Consumer Reports: No to Chevrolet SUV, Ford crossovers, MyFord Touch

Consumer Reports said Monday it will not recommend the Chevrolet Tahoe SUV and Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX crossovers because of low scores in the magazine's tests, and panned Ford Motor Co.'s MyFord Touch and MyLincoln Touch technology.

The magazine also said it will not recommend the Infiniti QX56, a V8 version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Porsche Cayenne. Those SUVs performed well in testing but were too new for the magazine to have adequate reliability data to recommend, it said.

The Tahoe, Edge and MKX scored too low in testing to be recommended, the magazine, published by Consumers Union, said in a press release.

“All three of these vehicles have a number of strengths, but each had some notable weaknesses that forced their testing scores to fall below our standard for a recommended SUV,” said David Champion, senior director of the magazine's auto test center in East Haddam, Conn.

The publication said it only recommends vehicles that have “performed well in its tests, have at least average predicted reliability based on Consumer Reports' Annual Auto Survey of its more than 7 million print and Web subscribers, and performed at least adequately if crash-tested or included in a government rollover test.”

The full tests and rating for all the vehicles will appear in the February issue of the magazine, which went on sale Monday.

The reports also are available to subscribers of www.ConsumerReports.org.

MyFord failings

The magazine also gave a thumbs down to the MyFord Touch and MyLincoln Touch technology available on the 2011 Edge and MKX.

A driver can use those control systems to operate the sound system, climate controls and navigation system by means of either an 8-inch video touch screen in the center console or voice commands.

The magazine cited the technology as the main drawback to the Edge and MKX. It said the technology is “a complicated distraction while driving. In addition, first-time users might find it impossible to comprehend. The system did not always perform as promised.”

The Chevy Tahoe, in turn, was downgraded for its “ungainly” handling and long stopping distances. The magazine said the interior fit and finish didn't match the Tahoe LTZ's high price of $57,435 as tested.

'Small percentage' of software woes

In early December, Ford Motor Co. spokesman Alan Hall acknowledged that a “small percentage” of vehicles with the control system had software problems. Some problems were the result of consumers not knowing how to perform certain functions. But in other cases software flaws caused the Sirius Travel Link to function incorrectly.

Sirius Travel Link is part of the system's navigation system. It offers sports scores, movie links and other information delivered by Sirius satellite radio.

By Jamie LaReau- Automotive News