10 Of The Most Reliable Car Brands, Ranked
There are a lot of factors to consider when it comes to determining the best car brands. Some consider raw power or top speed, while others consider a car's cosmetic appearance or its additional features to make life easier. However, among the most critical aspects of any car brand is understanding its reputation in terms of reliability. After all, cars that aren't reliable will almost certainly be less popular among motorists than those unlikely to break down or suffer problems.
The benefits of a reliable car brand are self-evident. A vehicle that doesn't suffer from mechanical issues will last longer and be more cost-effective, with drivers not having to spend hard-earned money on costly repairs. It also helps cars be safer as they are less likely to suffer from sudden malfunctions that could be dangerous while also ensuring those inside the car aren't left stranded waiting for a recovery truck or mechanic.
Which car brand is the most reliable? Here, we will look at 10 of the very best automotive manufacturers and see who comes out on top. We used a survey from non-profit customer research company Consumer Reports to research and rank our list. A more detailed explanation of how we reached our conclusion is available at the end of the article.
10. Nissan
Among the top 10 automakers in the world, Nissan is a huge automobile manufacturer that produces millions of cars every year. The Japanese firm can trace its origins back to the early 1930s when it produced the popular Datsun car model. Since then it has massively expanded and now has lines that range from electric vehicles to family-friendly SUVs, with everything in between.
One of the aspects that makes Nissan cars so reliable is that they are very easy to fix compared to many other brands. Parts are easy to come by and are generally not specialized, so repairs should be cheaper than similar jobs on competitor cars. This fact alone makes them an excellent choice as a second-hand used car for buyers who don't want to spend a lot of money if something goes wrong.
Fortunately, there shouldn't be too many issues with any Nissan cars as the brand is well known for its dependability. The J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study estimates that the company's cars suffer 170 problems for every 100 cars (against an industry average of 186), putting it in a similar bracket as Hyundai or Mini. Nissan is also ranked ninth by Repairpal.com for its reliability, and the Nissan Qashqai specifically has been named Britain's most reliable car. According to Consumer Reports, its electric vehicle range is on par with Tesla.
Japanese manufacturer Nissan takes 10th spot in our list after scoring 45/100 in Consumer Reports' customer satisfaction survey.
9. Hyundai
Based in South Korea where it was founded in 1967, Hyundai is one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world. Its parent company is also the single biggest shareholder of Kia, and owns the luxury car brand Genesis. Both of those brands are also considered among the most reliable cars, and Hyundai's influence is a big factor. The company has developed a strong reputation for well-built cars that won't break down often, and cost relatively little to repair when they do.
Both the Hyundai Elantra and the Hyundai Santa Fe have ranked highly in the J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study, with the survey suggesting that these cars are some of the most reliable in their respective categories. The brand itself ranks eighth in the same report, with just 170 problems per 100 cars — a number far lower than the average of 186 and around the same level as Toyota and Nissan. Other models such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Hyundai Tuscon also score impressively on reliability tables.
Perhaps the biggest indicator that Hyundai is a reliable brand is the fact that it offers such an extensive manufacturer's warranty. Customers get a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, which is far higher than most other major brands and should mean that customers won't face expensive engine repair costs during the lifetime of the car.
Hyundai takes the ninth spot on our list with a reliability score of 56/100 in Consumer Reports' survey.
8. Kia
Continuing the trend of Asian car brands leading the way in terms of reliability is Korean manufacturer Kia. Established in 1944, it was initially a manufacturer of steel parts and bicycles before moving into the motoring sector. Over the years, it has faced numerous struggles and was at one point forced to stop the production of cars completely following the rise of dictator Chun Doo-hwan. In 1997, Kia was rescued by Hyundai — which is now Kia's largest shareholder — after suffering financial problems.
It is this connection to Hyundai, as well as the company's own philosophy to put customers first and provide only the very best in terms of quality and service, that has made Kia such a dependable brand for so many people. The two companies share resources and own their own foundry, giving it total control of the metal casting used to make most of its cars. This has led to vehicles that are able to last years without any major problems, and frequently rank near the top when it comes to customer feedback and reliability surveys.
Kia models came out on top in a number of categories of the J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study, which takes into account the number of reports customers file about their cars. Kia has regularly featured in the top three, but jumped to first place overall in 2022. The Kia Forte was ranked first in the compact car category, while the Kia Optima and Kia Sportage led the way in both the midsize and compact SUV categories.
Kia edges ahead of parent company Hyundai in our rankings with a reliability score of 61/100 in Consumer Reports survey.
7. Mazda
Although the company had its beginnings in Japan during the early 1920s, Mazda as we know it today didn't emerge until after the Second World War. Slowly moving from the cork-manufacturing industry to the automobile industry, Mazda is now a major force in the motoring world not only in Japan but across the globe. Throughout its recent history, the group has established a reputation not only for reliability but also for innovation and sporting excellence, making the fact that its cars are so dependable even more impressive.
