Subaru has topped Consumer Reports’ latest rankings of the most reliable vehicles, according to a Dec. 5 press release.
The fact that many Subaru vehicles share the same components–even across model years–reduced the risk of new problems emerging, according to Steven Elek, who leads the auto data analytics program at Consumer Reports.
The nonprofit consumer organization’s new vehicle reliability rankings analyze vehicle trouble spots and problems that plague customers long after or soon after they leave the showroom.
Consumer Reports measured reliability by analyzing responses from member surveys that ask about problems with personal vehicles over the prior year. The study covers 20 potential “trouble areas,” which range from minor annoyances, like problems with paint and trim, to more critical issues, such as those with the engine or transmission.
Trouble area scores were weighted based on the severity of the problem and then combined to produce a reliability ranking out of 100 points. Overall model scores include these data as well as results from Consumer Reports’ owner satisfaction surveys and its own testing.
The subsequent findings reflect data on more than 300,000 cars, trucks and SUVs on the market from 2000 to 2025. In addition, this year’s results include more electric vehicle data than any previous reliability study, Consumer Reports said.
Subaru had seven models ranked in the report, with six of the seven earning average, above average, or well above average scores. The only below average Subaru vehicle was the Solterra EV, which was designed in collaboration with Toyota to produce almost the same car as the also below-average Toyota bZ4X. The average reliability score for Subaru vehicles was 68 out of 100.
The average reliability score for a Subaru vehicle was 68 out of 100. Lexus, a luxury vehicle brand owned by Toyota, followed Subaru with an average reliability score of 65. Toyota itself took third place, with an average reliability score of 62.
Meanwhile, the four automakers with the highest number of unreliable vehicles in the study were all domestic brands: Jeep (33), GMC (33), Cadillac (27) and Rivian (14). In addition, the three least reliable models were pickup trucks, all with transmission issues, including the hybrid Ford F-150 PowerBoost, Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. Sedans however, were ranked as the most reliable.
Consumer Reports said it also examined other brands including, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Infiniti, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Lucid, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Mitsubishi, Polestar, Porsche and Ram, but lacked the data to determine their reliability rankings.
