Enlarge Wieck 'Consumer Reports' magazine said the 2009 Toyota Prius Touring edition offers the best value for a new car. JOIN THE DISCUSSION JOIN THE DISCUSSION Talk about cars at USA TODAY's Auto Forum: Discuss all things automotive in our new car forum with reporter Jayne O'Donnell. Today: Will Ford avoid a financial crisis? Consumer Reports magazine's new automaker for reliability, even as the pair seek billions more in federal loans to stay afloat. Chrysler and General Motors (GM) took the bottom two spots, respectively, inmagazine's new automaker for reliability, even as the pair seek billions more in federal loans to stay afloat. The third of Detroit's Big 3 automakers, Ford Motor, fared better at fourth from the bottom, also beating Suzuki. First place went to Honda (HMC) for the third-consecutive year, followed by Subaru, Toyota (TM) and Mazda. Next came a tie by Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Volkswagen and BMW, among the 15 makers rated. They were followed by Hyundai, Volvo and Mitsubishi. AUTOS FORUM: Do you think GM should be allowed to fail? The rankings are based on a combination of the magazine's cumulative tests on automakers' models and predicted reliability based on readers' responses on their 1.4 million cars. It is a widely watched measure in the auto industry because of the non-profit's reputation for independence. "Chrysler is a sad story," says David Champion, the magazine's auto testing chief. "The new models have missed the mark in terms of our testing and consumer appeal." While GM received critical acclaim for its Buick Enclave crossover and Cadillac CTS sedan, only the Chevy Malibu sedan achieved better-than-average reliability in the ratings, Champion said. While a Honda Accord may lack pizazz, it's so reliable, "It will save you money in the long run," Champion said. Chrysler issued a statement saying that it has reduced its warranty claims by 30%, so that it expects to see an improvement in the rankings next year. GM has lots of older models in the lineup that bring down the results, spokeswoman Janine Fruehan says. The magazine recognized improved quality in some of GM's new vehicles, "but we have work to do on the reliability front," Fruehan says. In December, GM and Chrysler were granted a total of $17.4 billion in federal loans to keep operating through the recession. GM is seeking another $16.6 billion in loans, while Chrysler wants another $5 billion. Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read more