Still On Top

On average, Honda continues to make better all-around vehicles than any other automaker. The reliability of all Honda and Acura models is still the best of any automaker, although Toyota follows closely behind. Last year, Honda was the only automaker that had excellent reliability overall; this year it has dropped slightly.

Although we recommended every Honda and Acura model last year, we've tightened scoring standards, and the Honda Element didn't make the grade this year. (Small SUVs must now score 60 or more in our tests to earn a recommendation; the Element had a test score of 58.)
We still recommend all Subaru models, although Subaru has only four basic models that share similar platforms. Subaru's overall score improved to 75.

A typical Toyota model is a solid performer across all categories and has very good reliability. Several models have the best fuel economy in their class. The Lexus LS and the Toyota Highlander and Sienna are the top-ranked vehicles in their categories. Some Toyota models, such as the FJ Cruiser and Yaris, are subpar performers in our tests and are not recommended despite their stellar reliability.

Hyundai and Suzuki were the only automakers that showed improvement in all three measures: overall score, average test score, and reliability.

Who Makes the Best Cars?

The best vehicles are built by Honda, Subaru, and Toyota. They make well-rounded cars that excel across the board, getting very good scores in our road tests and high marks in reliability from subscribers in our Annual Auto Survey.

Those are the findings of our latest automaker report cards, which reflect the performance, reliability, fuel economy, and comfort of about 300 vehicles that we've recently tested. Here's what else we found:

• Among domestic automakers, Ford continues to improve in reliability, and some of its cars now rival the best from Japan. Some newer or freshened models, such as the Ford Flex and F-150, also rank in the top of their class in our testing, though other Ford models are merely competent, not outstanding.
  
• A Japanese nameplate doesn't guarantee that a car is reliable or scores well in our testing. Although most models from Honda, Subaru, and Toyota are very reliable, the Honda Element, Mitsubishi Eclipse, and Toyota Yaris all score too low in our tests for us to recommend.
  
• Reliability of Mercedes-Benz models has improved. In recent years it has been below average, and last year all Mercedes-Benz vehicles scored below average in our survey. Now we can recommend about two-thirds of the Mercedes-Benz models for which we have compiled road-test and reliability data.
  
• Chrysler, which tied with Suzuki for last place in our 2008 ranking, fared even worse this year. Overall reliability of Chrysler vehicles, which was average last year, dropped to below average this year. No Chrysler, Dodge, or Jeep vehicles are recommended.
  

To prepare our automaker report cards (see below), we compiled test and reliability data for every automaker for which we have tested at least four vehicles and calculated a grade.

The final marks are based on a composite of our overall road-test score and predicted reliability Rating averaged from all tested models of that automaker. We also note the percentage of each automaker's vehicles we've evaluated that earn our recommendation by performing well in our road tests, having at least average reliability, and performing well in government and insurance-industry crash tests if tested.

Automaker Report Cards: The Top Ranked

Honda
Overall score: 78
Average test score: 78
Reliability: Very Good
Tested vehicles recommended: 95%
Most Hondas and Acuras are very reliable, well-rounded performers. Some new designs don't live up to previous models.
Highs: Crash-test results, handling, ride, powertrains, fuel economy, reliability.
Lows: Road noise.

Subaru
Overall score: 75
Average test score: 78
Reliability: Very Good
Tested vehicles recommended: 100%
Subarus have good ride, handling, and reliability, but standard AWD hurts fuel economy. Newer models are more refined.
Highs: Ride, handling, steering, acceleration, controls, crash-test results.
Lows: Fuel economy.

Toyota
Overall score: 74
Average test score: 74
Reliability: Very Good
Tested vehicles recommended: 89%
Toyota builds a lineup of cars with great reliability across all three of its brands, and most have good overall test scores.
Highs: Quietness, fuel economy, reliability, ride, powertrains, access, acceleration.
Lows: Lack of agility, steering feel.

Mazda
Overall score: 73
Average test score: 76
Reliability: Good
Tested vehicles recommended: 86%
Most Mazdas are fun to drive, with good handling. Reliability has been average or above in the 2008
survey.
Highs: Handling, steering, braking, acceleration, agility, fuel economy.
Lows: Road noise

Mercedes-Benz
Overall score: 72
Average test score: 81
Reliability: Fair
Tested vehicles recommended: 67%
Most models have excellent ride and handling and nice interiors but annoying controls. Reliability has improved.
Highs: Handling, ride, acceleration, fit and finish, quietness.
Lows: Controls, transmissions.
The above five automakers are top-ranked in overall score. The overall score is calculated from a carmaker's average test score and average predicted- reliability Rating. The average test score is based on individual scores for all vehicles we've recently tested from that automaker. The predicted reliability Rating is based on how models for which we have sufficient reliability data compare with the average score for all models over the most recent three model years. Scores are on a 100-point scale. We also show the percentage of tested vehicles we recommend from each automaker. Highs and lows are common traits found on several of the automaker's vehicles. Displayed overall scores are rounded; automakers are listed in order of precise overall score.

