DETROIT — Audi is the top brand in Consumer Reports’ annual rankings despite the fact that its diesels cheated on U.S. emissions tests.
Subaru, Lexus, Porsche and BMW rounded out the top five in the survey. Fiat, Jeep, Mitsubishi, Land Rover and Chrysler were the lowest-ranking brands.
Volkswagen AG — which owns the Audi, Porsche and Volkswagen brands — has admitted it installed software that allowed vehicles to cheat on emissions tests as far back as the 2009 model year. It has not yet submitted a fix that has been approved by regulators.
Consumer Reports’ auto testing chief Jake Fisher says the rankings show who is making the best cars right now and don’t evaluate companies’ honesty, labor conditions or other practices. Audi’s vehicles had the magazine’s highest road test and predicted reliability scores, which are based on buyer feedback. Consumer Reports excluded 2016 Audi, Porsche and Volkswagen diesel models from the rankings because they aren’t currently being sold in the U.S.
Fisher said Consumer Reports strongly thinks Audi and Volkswagen should be held accountable for cheating.
Buick, at No. 7, was the only U.S. brand in the top ten. Mazda, Toyota, Kia and Honda rounded out the top of the list.
