These Car Brands Could Save You Big on Repairs: Expert Rankings

Consumer Reports (CR) has released its annual reliability rankings, based on an analysis of nearly 380,000 vehicles.

For the 2026 model year, Japanese brands once again dominate the list. Toyota took the top spot with a reliability score of 66, followed by Subaru (63) and Lexus (60). Honda and BMW rounded out the top five, underscoring the enduring strength of a traditional, methodical engineering approach.

Experts note that the leaders’ high rankings are thanks to proven platforms, gradual model updates, and cautious adoption of new technologies. In contrast, brands that frequently experiment with new architectures and electronics landed at the bottom of the rankings.

Among the lowest-ranked brands are Jeep, Ram, and Rivian. Mazda also suffered a significant drop, falling eight positions due to issues with the new CX-70 and CX-90, particularly in hybrid variants.

The report also highlights powertrain types. Traditional hybrids — those that don’t require external charging — are among the most reliable, in some cases outperforming standard gasoline-only versions. Notable examples include the Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid, Honda CR-V Hybrid, and Lexus NX Hybrid.

Fully electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrids were more prone to electronic and software issues. Against this backdrop, many buyers in 2026 are leaning toward simpler, proven technologies when deciding which car to purchase.

Consumer Reports’ findings reinforce an important lesson: reliability today isn’t about maximum tech sophistication — it’s about balancing innovation with time-tested solutions.