These are the Most Reliable Car Brands for 2022 (2023)

According to Consumer Reports 2022 annual brand rankings, motorists may be better off choosing the top trim levels of mainstream models rather than luxury brands if they want a reliable car. So, what is the most reliable car brand for 2022?

We look at the reliability ratings for 2022 of 2021 model year vehicles from Consumer Reports and models from three model years ago from the J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study and reader responses.

JD Power Vehicle Dependability Study for 2022

Topping the Ranks of Reliable Vehicles

For the second consecutive year, the Porsche 911 is the highest-ranked model. The Porsche 911 claimed this spot three times in the past four years.

The brand that ranked the highest in overall vehicle dependability is Kia, with a score of 145 PP100. Other mass-market automotive brands ranking high for vehicle dependability include Toyota (158 PP100), Hyundai (148 PP100), and Buick (147 PP100).

Within the premium segment of luxury vehicles, Genesis ranks the highest with 155 PP100, closely followed by Lexus (159 PP100) and Porsche (162 PP100).

The Top Ten Most Reliable Brands:

1. Kia
2. Buick
3. Hyundai
4. Genesis
5. Toyota
6. Lexus
7. Porsche
8. Dodge
9. Cadillac
10. Chevrolet

JD Powers' Most Reliable Models:

Buick Encore

The Buick Encore is the most reliable small SUV and competes for the top spot against the Kia Soul and Toyota C-HR.

Browse Buick Encore listings here.

Buick Envision

Within the category of compact SUV, the Buick Envision leads with its rank-topping reliability, leaving the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson following closely behind.

Browse Buick Envision listings here.

Lexus UX

The Lexus UX is ranked as the most reliable small luxury SUV, with the Mercedes-Benz GLA close behind.

Browse Lexus UX listings here.

Lexus NX

The Lexus NX boldly claims its spot as the most reliable compact luxury SUV. Not too far behind are the Lincoln MKC and the Cadillac XT4.

Browse Lexus NX listings here.

Hyundai Santa Fe

The Hyundai Santa Fe sits at the top of its category as the most reliable midsize SUV. Not too far behind are the Toyota 4Runner and the Ford Flex.

Browse Hyundai Santa Fe listings here.

Toyota Corolla

The Toyota Corolla earned the top spot as most reliable against the Chevrolet Cruz and Hyundai Elantra within the compact car category.

Browse Toyota Corolla listings here.

Mazda MX-5 Miata

The Mazda MX-5 Miata outperforms the Mini Cooper and Hyundai Veloster as the most reliable compact sports car.

Browse Mazda MX-5 Miata listings here.

BMW 4-Series

The Infiniti Q50 and Audi A5 fell behind the BMW 4-Series as the most reliable compact luxury car.

Browse BMW 4-Series listings here.

Hyundai Sonata

The Hyundai Sonata overtakes the Chevrolet Malibu, Kia Optima, and Mazda 3 as the most reliable midsize car.

Browse Hyundai Sonata listings here.

Lincoln MKZ

The Lincoln MKZ is the most reliable midsize luxury car in its class and competed well against its rival, the Lexus ES.

Browse Lincoln MKZ listings here.

Nissan Frontier

The Nissan Frontier ranks as the most reliable midsize pickup truck among contenders like the Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma.

Browse Nissan Frontier listings here.

Toyota Tundra

Within the large light-duty pickup truck category, the Toyota Tundra leads with its impressive reliability, leaving the Chevrolet Silverado and Ford F-150 closely behind.

Browse Toyota Tundra listings here.

Dodge Grand Caravan

According to J.D. Power, the Dodge Grand Caravan is the most reliable minivan. Close competitors include Chrysler Pacifica and Toyota Sienna.

Browse Dodge Grand Caravan listings here.

Consumer Reports Study for 2022

Consumer Reports' Top Ten models by price segment:

Under $25,000:

• Nissan Sentra sedan
• Nissan Rogue Sport subcompact crossover.

