If you are thinking about buying a new car in 2018, it’s important to know which car brands have a sterling reputation for quality, dependability and reliability. The good news is that there are plenty of consumer surveys out there to help make a wise choice with your next auto purchase. These surveys not only list the most reliable used car brands, they also give you a good idea of how different makes and models from the same auto manufacturer might differ. When considering the most reliable car brands 2018, it’s important to view at least one of these surveys.
The starting point for many people in determining the most reliable car brands is the J.D. Power U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study. This annual study measures the number of auto problems reported by car owners who have owned their vehicle for three years. Makes sense, right? By the end of a three-year period, you will have a good sense of just how well your new car is doing.
No surprises here, but in the 2018 J.D. Power survey, Lexus topped the list of the top most reliable car brands. It’s not surprising since Lexus has topped this list for seven consecutive years. For many people, the answer to the question, “What is the most reliable car brand?” is easy – it’s Lexus.
Lexus is one of the most reliable used car brands.
Other top reliable car brands cracking the Top 5 in the J.D. Power survey include Porsche, Buick, Infiniti and Kia. Buick is particularly noteworthy because it is a car brand that has been making a real comeback in recent years. Porsche, of course, has been a symbol of automotive performance excellence for decades.
But what if you don’t have the bank account to afford a brand-new Porsche? Other brands that rank among the top most reliable car brands include Chevrolet, Hyundai, BMW, Toyota, Lincoln, Nissan, Honda and Audi. All of these reliable car brands ranked in the Top 10 in the J.D. Power survey on vehicle dependability.
Chevrolet Cruze Most Reliable Used Car Of 2018
Of course, the savvy auto buyer will want to check out other sources of vehicle reliability data. One good resource is from Consumer Reports, in the form of its annual “Car Brands Reliability Data.” The 2018 survey lists 27 brands from least reliable to most reliable, and the names at the top of the list includes almost all of the same names as the J.D. Power survey.
According to Consumer Reports, the most reliable car brands include Toyota, Lexus, Kia, Audi, BMW, Subaru, Infiniti, Buick, Honda and Hyundai. This data also gives a more granular view of the data, letting you know the top performers among several different model types. For example, the most reliable Lexus is the ES, while the least reliable Lexus is the GX. But overall, Lexus ranked No. 2 in this survey, similar to the No. 1 ranking in the J.D Power survey. That should give you a lot of confidence that Lexus really is one of the most reliable used car brands.
Dependability is a key factor in buying a new or used car, and it’s clear that some brands continue to put a strong emphasis on manufacturing the types of cars that not only look great on the road, but also handle well over a long period of time.
