white bmw car

The Definitive Guide to the Most Reliable Car Brands: Rankings and Reviews

Summary

Reliability is something we’re all looking for when buying a new car. To help us compile the following list we’ve called on Consumer Reports for some help.. Every year, this nonprofit consumer organization asks its members about problems they’ve experienced with their vehicles in the previous year. 

Various common trouble areas are examined, including minor issues such as squeaky brakes and broken trim to more serious problems such as out-of-warranty engine, transmission, EV battery, and EV charging problems. 

Taking these issues into consideration, we’ve compiled a list of the most reliable car brands for 2023/24.

Top 10 Most Reliable Car Brands 2023/2024  

1. Toyota

For the last couple of years, Toyota has been considered the best car brand in the world in terms of reliability. The Toyota Motor Corporation (its official name) was started in 1933 as a division of the Toyota Automatic Loom Works. In 1937, it became an independent company.

Toyota’s biggest period of expansion came during the 1960s, which is when the Japanese economy was booming. A new research and development facility was built and it started to make its presence felt in nearby markets. 

white toyota car

Since then, Toyota has grown significantly and their vehicles are known around the world. By 2020, it was the largest automaker, taking over from Volkswagen. However, since then, VW has regained the lead, although not in terms of reliability as Toyota remains at number one.

2. Lexus

Lexus is the luxury vehicle division of the Japanese carmaker Toyota, it was founded in 1989, just after Honda created its Acura division. Cars are produced mostly in Japan, which is probably why the company has such a high-reliability ranking. 

white lexus car

3. BMW

BMW, formerly known as Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, has been operating since 1916. Initially, it started as an aircraft engine manufacturer for the war effort between 1933 and 1945. 

Following the war, the company was left producing bicycles, pots, and pans, however, in 1948 they restarted their motorcycle production. A few years later, the company branched out into producing cars. 

blue BMW car

Their model range expanded from 1955 onwards and it has remained one of the world’s top car manufacturers.  

4. Mazda

Mazda is another Japanese automotive manufacturer to feature in our list of the top 10 most reliable car brands. Formerly known as the Mazda Motor Corporation, the company was founded in 1920 in Hiroshima and is now one of the largest and most reliable car makers in the world. 

white mazda car

Mazda has made some massive contributions to the automotive industry with several technological innovations. Many of these have been adopted by other manufacturers. The company has also released some of the most impressive cars.  

5. Honda

Honda is a well-known name in the automotive industry, but this is partly because of their motorcycles. Since 1959, Honda has been the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world. 

logo of honda car

 

One thing Honda motorcycles are famous for is their reliability, so it comes as no surprise that their cars are reliable too. Over the years, Honda has grown into the world’s largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines and in 2001, it was the world’s second-largest automobile manufacturer. 

6. Audi

When talking about car brand reliability rankings, there has to be a German brand in the mix. Audi AG is a German luxury vehicle manufacturer based in Bavaria that’s part of the larger Volkswagen Group.

black audi car

 

The history of the company goes back to 1909 when it was founded. In 1932, the Auto Union was created and this was acquired by Volkswagen from Daimler Benz in the 1960s. This is really the beginning of the Audi era as we know it. 

From the 60s onwards, Audi has earned a reputation for creating some of the most iconic and recognizable cars in the world. The Audi logo is instantly recognized all over the world. 

7. Subaru

Sitting at number seven in CR’s car brand reliability rankings is Subaru, the Japanese automobile manufacturing division of the larger transportation conglomerate Subaru Corporation.

The brand earned itself a reputation for designing and manufacturing practical cars long before the name was known globally. When the company entered the world car market, the vehicles impressed audiences with their high performance, discreet looks, and high safety standards. 

neon yellow subaru car

One particular model, the WRX, became one of the most lauded rally cars in history. The company was founded in 1953 and more than six decades later, it was the world’s 21st largest automobile manufacturer by production.   

8. Acura

Acura is the luxury and performance division of the legendary Japanese carmaker Honda and scores very high in the reliability department. 

Although the brand comes from Japan, it was created for and launched in North America, Canada, and the United States. 

white light of a car

Acura’s flagship vehicle was the Legend. It was such a successful launch that Toyota and Nissan were inspired to do the same. Their creations were Infiniti and Lexus. 

The name Acura is derived from the Latin “acu”. It means done with precision or mechanically precise and Honda has done itself proud. 

9. Kia

Kia Corporation was initially known as the Kia Motors Corporation and is now more commonly referred to as simply Kia. It is a very successful South Korean automobile manufacturer, second only to Hyundai, its parent company. 

red kia car

 

Kia has gone through many ups and downs since its founding in 1944. For example, in 1997, during the Asian Financial crisis, its history included bankruptcy. It rose from the ashes after being resurrected by the Hyundai Motor Company by way of an exchange of ownership between the two companies. Hence Hyundia’s 33.8% ownership of Kia today. 

10. Lincoln

The Lincoln Motor Company, its official name, was founded in 1917 by Henry Leland. This is the guy who co-founded Cadillac with his son in 1902. The company was acquired by the Ford Motor Company five years after its founding and became the luxury vehicle division of Ford. 

car in front of a house

 

Lincoln has always been associated with luxury and quality and many of its cars have achieved legendary status. The Lincoln Continental, for example, is considered to be one of the most influential cars of all time. It is said to have set the bar for personal luxury cars way back in the 1940s.

If you were wondering what is the most reliable car brand, we hope we’ve answered your question. We’ll finish up by letting you know that if you ever need to ship one of these reliable cars across the country, SGT Auto Transport provides a service you’ll be proud of. We know all about reliability and strive to deliver on our promises every time.

Get a free, no-hassle quote on car shipping today.

For your convenience, we have a handy instant quote calculator, or you can call at (864) 546-5038 or use our Live Chat.   

FAQs

Which brand of vehicle is the most reliable?

Toyota has long been one of the most reliable brands on the market, and its luxury division, Lexus, adheres to the same standards of quality and vehicle dependability. 

Which car brands last longest?

If you’re wondering what car usually lasts the longest, the answer kind of depends on how you look after your vehicle. That being said, some car brands that are known to stand the test of time include Toyota, Honda, Lexus, Mazda, Kia, and BMW.

Which car brand has least problems?

According to JD Power’s 2022 Initial Quality Study, the car brand with the fewest problems for new cars is Buick. Owned by General Motors, it scored an impressive 139 problems per 100 vehicles. 

What is the best car brand according to mechanics?

If you want to know what mechanics are saying about the best car brand to buy, you’ll get an accurate answer by talking to your own trusted mechanic. However, according to Motor and Wheels, Honda, Toyota, and Lexus are the car brands mechanics recommend buying.  

Get a quote banner