Undisputed Leadership: Lexus and Toyota Command Long-Term Reliability

A new Consumer Reports (CR) study reveals which brands offer the best ownership experience for used vehicles aged 5 to 10 years.

Buying a used car is usually cheaper than a new one. However, this choice carries certain risks. Some models are not as reliable as others. There are certain brands that should be avoided for the best ownership experience. Consumer Reports (CR) examined models from 26 brands. These cars were between five and ten years old.

Lexus tops the long-term reliability spectrum with 77 points. Toyota follows closely with a score of 73. Mazda is positioned in third place, though distanced with 58 points. Honda and Acura complete the top five positions. They scored 57 and 53 points, respectively. These brands head the list due to their “conservative restyling.” They “gradually improve their entire product line” instead of large updates. Steven Elek, CR’s automotive data analysis leader, explained this approach.

📉 Tesla and American Brands at the Bottom

Tesla is at the bottom of the latest CR reliability study. The brand occupies 26th place on the list. Its “Reliability Verdict” is only 31 points. It is below Jeep (32), Ram (35), and Chrysler (36). Cars aged five to ten years are the analyzed sample.

CR points out that Tesla has improved recently. Its latest models have demonstrated “better than average reliability.” The brand is now in the ‘top 10’ of new car ratings. Tesla ranks ninth in new cars with 50 points. It sits just behind Buick (51) and Acura (54).

Toyota, Subaru, and Lexus strongly dominate the new car ranking. Tesla ranks ahead of Kia (49) and Ford (48). It also surpasses premium rivals like Audi (44) and Volvo (42). At the very bottom of this ranking is Rivian. The electric vehicle manufacturer has a score of only 24. Ram (26), Jeep (28), and GMC (31) are positioned just above Rivian.

A vehicle’s longevity is crucial for second-hand buyers. Japanese brands demonstrate their quality as the years pass.