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.
More by TTAC Staff
Latest Car Reviews
Read moreLatest Product Reviews
Read moreRecent Comments
- JK Savoy Blue is a thing, but Sestriere White? Sestriere is a ski town near Turin, so I guess it meant to conjure up thoughts of snow. Pretty car. I hope Pininfarina has success. The industry in and around Turin has taken a big hit and is a shadow of its former self.
- Ravenuer My 2023 CRV EX, 6 mo old, 4800 miles: $0.
- TheEndlessEnigma My '16 FiST: Oil changes, tires, valve cover gasket (at 112k miles), coolant flush, brakes.....and that's itMy '19 Grand Caravan: Oil changes, coolant flush
- John Clyne I own a 1997 GMC Suburban that I bought second hand. It was never smoked in but had lost the new car smell when I got it four years after it was sold new. I own a 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche & that still has the new car smell. I like the smell. I could never afford a new car until the Avalanche. It might be my last new car? Why do they build cars with fire retardant materials in them. Smoking rates are falling & if someone continues to smoke in this day & age is a fool especially with all the information out there.
- Theflyersfan Non-performance models, probably the Civic based on the fact the interior feels and looks better in the Honda. Both of them are going to drive like adequate appliances with small engines and CVTs and get decent mileage, so this is based on where my butt will rest and things my hands and fingers will touch.Toyota doesn't have an answer to the Civic Si so the Honda wins by default.CTR vs GR Corolla. One dealer by me is still tacking on $10,000 markups for the CTR and good luck with the GR Corolla and the "allocation" system. There's that one dealer in Missouri that I pasted their ad a while back wanting $125,000 for a mid-level GR. Nope. But cars.com is still showing markups. Both of these cars will have little depreciation for a while, so the markups equal instant loss. It looks like Cincinnati-area dealers are done with CTR markups. So this is a tough choice. I don't like the Corolla interior. It looks and feels inexpensive. I'm glad Honda toned down the exterior but the excessive wing still looks immature for such an expensive car that 20-somethings likely cannot afford. FWD vs AWD. With price being an object, and long-term maintenance a thing, I'd go with the Honda with a side eye at the Golf R as a mature choice. All with stick shifts.
Comments
Join the conversation