Consumer Reports has released a list of car reliability ratings, and Toyota, known for being one of the best, has fallen below Subaru and Lexus. Based on the Tacoma Tundra and the bZ4X model, Toyota has been relegated to a lower position. Steven Elek and Jake Fisher highlight that Honda, Acura, Mazda, Audi, BMW, and Volkswagen are highly reliable and offer a wide variety of models. Read on to learn more about the list.
Get to know what Consumer Reports says
Toyota has long been stablished as one of the most trusting car producers. Nevertheless, the brand has fallen to third place, according to an analysis by Consumer Reports. This altruistic organization presents reviews, reports, and results from its product and service testing center.
To get to know the most trusting brands, Consumer Reports relies on information from reliability surveys done by its members, who report problems they’ve experienced with their cars.
The organization evaluates 20 issues areas, ranging from not relevant annoyances, such as squeaky brakes and broken interior trim, to more important problems implying involving engines, transmissions, batteries, and charging systems in electric vehicles.
The most trusting car brand
According to the report, Subaru is on the top the reliability rankings, surpassing brands such as Lexus and Toyota.
“Subaru vehicles share many reliable components. This commonality means that when Subaru redesigns a vehicle, it can make fewer incremental changes by incorporating proven systems and components. This reduces the risk of new problems,” said Steven Elek, supervisor of automotive data analysis at Consumer Reports.
Seven Subaru models were studied by the organization’s members, taking into account the Forester, Impreza, Crosstrek, Legacy, Outback, and Ascent. The Forester and Impreza scored well uo the average in reliability. The Crosstrek, Legacy, Outback, and Ascent scored above or around average. The Solterra EV scored under average.
In the reliability rankings, Lexus and Toyota took second and third place, respectively, continued by Honda, Acura, Mazda, Audi, BMW, Kia, and Hyundai. The bottom five brands were Rivian, Cadillac, GMC, Jeep, and Volkswagen.
Subaru Tops Brand Rankings
For the first time, Subaru claimed the top spot in CR’s Annual Auto Reliability Survey, surpassing Lexus and Toyota. Subaru’s success is attributed to conservative redesigns and shared reliable components across its lineup. While Asian automakers dominate the top rankings, with Honda, Acura, and Mazda among the top five, the Subaru Solterra electric SUV is an exception, scoring below average.
CR’s 2025 report highlights the importance of considering reliability for specific models, as variations exist even within highly ranked brands. Data from 300,000 vehicles spanning the 2000 to 2024 model years informs the predictions, focusing on 20 potential problem areas like engines and electronics.
The main reason of Toyota losing top spot
Consumer Reports explained that below-average reliability ratings for the redesigned Tacoma pickup, the Tundra, and the bZ4X electric vehicle injured Toyota’s score. In total, Toyota had four models with scores relevant above average, seven with scores up average, and five with average scores.
Even though the organization presented a ranking of manufacturers, it underlined the relevance of taking into account the trust of determinedmodels.
“Even within high-ranking companies, reliability can vary significantly,” said Jake Fisher, senior director of auto testing at Consumer Reports.
Hybrid Cars Lead in Reliability
Hybrids continue to be the most reliable electrified vehicles, matching the problem rates of traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) cars despite their complexity. Hybrid sales increased 53% in 2023, driven by their fuel efficiency and strong performance. Top-rated hybrids from Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Lexus, and Toyota deliver quiet, quick, and reliable driving experiences.
Electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) are improving, with problem rates decreasing significantly from previous years. However, EVs still have 42% more issues than ICE cars, and PHEVs face 70% more problems. Notable EVs, like Rivian’s R1S and R1T, and the Ford F-150 Lightning, remain below average in reliability. On the other hand, the Volvo XC60 PHEV showed marked improvement and earned a CR recommendation.