Searching for a used car often resembles a game of Russian roulette, but the latest report from JD Power sheds light on which machines up to three years old deserve your trust. The results of this year's study are, to put it mildly, startling - the quality of modern cars is steadily declining, and the average number of defects has reached its peak in the last four years.
The large-scale study involved more than 33,000 owners whose vehicles have passed the "strainer" of technical inspections and real-world operation. The statistics are merciless: an average of 204 breakdowns for every 100 cars. It turns out that the shiny premium brands are far from immune to weaknesses, with an average of 217 problems reported, while mass-market models cope relatively better with 200 malfunctions.
Electrification, which many consider the future, is proving to be a real stumbling block in terms of trouble-free operation. While classic gasoline engines remain the benchmark for robustness with 198 problems, hybrids register 213, and plug-in hybrids literally “fail“ with 281 failures per 100 cars. Fully electric machines also do not shine, with a result of 237 malfunctions.
The main enemy of the modern driver today is not the engine, but complex software. Electronics and infotainment systems are a real nightmare, generating 57 out of every 100 problems. Owners are largely dissatisfied with capricious software updates, the unwillingness of systems to connect to Bluetooth, Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, as well as overly complex menus that require a degree in cybernetics to understand.
In this technological jungle, Japanese manufacturers remain true to their traditions, dominating the reliability rankings. Lexus clearly tops the list with only 151 defects, followed surprisingly by Buick. At the bottom of the table, however, we find some European names - Volkswagen and Volvo show disturbing results with over 290 defects per 100 cars. Lexus IS rises to the top as the most reliable model on the market, reinforcing Toyota's leading position, whose brands occupy as many as 8 of the top places in different classes.
Here are the winners in the segments, which prove that there are still cars that one can trust for a long time:
In the compact city cars, the leaders are Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic and KIA Forte. In the premium segment, among the compact models, Lexus IS and BMW 3 and 4 Series dominate. Lovers of the mid-range can count on Toyota Camry.
In the crossovers, the choice is huge. In the subcompact class, Subaru Crosstrek, MINI Countryman, Buick Encore and Hyundai Venue stand out, while in the premium offerings here are Lexus UX, Mercedes-Benz GLA and Audi Q3. The compact SUV models with the fewest complaints are Chevrolet Equinox, Buick Envision and Subaru Forester. For fans of more luxurious crossovers, the favorites are the BMW X4, Cadillac XT4 and Genesis GV70.
In the mid-size crossover class, the top three include the Nissan Murano, Chevrolet Blazer and Hyundai Santa Fe. In the premium segment, the Lexus GX, Cadillac XT5 and Lexus RX reign supreme. Full-size giants such as the Buick Enclave, Toyota 4Runner and Chevrolet Traverse also retain their dignity. Among the large premium crossovers, the Cadillac XT6, BMW X6 and Porsche Cayenne stand out.
Finally, for fans of powerful machines and practicality - the most reliable large SUV is the Chevrolet Tahoe, among minivans the absolute favorite is the Toyota Sienna, and in the world of pickups the Toyota Tacoma, Hyundai Santa Cruz, Ford F-150, RAM 1500 and GMC Sierra prove that toughness still exists.