Consumer Reports Ranks Pilot & MDX 1 & 2 Among SUVs with 3rd Rows

[robrecht]

For a couple of years Consumer Reports has ranked the Pilot and the Highlander 1 & 2 (a virtual tie) among midsize SUVs.

Since the '04 Highlander has added options for a very small 3rd row, side curtain airbags, larger V6, drive by wire, 17" wheels, not to mention the moonroof option and VSC which it already had (though not great in emergency handling test), I've been wondering if it might move up to first place soon.

Anyway, March 2004 Consumer Reports has rated SUVs with 3rd row seats. Not sure why the Higlander is not ranked here (timing? 3rd row not standard equipment?).

The top two "recommended" SUV's are the Pilot and the MDX. Only SUVs with proven reliability are "recommended." I've highlighted the 'best overall picks' in blue in the ranking below. Note that reliability is not part of the ranking system so I've added the reliability rating alongside each entry. New models do not have sufficient reliability data to be recommended.

Rank-Reliability
1. Honda Pilot-Very Good
2. Cadillac SRX-New
3. Acura MDX-Excellent
4. Lexus GX470-Good
5. Toyota Land Cruiser-Excellent
6. Chrysler Pacifica-New
7. Volvo XC90-Poor
8. Nissan Path Finder Armada-New
9. Toyota Sequoia-Very Good
10. Chevy Suburban-Good
11. Ford Explorer-Good
12. Ford Expedition-Poor
13. Dodge Durango-New
14. Buick Rendezvous-Good
15. Chevy Tahoe-Good
16. Mitsubishi Montero-Good
17. Chevy Trailblazer EXT-Poor
18 Ford Excursion-Fair

[ramirami]

I am confused (yes I am dense)....wahts the numbered ranking and whats the excellent/good ranking??

[Pairallel]

CR gives a rating based on overall impression in their tests. However, a vehicle is not recommended unless their reliability ratings are strong.

So, in this case, the Pilot is #1, Cadillac is #2, MDX is #3 based on test results, but the Cadillac is a new model with no reliability evidence, so it did not make the "Recommended" list.

This makes the Pilot and MDX 1 / 2 as far as being on the "Recommended" list

[BCinTX]

Sounds like the number is an overall ranking but doesn't include reliability as a factor. The reliability rating is shown separately after the dash.

[ramirami]

Originally posted by BCinTX
Sounds like the number is an overall ranking but doesn't include reliability as a factor. The reliability rating is shown separately after the dash.

ofcourse....now it all makes sence

[florida_guy]

Originally posted by robrecht

Anyway, March 2004 Consumer Reports has rated SUVs with 3rd row seats. Not sure why the Higlander is not ranked here (timing? 3rd row not standard equipment?).

Probably since they haven't tested the Highlander since it added a third row.

[tak]

Consumer Reports picks Pilot as the number 1 three-row SUV. (source Consumer Reports - March 2004)

[kemosabe]

I wonder how PILOTinginCO feels about the #12 SUV on that list...

[lpfeffer]

Interesting how the MDX has a better reliability rating than the Pilot. Must be the complaints about the cheaper and creakier interiors, because the drivetrains are so similar.

[robrecht]

See also this thread:
http://www.honda-pilot.org/forums/sh...nsumer+reports

[robrecht]

Originally posted by lpfeffer
Interesting how the MDX has a better reliability rating than the Pilot. Must be the complaints about the cheaper and creakier interiors, because the drivetrains are so similar.

Probably related to the MDX being produced since 2001 and teething issues in the first year of production for the Pilot (2003). With the Pilot production moving to a new plant, hope their improvement in reliability won't be retarded.

Regarding drivetrains, MDX got a newer transmission in 2003, which the Pilot did not get.

Lots of complaints about cheap interior on the MDX over at our sister site acuramdx.org. It may be better than the Pilot, but apparently it isn't as satisfying as other luxury SUVs.

[vellinga]

Interesting how the Honda Pilot (#1) has the lowest 'price as tested' on this entire list.

[ramirami]

merged thread by tak here

[tak]

Originally posted by ramirami
merged thread by tak here

Thanks. I missed the main stream. Sometimes I have to close the browser before I finish the new messages. Next time they are gone from unread list.

[supo]

March 3, 2004
Consumer Reports rates seven-seat family-sized SUVs
by Alex Law , Auto123

Honda's Pilot is the proven leader in seven-seat, family-sized SUVs, Cadillac's SRX has edged out the Acura MDX for second spot on the list, and the trendy Volvo XC90 is deemed by its owners to have ''poor'' reliability and is therefore not recommended.

Those are the key findings of Consumer Reports magazine, which uses its own tests and the experiences of new vehicle owners to create a comparative study of this and other segments.

Such studies by Consumer Reports (CR) are widely known throughout the auto industry to be the most trusted by buyers, who tend to believe CR because the US magazine buys the vehicles it tests (and keeps their identity a secret while doing so) and has no advertising from any company of any kind.

The ratings involve an evaluation of the purchased vehicle by CR staffers and a compilation of real world owner experiences when the vehicle's been on the market long enough.

When the feedback from the owners and the CR evaluations are both positive, the Connecticut-based magazine recommends a vehicle. If the owner feedback on vehicle reliability is bad -- such as it is with the Volvo XC90, the Ford Expedition and the Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT in this category -- CR declines a recommendation and that puts future buyers on alert.

CR recently tested the Cadillac SRX, the Lexus GX470, the Nissan Pathfinder Armada and the Dodge Durango, with the sleek Caddy being the only model to gain a rating of ''excellent.''

Even if two vehicles are in the same category (there are five categories -- excellent, very good, good, fair and poor), it doesn't mean that CR judges them to be equal, so they are rated from top to bottom. It's best to review the entire study to see where they all shake out.

Having said that, and with the four new models included, CR's rating of seven-seat family-sized SUVs is as follows:

Excellent
1: Honda Pilot -- recommended
2: Cadillac SRX -- too new to rate
3: Acura MDX -- recommended

Very Good
4: Lexus GX470 -- recommended
5: Toyota Land Cruiser -- recommended
6: Chrysler Pacifica -- too new to rate
7: Volvo XC90 -- not recommended
8: Nissan Pathfinder Armada -- too new to rate
9: Toyota Sequoia -- recommended
10: Chevrolet Suburban -- recommended
11: Ford Explorer -- recommended
12: Ford Expedition -- not recommended
13: Dodge Durango -- too new to rate
14: Buick Rendezvous -- recommended
15: Chevrolet Tahoe -- recommended
16: Mitsubishi Montero -- not recommended

Good
17: Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT -- not recommended

Poor
18: Ford Excursion -- fair but not recommended.