In recent years, there has been a growing trend in the search for the most reliable cars. The rising cost of fuel and the rapid popularity of electric and hybrid cars have influenced people’s mindset. However, buying a car is a long-term investment, so you need to be extra careful when searching for the car that best suits your needs.

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According to recent trends, some brands have gained acceptance among the US public, while some popular brands have fallen to the bottom. Moreover, the hybrid car category turned out to be the most reliable, while electric cars were at the opposite end of the spectrum.

Way.com explains how reliability is measured and which brands are trustworthy. In December 2023, you will also see some of the most reliable car brands and their strongest models. In addition, you will find some of the least trustworthy brands this year.

What Are the Most Reliable Cars?

Lexus, Toyota’s luxury division, tops the list of most reliable cars in the United States, according to feedback from car owners in an annual survey by the US non-profit organization Consumer Reports. It’s no surprise that Japanese manufacturers impressed again this year: Six of the 10 most reliable car brands in the United States come from the island nation.

No American brands made the list. In fact, very few American brands make the cut of most reliable cars in recent years. But Japanese companies continue to make the list with new and used models.

Most Reliable Car Brands

And some brands dropped out of the top five. BMW saw the biggest drop, going from third place in 2022 to ninth by the end of 2023. Audi also suffered a significant drop in the rankings, from fifth in 2022 to 19th in 2023. Which leaves one wondering what’s happening to the German brands. Other most reliable cars in the US include Subaru, Mazda, Porsche, BMW and Kia (in that order). Let’s take a closer look at these.

Lexus

Son bumps father from the top of the reliability rankings. Luxury brand Lexus takes the top spot, with models such as the 2023 Lexus GX found to be the most reliable. It also does well in the hybrid model range. Buying a Lexus gets you great fuel economy, low maintenance costs, and world-class technology.

Check out these up and comer Hyundai EV’s!

Toyota

Toyota has been pushed into second place by Lexus, but the company isn’t complaining. They have models like the Prius, Prius Prime, and Corolla Hybrid, which are true models in terms of reliability. Moreover, the Corolla is still produced in large quantities and is the best-selling car in the world. Affordable prices and durability make Toyota the reliable king of the automotive kingdom and the most reliable cars in the U.S.

Mini

It’s been quite some time since this iconic brand was in the top five in the US. The two and four door compact cars have won the hearts of American car enthusiasts. They are easy to maintain and inexpensive compared to other brands. The available models of Mini are Countryman, Hardtop, Convertible and Clubman. Electric versions are also available making it one of the few most reliable cars.

Acura

Yet another luxury brand has surpassed its parent company. Acura, part of Honda, offers premium SUVs and sedans. Integra, TLX, MDX, and RDX are some of the models that Acura offers for the US market. All-electric versions like the ZDX are also available.

Honda

Honda has improved its ranking from last year to 5th place. The CR-V, HR-V, Civic, Accord, and Pilot are popular, and the hybrid model is also doing well. The Honda Civic can be purchased for just $24,000. Service and maintenance costs are also often lower than other brands.

Least Reliable Car Brands

Jeep

We all know that Jeep models are expensive. There are only a limited number of cars that come off the Jeep production line each year. They have some of the best off-road vehicles, but their reliability is very poor compared to their competitors. Massive recalls due to engine stalls and design flaws in the fuel tanks have cost Jeep a lot of money. The Wrangler and Cherokee are doing reasonably well in sales for the brand yet still cannot crack the list for most reliable cars.

Volkswagen

The once-giant German brand continues to slip back in the rankings. Frequent repairs and visits to repair shops are a problem for VW owners. Coil failures, high fuel consumption, and other engine issues are common problems with VW cars. Even their electric cars get a bad rep. Let’s hope they learn from their mistakes and bounce back in the coming years.

Rivian

The “Tesla Killer” is one of the least reliable brands in the US with leaks, air conditioning issues and drive system problems, but bear with us. Rivian has been plagued by common issues such as software bugs and battery problems. With more investment in R&D, the maker of the electric R1T and R1S could still grab a significant market share.

Mercedes-Benz

Things aren’t looking good for the German manufacturer, especially in the electric vehicle space. Where to start? Build quality issues, strange body and engine noises, electrical accessory failures, etc. Prices for each model are high, so owners expect the best in the line-up. Long-term reliability is not Mercedes’ forte at the moment, not making the list of most reliable cars. Then again, what’s the point of the German car-building powerhouse?

Which car brand is the least reliable?

Chrysler

Chrysler has held the unenviable title of being the least reliable brand on the market since December 2023. The least reliable car this year is the Pacifica Hybrid. It’s been a bad year for hybrids and electric cars, and the Pacifica is a mess to say the least. Battery issues, a poor charging system, engine problems, and the usual electronics issues push the Chrysler to the bottom of the list of most reliable cars.

How do you measure the reliability of a brand?
A Consumer Reports survey compiled results from over 300,000 cars and owners, highlighting many issues that can affect a car’s performance. A broader classification takes into account mechanical problems and other serious issues to determine whether a car is the most reliable or vice versa.

When measuring the reliability of a car brand, problems that occur are considered, taking into account cost (repair costs), breakdowns (engine and other systems), safety (airbags are not considered), and downtime. How often you go to repairs and how much they cost can have a big impact on your household finances.

Issues covered under the warranty are not taken into account. A total of 17 problem areas are inspected and each is ranked according to severity. After the data is collected, a reliability score is calculated on a scale of 0 to 100.

Of the data collected, major engine and transmission issues, engine cooling issues, and powertrain issues are given more weight in the reliability assessment. These errors can cause further damage, more repair costs, and in the worst case scenario, can render the car unusable. Below are other issues that were taken into consideration when ranking the most reliable car brands:

Minor engine (or electric motor) and transmission
Exhaust or fuel system
Charging system/electrical system
Air conditioning
Steering and suspension
Brakes
Exhaust
Trim or paint
Body integrity
Body parts
Electrical devices and accessories
Electronic equipment in the car

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