When drivers are in search of their next vehicles, many look to safety and fuel efficiency, and a car's reliability comes into play as an important factor as well. This is why Consumer Reports recently conducted the Annual Auto Survey, which examines vehicles based on how reliable they are. The survey results revealed that certain types of vehicles fared better than others.

Specifically, all of the fuel-efficient hatchbacks and wagons that the survey examined were found to have average or above-average reliability scores. On the other end of the spectrum, upscale cars, minivans and luxury SUVs were found to have the lowest scores, which indicates that spending more for a vehicle may not always warrant the most reliable results.

Consumer Reports did not just look at vehicle classes, the survey also examined reliability by brand. Toyota and its two sub-brands, Scion and Lexus, all placed highly on the list, along with other Japanese companies Mazda, Nissan and Infiniti. Subaru and Honda were both found to have improved since last year's survey as well. Domestic brands did not see
such widespread success, as Chrysler, Dodge and Ford all dropped in the ranks. Cadillac fared well, on the other hand, moving up 14 spots since last year.

"Ford's bumpy road can be seen in the numbers," said Jake Fisher, director of automotive testing for Consumer Reports. "Sixty percent of Ford-branded models and half of Lincolns were below average in predicted reliability, and none placed above average."

These findings can help car shoppers narrow down their options when choosing their next vehicles. Once they know what cars they might like, they can head over to New Jersey State Auto Auction to check out the selection. The dealer carries a wide variety of makes and models, making it easy for drivers to find cars that suit their needs.