars...I'm not a trucker so I could be wrong. Just some thought for what they might be worth.
By Julia E @ 07/13/09 12:32:37 PMreport abuse
Chrysler/Dodge
I disagree with the rating on the Dodge Caliber. I have had one since September 2006 and not have had one problem with it! Would Consumer Reports have given the car a higher rating had Dodge not covered the interior in plastic?
By Rich @ 07/06/09 04:42:30 PMreport abuse
Hyundai
The Hyundai Sonata comes with a $3000 rebate versus $1500 for the Elantra Touring. Do you have a clunker to trade in? If so, you can get the Sonata for under 14K. Get the Zag pricing at zag.com
By Robert @ 07/05/09 03:48:52 PMreport abuse
hyundai, camry or accord-
I am in the markey for a used car from 2006-2008. I'm looking at the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry or Hyundai Elantra. I am researching on reliability and cost effectiveness on maintenance/ mileage in the future since I might pay cash. Is it better to pay cash for a car that might be 13000 or finance a portion? I haven't purchased a car in years.
By Jeanie @ 07/05/09 01:16:57 PMreport abuse
Consumer Reports Political? Huh?
Consumer Reportsd political? Really?

Can we refrain from making spurious statements unrelated to the subject matter thats unsubstantiated by any accompanying facts? It wastes everyones time, and veers the subject matter.

This is right from J D Powers website:

"Power Circle Ratings related to the J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality StudySM measure consumer perceptions of automotive new-vehicle quality after 90 days of ownership."

The problem with the IQ surveys is that within the first 90 days of a car purchase, most buyers will still view the car favorably even when there are clear indications that it wasnt a good purchase. There are numerous studies that have shown even after several years later, and after repeated reliability and quality related incidents have proven the car is a lemon, most people still wont reveal to others it was a bad purchase because of the fear(and embarrasment) of them casting doubt on their ability to make good decisions. Its human nature.
By G A @ 07/05/09 09:32:22 AMreport abuse
JD vs Consumers
Consumer Reports is based on feedback from consumers where JD Power & Associates is based on their own investigation and research with very little feedback from consumers. I read the comparison of these two in CR and also at JD. Should I believe the consumers or a private research firm?
By Peter Klein @ 07/04/09 05:09:24 PMreport abuse
Insight Evaluated By Car and Driver
The latest "Car and Driver" magazine compares the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight side-by-side and the Honda Insight was the clear winner according to them.
By Mark @ 07/04/09 09:35:24 AMreport abuse
The pinch of Insight
I am really not all that surprised that the Honda Insight received jeers from the JDPowers Group. I believe it is a good car with great intentions. A car that Honda, indeed, did put too much emphasize on. A car that needs some retooling. A car that whose main problem, in my opinion, lies with in the cabin itself. It feels cramped. A person, such as myself, who stands for nearly 10 hours daily cannot nor never will appreciate the seats that Honda provides. It offers no comfort for those long days and even long trips. In the end, like the Yugo, of years past, it is built for economy, not for luxury.

There needs to be an equal balance. Economy that offers some comfort. That is why the Elantra won!

