Top picks in 2011 Consumer Reports car issue: Ford, Kia, and Used
The 2011 Consumer Reports car issue recommends new models by familiar brands, including Toyota and Honda. And for value-conscious buyers, it offers this time-tested advice: Buy Used.
In this Jan. 12 photo, a 2011 Honda Civic Hybrid is shown at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
Paul Sancya/AP
Consumer Reports released its closely watched annual ratings of automobiles Monday, putting the Ford Mustang and Kia Sorento newly on its "top picks" pedestals, and enshrining the Honda Fit as a new value-mobile.
Toyota came out as another winner in the rankings, with positive publicity for its Sienna minivan and Rav4 sport-utility vehicle after a rocky period of headlines about product recalls.
Perhaps the biggest winner, though, isn't a 2011 vehicle at all.
It's the idea of buying a used car. Although that's a perennial option for budget-conscious consumers, the ranks of the thrifty have grown as a deep recession has been followed by a lackluster economic recovery.
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