Most & least loved cars

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- New-car sales continue to soar. But before you buy, you want to make sure you'll be happy. A good way to tell is to check with other owners. Consumer Reports does the work for you, with a new survey of more than 200,000 drivers to see what they like and what they don't like.

The Kia Rio is the least loved car of the 186 in Consumer Reports' latest owner-satisfaction survey. Only 40 percent said they'd definitely buy a Rio again. Compare that with the Honda Fit, the most liked of all the subcompacts.

Among midsized cars, the Nissan Altima was at the bottom; only 58 percent said they would buy it again. However, the Subaru Legacy rocks, with 84 percent of owners saying they would buy it again. They like the handling, mileage comfort, and advanced safety features.

Among small SUVs, the Jeep Patriot and Jeep Compass tanked. Just 46 percent of owners say they'd buy them again. Contrast that with the Subaru Forester and an 80 percent positive response. The owners said it's very comfortable, quiet, and gets great mileage.

And if you are looking at midsized SUVs, Consumer Reports says consider the Kia Sorento. Eighty-six of those surveyed said they would definitely buy it again.

Compact luxury sedans have become a hot-selling category. But just two-thirds of owners told Consumer Reports they would buy one again. They complained that the vehicles were too small and didn't deliver on their expected promise of luxury.