Did you know that in 2016 17.6 million cars were sold in the United States alone?
If you’re in the market for a car you know how confusing and difficult it can be to select the right make and model for your lifestyle.
And with so many different options available, it might seem impossible to make the correct choice.
A car is one of the most important investments, so make sure whether you’re buying, leasing, or even renting that you select one of the most reliable car makes.
But don’t be stressed! We’ve got you covered.
Read on for our guide to the 15 most reliable car brands!
1. One of the Most Reliable Car Brands: Lexus
Lexus is the luxury branch of Toyota, one of Japan’s largest car manufacturers.
The first Lexus model was released in 1989, but it wasn’t until 2005 that Lexus officially became a car make.
They’re manufactured in Japan and Canada and sold worldwide.
J.D. Power has ranked Lexus as the most dependable vehicle brand 7 years in a row. Consumer Reports also listed it in the top 3 most reliable car manufacturers of 2018.
Here are the 2018 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study Segment Awards for this make:
- Small Premium Car: Lexus CT (1st Place)
- Compact Premium Car: Lexus ES (1st Place)
- Midsize Premium Car: Lexus GS (1st Place)
- Compact Premium SUV: Lexus NX (3rd Place)
- Midsize Premium SUV: Lexus RX (1st Place)
- Midsize Premium SUV: Lexus GX (3rd Place)
Did You Know: Lexus was the first Japanese Premium car manufacturer to release its brand in its own country?
2. Porche
Porche is a high performance, German car manufacturer owned by Volkswagon Automotive Group.
They specialize in sedans and SUVs but are known worldwide for their sports cars.
The first model ever sold was the Porche 356 in 1948.
Here are the 2018 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study Segment Awards for this make:
- Compact Premium SUV: Porche Macan (2nd Place)
Fun Fact: Porche actually designed military grade tanks before it ever manufactured commercial vehicles.
3. Honda
Honda is a Japanese Automotive Corporation. They sold their first car, a small pick-up truck, in 1963.
Honda has always listed high in car reliability rankings, with the seemingly immortal civic leading the charge.
Here are the 2018 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study Segment Awards for this make:
- Minivan: Honda Odyssey (1st Place)
Although Honda’s 2018 lineup didn’t take away many rankings, past models have received high acclaim.
Various Honda Civic models have swept up over 15 Car of the Year awards for various countries and publications. Car and Driver publishes an annual Best Ten List that the Civic model has been listed on 6 times.
So if you’re thinking Honda, a used model is a reliable and more cost-effective option.
Did You Know: Honda also manufactures aircraft, power equipment, and motorcycles!
4. Buick
Buick is the premium vehicle branch of General Motors. It’s the oldest American car brand.
They are sold in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and China.
The first model was made in 1899 by Walter Marr.
Here are the 2018 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study Segment Awards for this make:
- Compact Car: Buick Verano (2nd Place)
- Midsize Car: Buick Regal (3rd Place)
- Large Car: Buick LaCrosse (1st Place)
- Midsize SUV: Buick Enclave (tied 2nd Place)
Fun Fact: 80% of Buicks are sold in China.
5. Infiniti
The Japanese auto manufacturer Nissan owns Infiniti. It’s marketed as their luxury vehicle branch.
In an effort to reduce the carbon footprint of their marque, Infiniti announced in 2018 that by the year 2021 all Infiniti models would be either hybrid or completely electric.
Here are the 2018 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study Segment Awards for this make:
- Compact Premium Car: Infiniti Q40 (2nd Place)
Did You Know: Infiniti sold its first model in the US in 1989.
6. Chevy
Chevrolet is a division of General Motors, an American manufacturer. The company was started in 1911 and quickly grew to become a rival of the Ford Model-T.
Today, Chevrolet cars, including sedans, SUVs, and trucks are sold all around the world.
Here are the 2018 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study Segment Awards for this make:
- Small Car: Chevy Sonic (2nd Place)
- Midsize Car: Chevy Malibu (1st Place)
- Midsize Sporty Car: Chevy Camaro (2nd Place)
- Large Car: Chevy Impala (2nd Place)
- Small SUV: Chevy Trax (2nd Place)
- Compact SUV: Chevy Equinox (1st Place)
- Midsize SUV: Chevy Traverse (1st Place)
- Large SUV: Chevy Tahoe (2nd Place)
- Large Light Duty Pickup: Chevy Silverado (1st Place)
- Large Heavy Duty Pickup: Chevy Silverado HD (2nd Place)
Fun Fact: Chevrolet cars are often called Chevrolets, Chevys, or Chevs. You can find your Chevy repair manual here.
