DETROIT --- Asian automakers are still building the most reliable cars and trucks, with eight of the top 10 brands from Japanese and Korean companies, according to an annual survey by Consumer Reports.

But several models from Ford Motor Co. are consistently scoring above Honda and Toyota, the perennial leaders.

While Toyota's youth-oriented Scion brand finished first for the second year in a row, several Ford models, including the midsize Ford Fusion and its cousin, the Mercury Milan, consistently have been at or near the top of their classes, a trend that led Consumer Reports' editors to declare that Ford is now making some vehicles with world-class reliability.

After Scion, Honda, Toyota, Infiniti and Acura rounded out the top five brands in reliability based on surveys taken in March of subscribers who own or lease 1.4 million vehicles.

"Ford is definitely doing something right," said Rik Paul, the magazine's automotive editor.

Ford's Detroit-area competitors, General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group LLC, didn't fare as well.

Chrysler had only one model that Consumer Reports recommended based on reliability and its staff test, and the Chrysler brand finished last out of 33 brands sold in the U.S. One third of Chrysler's models were much worse than average in reliability.

Six models from GM were recommended by the magazine, but the brand is still inconsistent. Only 21 of 48 models the magazine studied scored average or better in reliability.

Auto industry officials say the nonprofit Consumer Reports is among the most widely consulted sources when people buy vehicles.

At Ford, though, four-cylinder versions of the Fusion and Milan finished second in the family car category, beaten only by Toyota's Prius gas-electric hybrid. The Fusion and Milan outscored Toyota Motor Corp.'s Camry and Honda Motor Co.'s Accord, the two top-selling cars in the U.S. "which many people view as the paradigms of reliability," Mr. Paul said.

Toyota, despite a recent spate of recalls, and Honda consistently build cars that cause few problems for Consumer Reports readers, Mr. Paul said. Ford, he said, is approaching that consistency, and while GM has some bright spots, it still has a ways to go to match the Japanese.

The Dodge Ram pickup, the only Chrysler model recommended by the magazine, did well in road tests and was average in reliability. The recommendation is important, though, because the Ram is Chrysler's top-selling model.

The Consumer Reports survey also found that higher-priced cars aren't necessarily more reliable. Inexpensive small cars and midsize family sedans were the most reliable in the survey.

Complete results will be in the December issue, due out Monday, or Tuesday for subscribers to the Web site, at www.consumerreports.org.