10 Car Brands Ranked from Most to Least Reliable by Consumer Reports

Reliability matters more than ever when buying a car. Consumer Reports recently ranked the most and least reliable car brands, giving buyers a clear picture of which vehicles are worth their money. In this video, we break down the 10 car brands ranked from most to least reliable, along with some valuable car-buying advice to help you avoid headaches, save money, and make a smarter choice for the long term.

Toyota

Man, Toyota just refuses to die. Like, even when you want it to. My friend’s Camry survived a flood once (not even kidding, half the interior was swamp), and it still… works. It just buzzes in weird places now. If you’ve got, I dunno, $30,000 burning a hole in your pocket, you’ll never regret one. It’s not exciting, but neither is oatmeal, and people still eat that every day. Smells like warm plastic and dealership coffee. Reliable though. So annoyingly reliable.

Lexus

Basically, a Toyota in a tuxedo. Smooth, quiet, expensive in that “I promise I’m not showing off” kind of way. I rode in one LS, and I swear the air smelled like money and dealership wax. Probably $50k plus, easy. People buy these and age slower, I think. You know that satisfying “clunk” sound doors make when they close right? Lexus does that perfectly. it feels like a small victory every time.

Mini

Okay, hot take, Minis are fun but weirdly reliable lately. Consumer Reports says so, but honestly, I don’t get it. It feels fragile, like a cat that purrs till you touch it wrong. $35k-ish for one, if I remember right. I drove one once, smelled like leather and new sneakers. Steering’s tight though, makes you feel like you’re in a go-kart on espresso.

Acura

Honda’s overachieving sibling. You can tell it tries hard to be premium but still wants to do homework and be responsible. I like that. My uncle had an old TL and it never broke, not once. Only weird thing, it had that faint burnt-electronics smell in summer. Maybe just his. Around forty grand now, which isn’t bad for a car that’ll outlive your loyalty phases.

Honda

Classic. Like the jeans of cars. Everyone’s had one or knows someone who’s had one that just wouldn’t quit. You can hammer it, ignore oil changes for too long, and it’ll still forgive you. My old Civic cost me twelve grand used back in the day, and honestly it gave me no reason to upgrade. Except boredom. Reliable but soulless sometimes.

Subaru

Hmmm. Depends. Either it runs forever or it runs forever after some pretty questionable head gasket drama. I still like them, though. That boxer engine rumble is like purring. Smells like campfire and wet seats, probably because most Subaru owners are like “let’s go hiking!” and never dry the seats. Around $30k now, give or take. Feels homely, in a good way.

Mazda

Kinda underrated, actually. They make cars that make you want to drive. The steering’s sharp, interiors have that clean Japanese vibe. But I dunno, I feel like they’re reliable till the warranty ends and then they suddenly want attention. $28k maybe. I had a friend with an old Mazda3 who swore it “had personality,” which usually means it broke a lot, quietly.

BMW

Alright, now we’re entering the “great until it isn’t” zone. BMWs are like that charming person who flakes on you right when you need them most. When it’s new, magical. Like seriously, that straight-six sound? Addicting. But then something breaks and it’s like “congrats, that’ll be three grand, please.” $60k if you’re feeling brave. Still smells like ambition. And leather. Always premium leather.

Volkswagen

Good cars when they’re in a good mood. I once drove a Jetta that felt perfect on Monday, misfired on Wednesday, and forgot how to idle by Friday. Still, there’s this weird warmth to them, the way the dash lights glow or the door shuts, it’s European charm, I guess. $30k gets you one you’ll love and curse in equal measure. Smells oddly like crayons (Google it, it’s a thing).

Jeep

I want to love Jeeps. Really do. They look cool, they sound mean, but man, they spend more time in service bays than at gas stations. I rode in one once and all I could hear was wind noises, like the car itself was sighing at its own decisions. $45k for a Wrangler? Nah. Unless you’re doing that “I live for adventure” thing, which most people actually mean as “I watched a camping video once.” Still, kinda iconic.