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Who makes the most reliable new cars?

consumerreports.org

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Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#81

Post by deng »

jjtheblunt wrote: post #67
deng wrote: post #46

What a disaster for VW and Mercedes, but it pretty much confirms what everyone here in Germany is saying: reliability has gone downhill, with exception of BMW and Porsche (but it'll cost you), whereas Japan is at the top for ages, with South Korea (Kia, Hyundai) providing a good, cheaper alternative.

What do they say about Audi, since it is so related in parts with Porsche via VW parent group?

Audi usually scores pretty well (but again, it'll cost you, the Audi A1 is extremely reliable, but you don't get much car for your money...).

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#82

Post by lotsofpulp »

JumpCrisscross wrote: post #72

Would love to see this scattered against maintenance cost. Having to take my Subaru in for an oil change every six months is annoying, even if it means I’ve only ever had one serious issue. (Computer flipped out because someone didn’t close the gas cap tightly enough, leading to a service visit requirement, which is absurd.)

I do my own oil change, but how much can it cost? Surely not more than $50 and 20min I hope.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#83

Post by mkii »

raajg wrote: post #7

I don't see how 'Tesla' is not top of the list here. For the 'Trouble Areas' I suspected they're normalizing over the 'length of ownership' which would bias the scores towards older car companies.

Ah yes, Tesla. The brand where new owners have to consult third-party compiled QA checklists because of how poor their own controls are

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#84

Post by dvh »

JumpCrisscross wrote: post #72

Would love to see this scattered against maintenance cost. Having to take my Subaru in for an oil change every six months is annoying, even if it means I’ve only ever had one serious issue. (Computer flipped out because someone didn’t close the gas cap tightly enough, leading to a service visit requirement, which is absurd.)

Tristan disagrees with you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CM4ZOJk1Btc

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#85

Post by semi-extrinsic »

raajg wrote: post #7

I don't see how 'Tesla' is not top of the list here. For the 'Trouble Areas' I suspected they're normalizing over the 'length of ownership' which would bias the scores towards older car companies.

I don't own a Tesla, but just from observing them on the road and in the neighbourhood I can tell there are many reliability issues just with the easily observable features:

* Model S third brake light has single LEDs failing one by one

* Model X doors don't open in sub-zero weather, friends of us had an ICE rental car for weeks last winter

* All models, automatic activation of rear driving lights at night does not work

* All models, cruise control or something will sometimes suddenly slam the brakes on wide open road, so you need to keep good distance

* Model 3 and Y automatic high beams / matrix LED don't function correctly at night if the car is dirty, they blind everyone on the road - I will be very surprised if this doesn't trigger a recall soon

* Model X front driving light clusters failing, I've seen several, all on the passenger side

* Model 3 and Y, rear lights plastic cracking like it's a 1980s Hyundai

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#86

Post by afjeafaj848 »

CamperBob2 wrote: post #2

Hard to answer the question because "reliable" means different things to different people. Infotainment system keeps dropping Bluetooth connections? "Unreliable." Engine seizes at 70 MPH? "Unreliable." Car only has minor mechanical problems, but dealers can't get parts for months? "Unreliable." A car is too complex a thing to be characterized with a single scalar value.

Exactly

Its like counting number of bugs or lines of codes as metrics

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#89

Post by eweise »

jerlam wrote: post #77

This article seems quite similar to the one posted two days ago on HN about Brother printers - they're great because they have very low innovation. The top car brands - Lexus/Toyota, Acura/Honda, Subaru, and Mazda - have been widely scolded for not trying very hard to build EVs and would rather refine the same exact ICE cars for decades.

Subaru and Mazda are fairly small so I wouldn't expect a lot of R&D from them. Toyota has been really successful with hybrid which to me, seem like the best solution until EV range cost, and infrastructure improve.

Re: Who makes the most reliable new cars?

#90

Post by lotsofpulp »

kspacewalk2 wrote: post #32
nonethewiser wrote: post #12

Lexus is toyota. Accura is honda. So it’s really like: 1. Toyota 2. Mini 3. Honda 4. Subaru 5. Mazda Congratulations Japan.

It's incredible how the Japanese carmakers were able to perfect the auto manufacturing process and then proceed to hold that advantage for what, 30+ years now? It's not a secret how they did it, it's been studied to death, every manner of technology/expertise/management transfer has been tried, and still no one comes quite close enough to threaten their position.

I assume it’s because the other nations’ automakers would rather compete along other lines. The Japanese already locked onto reliability/quality, so rather than try to fight them on something they are already good at, they try to optimize for style/status/performance/patriotism/etc.
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