Built to Last Until Retirement: Experts Name the Most Reliable Car Brand

Reliability remains one of the top priorities for car shoppers. No one wants to deal with frequent breakdowns or costly repairs, especially when buying a new vehicle.

According to the latest study from Consumer Reports, Japanese brands once again lead the pack when it comes to reliability. However, the top spot has changed for the 2026 model year.

After ranking first in 2025, Subaru has slipped to second place. Taking over as the most reliable automotive brand this year is Toyota.

Last year, Lexus held the No. 2 position, but for 2026 it moved down to third. Notably, neither Subaru nor Lexus saw a meaningful decline in their reliability scores. Instead, Toyota improved its performance enough to move ahead of the competition.

Analysts pointed out that the 2026 Toyota Camry posted stronger reliability results than the 2025 version. Within Toyota’s lineup, the Camry is now second only to the Toyota Crown in predicted reliability.

Toyota has also made significant strides with its pickup trucks. The Toyota Tacoma and Toyota Tundra have become considerably more dependable compared to several years ago. Experts noted that these trucks were previously among the more troublesome models in Toyota’s portfolio, making their recent improvements especially notable.

Best Luxury Crossovers of 2026

In related news, analysts at Autocar recently published their ranking of the best premium crossovers for 2026. The top honor went to the Range Rover Sport, praised for its “exceptional refinement.”

Other vehicles highlighted in the ranking include the Porsche Cayenne, Range Rover, and Bentley Bentayga. Reviewers also gave high marks to the BMW iX and the Ferrari Purosangue.