Consumer Reports announced today that it has named five new models to its Top Picks list for 2007 -- the Toyota RAV4, Infiniti G35, Toyota Sienna, Mazda MX-5 Miata, and the new Honda Fit. The Top Picks list is published in CR's Annual April

Auto Issue.


The Toyota Prius remains the Top Pick in the "green" car category for the fourth year in a row. The Prius demonstrated an excellent 44 mpg overall fuel economy, the best of Consumer Reports tests of any five-passenger vehicles. This marks the second time that all the vehicles are Japanese nameplates since Consumer Reports introduced its Top Picks list in 1997. Historically, Consumer Reports Top Picks have been a blend of Japanese, European, and domestic models.

   

CR's respected list of Top Pick vehicles appears in the Annual April Auto Issue, which hits newsstands Tuesday, March 6.

   

Consumer Reports' Top Picks are recommended models and all-around high-performers that scored at or near the top among competing vehicles in CR's rigorous testing program; have average or better predicted reliability, based on CR's Annual Car Reliability Survey; and performed adequately in overall crash protection if tested by the government or insurance industry. Top Pick vehicles were selected from among the more than 250 vehicles that Consumer Reports has recently tested.

   

Consumer Reports' new Top Pick list for 2007 includes a new category, for fuel-efficient subcompact cars. The Honda Fit is the Top Pick in that category. Missing from the Top Pick list this year is the Pickup Truck category; CR is not naming a vehicle in that category pending upcoming testing of newly released full-size pickup trucks. The Honda Ridgeline and Chevrolet Avalanche are previous Top Pick trucks.

   

"All the vehicles in Consumer Reports' Top Picks list are standouts for performance, versatility, reliability, and safety," said David Champion, senior director of Consumer Reports Auto Test Center in East Haddam, Connecticut. "CR's Top Picks list is a great place for consumers to start when they're looking for a new car."

   

Consumer Reports' testing procedures are the most comprehensive of any U.S. publication or Web site. More than 50 individual tests are performed on every vehicle, including evaluations of performance, comfort, convenience, safety, and fuel economy. Many tests were developed exclusively by CR's auto engineers and adopted by the auto industry. Around 6,000 miles of general driving and evaluations are racked up during the testing process. Here, by category, are the issue's best performers.


Changes from last year's Top Picks list are noted: