Cars: Consumer Reports’ Top Picks

The Mustang GT’s throaty V8 provides plenty of punch, Consumer Reports says, while delivering surprisingly good fuel economy. A new V6 engine in non-GT models also delivers good performance and even better fuel economy, especially when combined with a manual transmission.

The magazine’s annual “Top Picks” list includes cars, trucks and SUVs that out-scored competitors in their respective classes and that also have at least average (or better) dependability.

Unlike most publications, Consumer Reports anonymously purchases all the cars it tests at a total cost of almost $2 million a year. That way the magazine can be sure the vehicles it’s testing are no different from those customers get.