What are the 10 most reliable car brands, according to Consumer Reports

Having a reliable car is one thing but having a reliable brand to back it up is another. When choosing a car, it is also essential to know the brand that you’re buying from. Some brands will offer you cars at affordable prices with great features, but the aftersales and servicing might not be up to stuff. With that in mind, here is a quick top 10 list of the most reliable car brands in the U.S. according to Consumer Reports.

Consumer Reports is a non-profit organization in the U.S. which is dedicated to unbiased product testing, investigative journalism, consumer-oriented research, public education, and consumer advocacy.

The company conducts its car reliability survey each year. The survey asks Consumer Reports’ members to note any problem that they have encountered with their cars in the past 12 months. The survey participants are then asked to identify problems that they considered serious. Consumer Reports surveys over 420,00 vehicles a year. Each model from each brand gets at least 200-300 samples for each model year. All the data produced by the survey is collected in the 2019 calendar year.

The brand-level rankings are based on the average predicted reliability score for vehicles in a brand’s model lineup. The reliability score is calculated on a 0-to-100-point scale, with the average rating falling between 41 and 60 points. In order to even place in rankings, a brand must have sufficient data with the company. Now on to the list.

First on the list is Lexus coming in with an average score of 81 points. The brand’s most reliable model is also the smallest, the IS compact luxury sedan. On the other end of the scale, its least reliable vehicle is its flagship model, the LS.

Mazda comes in second place with an average score of 77. It went up by two places from last year’s list. Among its Kodo lineup, the least reliable car is the Mazda3, while its most reliable is the MX-5 Miata.

Toyota, the parent company of Lexus, gets a score of 77, the same as Mazda. It went down two places this year. It’s no surprise that Toyota’s most reliable vehicle is the Corolla. The Corolla already has already made a name for itself as one of the most reliable vehicles on the market. Toyota’s least reliable vehicle is the C-HR. 

Fourth on the list and he first German manufacturer entry is Porsche. The European car manufacturer comes in with a score of 75. The company’s most reliable model is the Cayenne, while its least reliable vehicle is the 718 Boxster / 718 Cayman.

Genesis comes in as the fifth reliable vehicle. For those who don’t know, Genesis is the luxury brand of Hyundai in the United States. It scores a 71 this year. The company’s most reliable model is the G70, while its least reliable model is the G90. 

Genesis’ parent company, Hyundai, comes in at a sixth place. The Korean car manufacturer scores a 69, just 2 points under its luxury counterpart. The brand’s most reliable model is the Kona, while its least reliable is the Tucson compact crossover.

Another Japanese automaker takes the seventh spot – Subaru. It’s interesting to point out that Subaru went down five spots from last year. Its most reliable model is the BRZ, while its least reliable model is the Subaru Ascent three-row crossover.

The first American automaker on Consumer Reports’ list is Dodge, with a score of 63. Dodge rose by 13 places this year, edging out other American automakers on the list. Dodge’s most reliable vehicle in its lineup is the Challenger, while its least reliable vehicle is the Durango SUV. 

Ninth on the list is Kia, and it’s also the last of three Korean entries to enter the top 10. The Korean brand scores a 62 on the reliability survey. Its most reliable car is the Soul, while the least reliable model in its US lineup is the Stinger. 

Finally, the 10th on the list is Mini with a score of 59. The British brand now comes with some German quality engineering since BMW now owns it. It rose five positions from last year to make it into the top 10. The brand’s most reliable vehicle is the Cooper, while its least reliable model is the Countryman.