Again, I am really not all that surprised!
By Phil @ 07/04/09 03:21:34 AMreport abuse
Consumer Reports vs. JD Power
Re: the comment about Consumers Union. To the contrary, each car that is tested by Consumer reports is purchased from a car dealer, off the lot, anonymously. They want no influence from the manufacturer whatsoever and purchase these cars from a lot to avoid any tainting of a manufacturer-provide vehicle. Also, JD Power is primarily opining on "Initial Quality." This is significantly different from predicted long-term reliability offered by Consumer Reports. Potential buyers should not be confused by this. You need only look at the recent high JDP ratings of Jaguar to discern this. I agree that Jaguar may provide a high "initial quality" but I don't know any mechanic in his right mind who would opine that a Jag is going to be reliable in the long run. Both services are providing a different opinion and these should be duly noted...
By Steevo @ 07/02/09 06:18:45 PMreport abuse
Hyundai
Bought new 2009 Sonata GLS last July, and have really enjoyed the car; quiet on the road, good safety features, good small car comfort; gas mileage on local use is around 25mpg; zippy 4 cyl engine. Two complaints: lack of sufficiently bright on/off lights for A/C operation; driver's seat headrest restricts right and left side rear view (but that seems to be true with most smaller cars these days).
By BillG @ 07/02/09 03:27:42 PMreport abuse
Neither fish nor fowl
The Honda Insight was designed to sell at a low price. To meet that price, Honda designed it quite different from the other hybrids on the market. Unfortunately the design trade-offs they made give the Insight really poor performance in the kind of driving Americans are used to. It needs either a bigger engine or a more powerful electric motor to make it safe and fun to drive. Of course that will raise the price
By Jack @ 07/02/09 12:31:27 PMreport abuse
I have seen several different publications that have given the new Insight a rotten review. I don't think they'd all be wrong. If there were politics involved, don't you think every hybrid would be given a great review to push BHOs agenda?
By mjd77 @ 07/02/09 10:40:54 AMreport abuse
Who to believe?
And others say JD Powers are on the take so who are you to believe?
I go with Consumers Reports.
By Jay @ 07/01/09 09:07:45 PMreport abuse
Consumer Reports
Consumers Union which publishes Consumer Reports is a very political outfit. They work from an agenda and their reports should be taken with a grain of salt. I know Clark worships on the altar of Consumer Reports, but he should know better. JD Power is a much more trustworthy place to go to get ratings.
By Buzz G @ 07/01/09 05:47:03 PMreport abuse

American vs. "Import"

You people need to rethink the "american" made idea. The majority of cars you think are "american" are made anywhere but america. More and more "imports" are made right here in the U.S. Until America can make it and make it right, I won't buy a traditional american car. Also, lots of the cars are interchangeable - my Pontiac Vibe comes down the same assembly line as the Toyota Matrix. Don't you people do any research?? It seems too many just buy anything they believe is an american automobile. It doesn't matter how good it looks if you're sitting on the side of the road.

By B Osipov @ 07/22/09 03:47:36 PMreport abuse

Loyal 2000 Insight owner

I've had my Honda Insight for over 8 years now and still love driving it. At 64 mpg, the Insight has yet to be beaten by any competitor on gas mileage. Granted, I'm 5'8" and wouldn't recommend this car to anyone 6' or over. Car and Driver gave this little gem of a car a stellar review. I think Consumer Reports is missing the point of this car; best in fuel economy, next to zero emissions and an awesome dash board.

By Rob @ 07/20/09 07:44:42 PMreport abuse

2003 Prius

We liked our 2003 Prius so much, that we bought a 2005 model. We still drive both cars. I can report that we have done nothing to either car except for regular oil changes and tire replacement. Last week was our FIRST genuine repair. A little squeak appeared in the steering column on the 2003 Prius at 60,000 miles.
Even though it sounded like something that would be fixed by a quick squirt of oil, I figured that the dealer would know exactly where to squirt.
Well, they replaced the rack and pinion steering and the Electronic control unit for the steering. The parts had to be ordered from somewhere, so they gave us a free loaner (brand new Camry) from their rental car division for the July 4th weekend.
Again, both cars have been trouble-free until now.

By AlphaCharlie @ 07/15/09 02:32:12 AMreport abuse

Ford - STILL real american

Obama does not own Ford. Ford is still the only true American car / truck on the road. They did not take any bailout so they earned my respect and future car purchase.

By Ctech @ 07/14/09 03:45:49 PMreport abuse

Hyundai? Consumer Reports got it right.

It's true that the older Hyundai's from the 90's could not compare to Honda/Toyota. But they've turned things around. I bought a 2007 Elantra and love everything about it. Solid, comfortable, and trouble free.