This notion is backed up by the fact that Consumer Reports named Mazda as the brand with the highest reliability in 2022, with the results putting it ahead of both Lexus and Toyota. The CX-5 scored particularly well as a trustworthy and well-built vehicle, a reputation it has maintained since its introduction in 2013. Other reports suggest that Mazda's vehicles require some of the least amount of time off the road for repairs, while the typical spend on fixing problems is also very low compared to other brands.
The 2023 version of the J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study revealed that Mazda is well below average in terms of reliability, with just 174 problems reported per 100 cars. The Mazda MX-5 Miata was named as the J.D. Power dependability award winner as the best compact sporty car in 2022, beating out the likes of the Mini Cooper and the Hyundai Veloster.
Mazda places seventh in the rankings with a customer satisfaction score of 67/100.
6. Subaru
Although it isn't quite as respected in terms of reliability as some other Japanese motoring companies, Subaru still beats out the vast majority of manufacturers. While the company was initially founded early in the 20th century, it didn't start producing cars until the 1950s. Finding success with its vehicles, Subaru quickly concentrated on this new business and innovated with four-wheel drive vehicles. Demonstrating the rugged and durable nature of its cars, Subaru has had plenty of success in the World Rally Championship.
The last two years have seen Subaru take something of a hit in its reliability rankings, at least with the J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study. Yet, despite dropping down, it still performs better than many of its competitors and will likely see an improvement in the future. Meanwhile, Consumer Reports ranked the brand as reliable, confirming that Subaru performs well in reliability surveys.
In particular, the Subaru Impreza has remained one of the most dependable vehicles in the brand's catalog, with the Outback and Forester models also scoring highly in surveys. Repairpal.com also rates the brand as above average in reliability, with a low chance of a car needing a severe repair each year.
With a score of 69/100 Japanese manufacturer Subaru just misses out on joint fourth and instead places sixth in Consumer Reports' rankings and on our list.
5. Honda
To many people, Honda is better known as a motorcycle manufacturer. Founded in 1949, the company has now produced over 400 million motorcycles and is considered the largest manufacturer of bikes in the world. However, it also has an extensive history of creating internal combustion engines and a wide range of other vehicles, making it a leading player in the world of motoring. Throughout that time, the Japanese company has always maintained a reputation for trustworthy vehicles that are solidly built.
It doesn't matter whether you are looking for a sports car, an SUV, or even a hatchback; Honda has a model of vehicle to suit every need. The brand puts a large amount of resources into testing its cars and pushing up the build quality to the highest possible limit. The end result is that Honda's models are typically among the longest-lasting cars you'll find on the road, with many working perfectly well even after a decade or more of use. That's why they are so often seen at second-hand car dealerships.
According to Warrantywise, Honda is the UK's most reliable car brand. Using data gathered from over 130,000 warranty repair claims, the company was able to determine which brands suffer the most problems that need repairs, with Honda's cars requiring the least amount of work. Consumer Reports also frequently rate the company as one of the most reliable, with the Accord and Odyssey models standing out as well-built and dependable vehicles.
Honda matches its subsidiary Acura's score of 70/100 in Consumer Reports' survey — as such, 4th and 5th places on this list are interchangeable.
4. Acura
To put it simply, Acura is the luxury division of Japanese vehicle manufacturer Honda — much like Lexus is Toyota's luxury subsidiary and Genesis is Hyundai's. So their vehicles tend to be built on the same platform as Honda's, and usually have Honda engines, but also come with a long list of luxury features and some higher-end components. This may be why Acura has an identical reliability score to Honda in Consumer Reports' survey — with both manufacturers notching up 70 points and sharing fourth spot on the list.
Acura launched back in 1986 and has developed a reputation as one of the world's most reliable vehicle manufacturers since then. Figuratively bulletproof models like the RSX, LSX, and NSX have helped it build and maintain its reputation. In addition to reliability, models like the NSX in particular have also made it stand out in the world of performance cars.
The NSX was so good on launch that it made European manufacturers up their game in response. Europe had, until that time, sat unchallenged at the top of the performance car market — cranking out vehicles with similar power to American performance cars but also bothering to make them drivable. Japanese engineering isn't too bad either, and Acura capitalized on this — though it doesn't usually get the credit. The original NSX was exported as a "Honda" and the sequel with Acura's badge on it never quite lived up to the original in terms of popularity. It is, however, a very reliable vehicle.
As mentioned above, Acura matched Honda's score of 70/100 in the aforementioned Consumer Reports survey.
