These top-notch cars are reliable and fun to drive. (2023)

FAQs

What is the #1 most reliable car? ›

According to this trusted organization, the most reliable cars for 2021 are from brands such as Audi, Buick, Hyundai, and Toyota. The Consumer Reports study is based on surveying more than 400,000 people who own current-generation vehicles made within the last three years.

What is the most dependable car brand? Here are the brand rankings based on the number of problems per 100 vehicles, according to J.D. Power's 2023 U.S. vehicle dependability study. The industry average is 186. The highest-ranking premium brand was Lexus, and Kia was the highest-ranking mass market brand.

A car's reliability comes down to two things -maintenance and gas efficiency. The perfect, reliable car doesn't cost much to upkeep and gets really good miles per gallon, so they don't have to stop for fuel a lot. At the same time, they also have safety ratings and features that stand the test of time.

Are Korean Cars Safe? Another unfortunate misconception people have about Korean cars is that they are unsafe. But, nothing could be further from the truth. As a matter of fact, Korean manufacturers make some of the safest vehicles on the road today.

Consumer Reports released its list of the top car brands for 2023 on Thursday. Taking the top five spots, in order, are BMW, Subaru, Mini, Lexus, and Honda. Taking the bottom five spots are Mitsubishi, Alfa Romeo, Jaguar, Jeep, and Land Rover, with Land Rover at the very bottom.

According to both J.D. Power and Consumer Reports, Toyota constantly figures in the top places as the most dependable brand in the automotive world.

Toyota, which has long had a reputation for high-level reliability, is the most reliable car brand on the Consumer Reports list. Also, Lexus, the Toyota-owned luxury brand, earned the second spot, followed by German automaker BMW. However, for American reliability, the best one is Lincoln.

A well-maintained 10-year-old car could possibly be a better investment than a newer model which hasn't been looked after. As a very general rule of thumb, a car is usually reliable up to 5 years providing it has been maintained.

A conventional car can last for 200,000 miles. Some well-maintained car models will reach 300,000 or more miles total. The average passenger car age is currently around 12 years in the United States. Choosing a well-built make and model can help extend your car's longevity.

What makes engine strong? ›

Compression

Increasing compression is the most productive way to increase horsepower. Build compression into your engine and you build in power. In more than a century of internal combustion, there has never been a more common sense way to make power. But be careful about how you raise compression.

3) Cultural Values. An invisible force that shapes car manufacturing is the culture of Japan. Many have noticed that car culture, and manufacturing, in Japan resonates with a sense of punctuality and care. An early system built on frugality, Japanese cars had to be made with prudence in mind.

Chery, Haval, FAW, represented in Ukraine, are in the “middle”, and Chery Jetour is one of the outsiders in the quality rating. The China Car Quality Network has published a quality rating of Chinese car brands for 2022 for ICE cars and electric cars separately.

Germany. Germany is famous for producing iconic cars from brands like Audi, Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. It's particularly well-known for making vehicles that are reliable, packed with innovative features, and with popular designs to match.

BMW, Subaru, Lexus, and Honda routinely land in the top ranks by delivering on these virtues, from their base models to their high-end vehicles. BMW claimed the top spot this year thanks to especially strong road-test performances and solid owner survey results.

According to Consumer Reports, the most reliable 2021 Toyota models are the Prius, Corolla, Prius Prime, Camry, and 4Runner. These have all been ranked exceptionally highly for their robust comfort, ride quality, and smooth handling.

Diesel engines also have lower exhaust gas temperatures (EGT's) which also helps improve their longevity.

Before you scroll over to the next one, the CVT gearbox actually has a lot of advantages. It is easily the most reliable of the lot, it is very fuel efficient and if you can drown out the noise, it is smoother than any other gearbox.

Toyota Industries manufactures engines for Toyota vehicles sold all around the world.

What is the one car that will last forever? ›

Among the models with the greatest potential lifespan, Toyota Sequoia topped the list, with the ability to travel nearly 300,000 miles, followed by the Land Cruiser, according to a recent iSeeCars study, which analyzed more than 2 million cars over the past 20 years to see which vehicles could last the longest.

Related: 2022 Cars.com American-Made Index: What About the Least American Cars? Topping the 2022 index is Tesla, which not only retains its No. 1 overall ranking thanks to the Model Y, but furthers its presence on the list with all four vehicles of its current lineup placing in the top 10.

According to the IIHS, which is funded by the insurance industry, Toyota and Lexus rack up the most awards, followed by Honda and Acura. Mazda comes in next. Both small SUVs and midsized luxury SUVs take home the most wins, although the list includes vehicles of all types. A Rivian R1T after a front offset crash test.

2022: State of Car Sales in America

Toyota sold the most vehicles in 2022 followed by Chevrolet. Chevy's Silverado was the top sold model in the U.S.