By jaz @ 07/14/09 05:06:43 AMreport abuse

GM lost me

I've decided to change to foreign cars vs GM becuaes anything the Gov is involved with will get screwed up and I am not willing to take such a chance. I suspect Obama can cancel warranties on whim or if they cost too much and his word isn't worth much so good by GM, Ford and Chrysler

By zwamus @ 07/13/09 07:36:32 PMreport abuse

JEEP SUV RATINGS

I have a 2004 Jeep Cherokee and a 2008
Jeep Compass. Strange but true they
both have been great SUV's. I got what I
paid for. The Cherokee is a perfect
winter car plus very comfortable. The
Campass gets great fuel mileage and
lots of pep with it's 2.4 VVT World
engine. Neither SUV has ever given me
one bit of trouble. I would recommend
A jeep any day.

By Bob D @ 07/13/09 07:25:29 PMreport abuse

cars

I trust what my friends, family, and neighbors are saying. Take a look at American cars again. They have been getting better & better since their lows about 15 years ago. That's when the Japanese drove a wedge between Americans and the cars their neighbors & brothers and sisters built. But it's time to open your mind. My Chrysler 300 was rated tops in it's category...by several rating firms. I would but a Charger, a Corvette, a Cadillac, etc. since they are great cars AND they are made by Canadian and American UNION employees. I would not feel good buying a Japanese car.

By jeff @ 07/13/09 07:08:39 PMreport abuse

Consusmer Reports

There is no better source of objective reports of car quality than Consumer Reports.

By nelson parks @ 07/13/09 06:40:29 PMreport abuse

Who to trust?

"...worships on the altar of Consumer Reports, but he should know better. JD Power is a much more trustworthy place to go to get ratings." What a strange comment! What should we believe: a 90-day initial impression of a new purchase, or the 200,000+ reliability survey answers that CR publishes annually> True, they make some big mistakes but the survey results are objective and correct them. For example, survey results demonstrate the low reliability of the VW line so CR will have to correct their evaluations soon.

By Cary Reinstein @ 07/13/09 03:11:02 PMreport abuse

Hyundai? I don't think so either...

I agree with the previous comments about Hyundai. I purchased a new Sonata in 2005 thinking the 100,000 mile warranty would protect me if anything went wrong. At 15,000 miles the clutch went out, Hyundai said it wasn't covered under the drivetrain warranty, and they would have to order the part from Korea which would take 6 months. No way in the world would I ever own or recommend one. It also had the same kind of fit and finish issues and the materials used were cheap and poorly made, the car was just a big pile of junk. I'll stick with my Toyotas and Hondas, I've never had a problem with any of them outside of regular maintenance. American car builders burned their bridges long ago with the junk they produced, RIP! Long live the Japaneese cars made in America by Americans who really care what they produce.

By Brian @ 07/13/09 02:31:15 PMreport abuse

Hyundai? I don't think so...

Honestly, I would NEVER consider a Hyundai, ever. And would strongly advise anybody from ever getting one. PERIOD.

I owned one in the 90's and it was by far the biggest piece of junk ever. The quality of craftsmanship and materials were a few steps lower than a child's Happy Meal toy (falling ceiling, seats wear and opened after 3 months, dash-cracks even though it was garage parked.) The engine had all sorts of major problems (the engine was REPLACED 3 times - the first time being after 1,500 miles!) Catalytic emission problems (fumes leaked into the cabin), strange wiring that gave odd throttle feedback through the radio, to even the way the car was balanced weight wise, the front right tires wore 3 times faster than the rate of the other tires. And no, this wasn't just me. Three other family friends had similar issues with a '92, '98, '00 Hyundai's.

When I personally got rid of the car after 2 years, the world got MUCH better and more reliable.

I don't care what JD or Consumer Reports says, the Hyundai cars are beyond bad.
Obviously, if they had changed they would have re-branded the "Hyundai" name similar to what Goldstar did with LG. Or Toyota with Lexus.

The Hyundai name right now might as well be Yugo.

