Top 10 Most Reliable Car Brands

June 12, 2023

Chris is Head of Content for FindTheBestCarPrice and is based out of Philadelphia, PA. As a seasoned automotive industry analyst and car enthusiast, he ensures the highest level of quality across all our content and curates our picks for the best deals each month.
Chris studied information systems and marketing at Drexel University and writes about a wide range of topics ranging from car buying tips to troubleshooting common mechanical issues.

When he’s not thinking about cars, he likes to stay in with his dog and make an “attempt” to finish a crossword puzzle (he’s not quite at the Saturday/Sunday level…yet). As a former cheesemonger, Chris still has a “sharp” passion for all things cheese, and his fridge is always loaded with it!

Reliability is an important factor to consider when purchasing a new car. You’ll need to understand the cars that break down the most, with the best build quality, and will last the longest.

Surveys and reports from Consumer Reports, JD Power, and RepairPal guide buyers in making good decisions on their choice of reliable car brands.

These sites offer real-time reports on user feedback, recalls, and enough data to calculate the reliability scores of these car brands. So far, we can establish that car brands like Honda, Toyota, Mazda, Lexus, Kia, BMW, and Hyundai are some of the most reliable car brands.

However, it’s not advisable to limit your understanding of reliable car brands to these surveys and reports. This article will offer a list of the ten most reliable car brands and why they’re considered highly reliable!

Table of Contents

What Are the Ten Most Reliable Car Brands?
Most Reliable Car Brands: A Detailed Comparison
Conclusion
Best Car Deals by Category

What Are the Ten Most Reliable Car Brands?

Here is a list of the ten most reliable car brands:

Toyota
Honda
Kia
Hyundai
Lexus
Mazda
BMW
Mitsubishi
Genesis
Lincoln

Most Reliable Car Brands: A Detailed Comparison

The need for a reliable car brand stems from cars that will last long without giving you many issues to worry about.

Instead of always driving into a repair shop for unscheduled repairs, you’ll only have to deal with regular oil changes, tire replacements, alignment, and servicing. No driver will want to drive a car that will cost so much to run.

However, understanding why these cars are reliable will guide you in making better market decisions.

1. Toyota

Toyota has sustained an impressive record of reliability. This is reflected in their mission statement, the need for innovation, and rigorous tests on their technologies to avoid breakdowns.

According to Repairpal, Toyota has a reliability rating of 4.0/5.0, ranking 8^th out of 32 car brands. The consumer reports 2022 survey ranks Toyota as the most reliable car brand, while Toyota ranks 5^th on the 2022 JD Power dependability survey.

However, the reliability of a car brand is not limited to survey reports. The Toyota brand builds its parts to not only get the job done but also strong enough to handle stress and pressure. Aside from the durability of Toyota parts, the Toyota brand has yet to release any unproven technology to the market.

For instance, Nissan jumped in quickly to embrace the use of CVT transmission, resulting in many problems in their first release. This is similar to what happened to Mitsubishi in their use of direct injection for petrol engines.

Toyota takes so much time to release updates and new technology, but this ensures that the brand only releases properly developed and tested systems.

Toyota’s engineering principles include the following:

Konnyaku Stone
Poka-Yoke
Hansei
Andon
Jidoka
Just-In-Time
Heijunka
Kaizen
Genchi Genbutsu
Nemawashi
Kanban
Muda, Muri, Mura
Genba

These principles form the 12 pillars of Toyota Production.

2. Honda

It shouldn’t surprise you that Honda is one of the most reliable car brands. According to Repairpal, Honda has a reliability rating of 4.0/5.0, ranking 1^st out of 32 car brands.

Consumer reports rate Honda as the 5^th reliable car brand, although Honda falls below the average standard on the 2022 JD Power dependability survey.

Irrespective of the disparity in the reliability ratings, the Honda brand stands out as a reliable car brand because of its attention to detail and use of experts in construction and delivery.

The reliability of Honda vehicles reflects in their fuel economy and durability. Honda integrates the use of Econ mode, Eco assists, and lots of fuel-saving technologies to ensure that drivers spend less on fuel.

To ensure high-level user satisfaction, Honda engineers always pay attention to detail, addressing every tiny component of a car’s design, from its suspension to thread linings on the steering wheel. Their cars undergo extensive tests during production to ensure that the components last very long.

Just like Toyota, Honda is not always bothered about releasing new technologies. They are ready to spend so much time on old technology until they are sure it works. This is visible in Honda’s VTEC system. Their technologies and systems might be old, but they are always tested, even in the worst conditions.

3. Kia

Kia is another reliable car brand. The reliability ratings are high, maintenance cost is low, fuel economy is amazing, and you will have fewer reasons to visit the repair shop. According to Repairpal, Kia has a reliability rating of 4.0/5.0, ranking 3^rd out of 32 car brands.

On the consumer reports rating, Kia ranks 9^th but takes the first position on the 2022 JD Power dependability survey.

