December 2011

Lexus, Mini lead in study of new vehicle buying experience

(December 2, 2011) WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — Satisfaction with the new-vehicle sales process has improved notably from 2010, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 U.S. Sales Satisfaction Index Study released Thursday.

Lexus ranked highest among luxury brands in satisfaction with the new-vehicle buying experience. Cadillac and Mercedes-Benz followed in the luxury-brand segment rankings. The luxury brands with the greatest improvement from 2010 are Lincoln (moving from ninth rank position to sixth) and Audi (moving from 11th rank position to ninth).

Consumer Watchdog urges EPA to re-test Hyundai Elantra gas mileage

(December 1, 2011) WASHINGTON — As automakers make their annual pitch for holiday sales, Consumer Watchdog has asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to investigate the high mileage that EPA has awarded the popular Hyundai Elantra model — 29/40 MPG city/highway, 33 MPG average.

The Elantra has attracted an unusual number of consumer complaints about real-world MPG averaging in the mid-20s, far from Hyundai's stated average of 33, said Consumer Watchdog.

Chevrolet Volt top-scoring model in satisfaction survey

(December 1, 2011) YONKERS, N.Y. —The Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in hybrid that has an advanced but unproven powertrain, and carries a $40,000 sticker price, is now the top-scoring model in Consumer Reports’ latest annual owner-satisfaction survey.

Ninety-three percent of respondents who own the Volt said they would definitely buy it again, making it the highest-rated car in the nationally representative survey. The Volt narrowly edged out the V-8-powered Dodge Challenger and the Porsche 911, each with owner-satisfaction scores of 91 percent.

December may be best month of the year for car sales

(December 1, 2011) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — December ranked among the top new car sales months in each of the last two years, and there's plenty of reason to believe that the trend will continue this year, says Edmunds.com.

Last year, December ranked as the highest sales month with 1,145,079 total units sold. The result came just one year after December was the second best sales month of 2009.