Toyota Snatches Back Crown: Subaru's Reliability Reign Lasts Just 1 Year

In its annual vehicle reliability report, Consumer Reports has reshuffled the rankings, pushing Subaru down to second place and handing the crown to one of its longtime rivals.

For years, Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru have traded places at the top of the reliability charts. In 2024, Subaru managed to break Toyota Motor Corporation’s streak and claim first place—but, as it turns out, the reign was short-lived.

After spending just 12 months on top, Toyota has reclaimed the No. 1 position thanks to noticeable improvements in overall vehicle reliability. Subaru slipped back to second place, while Lexus continues to trail Subaru when it comes to long-term durability and fewer mechanical issues over the course of ownership.

Toyota’s return to the top was driven largely by strong results from several of its best-selling models in the “Quality” category. The 2025 Toyota Camry, for example, proved to be significantly more robust than it was the year before, matching the Honda Accord in reliability. The Toyota Crown went even further, earning top marks among sedans.

Even the Toyota Tundra showed meaningful gains in durability. The full-size pickup struggled with production-related issues after switching to a new platform in 2022, but those concerns appear to be fading.

As in previous years, vehicles powered by traditional internal combustion engines dominated the list of the most reliable models. Mild hybrids landed somewhere in the middle, while plug-in hybrids and fully electric vehicles occupied the bottom of the rankings.

Among the least reliable vehicles in the report were the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Cadillac Lyriq, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Honda Prelude, as well as models from Rivian and Lucid.