When searching for a car, whether it be new or used, reliability is very likely near the top of your priority list. Predicted reliability can help you understand how much you’ll spend on maintenance and may help you get a feel for whether—or how often—you’ll be left stranded on the side of the road.
We have some great news: These days, new cars are more dependable than ever before, as automakers focus on build quality and longevity. The rise of electric vehicles in the marketplace is good news for reliability, too. Because EVs use fewer moving parts, they often boast reduced maintenance costs, which can be a huge benefit for buyers.
To determine which ten automakers are deemed most dependable, we calculated the average score from the two leading authorities in this area: Consumer Reports and J.D. Power. For both companies, the lower the score awarded to an automaker, the more reliable that automaker's cars have been reported to be. The results are based on feedback from vehicle owners, and they are updated annually to reflect reported issues and complaints. Those include glitches with infotainment systems to serious mechanical failures and everything in between.
While the automakers listed below fare better than their competitors in recent Consumer Reports and J.D. Power surveys, it should be noted few vehicles are completely trouble-free, especially if you’re shopping the used-car market. We recommend supplementing this list by researching common problems that may be associated with the specific vehicle you’re considering purchasing, and asking a trusted mechanic to inspect any cars you'd consider buying.
The 10 Most Reliable Car Brands 2024
Lexus
Average reliability ranking: 1.5
Lexus, Toyota’s luxury brand, has consistently ranked at the top of reliability lists for years, and it typically outperforms other brands for dependability and longevity. The Lexus ES and Lexus RX both have long histories of strong reliability, and the brand's new turbocharged engine options have proven to be largely problem-free, as well. Many people report that Lexus vehicles cost less to own over the long haul, though some say that parts and labor are more expensive than expected.
Lexus backs its vehicles with a four-year/50,000-mile basic warranty and a six-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty. The Lexus RZ, the brand's first EV launched in 2023 with an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty on hybrid, battery, and electric drivetrain components.
Toyota
Average reliability ranking: 4.0
Lexus made the list, so it should not be a surprise to see parent company Toyota right behind it in the reliability rankings. Over the decades, the Japanese auto giant has built its name on reliability, and its catalog is packed with reliable models in all categories. The Toyota RAV4 crossover, Camry, and Corolla all sit near the top of their respective segments, and the 4Runner and Tacoma have built solid reputation for incredible reliability. Even the Sienna, which moved exclusively to a hybrid powertrain in 2021, holds it down in the minivan segment. The brand’s biggest outlier may be the Supra sports car, which relies on BMW components, but we'll get to BMW later in this list.
Toyota offers a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Electric models, such as the bZ4X, come with an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty on those components.
Kia
Average reliability ranking: 6
Like Hyundai, Kia has built a new identity and reputation for itself with high-quality vehicles and stellar warranty coverage. Vehicles like the Kia Telluride, Sportage, Sorento, and others have won buyers over with incredible standard features and materials, along with smart styling. Interestingly, it’s the brand’s cars rather than its SUVs, including the Soul, Rio, and Forte, that have earned the best reliability ratings in recent years.
Kia backs all of its vehicles with a massive 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile basic warranty. The automaker currently offers a small handful of EV in the U.S.: the EV6, EV9, and Niro EV. These electric vehicles are also covered by a five-year/60,000-mile basic and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. The warranty coverage and predicted reliability are better than Nissan, Mitsubishi, and Subaru, and outperform many luxury brands like Infiniti.
Genesis
Average reliability ranking: 7
Genesis is relatively new to the market, but it hasn't taken much time for the brand to become a well-respected luxury name. Part of Genesis' appeal is its dedication to reliability. Cars like the GV70 and GV80 offer impressive appointments, technology, and powertrains, and Genesis vehicles definitely benefit from the company's relationship with Hyundai. Case-and-point: the new Genesis GV60 rides on the same electric architecture as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 (and the Kia EV6, for that matter).