In retaining “like new” quality and inheriting a slower depreciation rate, the best used car age for buying is 2-3 years. In fact, Americans are saving up to $14,000 on a 3-year-old vehicle. For example, a car that may have cost you $30,000 when new would cost around $16,000 after just 3 years.

To determine whether a car has reasonable mileage, you can simply multiply 12,000 by its age. That means good mileage for a car that's 5 years old is 60,000. Significantly more or fewer miles could indicate a problem or trouble in the future.

When shopping, is there a best age for purchasing a used car? Cars are usually reliable for up to five years if they've been looked after. But a well-maintained 10-year-old car could be a better investment than a newer model that hasn't been cared for as well. Budget is also a major factor.

Many car owners make the mistake of assuming that they need to replace their vehicles every few years. The average age of a vehicle on the road is about 11 years, but most drivers keep a car for about six years. Here are some factors to consider when deciding if it's time for a newer model.

What is Considered High-Mileage? Typically, putting 13,000 to 14,000 miles on your car per year is viewed as “average.” A car that is driven more than that is considered high-mileage. With proper maintenance, cars can have a life expectancy of about 200,000 miles.

A 20-year-old car is not considered a classic in most states. Most states require vehicles to be at least 25 or 30 years old in order to be registered as a classic car, and Pennsylvania is the only one of the 10 largest states that considers 20-year-old cars to be “classic” for registration purposes.

What keeps an engine healthy? ›

Like humans, engines need oxygen to survive. A constant flow of air is a must to keep the engine running. Air filters ensure this by preventing junk particles, road debris, dirt, leaves, etc… from entering the engine. But over time, they accumulate so many particles that stop them from doing their job.

Larger engines will generate more torque. That allows the use of a transmission that lets the engine run slower for the same given car speed. So while a four-cylinder engine might turn at 2,500 rpm at 65 mph, an eight-cylinder engine might turn at 1,800. That could contribute to longer life.

For years, this question was a 'no brainer'. If you wanted quality engineering, performance, reliability and exceptional build quality, you bought German cars. However, Japan has been steadily building a reputation that easily matches the very finest that Europe has to offer, and now the picture isn't quite so clear.

Mechanically, German cars are better than most, according to critics. Reliability issues aside, German cars are ideal for those craving speed and comfort, and the peace of mind that they only have to change vehicles on average every 200,000-250,000 miles (with proper maintenance).

If you're in the market for a new car, you're probably considering a few different makes. From foreign makes such as Toyota to American-made vehicles like Chrysler, there are several different things to think about. In general, American-made cars are considered less reliable than their foreign counterparts.

Best Selling Cars Ranking in China shows the BYD SONG becoming the new leader, overtaking the Nissan Sylphy. The market has 3 pure electric vehicles in the Top 10. Representing near 30% of global sales, the Chinese market is by far the largest in the World.

Five Chinese brands made their Euro NCAP debuts in 2022 – Chery, BYD, WEY, Ora, Maxus - all went away with the maximum 5 stars rating. For the first time ever, two Chinese brands also emerged as the safest cars tested by Euro NCAP in 2022 – Great Wall Motor's WEY and Ora.

Denmark is the best country for car owners, according to our data. While it doesn't necessarily have the best motoring expenses-to-income ratio, the country's congestion and road quality are above average. Denmark also has one of the lower road mortality rates of all 25 nations we examined.

So who makes the most reliable engines? Perhaps not surprisingly, it's the Japanese, with the top spot taken by Honda.

What car will last the longest? ›

They typically have minimal mechanical problems and last for many miles and years. It's not unusual to find Toyota vehicles that are still on the road after 20 years with over 200,000 miles on the odometer. Furthermore, Consumer Reports named Toyota the most reliable automotive brand. Why are Toyota cars so reliable?

Can a car last 300,000 miles? It's possible for some properly maintained, well-built cars to reach 300,000 miles. Typically, a conventional vehicle lasts for 200,000 miles. The average automobile age in the United States has increased over the past several decades.

Depending on how well you treat your car, you could potentially reach over 500,000 miles. In fact, there's a driver whose car reached even more than that. Check out this short video to take a look!

Battery. The battery's job is to provide all of the electrical components in the car with a jolt of electricity so that the car can start. Most batteries become weak and need replacement after 4 to 6 years.

Ford versus Honda: Quality, Reliability, Safety, and Value Retention Ratings. A comparison of Ford versus Honda overall quality ratings shows Honda with higher quality ratings in 3 out of 3 model comparisons. In terms of reliability ratings, Honda has the advantage in 2 out of 3 comparisons.

The average lifespan for a Toyota vehicle is 200,000-250,000 miles. With proper care and maintenance, some Toyota models can last as long as 500,000 miles.

Is Nissan or Toyota more reliable? ›

When comparing Nissan vs Toyota's reliability, Toyota was ranked by Consumer Reports as the second most reliable out of all car brands for 2021. Nissan ranked a lot lower in sixteenth place. Toyota's are known to be very reliable, lasting their owners decades with few significant problems.