Ford, Chevrolet, and Toyota have a commanding lead in car brand awareness, as determined from interviewing car owners for the 2012 Car Brand Perception Survey.

We know we’re a tough bunch here at the Consumer Reports Auto Test Center. It all comes down to our high standards. If you’re an automaker craving a recommendation, there is a standard to meet: the car has to perform well in our tests, have at least average reliability, and not fail any crash tests. Simple formula?

The people have spoken: Toyota, Ford, Honda, and Chevrolet excel over other brands in the minds of adult car owners, though the brand’s advantages are less this year than in the past. These are among the findings of the 2012 Car-Brand Perception Survey, conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center.

A new report by the National Research Council's Transportation Research Board finds that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) acted appropriately in discontinuing its investigation of unintended acceleration claims with Toyota vehicles. However, the Research Council finds it “troubling” that NHTSA could not readily address public safety concerns in this matter.

Lexus has updated the GS sedan with the aim to be more competitive in the challenging midsized luxury market. We explored this vehicle at the Detroit auto show in order to share our initial impressions in the video below.

The last 20 years saw the rise of luxury brands, including Lexus, Acura, BMW, Infiniti, Audi and Mercedes-Benz. Even Cadillac, once near death, was revived by edgy styling, improved driving dynamics and a rocking Led Zeppelin ad campaign.

A total of 115 vehicles have earned the 2012 Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) including 69 cars, 38 SUVs, 5 minivans and 3 pickups. Eighteen new models make the list this year including the Acura MDX, Acura TL, Acura TSX, BMW X3, Buick Verano, Honda Accord, Honda CR-V, Honda CR-Z, Honda Fit, Honda Insight, Honda Pilot, Honda Ridgeline, Mercedes-Benz M-Class, Scion xD, Subaru Impreza, Toyota Camry, Toyota Prius V, and Toyota Yaris.

In response to the unintended acceleration issues that plagued Toyota vehicles in 2009-2010, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has proposed a rule to standardize keyless ignition systems across all vehicles.

While the stores are promoting door-busting discounts for Black Friday, it can also make a great time for getting deals on a new car. We've found some attractive discounts on good models. And being the end of the month, dealers may be a bit more willing to negotiate to meet their quotas.

Toyota Motor Corp. announced today it has discovered a flaw in the power steering systems of more than half a million vehicles in its global fleet. The majority—approximately 420,000—of the affected Toyota cars are in U.S. customers' hands.

Lexus has unveiled the 2013 GS 450h at the Frankfurt Motor Show, a luxury sedan with numerous updates to bolster fuel economy, while claiming to deliver spirited performance.

Consumer Reports has published its final test results on the Chevrolet Volt, online and in the October issue, completing a seven-month, three-season evaluation. Tests were conducted on other fuel-efficient cars, including the Fiat 500, Honda Civic Hybrid, Lexus CT 200h, and Volkswagen Jetta TDI.

Lexus unveiled the redesigned 2013 GS 350 yesterday at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, an automotive event that exudes luxury. By all measures, the 2013 Lexus GS 350 is an update that promises further refinement and convenience features, but remains close to the established formula.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Toyota has issued a recall warning regarding 2011 Lexus RX 350 luxury sport-utility vehicles. The SUVs have improperly calibrated brake actuators that may lead to increased stopping distances and the possibility of collisions.

Toyota announced today it is voluntarily issuing a recall for more than 80,000 of its Highlander Hybrid and Lexus RX 400h sport utility vehicles sold in the U.S. The SUVs contain faulty electronics that may cause the vehicles' hybrid drive systems to fail.