Consumer Reports: the 10 most (and least) reliable cars of 2020
Nathan Bomey12:51, Nov 20 2019
Want a reliable car? A little patience could pay off.
It might sound counterintuitive, but the latest redesigned car model may not hold up as well on the road as versions that come out a year or two later when the early kinks have been worked out.
That's one of the takeaways from the annual Consumer Reports Auto Reliability Survey in the US, which features many models also on sale in New Zealand.
SUPPLIED
Genesis, Hyundai's luxury brand, shows Korea is now on par with long-established premium marques for quality.
Though redesigned vehicles and brand-new models often fetch headlines and social media buzz, the old stalwarts are typically more likely to hold up well on the road.
READ MORE:
* 'Quality' not be the most important thing in your car
* Hybrids and EVs are the most reliable new cars
* Does new technology make cars unreliable?
"When you redesign a new vehicle, often you get better fuel economy, better safety, potentially better features," said Jake Fisher, senior director of auto testing for Consumer Reports.
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Tesla Model 3 has risen in Consumer Reports' estimation as time has passed and problems have been rectified.
"But if you want... reliability, your best bet is to wait a year or two until those initial growing pains have been worked out."
Case in point: Tesla. The company's best-seller, the Model 3 electric compact car, earned the coveted Consumer Reports recommendation this year after failing to earn that status previously.
That recommendation comes "with an asterisk," though, Fisher said.
DAVID LINKLATER
While it's good now, Consumer Reports says Tesla Model 3 could inherit bugs from wireless updates.
Since Tesla regularly updates its vehicles that use wireless technology, customers could experience unforeseen bugs in the future.
In the Consumer Reports brand reliability rankings, Toyota's luxury brand, Lexus, and its namesake brand ranked first and third, respectively. Mazda was second.
Korean brands Genesis, Hyundai and Kia, all part of the same parent company, ranked fifth, sixth and ninth, respectively.
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Toyota and its luxury brand Lexus both in top three for reliability. Prius Prime (pictured) number two for 2020 reliability projection.
They topped rival Japanese brands Nissan (11th), Honda (12th), Infiniti (13th) and Acura (28th).
"There is no gap any more between the Korean manufacturers and the Japanese," Fisher said. "Their reliability is equal."
General Motors luxury brand Cadillac ranked last among the 30 brands included in the survey. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles brand Alfa Romeo was second to last.
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Mazda brand was second in reliability rankings, and the MX-5 tops the Most Reliable of 2020 projections.
The study was based on surveys of owners of more than 400,000 current-generation vehicles made within the past three years.
Those owners evaluated safety systems, vehicle infotainment, engine performance and other aspects of the cars and trucks.
Consumer Reports crunches the data to make predictions about 2020 models.
10 most reliable models of 2020, according to Consumer Reports
Mazda MX-5 Miata
Toyota Prius Prime
Toyota Prius
Lexus GX
Hyundai Kona
Mazda CX-3
Lexus NX
Toyota 4-Runner
Mazda CX-9
Lexus GS
10 least reliable models of 2020, according to Consumer Reports
Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon (same body style, different badging)
Chevrolet Camaro
Jeep Wrangler
Alfa Romeo Giulia
Volkswagen Atlas
Volkswagen Tiguan
Acura MDX
Tesla Model X
Chrysler Pacifica
Chevrolet Traverse
How automotive brands ranked for reliability
1. Lexus
2. Mazda
3. Toyota
4. Porsche
5. Genesis
6. Hyundai
7. Subaru
8. Dodge
9. Kia
10. Mini
11. Nissan
12. Honda
13. Infiniti
14. Audi
15. Lincoln
16. Ford
17. BMW
18. Buick
19. Chrysler
20. Mitsubishi
21. Mercedes-Benz
22. GMC
23. Tesla
24. Volvo
25. Chevrolet
26. Jeep
27. Volkswagen
28. Acura
29. Alfa Romeo
30. Cadillac
Nathan Bomey12:51, Nov 20 2019
Want a reliable car? A little patience could pay off.
