With the release of our Tesla Model S road test, there have been many questions regarding what other models stand out. Here, we present the current class valedictorians, those cars that have faced our more than 50 tests and managed to earn an A.

Six automakers have seen front air bags from supplier Takata blow up in their face, as 3.4 million cars will be recalled worldwide from BMW, General Motors, Honda, Mazda, Nissan, and Toyota. From the headlines, it sounds frightening, with fire and shrapnel being among the risks, but what does it mean to you? We'll explain.

Automakers tout the size of their SUV's third-row seats claiming they are accessible and usable. And while SUVs are pitched as a hipper alternative to the minivan, they still can't rival the big people movers.

While car brand reputation can be a strong influence on purchase decisions, such perceptions can be misleading. The reality is, every brand offers models that perform across a spectrum, with some are clearly better than others.

Infiniti recently announced that it was changing its "nomenclature philosophy," and with that pronouncement, all cars going forward will be named Q and SUVs will be named QX. And no, this isn't April first.

In the market for a new car? The long Labor Day weekend can be a great time to get a deal on a leftover 2012 model. The airwaves will be overflowing with promotions, appealing to your heartstrings and wallet. I can be tempting to chase the too-good-to-be-true deals, losing sight of choosing the best car. Not to worry: Consumer Reports experts have cut through the clutter, highlighting good deals on recommended cars.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has just introduced an additional test, a frontal crash that simulates just a small overlap between the front of a car and an object or vehicle it hits.

The new Infiniti JX35 sport-utility vehicle has come under scrutiny by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Two consumer complaints to the safety agency allege the intelligent brake assist system on the 2013 JX35 unexpectedly brought the Infiniti SUV to a complete and unwanted stop.

For a luxury automaker, Infiniti has been late to the game with a family-friendly car-based three-row SUV. (No, the enormous QX56 doesn't count.) Acura has the MDX, Audi the Q7, BMW X5, the Lincoln the MKT, and Mercedes-Benz the GL. The company finally brought out the 2013 JX35 to compete in this field, and we had an interesting time buying our AWD Emerald Graphite example at a nearby Infiniti dealership.

Under the leadership of Carlos Ghosn (pronounced "Go-an"), Nissan has been known to be more bullish on the future of electric cars than perhaps any established automaker in the industry. Even in the face of faltering initial sales of electric cars, Ghosn remains optimistic.

Nissan's premium division is taking the all-electric Leaf technology and going upscale. Infiniti unveiled a swoopy concept sedan at the 2012 New York auto show giving a glimpse at the potential electric future for the brand.

Nissan North American is recalling about 8,120 Infiniti M45 luxury sedans, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The safety agency says the 2003-2004 model years of the Infiniti M cars have a flaw that causes the gas gauge to display a higher fuel level than the amount of gas actually in the vehicle's fuel tank.

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.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Nissan North American has issued a recall warning for 2003-2005 model year Infiniti Q45 cars. The luxury sedans may have electrical wiring that, over time, may develop a resistance which prevents the front seat-mounted side air bags from deploying during a collision.

Nissan North America is recalling about 79,275 Infiniti sedans and SUVs as well as Nissan Juke vehicles for possible fuel tank leakage from an improperly installed fuel pressure sensor said the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.