These Are the Most Reliable Cars in Each Category, Says J.D. Power

Recent findings from J.D. Power show that after three years of ownership, vehicle dependability has diminished. Owners are reporting more problems compared to the previous year, with the industry average escalating to 190 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100). The disparity in problem rates between the initial 90 days and three years of ownership has surged, indicating a notable decrease in vehicle dependability over time.

Electrified Vehicles: A Mixed Bag

Owners of BEVs and PHEVs report more problems than those with gasoline and hybrid vehicles, with tire replacement being a notable issue for BEV owners.

Segment-by-Segment Breakdown

The study lists the most reliable vehicles across different categories, with Toyota Motor Corporation achieving the most segment awards. Here is an organized summary of the top-ranking models:

Compact and Midsize Cars:

Compact Cars:

• Toyota Corolla
• Honda Civic
• Toyota Prius

Compact Premium Cars:

• Lexus IS
• BMW 4 Series
• BMW 3 Series

Midsize Cars:

• Toyota Camry
• Chevrolet Malibu
• Hyundai Sonata

Midsize Premium Cars:

• Lexus ES

Premium Sporty Cars:

• Porsche 718
• Chevrolet Corvette

Pickup and Van Segments:

Large Heavy Duty Pickups:

• Ford Super Duty
• GMC Sierra HD
• Chevrolet Silverado HD

Large Light Duty Pickups:

• Toyota Tundra
• GMC Sierra
• Chevrolet Silverado

Midsize Pickups:

• Toyota Tacoma
• Chevrolet Colorado
• Ford Ranger

Minivans:

• Kia Sedona
• Toyota Sienna
• Honda Odyssey

Standout Brands

Lexus is recognized as the most reliable brand overall, followed by Porsche and BMW for premium brands. In the mass market, Toyota ranks highest with Buick and Chevrolet in a close contest for reliability.

Methodology of the Study

The study reflects the experiences of over 30,000 owners of 2021 model-year vehicles after three years. It encompasses 184 problem areas across nine vehicle categories to provide a detailed analysis of long-term vehicle reliability.

This article was co-written using AI and was then heavily edited and optimized by our editorial team.