$25,000 to $35,000:

• Subaru Forester SUV
• Toyota Prius Hybrid
• Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid
• Honda Accord

$35,000 to $45,000:

• Toyota RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid
• Kia Telluride 3-row SUV
• Honda Ridgeline midsize pickup truck

$45,000 to $55,000:

• Lexus RX SUV
• Ford Mustang Mach-E

Consumer Reports Reliability Rankings for 2022:

1. Lexus
2. Mazda
3. Toyota
4. Infiniti
5. Buick
6. Honda
7. Subaru
8. Acura
9. Nissan
10. Mini
11. Hyundai
12. Chrysler
13. Porsche
14. Chevrolet
15. Audi
16. Cadillac
17. BMW
18. Ford
19. Kia
20. Volvo
21. RAM
22. GMC
23. Mercedes-Benz
24. Volkswagen
25. Genesis
26. Jeep
27. Tesla
28. Lincoln

Consumer Reports Most Reliable Models for 2022:

2022 Lexus GX

The Lexus GX tops the ranks as the most reliable vehicle scoring 100 points in the CR survey. The full-size SUV is the only truck-based SUV that has remained largely unchanged for over a decade, and while the rear may look outdated, the front fascia holds all its charm after the 2020 facelift.

The 2022 Lexus GX features a naturally aspirated 4.6-liter V8 engine with an output of 301-horsepower. The well-built cabin welcomed a larger and more advanced 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment display and high-quality materials for the 2022 model year. J.D. Power rated the Lexus GX with 80/100 points and placed it second in the midsize premium SUV category.

Browse Lexus GX listings here.

2022 Kia Niro EV

At an affordable price tag of around $40,000, the all-electric 2022 Kia Niro EV is impressive in its day-to-day versatility and reliability. The cabin is roomy for a compact crossover and welcomes a long list of new features for 2022, including the now-standard 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system.

The Kia Niro EV features an electric powertrain consisting of a 201-horsepower single electric motor and a 64-kWh battery pack. The EPA estimates a total driving range of 239 miles on one charge. J.D Power hasn’t yet rated the 2022 Kia Niro EV.

Browse Kia Niro EV listings here.

2022 Toyota Prius Prime

The plug-in hybrid variant of the standard Toyota Prius is the Toyota Prius Prime. Unlike the Prius, the Prius Prime boasts a more aggressive exterior; however, they share a similar interior which offers somewhat limited passenger space, especially in the back.

The plug-in hybrid hatchback features a 1.8-liter naturally aspirated inline-four engine and an electric motor to produce a combined 121-horsepower. The engine powers the front-wheel drivetrain and is paired with a continuously variable transmission to increase efficiency. The EPA calculated an all-electric driving range of 25 miles on a full charge. The EPA mileage figures are 55/53/54 for city/highway/combined, which are the same for the Prius. The $30,000 PHEV has no J.D. Power ratings yet.

Browse Toyota Prius Prime listings here.

2022 Toyota Prius

The 2022 Toyota Prius ranks fourth in Consumer Reports’ most reliable cars and is a mild hybrid hatchback ahead of its time. For $25,000, the Prius comes loaded with several advanced driver safety features, including adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and road-sign assist.

As per Toyota, the design aesthetics help improve the efficiency of the Prius even though it isn’t as attractive as the Prius Prime, and the cabin is laden with hard plastics. Sharing the same engine and horsepower as the Prius Prime, the 2022 Toyota Prius boasts some of the best EPA ratings in its class. J.D. Power gave a 76/100 rating in accordance with their customer reviews.

Browse Toyota Prius listings here.

2022 Cadillac XT5

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 is essentially a tuned-down Escalade with space for five passengers instead of eight. The midsize luxury SUV ranks fifth in the reliability rankings by CR and competes well against the Audi Q5 and BMW X3. While the cabin may not have as many modern tech features as its rivals, it is spacious and filled with several standard safety and technology features.

There are two powertrains available for the 2022 Cadillac XT5, including the 235-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and the 310-horsepower 3.6-liter naturally aspirated V6 engine. The larger engine is four-wheel drive and offers encouragement for off-road adventures. The J.D. Power rated the XT5 with 78/100 and ranked it third in the midsize luxury SUV category.

