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Consumer Reports spotlights 10 to avoid

Consumer Reports spotlights 10 to avoid

2 Jeeps among worst vehicles or ’April foolish’ to buy

In the market for a new car? Condolences are in order.

Shopping for a vehicle can feel overwhelming as you try to weigh all the factors necessary to make the right choice. There are fuel economy, safety, road-test performance, and reliability to compare and consider, not to mention price, ownership costs, size, and style.

ConsumerReports.org, the website run by Consumer Reports magazine, which makes a living slogging through those types of details, recently released its Top 10 vehicle picks for the cars to avoid. They’re the castaways — “those models that you should filter out due to their exceptional shortcomings,” the products comparison guru said.

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Here are the website’s choices for the vehicles you’d be “April foolish” to buy: (The list includes the current generation of each vehicle, which can be the 2014 or 2015 model year.)

Fiat 500L (least reliable), sticker price $19,295-$24,595. Fiat Chrysler ranks at the bottom of the pack for reliability, with four of its brands — Dodge, Ram, Jeep, and Fiat — monopolizing Consumer Reports’ least reliable list. The Fiat 500L ranks lowest, meaning it has about 16 times the problem rate of the most reliable car (the Scion xB).

● Jeep Compass (lowest owner satisfaction), sticker price $18,995-$28,495. Owners polled by Consumer Reports gave the Compass the lowest satisfaction rating of all current cars, with just 43 percent stating they would get the same vehicle if they had the chance to do it over. The areas that disappointed the most were comfort and fuel economy, followed by drive experience, features, and cargo space. “To top it off, Compass reliability has dropped to well below average,” Consumer Reports said.

● Mitsubishi Mirage (car with lowest overall score), sticker price $12,995-$15,395. “While its low sticker price and good fuel economy of 37 mpg overall may conjure up an inviting image ... that illusion quickly dissipates into the haze when you drive this regrettable car,” the website said. Some of the lows of the three-cylinder car built in Thailand include clumsy handling, noise, vibration, acceleration, and a “cheap and insubstantial” feel.

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● Jeep Compass (conventional SUV or crossover with lowest overall score), sticker price $18,995-$28,495. Other faults include a noisy engine that lacks punch, unimpressive handling, second-rate seats, visibility problems, and a cabin that feels claustrophobic, Consumer Reports said.

● Toyota Tacoma (truck with the lowest overall score), sticker price $20,965-$37,615. The Tacoma takes hits for clumsy handling, rough ride, constant jiggling, and a dated and uncomfortable feel. On the plus side, it excels for hauling, towing, and off-road use, the website said, noting that a redesigned Tacoma launches in the fall.

● Volkswagen Passat-V6 (most expensive to own midsized sedan), sticker price $21,340-$35,995. The Passat “is a clear reminder to look beyond the purchase price in figuring out if a car fits your budget,” Consumer Reports said. Owners will pay a high price for enjoying this car’s best features, such as generous interior space, responsive handling, huge trunk, and a comfortable, quiet ride. Owner costs (including depreciation, interest, insurance, sales tax, fuel, maintenance, and repair) make it the most expensive mid-sized sedan to operate, costing an estimated $44,750 over five years, according to the website. That compares with the best-in-class Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE, at $31,250.

● Nissan Altima V6 (worst value midsized sedan), sticker price $22,300-$31,950. Roomy and fuel-efficient, the Altima nonetheless is a poor value, Consumer Reports said. The car was the only midsized sedan to rank below average when factoring in overall road-test scores, predicted reliability, and five-year cost ownership.

● Jeep Cherokee (worst value small SUV), sticker price $22,995-$30,795. Consumer Reports said this could be a contender among small SUVs, but it’s “too underdeveloped and unrefined.” The four-cylinder is slow and gets low fuel economy for its class. Factoring in a low test score and much-worse-than-average predicted reliability “and the value tale is a sad one,” the website said. “If you have your heart set on one, get the 3.2 liter, V6 in limited trim,” which has a higher road test score and is more pleasant, but still ranks at the bottom of the class for value.

● Nissan Armada (worst fuel economy), sticker price $38,060-$53,330. “Ancient in its class,” the massive, eight-passenger Armada SUV with a 5.6-liter, V6 engine ingests regular gasoline at a rate of 13 mpg overall, the website said. Around town, expect just 9 mpg. “Plan your errands accordingly,” Consumer Reports said.

Mini Cooper S (worst used car). As far as reliability, “the Mini Cooper S has the worst history among all cars we have tracked over the past decade,” according to the website. “Sure, the car is cute and delightfully entertaining, but year after year, the likelihood of having a problem that requires a repair is heartbreaking.” Among the biggest trouble spots are the engine, fuel system, and body integrity.

The Block News Alliance consists of The Blade and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Patricia Sabatini is a reporter for the Post-Gazette. Contact her at: psabatini@post-gazette.com or 412-263-3066.

First Published April 4, 2015, 4:00 a.m.

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