Most Reliable Car Brands: Full 2025–2026 Rankings From Consumer Reports and J.D. Power

According to the latest major surveys, Toyota, Subaru, Lexus and Honda are the most reliable car brands overall. Consumer Reports’ latest brand rankings, from its 2025 survey published in December 2025, put Toyota first, followed by Subaru, Lexus, Honda and BMW. J.D. Power’s 2026 Vehicle Dependability Study, which measures problems in three-year-old vehicles, ranked Lexus best overall and Buick best among mass-market brands. Across both, traditional hybrids tend to be more reliable than plug-in hybrids and fully electric vehicles.

All 26 Brands Ranked by Reliability: Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports builds its predicted reliability scores from owner surveys covering hundreds of thousands of vehicles and 20 potential trouble areas, from engines and transmissions to electronics. Scores are out of 100. This is the current edition, from CR’s 2025 survey published in December 2025; the next update usually arrives late in the year.

Notable changes from the previous year: Toyota retook the top spot from Subaru, Tesla jumped from 17th to 9th, and Mazda fell out of the top 10 to 14th after several redesigned models.

Least Reliable Car Brands

The bottom of Consumer Reports’ list includes truck-focused brands such as Ram and GMC and the young EV maker Rivian, whose R1T was CR’s least reliable EV. Keep in mind that a low brand score is an average; some models from these brands still score well.

Most Dependable Brands: J.D. Power 2026

J.D. Power’s Vehicle Dependability Study surveys original owners of three-year-old vehicles and counts problems per 100 vehicles (PP100). A lower score is better.

• Lexus ranked highest overall and among premium brands, at 151 PP100, for the fourth year in a row.
• Buick ranked highest among mass-market brands, at 160 PP100, for the second year in a row.
• The industry average rose to 204 PP100, the most problems recorded since the study was redesigned in 2022.
• Premium vehicles averaged more problems than mass-market ones, and plug-in hybrids and EVs reported more problems than gas vehicles.

The Lexus IS was named the most dependable model overall. Infotainment was the biggest problem area in the study, at 56.7 problems per 100 vehicles, well ahead of exterior issues at 27.5.

J.D. Power Initial Quality 2026: The First 90 Days

J.D. Power’s separate Initial Quality Study looks at brand-new 2026 models in their first 90 days. In the June 2026 results, Porsche ranked highest overall at 138 PP100, Genesis (151) and Lexus (156) led the other premium brands, and Ford ranked first among mass-market brands at 152 PP100, ahead of Nissan (156) and Buick (162). The industry average improved to 175 PP100 from 192 a year earlier. Initial quality is a useful early signal, but long-term dependability matters more if you keep cars for years.

Many of the problems counted in dependability studies are not breakdowns but infotainment glitches, phone connectivity issues and driver-assist quirks, which still frustrate owners.

Why the Two Rankings Differ

Because they measure different things, a brand can rank well in one and average in the other. Brands that appear near the top of both, such as Lexus and Toyota, have the strongest overall record.

Are Hybrids and EVs Reliable?

Traditional hybrids, which have a gas engine and a small battery and never plug in, were among the most reliable vehicles in Consumer Reports’ data, partly because automakers such as Toyota have refined their hybrid systems for decades. In CR’s latest survey, hybrids averaged about 15% fewer problems than conventional gas cars, while EVs and plug-in hybrids together averaged about 80% more, and seven of the 10 least reliable vehicles were EVs or plug-in hybrids. Plug-in hybrids and many fully electric vehicles reported more problems, often with charging, battery and electronic systems, although EV reliability is improving and some models perform well: the Tesla Model Y was CR’s most reliable EV, and more than a dozen EVs earned average or better predicted reliability. Newer, more complex technology generally takes a few model years to mature.

How to Use Reliability Data When Shopping

1. Look at the specific model and year: reliability varies a lot within brands. A strong brand can have a weak model, and vice versa.
2. Be careful with first-year redesigns: all-new or heavily redesigned models often have more problems in their first year. Waiting a year or buying the last year of a generation can be safer.
3. Check the powertrain: some engines and transmissions within the same model are more reliable than others.
4. Read recall and complaint data on NHTSA.gov for the exact model year.
5. Consider cost of ownership: reliable cars also tend to hold their value better and cost less to maintain.
6. For used cars, maintenance history matters most (see our guide to buying a used car): a well-maintained car from an average brand can beat a neglected one from a top brand.

Quick Answers About Popular Brands

• Are Toyotas reliable? Yes. Toyota topped Consumer Reports’ 2025 brand rankings, and its luxury brand Lexus leads J.D. Power’s dependability study.
• Are Hondas reliable? Yes, Honda ranked fourth in Consumer Reports’ 2025 brand ranking, with Acura seventh.
• Are Subarus reliable? Yes, Subaru ranked second in 2025 after leading the year before.
• Are Kias reliable? Kia made Consumer Reports’ 2025 top ten, although results vary by model.
• Are Mazdas reliable? Mazda has historically ranked well but dropped to 14th in 2025 after several redesigns; established models tend to score better than brand-new ones.

When Do New Reliability Rankings Come Out?

• Consumer Reports brand reliability: usually published late in the year (the current edition came out in December 2025).
• J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study: usually published in February, covering three-year-old vehicles.
• J.D. Power Initial Quality Study: usually published in June, covering new vehicles in their first 90 days.

Searching for the “2025” or “2026” rankings can be confusing because outlets label the same release by survey year or by model year. Check the publication date to be sure you are looking at the latest edition.

What Makes a Car Last

Even the most reliable brand needs care. Regular oil changes, following the maintenance schedule, fixing small problems early and avoiding neglect do more for how long a car lasts than the logo on the grille. Many reliable cars reach 200,000 miles or more with proper maintenance.

Try the calculator: use our total cost of ownership calculator to compare what cars really cost to own, or our car depreciation calculator to estimate your car’s future value.

Car Reliability FAQ