Browse Cadillac XT5 listings here.

2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata

The Mazda MX-5 is one of the most reliable two-door convertibles coupes on the market today. At just below the $30,000 starting price, you will definitely enjoy a fun-to-drive sports car that isn’t shy on power. The 2022 Miata is now in its fourth generation. While other rivals like the Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86 offer a more advanced infotainment system, the Miata offers more dependability and an unforgettable top-down driving experience.

Powered by a 181-horsepower 2.0-liter naturally aspirated inline-four engine, the Miata can reach 60 miles per hour in 5.7 seconds with its rear-wheel drivetrain. Better still, you will enjoy an excellent fuel economy with EPA ratings of 26/34/29 for city/highway/combined. While there are no J.D. Power ratings available yet for the 2022 model year, the last report does rank the Mazda Miata as the most reliable compact sports car.

Browse Mazda MX-5 Miata listings here.

Details on Consumer Reports’ Rankings:

The Consumer Reports study considers only new cars tested at its 327-acre test track in Connecticut. According to CR, they conduct more than 50 tests on every new vehicle, evaluating their braking, comfort, convenience, handling, safety, and fuel economy. A report is then compiled, producing an overall score across multiple factors.

The new car rankings consider the following:

• Predicted reliability
• Overall owner satisfaction based on Consumer Reports’ member surveys
• The CR test results
• Key safety features
• Crash-test results, if available.

A Summary of the Results from Consumer Reports for 2022

When it comes down to the top picks by Consumer Reports, the most recommended vehicles come from Japanese brands. In fact, six out of the top ten recommendations were from Japanese brands. Buick was the highest-rated domestic brand in 11th place.

As a surprise to many and despite its consumer chic, electric car automaker Tesla ranked 23rd out of 32. However, most luxury brands were relegated below average, including Cadillac, Genesis, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo. “Just like other luxury goods, sometimes you are paying for the brand instead of getting more substance for the dollar,” said Jake Fisher, Consumer Reports’ senior director of automotive testing.

As discovered by J.D. Power, luxury brands in the automotive industry attempt to differentiate themselves by cramming their models with all the latest technology features. However, the senior director of automotive testing at CR reports that technology gimmicks only complicate the driving experience and often hurt the vehicle’s reliability because it typically takes a year to identify and correct the glitches.

Details on JD Powers’ rankings

The JD Power's 2022 Vehicle Dependability Study is based on responses from 29,487 original owners of 2019 model-year cars after three years of ownership. The study is now in its 33rd year and measures the number of problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) experienced during the last year by the vehicles’ original owners.

The survey covers 184 specific problem areas across the following nine major categories:

• Climate
• Driving Assistance (this category is new for 2022)
• Driving Experience
• Exterior
• Interior
• Features/Controls/Displays
• Infotainment
• Powertrain
• Seats

Furthermore, the study now measures customer satisfaction with the vehicle’s overall condition after three years. This includes whether the owner still finds their vehicle appealing and what software updates were necessary.

A Summary of J.D Power’s Results for 2022

“Many owners are holding on to their vehicles longer, so long-term dependability is even more critical,” said David Amodeo, director of global automotive at JD Power, a provider of consumer insights, advisory services, and data and analytics. “Automakers are increasingly looking at owners’ relationships with their vehicles as having similarities to other consumer technology.”

The study found that owners of mass-market vehicles experienced fewer problems than those of cars from luxury brands, which typically incorporate more technology features. Having more technology in a car means a higher risk of more problems occurring. Unlike before, today’s mass-market automakers have improved the build quality of their vehicles, and many compare well, if not the same, against luxury brands.

Most Problematic Category

The most problematic category continues to be the infotainment systems, with an average of 51.9 PP100. This figure is more than twice as much as the next highest category.

Within the infotainment category, the main problem areas include the following:

• Built-in voice recognition
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity
• Built-in Bluetooth system
• Not enough power plugs and USB ports
• Navigation system (difficult to operate or understand and inaccurate or outdated)
• Touchscreen and display