Consumer Reports magazine, a division of the Consumers Union company, recently put out a new car preview of survey of several 2012 models for the North American auto market. The selected cars are smaller, fuel-efficient choices that Consumer Reports is interested in for the next model year.
In reviews of the 2012 Toyota Yaris, Consumer Reports found this car is rated to get 38 miles per gallon on highway with a 1.5 liter four-cylinder engine. Analysts cite dashboard changes and modern features as landmarks of the new style for the 2012 Yaris.
Consumer Reports also looked at the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle which gets an increased wheelbase and overall length for 2012, as well as a range of diesel engines, with mpg of up to 40 miles per gallon on highway for some trims. The magazine’s take on the new beetle? Staffers call interior materials cheap, and are critical of the rear suspension system, but in other areas, the car gets good marks, and its overall value for cost appeals to some VW fans.
In reviews of the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, Consumer Reports notes size and styling changes, including enhancements of the car’s aerodynamic system. Writers also mentioned the Malibu Eco trim, which will utilize a specialized 2.4 liter four-cylinder engine with modern eAssist technology that is estimated to push miles per gallon up to 38 mpg on highway. Storage changes are also mentioned.
The magazine also reviewed the 2012 Ford Focus Electric hatchback. This all-electric car runs on a 24 kwh battery lithium-ion battery. CR mentions a MyFord touch system for battery info and other key gauges, as well as mobile apps for getting car details to a smartphone or other device. Buyers who live in areas where charges stations are popping up, largely on the West Coast, may be considering a move to an electric car purchase, and these details can help in making the best decisions at the lot.
Prospective buyers can get much more on any of these cars online, using the best new model pricing and financing information to go to the dealer’s lot with the facts on their side. If you are considering a purchase of one of these new 2012 cars, make sure to research factory-direct deals and know the market context before you head out to negotiate with a local seller.