Like Hyundai and Kia, Genesis models come with a five-year, 60,000-mile warranty and a 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
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Buick
Average reliability ranking: 7.5
Buick has slipped a bit since our last ranking, when it sat ahead of stalwart automakers like Toyota and Lexus, but the long-running American company still offers new cars that bring stellar predicted reliability ratings from J.D. Power, Consumer Reports, and others. The Buick Encore offers some of the best predicted reliability on the market today, and Buick’s other vehicles have garnered decent reviews for dependability. Buick is one of the most reliable car brands and it’s also quite generous with its warranty coverage. New models, such as the Buick Envista, come with a three-year/36,000-mile warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.
Mazda
Average reliability ranking: 8.5
Mazda wins with customers on value, quality, and upscale appeal. Its vehicles are also among the most fun to drive and refined models in their respective segments, even the three-row CX-90. The company’s product offerings outrank many in the business when it comes to repair costs and longevity. Even sports cars like the MX-5 Miata land well, and Mazda’s subcompact CX-30 gives well-regarded Japanese brands like Toyota and Honda headaches.
Mazda backs its vehicles with a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. The brand’s simple lineup likely helps it in the reliability arena, as there are no pickup trucks or minivans, only cars and minivans.
Mazda covers its vehicles with a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Through 2023, the brand offered a limited-range EV, the MX-30, which came with an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty on electric components.
BMW
Average reliability ranking: 9
Luxury automakers are a rare sight on reliability indexes, and luxury automakers from Germany are even rarer. BMW, however, bucks the trend. The Bavarian automaker shot up to the #3 position in Consumer Reports' ranking. Newer BMW models, including the all-electric i4 and iX, display a sharper focus on keeping things problem-free. Admittedly, all BMWs benefit from by-the-book scheduled maintenance, but the days of worrying that your Bimmer might break down at any point over 50,000 miles appear to be behind us.
New BMW warranty coverage extends four years or 50,000 miles, both for the basic limited warranty and the powertrain warranty.
Hyundai
Average reliability ranking: 10.5
Just a few years ago, Hyundai was derided as a budget brand with unreliable vehicles, but things have changed. The automaker is now considered one of the best in the business, and it routinely turns in solid reliability scores from top publications. Additionally, Hyundai (like Kia and Genesis) offers a solid ten-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty on all its vehicles.
Hyundai shifted from focusing on sales at all costs to delivering a focus on customer satisfaction and vehicle quality. As the number of reliability issues decreased, customer loyalty increased and the company began selling more cars. Like Kia and Genesis, Hyundai also offers an array of compelling electric cars.
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Honda
Average reliability ranking: 11.5
It's somewhat surprising to see the famously reliable Honda this far down the list, but the legacy Japanese automaker still ranks as one of the ten most reliable car brands and well above the industry average. Honda continues to leverage tried-and-true naturally aspirated engines in many of its most reliable vehicles, such as the Passport and the Pilot, but it has moved to smaller, turbocharged engines in cars like the Civic, Accord, and CR-V. Honda is also a touch behind the competition in the EV space, although the all-electric Prologue is due to launch as a 2024 model-year vehicle.
All Honda vehicles receive a three-year, 36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year, 60,000-mile powertrain warranty, plus complementary scheduled maintenance for the first two years or 24,000 miles.
Chevrolet
Average reliability ranking: 12.5
Chevrolet is another turnaround story on our list, as the company has been the butt of many reliability jokes over the past few decades. The company’s vehicles rank well for reliability, though some are not the best on fuel economy (looking at you, full-size SUVs). Even so, Chevy bests rivals GMC, Ford, and Dodge in reliability, and it matches some high-end German automakers like Audi and Mercedes-Benz for quality and dependability. Even new Chevy models like the Corvette hit the ground running, and offer excellent predicted reliability over other American brands like Chrysler, Lincoln, and Ram.
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