By tony @ 07/13/09 01:26:25 PMreport abuse

Sampling Size Counts

About 15 years ago while enrolled in a Research methodology course at grad school the prof cited some recent cr findings to show how not to conduct "research." The sample selections were flawed from the start (in this case they were analyzing electonics products)because they had sampled a very small number of items and just extrapolated their count to suggest the results would be typical of what the product user might expect. The few product surveys they collected for study may have produced very different results what most product users might experience. Put another way studies of 1,000 surveys is more likely to be more accurate predictors than 100.

By Norb @ 07/13/09 01:10:08 PMreport abuse

Consumer's Reports

I remember years ago, buying a Mercury Topaz (can't remember what year) because aof a Best Buy rating from CR. The next year they rated that same car as a Wort Buy as a used car... We dropped our subscription immediately.

By Brian @ 07/13/09 12:47:56 PMreport abuse

JD Power vs CU

Just because some people disagree with CU's opinions doesn't negater that CU takes no advertisments, and they insist on purchasing everything they test anomyously, and then further demand that no company be allowed to use their ratings good or bad for these company's benefit. Take a look at any vehicle manufacturer, advertisments, and you will see JD Powers, now who would a thinking person believe was an impartial opinion. Looking for bias in anything then follow the noney.
Kudos to Clark for recognizing what is the truth.

By Rich S. @ 07/13/09 12:45:00 PMreport abuse

Truckers speed governor

Since according to the other comemnts so many businesses have these devices already and have experienced a reduction in trucking accidents, it seems like a good thing to extend the practice to the rest of the industry, including the independents. However the means of extending the practice does not have to be direct monitoring by the government. Insurance companies, if they are not already doing so, could reward truckers for using these devices on their rigs by lowering their insurance premiums and they could penalize truckers who don't have them by a financial penalty as well: for example an at-fault accident usually raises rates on a vehicle--if the trucker was at fault in the accident and didn't have the device in operation then his premium could be adjusted upward even more than if he were at fault and had the device in operation. Then the "competitive edge" of high speeds aiming for quicker turnaround and more hauls per week would not be as profitable. This would also allow for a judgment call to disengage the device in an emergency if a burst of speed is needed to avoid an accident. But I imagine given the momentum and centers of gravity on big trucks that this situation would not apply so much to them as it does to cars...I'm not a trucker so I could be wrong. Just some thought for what they might be worth.

By Julia E @ 07/13/09 12:32:37 PMreport abuse

Chrysler/Dodge

I disagree with the rating on the Dodge Caliber. I have had one since September 2006 and not have had one problem with it! Would Consumer Reports have given the car a higher rating had Dodge not covered the interior in plastic?

By Rich @ 07/06/09 04:42:30 PMreport abuse

Hyundai

The Hyundai Sonata comes with a $3000 rebate versus $1500 for the Elantra Touring. Do you have a clunker to trade in? If so, you can get the Sonata for under 14K. Get the Zag pricing at zag.com

By Robert @ 07/05/09 03:48:52 PMreport abuse

hyundai, camry or accord-

I am in the markey for a used car from 2006-2008. I'm looking at the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry or Hyundai Elantra. I am researching on reliability and cost effectiveness on maintenance/ mileage in the future since I might pay cash. Is it better to pay cash for a car that might be 13000 or finance a portion? I haven't purchased a car in years.

By Jeanie @ 07/05/09 01:16:57 PMreport abuse

Consumer Reports Political? Huh?

Consumer Reportsd political? Really?

Can we refrain from making spurious statements unrelated to the subject matter thats unsubstantiated by any accompanying facts? It wastes everyones time, and veers the subject matter.

This is right from J D Powers website:

"Power Circle Ratings related to the J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality StudySM measure consumer perceptions of automotive new-vehicle quality after 90 days of ownership."

The problem with the IQ surveys is that within the first 90 days of a car purchase, most buyers will still view the car favorably even when there are clear indications that it wasnt a good purchase. There are numerous studies that have shown even after several years later, and after repeated reliability and quality related incidents have proven the car is a lemon, most people still wont reveal to others it was a bad purchase because of the fear(and embarrasment) of them casting doubt on their ability to make good decisions. Its human nature.

