Just a few weeks ago Consumer Reports announced its Top Picks for 2007 list. For the second year in a row, all of Top Pick cars came from Japanese nameplates. While the Japanese cars excel in tests, there are good alternatives, and there are many people that will only “buy American.” For the second year, Consumer Reports has published its unofficial “Top Picks, American Style” list featuring only American-brand nameplates.

All Consumer Reports’ Top Picks must be recommended models, which means it must have average or better reliability, provide good overall crash protection (if tested), SUVs must not tip onto two wheels in rollover tests (if tested), or must be available with stability control (if not tested).

In summary, the “Top Picks, American Style” list features the highest-rated, Consumer Reports recommended American vehicles. Here’s the list:

Top Picks American Style

• Fun to drive: Cadillac CTS-V
• Small sedan: Ford Focus ZX4 SES
• Family sedan: Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan
• Upscale sedan: Lincoln MXZ
• Luxury sedan: Cadillac DTS
• Small SUV: Pontiac Torrent
• Midsized SUV: Ford Freestyle
• Minivan: (None named)
• Budget car: Ford Focus ZX3
• Green car: (None named)

Consumer Reports points out that Ford has been slow to implement electronic stability control, which kept the automaker from taking one of the spots. CR pointed out that the mid-pack Pontiac Torrent received the Top Pick over the superior Ford Escape because the 2007 Escape is not available with ESC. Most versions of the new 2008 Escape come with standard ESC.

## Source: Consumer Reports ##

Posted in: Cadillac, Ford, Lincoln, Pontiac, News, Car Buying
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