Which Car Brands Are Best

[USMA81]

This is one, informed opinion. JD Power also just came out with their 2026 (somewhat different) brand reliability rankings. And Consumer Reports has yet a different ranking of brands.

Two common threads in all these: (1) the first year, or two, of a new model of any brand will be more problematic, and (2) the bigger the company / profit margin / engineering budget, the better the vehicle, generally (not always).

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[ColdCase]

Do they still count feature upgrades or optional improvements against reliability? What about safety inspections that discover maybe .001% of the inspected cars have a defect needing repair?

Models that get continuous improvements (not bug fixes) used to get docked significantly more than those that don't.

 

[USMA81]

I think they mostly use owner surveys. Both JD Power and CR publish their data collection methodologies and criteria.

 

[USMA81]

Lots of discussion in other threads about Porsche software issues, other brand’s pros and cons. I just wanted to raise this video (above) to the forefront once more.

One of the key points they make is that if you really want the best chance of getting a trouble free vehicle, DO NOT buy the first year (maybe two) the model comes out, regardless of brand. A take-away from that for those awaiting delivery of a 2026 might be that you likely have a better chance of getting a vehicle in which early problems have been resolved (I also will say that I’m one of those people who is completely satisfied with both 2024 Macan 4’s that I own; nearly zero problems now with latest software; YMMV).

Another key point in the video is that dependability is strongly related to the company size, profits and automotive experience (prior knowledge), which can allow for more/better investment in engineering design, materials, and manufacturing capabilities. I’d add dependability also is tied to corporate culture, which is hugely important.

Also noted in the video is that Porsche is the best European brand, but that may be because the 911 is so good; other models maybe not so much. Porsche design. / manuf systems are ”Almost as good as Toyota.” Maybe software is better in other brands, but I suspect that broadly it is a challenge for most brands.

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