By G A @ 07/05/09 09:32:22 AMreport abuse

JD vs Consumers

Consumer Reports is based on feedback from consumers where JD Power & Associates is based on their own investigation and research with very little feedback from consumers. I read the comparison of these two in CR and also at JD. Should I believe the consumers or a private research firm?

By Peter Klein @ 07/04/09 05:09:24 PMreport abuse

Insight Evaluated By Car and Driver

The latest "Car and Driver" magazine compares the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight side-by-side and the Honda Insight was the clear winner according to them.

By Mark @ 07/04/09 09:35:24 AMreport abuse

The pinch of Insight

I am really not all that surprised that the Honda Insight received jeers from the JDPowers Group. I believe it is a good car with great intentions. A car that Honda, indeed, did put too much emphasize on. A car that needs some retooling. A car that whose main problem, in my opinion, lies with in the cabin itself. It feels cramped. A person, such as myself, who stands for nearly 10 hours daily cannot nor never will appreciate the seats that Honda provides. It offers no comfort for those long days and even long trips. In the end, like the Yugo, of years past, it is built for economy, not for luxury.

There needs to be an equal balance. Economy that offers some comfort. That is why the Elantra won!

Again, I am really not all that surprised!

By Phil @ 07/04/09 03:21:34 AMreport abuse

Consumer Reports vs. JD Power

Re: the comment about Consumers Union. To the contrary, each car that is tested by Consumer reports is purchased from a car dealer, off the lot, anonymously. They want no influence from the manufacturer whatsoever and purchase these cars from a lot to avoid any tainting of a manufacturer-provide vehicle. Also, JD Power is primarily opining on "Initial Quality." This is significantly different from predicted long-term reliability offered by Consumer Reports. Potential buyers should not be confused by this. You need only look at the recent high JDP ratings of Jaguar to discern this. I agree that Jaguar may provide a high "initial quality" but I don't know any mechanic in his right mind who would opine that a Jag is going to be reliable in the long run. Both services are providing a different opinion and these should be duly noted...

By Steevo @ 07/02/09 06:18:45 PMreport abuse

Bought new 2009 Sonata GLS last July, and have really enjoyed the car; quiet on the road, good safety features, good small car comfort; gas mileage on local use is around 25mpg; zippy 4 cyl engine. Two complaints: lack of sufficiently bright on/off lights for A/C operation; driver's seat headrest restricts right and left side rear view (but that seems to be true with most smaller cars these days).

By BillG @ 07/02/09 03:27:42 PMreport abuse

Neither fish nor fowl

The Honda Insight was designed to sell at a low price. To meet that price, Honda designed it quite different from the other hybrids on the market. Unfortunately the design trade-offs they made give the Insight really poor performance in the kind of driving Americans are used to. It needs either a bigger engine or a more powerful electric motor to make it safe and fun to drive. Of course that will raise the price

By Jack @ 07/02/09 12:31:27 PMreport abuse

I have seen several different publications that have given the new Insight a rotten review. I don't think they'd all be wrong. If there were politics involved, don't you think every hybrid would be given a great review to push BHOs agenda?

By mjd77 @ 07/02/09 10:40:54 AMreport abuse

Who to believe?

And others say JD Powers are on the take so who are you to believe?
I go with Consumers Reports.

By Jay @ 07/01/09 09:07:45 PMreport abuse

Consumer Reports

Consumers Union which publishes Consumer Reports is a very political outfit. They work from an agenda and their reports should be taken with a grain of salt. I know Clark worships on the altar of Consumer Reports, but he should know better. JD Power is a much more trustworthy place to go to get ratings.

By Buzz G @ 07/01/09 05:47:03 PMreport abuse

Listen Live:

Clark On Demand:

Clark's Advice:

Consumer Action Center:

Quick Links:

Clark Media:

Call The Show:

Jul 01, 2009 -- Hyundai earns cheers, Honda Insight gets jeers in new tally

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