Comeback of the American Car

photo: Detroit2010.com

(CNNMoney) By Peter Valdes-Dapena - As the 2012 Detroit Auto Show approaches, the American auto industry looks to be stronger than it has in many years.

Massive restructurings, helped by government-run bankruptcies, helped GM and Chrysler improve their balance sheets, but product turnarounds at all three domestic automakers have been in the making for far longer and are now bearing fruit.

American cars have improved to the point that drivers can no longer simply assume that a similarly priced Toyota or Volkswagen vehicle will be better.

But, since CNNMoney's last report on Detroit's quality comeback, some surprising trends have emerged. Ford, long the industry leader in quality, has stumbled while Chrysler, which has lagged the industry even longer, is coming on strong.

Chrysler's climb

"Chrysler's had a fairly meteoric rise," said David Champion, head of auto testing for Consumer Reports, of the carmaker's improvement in dependability surveys. But it's been true in other ways, as well. In 2011, Chrysler's retail sales were up 45% compared to 2010.

Consumer Reports' car testers have called the new Chrysler 300 "the best Chrysler in decades." The magazine now ranks it among the best large sedans sold in America.

The new Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango SUVs have been similarly lauded with Consumer Reports reliability survey showing the Durango to be the best large SUV.

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