Looking for a dependable vehicle? Kia, Buick and Chevrolet are some of your best non-premium bets, according to a new report from J.D. Power.
The analytics company’s annual vehicle dependability study found 186 problems per 100 vehicles on average, a slight improvement from last year’s score of 192.
A year-over-year improvement is expected as manufacturers learn from past mistakes, according to Frank Hanley, senior director of auto benchmarking at J.D. Power.
“This means as many consumers are keeping their vehicles for a longer period of time they can expect less issues than they have in the past,” he told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. “Looking at what models are holding up over time before purchasing is the best way to avoid problems in the long run.”
Car insurance: Car prices may fall this year, but auto insurance will cost more. Here’s why.
Recalls: Honda, Kia, Volkswagen among 67,000 latest vehicles on recall
The study, released Thursday, looked at how 2020 model-year cars are performing in terms of quality, appeal and component replacement. The findings are based on responses from more than 30,000 owners fielded August through November 2022.
What is the most dependable car brand?
Here are the brand rankings based on the number of problems per 100 vehicles, according to J.D. Power’s 2023 U.S. vehicle dependability study. The industry average is 186.
Lexus: 133
Genesis: 144
Kia: 152
Buick: 159
Chevrolet: 162
Mitsubishi: 167
Toyota: 168
Hyundai: 170
Mini: 170
Nissan: 170
Dodge: 172
Cadillac: 173
Mazda: 174
GMC: 175
BMW: 184
Ram: 189
Jeep: 196
Honda: 205
Infiniti: 205
Porsche: 208
Acura: 211
Subaru: 214
Volvo: 215
Volkswagen: 216
Chrysler: 226
Jaguar: 229
Mercedes-Benz: 240
Ford: 249
Audi: 252
Lincoln: 259
Land Rover: 273
The highest-ranking premium brand was Lexus, while Kia was the highest-ranking mass market brand.
Mass market brands had a better overall score than premium brands. The gap between the two has been growing, likely because premium brands are the first to roll out new features and offer more technology.
Car recalls: Honda recalls 114,000 Fit, HR-V models over back-up camera issue
What is the most dependable car model?
The Toyota C-HR and Lexus RX were tied for the highest-ranked models for dependability in the study, each with 111 problems per 100 cars.
J.D. Power declined to share findings on the least dependable models.
What are the most dependable cars and SUVs?
According to J.D. Power’s survey, here are the most dependable models per segment.
Compact car: Kia Forte, followed by the Toyota Corolla and Hyundai Elantra.
Compact premium car: BMW 4 Series, followed by the Volvo S60 and BMW 3 Series.
Compact sporty car: Mini Cooper.
Midsize car: Kia Optima, followed by the Chevrolet Malibu and Ford Fusion.
Compact SUV: Kia Sportage, followed by Buick Envision and Jeep Cherokee.
Compact premium SUV: Lexus NX, followed by Cadillac XT4 and BMW X3.
Large SUV: Chevrolet Tahoe, followed by GMC Yukon.
Midsize SUV: Chevrolet Blazer, followed by Hyundai Santa Fe and Ford Edge.
Midsize premium SUV: Lexus RX, followed by Lexus GX.
Small SUV: Toyota C-HR, followed by Buick Encore and Chevrolet Trax.
Small premium SUV: BMW X2, followed by Mercedes-Benz GLA and BMW X1.
Upper midsize SUV: Toyota Highlander, followed by Kia Sorento and Toyota 4Runner.
Upper midsize premium SUV: BMW X5, followed by Cadillac XT6 and Volvo XC90.
Large heavy-duty pickup: Chevrolet Silverado HD.
Large light-duty pickup: GMC Sierra, followed by Toyota Tundra.
Midsize pickup: Toyota Tacoma, followed by Chevrolet Colorado.
Minivan: Toyota Sienna, followed by Kia Sedona.
What are some common problems?
The study looks at 184 specific problem areas across nine categories, including driving assistance, infotainment, seats, exterior and interior.
The survey found infotainment systems were the most problematic, with drivers reporting issues with voice recognition, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, built-in Bluetooth systems and touch screens. Overall, the category averaged about 50 problems per 100 cars – almost twice as many as exterior, the next highest category.
You can follow USA TODAY reporter Bailey Schulz on Twitter @bailey_schulz and subscribe to our free Daily Money newsletter here for personal finance tips and business news every Monday through Friday.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Most dependable cars: J.D. Power study ranks vehicle brands, models
Source: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/brand-car-most-reliable-most-170007873.html