There is always a risk in announcing estimated horsepower or fuel economy figures before final certification has been completed. Miss the mark and the car's reputation is tainted at launch, potentially turning off consumers. Of course, sometimes a manufacturer low-balls the estimate, such as the case with the 2013 Ford Shelby GT500. Originally announced to be 650 tire-shredding horsepower, the official figure is now 662.

Car owners were more satisfied with independent shops for maintenance than dealerships, according to the last annual auto survey by the Consumer Reports National Research Center. The survey found that owners of all makes were equally satisfied with the timeliness and courtesy of the maintenance service at the dealership, where the majority turned for this routine work.

After driving a preproduction 2012 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ, we were looking forward to buying one of own to test. Unfortunately, living with our test car for a while revealed that something was lost in translation.

General Motors announced today that it is sending the Chevrolet Avalanche—our Top Pick among pickups three out of the last four years—out to pasture. The versatile truck will soldier on for one final year in 2012 with a new 2013 Black Diamond edition, which will feature body-colored sail panels and bed cover, some additional equipment, and lower price.

As gas prices hover near $4 a gallon nationwide, there are more than 20 SUVs and trucks that cost more than $100 to fill up. But, there are almost 30 cars that cost less than $50 to refuel. We crunched the numbers and found the cheapest cars in America to fill up.

You would assume that if an automaker poured millions of dollars into a major redesign of one of its models that the new version would be better than the old one. But more and more, that’s not the case. In fact, a lot of the slip-sliding we’re seeing here at Consumer Reports has been coming from some traditionally high-performing brands, including Honda, Toyota, and Volkswagen. (See our automaker report cards.)

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched official investigations into engine fires involving 2010 Jeep Wrangler SUVs and 2011 Chevrolet Cruze sedans. The safety agency has received several reports of unexpected engine compartment fires completely destroying the vehicles made by Chrysler and General Motors, respectively.

Right now, Chevrolet is selling two very different cars with the same Malibu nameplate. Thing is, one of them is much nicer than the other. That one would be the model we just bought, a 2013 Malibu Eco.

As gasoline prices continue to climb, the cliché "pain at the pump" is being thrown around with great frequency. But, how much pain is it really? Inspired by anecdotal complaints of drivers boasting of wallet-denting fill-ups, we crunched the data to see what the most expensive tanks are to fill, and we found more than 20 vehicles go beyond the $100 mark.

General Motors is recalling 6,159 2012 Chevrolet Express and Suburban vehicles and GMC Savana and Yukon XL vehicles because the steering gear pitman shaft could fracture.

General Motors announced yesterday that it is replacing the portable charging devices used to recharge the Chevrolet Volt from any standard 120-volt household electrical outlet. The new charger is said to have a thicker and more durable cable to enhance the charger's durability, said GM.

As gasoline prices creep closer to $4 a gallon nationwide, fuel economy has become a paramount concern for most drivers. Consumer Reports has tested a fleet of new, small-cars looking for those that deliver good all-around performance. And the results show it is not smart to buy based on brand reputation alone.

Gasoline prices continue to climb, steadily approaching record highs well in advance of summer. As consumers look to ease their pain at the pump, the difference between the most and least fuel-efficient cars is coming into sharp focus. We ran the numbers and, depending on which model you choose, found that the annual fuel cost difference can be staggering.

Is the Chevrolet Volt the most significant car that General Motors has produced in the last 20 years? Has the automaker ever bet so heavily (or invested so much money – $1.5 billion) to bring a new design to market? Is the Volt the answer to high gas prices? Whatever the perspective, the plug-in hybrid Volt certainly has people talking. Unfortunately, not many shoppers are buying.

Over the last several days, there have been numerous automotive announcements related to compressed-natural gas (CNG). This energy source is abundant and affordable in the United States, it can be used in existing vehicles with relatively few modifications, and it contributes to reduced reliance on foreign oil as much as electric vehicles. Various automakers have lately revealed CNG-compatible trucks. Why now? There are several good reasons, led by product scheduled to take advantage lower fuel prices and potential federal incentives.