A reliable car costs less to own. It spends less time in the workshop, it's cheaper to keep on the road, and it's easier to sell when you're done with it. And if you're financing it, you're still making repayments while it's off the road.
This guide looks at which car brands come out on top in the latest owner surveys, how petrol, hybrid and electric cars compare, and what reliability means for your finance.
Most large reliability surveys are run overseas. The two we've used are:
That's useful, but not perfect. The models, engines and sales mix in our market differ from the US and UK, and some cars in these surveys aren't sold here. Treat the results as a guide to how a brand and a powertrain tend to perform, not a guarantee for a specific car.
In Consumer Reports' survey, Subaru ranked first overall for the second year running, with BMW less than a point behind. The rest of the top 10 were Porsche, Honda, Toyota, Lexus, Lincoln, Hyundai, Acura and Tesla, which reached 9th, its highest ever finish. At the bottom were Dodge, GMC, Land Rover, Rivian and Jeep, with Jeep last for the third year in a row.
On reliability alone, Toyota took first place, just ahead of Subaru.
The UK's Driver Power survey gives a different order. Its top 10 for reliability was Mercedes, Volvo, Mazda, Honda, Toyota, Suzuki, Tesla, Skoda, Vauxhall and Peugeot, with Jeep, MG, Cupra, Dacia and Land Rover at the bottom.
The lists don't match perfectly, but a few names keep showing up. Toyota and Honda sit near the top of both surveys, and Tesla appears in both top 10s. Jeep and Land Rover appear near the bottom of both.
If you're asking which car brand is the most trusted, the honest answer is that it depends on what you mean. Reliability, owner satisfaction, safety and running costs are different things. A brand can score well on one and poorly on another.
Petrol and diesel cars, often called internal combustion engine (ICE) cars, are the benchmark the other powertrains are measured against. The technology is mature and the problems are well understood.
That doesn't make every petrol car reliable. Complex turbocharged engines, dual-clutch gearboxes and heavy electronics add failure points, and the surveys show wide gaps between brands. In the UK's older What Car? survey (2023), diesels had one of the highest fault rates at 26% of cars, while petrol cars sat at 20%.
Conventional hybrids, the self-charging kind that you never plug in, are the standout in the latest data. Consumer Reports found hybrids have about 15% fewer problems than petrol-only cars. Of the roughly 30 hybrids with enough data, only three scored below average: the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, the Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid and the Mazda CX-50 Hybrid.
The older UK What Car? survey (2023) reached a similar conclusion. Hybrids had the lowest fault rates, with 18% of conventional hybrids and 17% of plug-in hybrids reporting a fault, and they were the cheapest type to repair. Its editor said the complexity of a hybrid powertrain "is not a barrier to reliability". The survey also found that electrical items such as infotainment and driver assistance systems caused more trouble than the motors or batteries.
If you're thinking of buying one, our hybrid car finance guide explains how lenders treat them.
Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) combine a petrol engine, a larger battery and charging equipment. That's more parts that can go wrong, and the data shows it. Consumer Reports found plug-in hybrids and electric cars together have about 80% more problems than petrol cars, and seven of the ten least reliable vehicles in its survey were plug-in hybrids or electric cars.
Not every survey agrees. The 2023 What Car? survey had plug-in hybrids among the most reliable. Results depend on the survey, the model year and the specific model, so check the track record of the car you're considering rather than the category.
Electric cars have a simpler drivetrain, with no engine, gearbox or exhaust. The problems tend to come from elsewhere: software, charging, climate control and electronics.
The gap between the best and worst is wide. In Consumer Reports' data the Tesla Model Y was the most reliable electric car, while the Rivian R1T was the least. Tesla also reached 9th place among all brands, its highest finish yet. The UK Driver Power survey commented that Tesla's older cars show how electric cars cope after many years and kilometres, and said newer models are performing well.
If you're considering an electric car, look closely at the battery warranty and the service history, and ask about the charging equipment.
Brand rankings tell you how a maker does on average. If you want a car that's still going strongly in ten years, a few habits help more than the badge:
Our guide to the best used cars under $20,000 lists specific models to look at.
[ADD SCOTT'S VIEW: 3 to 5 sentences in his own voice. Prompts: which brands and powertrains lenders are most comfortable with; any age or kilometre limits he runs into; whether reliable brands get better approvals or terms; what he sees clients regret buying; what he'd buy himself.]
Reliability isn't only a driving question. It changes how safe a loan is for you.
If you're buying new and would rather not do the legwork, our Concierge service can source and negotiate for you.
Which car brand is the most reliable? In Consumer Reports' 2026 survey, Toyota was the most reliable brand, narrowly ahead of Subaru. Other surveys rank brands differently, so look at the specific model too.
Are hybrids more reliable than petrol cars? In Consumer Reports' latest data, conventional hybrids had about 15% fewer problems than petrol-only cars. Plug-in hybrids did worse than petrol cars in that survey.
Are electric cars reliable? It varies widely. Consumer Reports found plug-in hybrids and electric cars together had about 80% more problems than petrol cars, but the Tesla Model Y was the most reliable electric car it surveyed.
Which car brand is the most trusted? That depends on whether you mean reliability, owner satisfaction, safety or running costs. Subaru ranked first overall in Consumer Reports, while Toyota ranked first for reliability.
Does a car's reliability affect my finance? It can. Lenders look at the car's age and value, and a reliable car that holds its value is less of a risk if you want to sell or refinance later.
Whether you're after a proven petrol car, a hybrid or an electric car, our team can compare lenders and structure a loan that suits the car and your budget. Explore our vehicle finance options or apply online to get started.
Sources: Consumer Reports, 2026 Automotive Brand Report Card; Auto Express, Driver Power 2026; Car Dealer Magazine, What Car? Reliability Survey 2023.
This article is general information only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Reliability results come from overseas surveys and may not match the models sold locally. Figures are as published by the sources named and may change.
