GM, Ford vehicles more reliable, but Asian automakers still the best

General Motors cars are getting more reliable and Ford has kept its top spot as the most reliable American carmaker, according to new Consumer Reports findings.

Consumer Reports’ latest annual auto reliability survey covers more than 1 million vehicles owned or leased by Consumer Reports’ subscribers.

General Motors' Buick LaCrosse, its Cadillac SRX and its Chevrolet Equinox are three of the cars that helped GM see a huge jump in reliability in the survey.

“GM’s reliability has really improved this year David Champion of Consumer Reports said. “Sixty-nine percent of their cars are now average or better reliability.”

Ford's reliability continues to get better, Consumer Reports said. The survey named the Ford Fusion V6 and Hybrid the most reliable family cars.

That's one of the reasons Dominick Benevenga bought a Fusion, he said.

“The Ford Fusion was the best price, the best value,” he said.

Overall, however, the survey found that Asian automakers were still the most reliable, with Honda at the top.

“They have all their vehicles average or better reliability, closely followed by Toyota,” Champion said. “But Toyota’s taken a little bit of a hit, especially the new 2010 Prius that had a number of brake issues.”

Hyundai and Kia continue to do well, Consumer Reports said. All the models the car makers introduced this year, including the Hyundai Sonata, the Kia Sorento and the Forte Soul, received high scores for reliability and performed well at Consumer Reports' test track.

“Hyundai and Kia make really good cars that are relatively inexpensive, making them very good values,” Champion said.