- Consumer Reports released its annual ranking of the most reliable car brands, models, and categories.
- Hybrid cars and SUVs are among the most reliable vehicles you can buy.
- Makers of electric vehicles are still working out the kinks in their cars.
If you're looking for hassle-free vehicle ownership, you may want to steer clear of a new electric car or pickup truck. Better yet, a hybrid might be your best bet for avoiding issues and repairs.
That's according to the latest edition of Consumer Reports' Annual Auto Reliability report released on Tuesday. After surveying car owners and collecting data on more than 300,000 vehicles, the nonprofit outlet determined the most reliable vehicle types to buy new.
Hybrid sedans, sports cars, and hybrid SUVs claimed the top three spots. The worst categories for reliability were large SUVs, followed by electric vehicles, and full-sized pickup trucks, which came in dead last. Consumer Reports asked its members about 17 trouble spots, from minor annoyances like fading paint and squeaky brakes to major problems like a faulty transmission.
Hybrids are slightly more expensive than their gas-fueled counterparts, but fuel savings can offset that over time, Consumer Reports said.
"With a top-rated hybrid you get solid reliability, better fuel economy, and lower maintenance costs without sacrificing acceleration, ride comfort, or cabin quietness," Jake Fisher, senior director of automotive testing at Consumer Reports, said in a statement.
Electric cars, despite all the hype surrounding them and booming sales, are experiencing some understandable "growing pains" as they break into the mainstream, Consumer Reports said. Tesla owners continue to report problems with body hardware, steering, suspension, paint, trim, and climate systems, but few issues with electric powertrains.
Owners of other EV models experienced charging issues and problems with their batteries and motors. Research has shown that electric cars are cheaper to maintain than gas vehicles because they have fewer moving parts and also cheaper to fuel.
The 2023 Toyota Corolla Hybrid is the most reliable new vehicle you can buy, according to Consumer Reports, while the least reliable is the Ford F-150 Hybrid.
Toyota took the top spot in reliability, and its only model that earned a below-average dependability score was the Tundra full-sized truck. Mercedes-Benz fared worst.