Over the long haul, leasing is usually not the most cost-effective way to put a car in your driveway. It may not be the best choice for most car shoppers, but there are exceptions. Notably, if you're interested in driving electric, a lease may be the best way to go, as confirmed by our latest analysis.

The Consumer Reports Annual Autos Issue is a great resource for researching the best cars. Flip through the magazine or tour the website, and it is clear there are many great choices. However, just as there are many good cars available, there are also many that fail miserably. These vehicles fall way below our threshold to be recommended. Take a look at our disappointing dozen—the cars Consumer Reports has recently tested with the lowest test scores.

Yes, I had to look up the name of this car three times.

As the year winds to a close, it is natural to look back and recall the high points. But, it is also useful to remember the lows, including those cars that disappointed. Here, we commemorate the worst models in our ratings.

The relatively affordable electric Smart ForTwo ED (electric drive) may be the best Smart car yet. While not a high compliment, it does point to the promise of this diminutive two-door model as a green alternative for commuters. We recently drove a production-ready example to check out its smarts.

For 2013, Daimler is updating the Smart ForTwo and for the first time offering a choice of a gasoline or electric powertrain in either coupe or convertible models.

Each year, the Consumer Reports Annual Auto Issue featuring the latest ratings, rankings and expert insights garners significant attention. The focus invariable turns to Top Picks and the automaker report cards. Both special reports given a quick snapshot of how makes and models compare, informing car buyers, as well as auto industry trivia enthusiasts. While everyone loves a winner, what about those brands that just never made the Top Pick cut?

It was no surprise that the Chevrolet Volt and Nisan Leaf grabbed center stage at the ride-and-drive event that took place outside the Business of Plugging-In conference this month. But they weren’t the only vehicles to be sampled on...

Smart announced today that it is collaborating with Nissan on a new, small car for the U.S. market. As described, Smart USA has obtained "the rights to procure and distribute a five-door, gasoline powered, B-segment vehicle" from Nissan. "The...

Those little electric semi-cars look appealingly green, but in a crash with a real car, the results would be disastrous, according to a new report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). And that, in turn, highlights a...

The Smart ForTwo has the strongest roof among small cars. The Smart earned the highest rating of Good in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) roof strength test of micro and minicars. The Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, Mini Cooper...

The auto industry is very complicated these days, with constant change across all corners of the globe. The worldwide economic slowdown dictates widespread cost reductions, inspiring partnerships and changes in ownership. Further confusing the scene are past commitments between...

General Motors announced a proposed deal for Penske Automotive Group to buy Saturn, just two days after announcing an intended buyer for its Hummer brand.Penske is one of the largest dealer networks in the country. In a joint news...

We’ve had two redesigned Fits in our test fleet for several months now and have accrued many miles driving them. (Read our detailed First Drive report.) We bought a manual-transmission Sport model ($16,730) and an automatic Base ($16,020). The...

The word “turkey” means different things to different people. Thanksgiving, for many, is a great time for turkey…unless you’re a turkey. For those of us who drive different cars every day, we sometimes come across features that rank as...