It might sound counterintuitive, but the latest redesigned car model may not hold up as well on the road as versions that come out a year or two later when the early kinks have been worked out.
That's one of the takeaways from the annual Consumer Reports Auto Reliability Survey in the US, which features many models also on sale in New Zealand.
SUPPLIED
Genesis, Hyundai's luxury brand, shows Korea is now on par with long-established premium marques for quality.
Though redesigned vehicles and brand-new models often fetch headlines and social media buzz, the old stalwarts are typically more likely to hold up well on the road.
READ MORE:
* 'Quality' not be the most important thing in your car
* Hybrids and EVs are the most reliable new cars
* Does new technology make cars unreliable?
"When you redesign a new vehicle, often you get better fuel economy, better safety, potentially better features," said Jake Fisher, senior director of auto testing for Consumer Reports.
SUPPLIED
Tesla Model 3 has risen in Consumer Reports' estimation as time has passed and problems have been rectified.
"But if you want... reliability, your best bet is to wait a year or two until those initial growing pains have been worked out."
Case in point: Tesla. The company's best-seller, the Model 3 electric compact car, earned the coveted Consumer Reports recommendation this year after failing to earn that status previously.
That recommendation comes "with an asterisk," though, Fisher said.
DAVID LINKLATER
While it's good now, Consumer Reports says Tesla Model 3 could inherit bugs from wireless updates.
Since Tesla regularly updates its vehicles that use wireless technology, customers could experience unforeseen bugs in the future.
In the Consumer Reports brand reliability rankings, Toyota's luxury brand, Lexus, and its namesake brand ranked first and third, respectively. Mazda was second.
Korean brands Genesis, Hyundai and Kia, all part of the same parent company, ranked fifth, sixth and ninth, respectively.
SUPPLIED
Toyota and its luxury brand Lexus both in top three for reliability. Prius Prime (pictured) number two for 2020 reliability projection.
They topped rival Japanese brands Nissan (11th), Honda (12th), Infiniti (13th) and Acura (28th).
"There is no gap any more between the Korean manufacturers and the Japanese," Fisher said. "Their reliability is equal."
General Motors luxury brand Cadillac ranked last among the 30 brands included in the survey. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles brand Alfa Romeo was second to last.
SUPPLIED
Mazda brand was second in reliability rankings, and the MX-5 tops the Most Reliable of 2020 projections.
The study was based on surveys of owners of more than 400,000 current-generation vehicles made within the past three years.
Those owners evaluated safety systems, vehicle infotainment, engine performance and other aspects of the cars and trucks.
Consumer Reports crunches the data to make predictions about 2020 models.
10 most reliable models of 2020, according to Consumer Reports
Mazda MX-5 Miata
Toyota Prius Prime
Toyota Prius
Lexus GX
Hyundai Kona
Mazda CX-3
Lexus NX
Toyota 4-Runner
Mazda CX-9
Lexus GS
10 least reliable models of 2020, according to Consumer Reports
Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon (same body style, different badging)
Chevrolet Camaro
Jeep Wrangler
Alfa Romeo Giulia
Volkswagen Atlas
Volkswagen Tiguan
Acura MDX
Tesla Model X
Chrysler Pacifica
Chevrolet Traverse
How automotive brands ranked for reliability
1. Lexus
2. Mazda
3. Toyota
4. Porsche
5. Genesis
6. Hyundai
7. Subaru
8. Dodge
9. Kia
10. Mini
11. Nissan
12. Honda
13. Infiniti
14. Audi
15. Lincoln
16. Ford
17. BMW
18. Buick
19. Chrysler
20. Mitsubishi
21. Mercedes-Benz
22. GMC
23. Tesla
24. Volvo
25. Chevrolet
26. Jeep
27. Volkswagen
28. Acura
29. Alfa Romeo
30. Cadillac
