Consumer Reports New Cars January 2018

A COMPREHENSIVE drive can tell you a lot about a new car. After 30 to 60 minutes behind the wheel you can determine if the seats are comfortable, visibility is good, the car is noisy, and the controls are easy to master. What a kick of the tires and a test drive can’t tell you is how reliable the car is going to be. Quick, which car do you think is the least reliable: an Acura ILX, BMW 2 Series, or Buick Encore? In order to answer that, you need data—lots of data— from people who already own those cars. Fortunately for you, we have that data. A LOT of it. Our one-of-a-kind, realworld reliability Ratings are based on subscribers’ experiences with more than 640,000 vehicles reported in the latest Annual Auto Survey.…

What’s Coming Soon, Q&A With Our Experts, Vehicles in Testing at the Track IN THIS MARKET for a new car? You’re in luck, because carmakers have revealed a wide variety of new vehicles. Although SUVs still dominate—with new models from BMW, Jaguar, and Porsche—sedans and hatchbacks are represented. Audi, Genesis, and Nissan have introduced new high-tech four-doors to tempt traditionalists. FAMILIAR LOOKS UP TOP, BIG CHANGES UNDERNEATH BMW X3 Fall 2017 THE REVAMPED third generation of BMW’s compact luxury SUV boasts significantly more comfort and convenience features than before. And, for the first time, BMW is rolling out an M Performance model at the top of the lineup. The X3 offers a full suite of advanced safety features, such as forward-collision warning with city-collision mitigation, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-keeping assist with…

AFTER ABOUT A DECADE, Chevrolet has nally replaced the rst-generation Traverse three-row crossover with a thoroughly modern model that offers notable packaging, renement, and connectivity improvements. The Traverse is further distinguished this time around from its GMC Acadia sibling. While the GMC shrank in the redesign process, the Traverse is now longer. They will be soon be joined by a more upscale variant, the Buick Enclave. The Traverse’s pricing starts at $30,785 and climbs quickly. Driving the price up for many shoppers will be a desire for all-wheel drive and advanced safety features. Unfortunately, forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking are available only on top Premier and High Country trims. The lack of these important safety features on other trim levels is a disappointment on an all-new family vehicle. We purchased a Premier…

AT FIRST GLANCE, the all-new 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan is a roomy and pleasant SUV that checks all the right boxes for us. But even after 2,000 initial miles, some questions remain: Does it still have the youthful demeanor we’ve always liked? Or has this compact SUV grown up too much, in look and feel as well as in price and size? To find out, we bought an SE with 4Motion all-wheel drive for $31,645, with the main option being the striking Habanero Orange paint for $295. Pricing starts at $25,345 for the front-drive S trim and rises to the upper $30,000s for a loaded SEL version with AWD. The SE comes standard with forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking. Driving Impressions On the road, the new Tiguan is easygoing and user-friendly. The engine…

SUBARU HAS AGAIN sprinkled its Outback dust on an Impreza, creating a raised hatchback primed for frugal commutes and spirited weekend adventures. While strikingly similar to the last Crosstrek, the new model is distinguished by a higher level of renement. This Crosstrek uses a new structure that brings benets such as a much more comfortable ride and a signicantly quieter cabin. One would need a tape measure to gure out the incremental gains to the wheelbase, length, and slight drop in height. The Subaru remains instantly recognizable—a good thing given the Crosstrek’s loyal following. Pricing starts at $21,795 for the 2.0i base model and rises to $26,295 for the 2.0i Limited. We purchased a midlevel 2.0i Premium, adding a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and an EyeSight Driver-Assist package, with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency…

THE ALL-NEW XC60 is an evolution of both Volvo’s three-row XC90 SUV and S90 sedan—models that signaled the brand’s rebirth under new ownership. This newest model brings continued improvements to cabin quietness, interior space, and the Pilot Assist driver-assistance system. The new XC60 has a roomy, well-appointed interior that stands out in the class. However, for a brand that built its reputation on safety, Volvo’s distracting infotainment system means drivers will have to rely on the standard advanced safety features more than they should. We bought an XC60 T5 Momentum, which starts at $41,500. With some safety and convenience options, the total price came to $50,040. Driving Impressions Volvo’s redesign of the XC60 addressed many of its predecessor’s shortcomings. It is quite comfortable to rack up the highway miles, thanks to the comfortable seats.…