Consumer Reports released its predicted-reliability survey based on a survey of owners of more than 1 million vehicles built between 1998 and 2005. Domestic automakers are closing the gap with top Japanese automakers when it comes to quality and reliability in the early years of ownership, according to the survey. However, the long-term durability of U.S. brands is not as good as the Asian brands, said David Champion, senior director of Consumer Reports' auto test center, in news reports. "By eight years, there are likely to be twice as many problems with the domestics," he said. For the second year in a row, no European nameplates made the list as most reliable. Of the 31 cars that earned the top rating, two—the Chevrolet Monte Carlo and the Mercury Mariner SUV—were from U.S.-based manufacturers. The remaining 29 vehicles were from Japanese automakers, and none represented European brands. Almost half of the top 31--15 vehicles--were manufactured by Toyota. Of the 48 models forecast to be the least reliable, 22 are domestic nameplates, two are South Korean and four are Japanese. The Nissan Infiniti M35 and M45 sedans rated among the most reliable, but the Nissan Quest minivan, the Armada SUV, the Titan pickup and the Infiniti QX56 were ranked among the least reliable. The 20 European models with the poorest predicted reliability include the BMW 7 Series, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the Audi A8. All five of the top-rated domestic large SUVs were produced by GM: the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, the GMC Yukon and Yukon XL and the Cadillac Escalade. Consumer Reports Best predicted reliability: Small cars
Toyota Echo
Honda Civic (2005)
Toyota Prius
Honda Civic Hybrid (2005)
Toyota Corolla
Subaru Impreza (non-turbo)
Sporty cars/Convertibles Coupes Honda S2000
Mazda MX-5 Miata (2005)
Lexus SC430
Chevrolet Monte Carlo (2005)
Sedans
Lexus GS300/GS430
Infiniti M35/M45
Lexus IS300 (2005)v Honda Accord Hybrid
Toyota Camry
Honda Accord 4-cyl.
Lexus LS430
Wagons
Toyota Matrix
Minivans
(None rated "Best")
Small SUVs
Toyota Rav4 (2005)
Honda CR-V
Honda Element
Subaru Forester
Mercury Mariner
Mitsubishi Outlander
Mid-sized SUVs
Lexus RX400h (hybrid)
Toyota Highlander
Toyota 4Runner (V-8)
Infiniti FX35
Large SUVs
Toyota Land Cruiser
Pick-up trucks
Honda Ridgeline
Toyota Tundra