The redesigned Honda CR-V and new Mazda CX-5 appear to have a lot in common. These small SUVs seat five passengers, are of similar size, and cost about the same. So far so good. But when we dig deeper, two distinct personalities emerge.

Shoppers have many choices when it comes to buying a car. Once the research begins, it is clear that each automaker has their winners and losers. However, some manufacturers are consistently at the top of the list for reliability and road-test scores. Our automaker report cards highlight how the companies compare, as detailed in the video.

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.)

Honda plans to recall 2002-2004 Honda CR-V and 2003 Honda Pilot SUVs next month. According the company, about 554,000 of the Honda sport-utility vehicles have wiring faults that may fail to to turn on the front low beam headlights.

Honda is recalling 1,316 model year 2006 CR-V vehicles to inspect and, if necessary, replace the right front lower control arm because over time, and with extended use, the arm may break at the weld due to an improper welding job.

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.

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.

Long known for building some of the most fuel-efficient cars on the market, Honda has followed the latest small-car trend in offering a special fuel-efficient version of its popular Civic sedan. Resurrecting a designation from its past, HF, Honda a claims the car gets 1 more mpg overall and 2 more mpg on the highway than the standard Civic LX, thanks to aerodynamic improvements such as a trunk spoiler, more-aerodynamic wheels, and lower-rolling resistance tires. There is only one way to find out: buy one and test it.

Would you spend several hundred dollars on your next new car to get an option package that improves fuel economy? That’s the question posed by high-fuel-efficiency versions of the big-selling Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Focus, and Honda Civic. Our surveys have shown that consumers would pay extra for savings, but can the cars deliver? To find out if these added-cost, fuel-sipper packages actually save money at the pump, we bought some cars to find out.

Our Annual Autos Issue presents a dizzying array of facts and figures, all aimed at helping car shoppers choose the right model for their needs and budget. While we rate the automakers and present numerous best and worst lists, we haven’t offered a simple guide to the best and worst models by brand. Until now.

Most shoppers focus on the purchase price and resultant monthly payments, if financing, when buying a new car. While it may be the most visible cost, the purchase price is really just the beginning. There are many real costs that are not so clear upfront and can vary widely between models and car segments.

The car market is regaining traction. And in testing about 80 vehicles in the past year, we’ve gotten a good look at what’s new and notable. With erratic pump prices and stricter gas-mileage standards being phased in, fuel economy is a prominent goal. Automakers are pursuing it with more small cars, hybrids, and diesels; more efficient gas engines and transmissions; and a budding wave of electric vehicles (EVs). Here are some highlights:

After seeing what happened to the redesigned-for-2012 Honda Civic, we were worried about the 2012 redesign of the CR-V. Turns out the big-selling small SUV managed to escape the low-scoring fate of the unimpressive Civic update.

Riding a wave of impressive redesigned models in the last few years, Subaru for the first time has earned the top score in Consumer Reports automaker report cards for 2012. Meanwhile, Honda, which had been the perennial winner for the past four years, slipped two points to fourth place among 13 major automakers, behind Mazda and Toyota.