5 low-scoring Japanese cars

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There’s a hard-earned perception that, in general, Japanese cars excel at consumer-focused virtues. If you look at our annual Brand Report Cards, you’ll find several Japanese brands top the list due to high average test scores and predicted reliability. But there have been several disappointing Japanese models lately.

These five cars score too low in our battery of more than 50 tests to qualify for a coveted Consumer Reports recommendation. In each case, they fell short of their potential and face much better competitors.

To earn a recommendation, a car must perform well in our tests, have average or better reliability, and perform adequately if included in a government or insurance industry crash test. While the spotlighted five cars missed the mark on the first criterion, the suggested alternatives all meet the standards to be Consumer Reports recommended. (Overall test scores are based on a 0-100 scale.)

Acura RLX - 74
The 74-point score may seem respectable at a glance, but being a luxury car, the RLX is held to a high standard. To be fair, the new RLX flagship has some good points, but it falls well short of its luxury competitors, mostly in ride and handling. While it is powerful, spacious, and comfortable, it also has ungainly handling, lifeless steering, extremely expensive options packages, and a choppy, unsettled ride. Not a bad car, per se, but the RLX is a disappointing one considering the heady competition. If it was priced in Toyota Avalon territory, the RLX might be worth considering. But with a sticker price over $55,000, it is simply out of its league, and makes a good case for a $30,000 Honda Accord V6.

Alternatives: Hyundai's upscale Genesis sedan is impressive for the price, delivering virtually everything a $50,000 sedan does, but for $10,000 less. For an even better deal, the smart money is on a well-dressed mainstream car. For example, the high-scoring Chevrolet Impala delivers all the luxuries and a much-better ride, for at least $15,000 less.