The Lexus ES has always been a plush, upscale mainstay of affordable luxury. Although based on the modest Toyota Camry, it managed to deliver a true Lexus experience of luxury, quietness, interior quality, and painless ownership. Things have changed slightly with the new version.

Toyota announced yesterday a safety recall of 778,000 vehicles—2006 to 2011 RAV4 sport-utility vehicles and 2010 Lexus 250h sedans—in the United States due to potential for loose nuts on the vehicles' rear suspension arms. The improperly tightened nuts will cause "excessive play" in the suspension arms and premature wear, which may lead to separation, warns Toyota.

Lexus RX350, RX450h recall addresses sudden acceleration, Toyota says

For 2013, Toyota is bringing out a new iteration of its popular Lexus ES, that upscale relative of the Toyota Camry long valued for its plush, quiet, and unobtrusive demeanor—and long condemned by enthusiasts and automotive media for being boring to drive and all-but-anonymous styling presence. With the 2013 version, Lexus has attempted to spice things up a bit with revised suspension tuning and more dynamic styling. However, after sampling some early-production versions at a recent press event, we came away thinking that Lexus might risk alienating its long-standing clientele.

As I file this report, I'm in the middle of a two-day journey to drive our 2013 Lexus GS350 from Tennessee back to our test track in Connecticut. Why Tennessee? Well, finding a rear-wheel-drive GS with all-season tires in the northeast proved not just difficult but impossible.

Lexus has released more details about the upcoming redesign of its bread-and-butter ES sedan. For the first time, the ES will be available with a four-cylinder hybrid drivetrain in the ES300h—borrowed from platform-mate Toyota Camry. The ES350 will employ the Camry's 268-hp, 3.5-liter V6.

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.

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.

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.

Shown at the Geneva Motor Show, now underway, the Lexus RX luxury SUV features a number of updates for the 2013 model year. The exterior has a new grille, front bumper cover, and headlamps and taillights. A Sport appearance package is new for 2013 and features a unique front bumper, halogen lights, and 19-inch chrome wheels. The new look brings the RX in line with the latest front designs as seen on the GS, LX, and CT models.

If you are an automaker launching a new, fuel-efficient car, claiming 40 mpg (EPA highway fuel economy) is like the new black. Basically everyone’s doing it. But, will consumers actually achieve that magic number in the real world? To find out, we compared the highway fuel economy in Consumer Reports’ tests to the EPA numbers for cars claiming over 40 mpg on the highway.

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.