Toyota is no longer the most reliable car brand; Here’s the manufacturer that holds the title now

Toyota has long been considered one of the most reliable car manufacturers. However, the brand has fallen to third place, according to an analysis by Consumer Reports. This nonprofit organization publishes reviews, reports, and results from its product and service testing center.

To determine the most reliable brands, Consumer Reports relies on data from reliability surveys completed by its members, who report issues they’ve experienced with their vehicles.

The organization evaluates 20 problem areas, ranging from minor annoyances, such as squeaky brakes and broken interior trim, to more serious issues involving engines, transmissions, batteries, and charging systems in electric vehicles.

The Most Reliable Car Brand

According to the report, Subaru leads the reliability rankings, surpassing brands like Lexus and Toyota. “Subaru vehicles share many reliable components. This commonality means that when Subaru redesigns a vehicle, it can make fewer incremental changes by incorporating proven systems and components. This reduces the risk of new problems,” said Steven Elek, supervisor of automotive data analysis at Consumer Reports.

Seven Subaru models were analyzed by the organization’s members, including the Forester, Impreza, Crosstrek, Legacy, Outback, and Ascent. The Forester and Impreza scored well above average in reliability. The Crosstrek, Legacy, Outback, and Ascent scored above or around average. The Solterra EV scored below average.

In the reliability rankings, Lexus and Toyota took second and third place, respectively, followed by Honda, Acura, Mazda, Audi, BMW, Kia, and Hyundai. The bottom five brands were Rivian, Cadillac, GMC, Jeep, and Volkswagen.

Why Toyota lost the top spot

Consumer Reports explained that below-average reliability ratings for the redesigned Tacoma pickup, the Tundra, and the bZ4X electric vehicle hurt Toyota’s score. In total, Toyota had four models with scores significantly above average, seven with scores above average, and five with average scores.

Although the organization published a ranking of manufacturers, it emphasized the importance of considering the reliability of specific models. “Even within high-ranking companies, reliability can vary significantly,” said Jake Fisher, senior director of auto testing at Consumer Reports.

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