3. Mini
Owned by BMW, the Mini brand has a long history in the United Kingdom to the point that the original Mini has a cultural association with the country. Many people will recognize the brand for being Mr. Bean's car of choice in the classic titular comedy series starring the late Rowan Atkinson. Following the acquisition of the Rover Group in 1994, BMW gained ownership of the brand and launched its own version of the Mini in 2001, with the company using the brand for a variety of models including the Hatch, Clubman, and Countryman varieties.
According to the 2023 edition of the J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study, Mini has a rating of 170 problems per 100 vehicles on average. This puts the brand in a similar bracket to Toyota, Hyundai, and Nissan, with WhatCar similarly naming the brand as a top-three choice overall. The iconic Mini Cooper is also ranked as the most reliable in the compact sporty car category. Used vehicle marketplace site Cinch also reports that the Mini brand is highly rated among customers, receiving praise for the low amount of breakdowns and problems that cars suffer.
With a three-year warranty coming as standard for all Mini vehicles, drivers can also be confident that the manufacturer doesn't expect any major issues to arise during that time, providing ample peace of mind. While the brand has had some reliability issues in the past, including poor build quality and power steering failures, the more recent models produced by BMW have mostly eradicated these problems.
Formerly British, currently German-owned, compact car maker Mini ranks third in Consumer Reports' survey with a score of 71/100. The score also singles the Mini out as the most reliable European car manufacturer on this list.
2. Toyota
Since being founded in 1937, Toyota has grown to become one of the biggest automotive brands in the world. Producing some 10 million vehicles every single year, the Japanese company is a giant in the industry that has consistently shown that it is able to produce dependable cars that will last. It is for this reason the company has become so popular with consumers, as people know they are getting a dependable car when they buy a Toyota.
A large part of this can be attributed to Toyota's philosophy when it comes to quality control and testing. The firm goes the extra mile to ensure every part of its cars works effectively and efficiently, so it should come as no surprise that the company scores so highly on several benchmark surveys. Meanwhile, the UK customer satisfaction index suggests customers in Britain are happy with how robust Toyota cars are.
In particular, vehicles such as the Prius have dominated markets around the world, with the Corolla, Sienna, and 4Runner models also proving popular. In fact, the Prius is so renowned for its dependability that it has become the go-to choice for Uber drivers thanks to its almost guaranteed ability to remain in excellent condition even after hundreds of thousands of miles.
Toyota takes second place in Consumer Reports' customer satisfaction survey with a score of 76/100.
1. Lexus
It shouldn't be all that surprising that Lexus ranks so highly as a reliable car brand and often competes for the top spot with Toyota. After all, the Lexus brand was created as part of the wider Toyota group when the Japanese company wanted to be more competitive in the luxury car market, especially in Europe where brands such as BMW and Mercedes Benz dominated. Established in 1989, Lexus quickly became known for its reliability and now produces a range of luxury and performance vehicles, ranging from sedans and SUVs to sports cars.
With Toyota's DNA an integral part of Lexus, the two brands share the same concepts of high quality and rigorous testing. Throw in the fact that Lexus is a luxury brand intended to create as little hassle as possible, and you have a great recipe for producing dependable cars. As a demonstration of the company's commitment to making cars that will stand the test of time, it offers a manufacturer's warranty of 10 years or 100,000 miles on all of its vehicles.
The J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study has ranked Lexus as the most reliable car brand consistently since the survey began, with the results showing that Lexus vehicles have the fewest issues out of all the major manufacturers. Similarly, British site Honest John rated the brand as number one in both reliability and satisfaction, based on feedback from drivers — with the Lexus NX scoring the highest of any car in the survey.
Consumer Reports says Lexus came out on top in its survey on customer satisfaction, beating parent company Toyota by three points with its score of 79/100.
How we reached our conclusion
Our rankings are mostly based on a customer satisfaction survey conducted by Consumer Reports, a non-profit that focuses on customer experience, research, and advocacy. According to the website, the survey initially calculates "a brand level score" based on "the weighted overall problem rate for all models within a brand for each model year." Results from 2021 models, through 2022 and 2023, to a limited number of early 2024 models were used when calculating the data. The methodology also changed for the most recent survey, so previous years' published surveys can't reliably be compared to this latest ranking.
Data on over 330,000 vehicles was gathered and analyzed, with Consumer Reports members being quizzed about problems their cars have. A total of 20 trouble areas were studied, with these ranging greatly in severity. Everything from trim issues to major faults is accounted for, weighted, and included in the data. A score from 0-100 is then calculated. To round things off, the data that has been gathered is combined with information Consumer Reports has with safety data and information gleaned from track testing. This then creates the vehicle's overall reliability score.
Going beyond that, we also used our own research and experiences to flesh out the information on each vehicle manufacturer and its reputation for reliability in this piece.