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Consumer Reports: Top Pick Cars Of 2013

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Being named a Consumer Reports top pick vehicle doesn't come easy.

How well does a car handle an emergency situation, accelerating and braking are all factors.

Vehicles are put through dozens of tests, and a car has to be reliable, too. That comes from feedback to Consumer Reports from owners of 1.2 million vehicles.

This year's top pick luxury car is the Audi A6.

"It's a very comfortable car," says Jake Fisher of Consumer Reports. "It's got an amazing interior, nice ride and agile handling."

And the BMW 328i is the top pick sports sedan.

"It's always been a really sporty, fun-to-drive car," said Fisher. "But now with a new two-liter, turbo-charged engine, it's actually very efficient, too."

Honda is this year's comeback car. The redesigned Honda Accord is the top pick mid-sized sedan; the Honda CRV is the small SUV pick and the Honda Odyssey is the top pick minivan.

North Shore-based John Pugh from Czarnowski sets up auto shows around the country and says technology is key for many consumers.

"How it interacts with Sirius radio, your smart phone, navigation system," he said.

Pugh says top pick Audi even attended the Consumer Electronics Show this year, and he's not surprised that Honda is moving up.

"They focus in on fuel efficiency," he said. "Now we see gasoline prices going up again."

Of course, if you're into the sports cars, the top picks are the Subaru BRZ and the Scion FRS.

The all-wheel drive Subaru Impreza earned top pick for compacts, and the top pick budget car is the Hyundai Elantra.

Not on the top list this year -- cars from Detroit.

For more information on Consumer Reports' picks, click here: consumerreports.org

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