7. Kia
Kia is an automobile manufacturer headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. They are South Korea’s second largest vehicle producer.
The company began in 1944 and started by producing bicycle parts and steel tubing. In 1957 they started producing cars.
Consumer Reports named Kia in their top 3 most reliable car makes this year.
Here are the 2018 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study Segment Awards for this make:
- Small Car: Kia Rio (1st Place)
Did You Know: The name Kia roughly translates to “to come out of the east.”
8. Hyundai
Hyundai is also a South Korean company and is, in fact, the country’s largest car manufacturer. They have grown and grown over the years and are now officially the third largest vehicle manufacturer worldwide.
The company began in 1967 and Hyundais are now sold in 193 countries around the world.
Here are the 2018 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study Segment Awards for this make:
- Small SUV: Hyundai Tuscon (1st Place)
- Midsize SUV: Hyundai Santa Fe (tied 2nd Place)
Fun Fact: Hyundai has more than 75,000 employees worldwide.
9. Toyota
Toyota is a Japanese company that sells their cars worldwide. In fact, they are the 5th largest company in the entire world in terms of revenue and the world’s second largest automobile manufacturer.
Toyota was named the most reliable car manufacturer of 2018 by Consumer Reports.
Here are the 2018 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study Segment Awards for this make:
- Compact Car: Toyota Prius (1st Place)
- Midsize Car: Toyota Camry (2nd Place)
- Midsize Pickup: Toyota Tacoma (1st Place)
- Midsize SUV: Toyota Venza (tied 2nd Place)
Did You Know: Toyota is the biggest seller of hybrid electric vehicles.
10. BMW
BMW is a German company that produces luxury vehicles and motorcycles. They have been in business since 1916.
They are known for their sport and touring cars, but they also manufacturer many consumer vehicles that are very reliable for day to day use.
Here are the 2018 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study Segment Awards for this make:
- Small Premium Car: BMW 2 Series (2nd Place)
- Compact Premium Car: BMW 4 Series (2nd Place)
- Midsize Premium Car: BMW 5 Series (2st Place)
- Small Premium SUV: BMW X1 (2nd Place)
Fun Fact: Up until 1945, BMW also manufactured aircraft engines.
11. Lincoln
Lincoln is one of Ford’s luxury brands. And for many years, Lincoln has been one of America’s best selling luxury brands, competing with Cadillac.
They are also sold in the Middle East, China, and South Korea, in addition to all of North America.
Here are the 2018 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study Segment Awards for this make:
- Midsize Premium SUV: Lincoln MKX (2nd Place)
Did You Know: The company’s founder decided to name the company after Abraham Lincoln.
12. Nissan
Nissan is a Japanese company started in 1911. They are a large company, coming in at the sixth largest automobile manufacturer worldwide.
Here are the 2018 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study Segment Awards for this make:
- Compact Car: Nissa Leaf (3rd Place)
- Small Car: Nissan Versa (3rd Place)
- Midsize Pickup: Nissan Frontier (3rd Place)
Fun Fact: Their best selling car is the Nissan Leaf, an all-electric model.
13. Audi
Audi is a German luxury manufacturer owned by the Volkswagen Group. They are one of the best selling luxury automobile companies in the world.
Here are the 2018 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study Segment Awards for this make:
- Small Premium SUV: Audi Q3 (1st Place)
Did You Know: The four rings in their logo represent the four companies that merged to form Audi.
14. Ford
Ford is headquartered in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan and was started in 1903 by Henry Ford. They are a well-trusted company and have been an American favorite for many years.
Here are the 2018 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study Segment Awards for this make:
- Large Car: Ford Taurus (3rd Place
- Compact SUV: Ford Escape (3rd Place)
- Large Light Duty Pickup: Ford F-150 (2nd Place)
- Large Heavy Duty Pickup: Ford Super Duty (1st Place)
Fun Fact: Henry Ford invented large-scale car manufacturing with the assembly line.
15. Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German luxury brand known for their cars and buses. They’ve been around since 1901.
Here are the 2018 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study Segment Awards for this make:
- Small Premium SUV: Mercedes-Benz GLA (1st Place)
- Compact Premium SUV: Mercedes-Benz GLK Class (1st Place)
Did You Know: Mercedez-Benz’ slogan is “The Best or Nothing.”
Remember This
Regular maintenance will keep these already reliable cars in great condition. So don’t skip the oil changes, tire rotations, etc.
Don’t sell yourself short by settling for anything less than one of these highly rated vehicles.
You can’t go wrong if your next car purchase is from one of the most reliable car brands of the year.
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