In fact, Kia is also the most dependable car brand with a gold bar. There are quite a lot of factors that have earned Kia its impressive reliability reputation. One of which is its 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Although Kia cars are very reliable at the moment, there was a time when they were some of the worst car brands ever to set foot in America. Things changed, and they got better. Now, as long as you are big on maintenance, you have the assurance that your Kia will last very long.

4. Hyundai

Hyundai, just like Kia, has sustained a long history of reliability. They also offer a 10-year/100,000-mile warranty coverage that helps reduce the expenses of regular repairs and maintenance.

Hyundai cars are fun-to-drive, have responsive engines, and are budget-friendly. Hyundai controls and infotainment are intuitive, the interiors are sleek and durable, and you get much value for your money.

According to Repairpal, Hyundai has a reliability rating of 4.0/5.0, ranking 4^th out of 32 car brands.

The 2022 Consumer Reports survey ranks Hyundai as the 13th most reliable car brand, while the JD Power 2022 dependability places Hyundai in the 2^nd position. Repair and maintenance cost is also cheap on Hyundai.

5. Lexus

Lexus has always maintained an impressive reliability record. From posing as the once most reliable car brand to sustaining its place amongst the top 10 most reliable car brands, Lexus is one car brand that you can always trust.

According to Repairpal, Lexus has a reliability rating of 4.0/5.0, ranking 7^th out of 32 car brands. Lexus ranks sixth in the 2022 JD Power dependability study and is the second most reliable car brand on the 2022 Consumer Reports Survey.

The cost of maintenance is cheap on Lexus, and the frequency of major or minor repairs is also low. The truth is that Lexus is a subdivision of Toyota, so they are rubbing off Toyota’s superb engineering principles.

6. Mazda

Mazda might not be as popular as Toyota, Lexus, Kia, and Hyundai, but they are also very reliable. Cars from the Mazda brand have a low purchase cost, low repair and maintenance cost, and fewer chances of severe or minor damages. They are also very affordable.

Mazda utilizes its Skyactiv technology to enhance efficiency and improve gas mileage. You are sure of great safety systems and improved driver assistance technologies.

According to Repairpal, Mazda has a reliability rating of 4.0/5.0, ranking 5^th out of 32 car brands. On consumer reports, Mazda is the fourth most reliable car brand, while Mazda takes the 12^th position on the JD Power dependability survey.

With Mazda, you are assured of efficiency, durability, and sustainability in all the systems of their cars, even down to their paint.

7. Buick

This might sound surprising, but Buick is a very reliable car brand. They might not be the favorite car brand of the regular driver because of their less popularity, but they are quite reliable.

According to Repairpal, Buick has an annual average reliability rating of 3.5/5.0, ranking 13^th out of 32 car brands. Buick takes the second position in the 2022 JD Power dependability rating and holds the 11^th position on the Consumer Reports 2022 Survey.

Repair and maintenance cost is cheap on Buick vehicles, and they have a lower tendency for major or minor repairs. Buick vehicles last very long, and the drivetrains are quite powerful.

8. Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi makes it to the list of the most reliable car brands. They have high reliability and safety ratings, cheap repair and maintenance cost, and less probability of major or minor repairs.

According to Repairpal, Mitsubishi has a reliability rating of 4.0/5.0, ranking 6^th out of 32 car brands. Mitsubishi is the 14^th most dependable car brand according to the 2022 JD Power dependability study.

However, it is important to mention that Mitsubishi’s reliability is a mixed game. You’ll need to confirm the reliability of the specific model you are going for to ensure that you make the right decision.

9. Genesis

Genesis is a subdivision of Hyundai Motor Group, but they are also very reliable. According to Repairpal, Genesis ranks 7^th out of 30 full-size luxury cars, with a reliability rating of 3.5/5.0. On the 2022 JD Power dependability survey, Genesis ranks fourth with a gold bar, ranking as the most dependable luxury brand.

Consumer reports rate Genesis as the 12^th most reliable car brand. Irrespective of the fact that Genesis is a luxury brand, the repair and maintenance cost is cheap.

10. Lincoln

Lincoln is another reliable car brand that you should check out. According to Repairpal, Lincoln is ranked 24^th with a reliability rating of 3.0/5.0. Lincoln takes the 10^th position on the consumer reports reliability survey and assumes the 13^th position on the 2022 JD Power US vehicle dependability survey.

Aside from the ratings, Lincoln has an impressive record of producing stylish, long-lasting, and integrated cars with high technology. The safety ratings are impressive, and you’ll get a wide range of engines.

Cars like BMW are also considered reliable, except for the fact that BMW is a luxury brand, and the maintenance costs are high. However, they are well-made, and you can expect them to last up to 200,000 miles.

Conclusion

You cannot neglect the need for reliability to decide which car brand you’ll get your new car from. Reliability goes a long way in determining the overall cost of car ownership.

While we’ve offered you a list of the most reliable car brands, it is important that you analyze the models of these brands to decide which one meets your needs.