Originally Posted By: Jarlaxle
Off the top of my head, I recall the Sable and Taurus got different reliability ratings for a while. Rodeo/Passport, Corolla/Prism, and several GM A-bodies (Century, Ciera, 6000) got different ratings and reliability scores.
Can you provide any links?
It would be interesting to see the old scores and articles to see if your memory is correct. Most of those are too old to have info still available, but the Prizm/Corolla were in fact acknowledged to be the same car. They were both on CR's best buy list.
A newer example is the Vibe/Matrix, where CR acknowledged the cars were the same. Their reliability scores are virtually identical:
Quote:
The Pontiac Vibe and its twin, the Toyota Matrix, are tall wagons based on the Toyota Corolla. The Vibe’s compact dimensions, versatile interior, and good fuel economy make it a handy, nimble, economical runabout. However, a flawed driving position and a boomy engine detract. The Vibe is the only vehicle in this group available with all-wheel-drive. It has been very reliable.
Here's also a TTAC article on the topic:
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2011/08/unraveling-the-mystery-of-consumer-reports-brand-spread/