Best Cars in a Crash

Mom and Dad told you to look both ways before you cross the street. But they likely never advised you to buy a car that would keep you safe while driving down it.
Today's parents might suggest the 2009 Audi Q7. It earned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration highest crash-test ratings of five stars. It also earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's highest rating of triple "good" in front, side and rear impact testing. It has driver and passenger head restraint whiplash protection, front side airbags for chest and pelvis protection and energy-absorbing padding under the instrument panel to protect feet and legs.

Cabo San Lucas, BS

Information by Rough Guides

The bay of Cabo San Lucas, at the southernmost tip of Baja, was once a base for pirate ships waiting to pounce on Spanish treasure ships. Even fifteen years ago, it was little more than a fishing and canning village occasionally visited by adventurous sports fishermen with the means to sail in or fly down, but it quickly earned a reputation for the marlin that could be caught here, and the once-quiet place found itself inundated with fishermen in search of El Marlin Azul, home to sleek, radar-equipped fishing yachts.

In recent years, it has rapidly become the focal point of Los Cabos: million-dollar condos have sprung up, palms have been transplanted, golf courses have been laid, water has been piped in from San José and everywhere is kept pristine. More like an enclave of the US than part of Mexico, preserving almost nothing that is not geared to tourism, it can be fun for a day or two, unless, of course, you want to fish or dive.

Though prices are higher than in neighbouring San José, there's more of a party atmosphere, with a younger crowd. Currently there are some 3000 rooms for rent, and the local feeling is that 10,000 is the next feasible "goal" that would equate the town with the long-established resorts such as Mazatlán or Acapulco. Upcoming developments include an enormous mall that will comprise a convention centre, a theatre complex, a bowling alley, a huge parking outlet and condos, and there are even plans for an artificial island to sit in the bay, complete with restaurants and bars.

efu GROUP

By 1961, the EFU was the largest insurance company not only in Pakistan but also in all of Afro-Asia excluding Japan. It remained so until 1972 when life insurance in Pakistan was nationalized. From this time onwards EFU operated solely as a general insurance company. EFU General is the second largest general insurer in Pakistan.

EFU General is managed by a team of experienced insurance professionals with strong support from service departments such as Finance, Technical and Human Resource Developments.

The Managing Director of the Company has international experience of running the general insurance operations of an insurance company based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

In 1992, the Government of Pakistan opened up life insurance to the private sector and EFU Life Assurance Ltd was incorporated in 1992 as the first private sector life insurance company.

The third company in the EFU Group is Allianz EFU Health Insurance Ltd., which is dedicated to providing health insurance to individuals and corporations. It is a joint venture with Allianz of Germany, one of the largest insurance companies of the world. Allianz EFU Health is Pakistan's first specialized health insurance provider.

EFU is the leading insurance group in Pakistan providing a full range of insurance services. This includes life, health and general insurance. A pillar of EFU's strength lies in its close and long-term (over 50 years) relationship with its main reinsurer, Munich Re of Germany, one of the largest reinsurance companies in the world.

Another unique feature of EFU is a voluntary review mechanism by the companies to keep under review their operations, by professionals of international repute. Mr. Wolfram Karnowski, who retired at a very senior level from Munich Reinsurance Company of Germany, is on the Board of EFU General as Director. EFU Life has appointed Mr. Michael Bell, a very eminent UK based actuary (retired from Watson Wyatt) to carry out an annual review of the company's policies and operations. This independent review enables the company to keep abreast of international changes in the industry and ensures that the managements adopt the best international practices.

corporate profile

• The Company was incorporated as a Public Limited Company on September 2, 1932 and is engaged in general insurance business comprising of fire, marine, motor and engineering etc.
  
• The shares of the company are quoted on Karachi and Lahore Stock Exchanges of Pakistan.
  
• The Principal place of business is located at EFU House, M.A. Jinnah Road, Karachi, Pakistan with over 60 branches throughout the country.
  
• EFU is one of the few Pakistani organizations run totally by professional management and highly motivated field force.
  
• Policies accepted by all financial institutions in the country.
  
• Insurer Financial Strength Rating: AA Stable Outlook (Rating Agency: JCR-VIS).
  
• Client-base comprises of many leading business houses and multinational companies.
  
• Another unique feature of EFU is a voluntary review mechanism by professionals of international repute.The independent reviews by these professionals enable the company to keep abreast of international changes in the industry as well as ensure that management adopts the best international practices.
  
• Another pillar of EFU's strength is its very close and long-term (over 50 years) relationship with its main reinsurer, ‘Munich Re’, one of the largest reinsurance companies in the world.
  
• EFU gave the emerging insurance industry the leadership, the manpower and the drive needed to grow in a situation where at one time, three-fourths of insurance was held by foreign companies.