May 10, 2018
In January of 2018, U.S. News & World Report released their annual list of the most reliable car brands. So when you go car shopping this summer, there are many factors you should consider when making your vehicle purchase. Every car buyer has a personal preference as to which factors take priority over others. For some, getting the best price is important. For others, it could be gas mileage, the newest technologies, overall performance, or safety. However, everyone can agree that they need a reliable vehicle.
One factor that U.S. News considers when ranking vehicle brands is J.D. Powers predicted reliability scale. This 1 to 5 scale rates individual vehicles and the U.S. News rankings system uses the average of all scores to find the top 10 brands. Keep in mind that more reliable brands usually come with a higher price tag, although, there are still some reliable brands that do not break the bank.
Coming in at #10, Chevrolet has a predicted reliability of 3.5. The Chevy Sonic, a subcompact car, received a 4 out of 5 rating, while the Corvette and the Volt both got an average reliability score.
Honda takes the 9th position with its Ridgeline being one of the best pickup trucks on the market today. Honda vehicles are well-known and not too expensive. All Honda vehicle ratings considered, this brand’s reliability is above average.
Automaker BMW is #8 on the list and is known for its upscale interiors and innovative driving dynamics. BMW has an impressive above-average reliability score for all of its vehicles. However, their cars rank better than their SUVs. The 4 Series received a 4.5 out of 5 reliability score.
Seventh place goes to Kia, a brand known for its superb warranty of 5 years or 60,000 miles and 10 years or 100,000 miles for the powertrain. The Kia Soul received one of the brand’s highest reliability rank as well as the 2017 Best Compact Car for the Money award.
Mercedes-Benz tied for 4th place with both Buick and Toyota. All 3 auto brands had an average predicted reliability score of 3.9. Moving down the list, luxury car brand Lincoln took the 3rd spot. All Lincoln vehicles rated at least a 4 out of 5 for reliability.
First place also had a tie between Lexus and Porsche with an average predicted reliability score of 4.5. Lexus has a relatively low cost of ownership over a lifetime while Porsche is recognized by the high-performance vehicles it builds. Only a few Lexus vehicles fell below a 4 out of 5 reliability score. Porsche has six vehicles on its 2018 roster, two SUVs and 4 cars, with each of them being in the top 4 of their respective categories. Although Porsche is highly reliable, you will pay more to purchase one of their vehicles.