Skip to main content

These are the most reliable new cars for 2025, according to Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports' most reliable cars

Lexus IS 500 FSPORT PERFORMANCE Premium.
Lexus / Lexus

While many of us start our new car shopping with a car we happen to think looks good, it is essential to remember that today, the average cost of a new car is over $48,000. For most people, that is a sizeable investment that will be stretched over several years and should not be taken lightly. As with all significant investments, it should be thoroughly researched beyond what our neighbor or coworker says about their car.

Thankfully, Consumer Reports has done the heavy lifting for all of us, reaching out to owners nationwide. They gathered data on 2020 to early 2025 model years, totalling more than 300,000 vehicles. CR took twenty typical problem areas, ranging from cheap interior trim pieces breaking to engine and transmission maladies that can tally up to thousands of dollars to replace or repair. The scores for each area are weighted according to severity and cost, and the total of those areas results in each vehicle’s Predicted Reliability Score.

Recommended Videos

Regarding the overall Predicted Reliability Score for each brand, Consumer Reports said: “This year we calculated brand-level score by first examining the weighted overall problem rate for all models within a brand for each model year. Then the brand reliability score was calculated by averaging models from 2022 to 2024, and some early 2025 data for each brand, where there was sufficient sample size.”

And the safest new cars are made by … Subaru!

Subaru
Subaru

With a reputation and active marketing campaign based around the idea of safety, it seems Subaru not only talks the talk but walks the walk. With a Predicted Reliability score of 68, Consumer Reports specifically pointed out the Forester and Impreza as having the best of the best scores in reliability even compared to its other models that rate above average and average like the Crosstrek, Legacy, Outback, and Ascent. The only model in Subbie’s lineup to score below-average was its new Solterra EV.

“Subaru’s cars share many reliable components,” says Steven Elek, who oversees auto data analytics at Consumer Reports. “This commonality means that when Subaru redesigns a vehicle, it can make fewer incremental changes by carrying over dependable systems. This reduces the risk of new problems.”

Lexus, Toyota, Honda, and Acura round out the reliability top five

Lexus NX 450h.
Lexus / Lexus

Not so coincidentally, the following two sets of brands are related to one another. Lexus comes in at number two with a score of 65, while its mainstream parent company, Toyota, takes third place with a 62. Conversely, Honda comes in at number four with a 59, while its luxury division, Acura, comes in a spot lower at number five with a score of 55.

The least reliable new vehicles come from Rivian

Second-generation Rivian R1S right front three-quarter view parked on a city street.
Second-generation Rivian R1S Rivian / Rivian

Coming in with an abysmal score of 14 out of 100, Rivian comes in last place of all the compared brands in Consumer Reports’ predicted reliability study. Regarding the poor showing, Steven Elek goes on to say:

“Since EV technology is still relatively new, automakers continue to work the bugs out of their powertrains and platforms, but we also see issues with their non-EV components, such as the latest infotainment and electronic features.”

The complete list from 1 to 22

Front end angle of the 2022 Acura MDX Type S from the passenger's side in a hay field.
Joel Patel/The Manual / The Manual

Rank

Brand 

Predicted Reliability Score

1 Subaru 68
2 Lexus 65
3 Toyota 62
4 Honda 59
5 Acura 55
6 Mazda 55
7 Audi 56
8 BMW 53
9 Kia 51
2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz
Hyundai
10 Hyundai 50
11 Buick 48
12 Nissan 48
13 Ford 44
14 Genesis 40
15 Volvo 38
16 Chevrolet 37
17 Tesla 36
18 Volkswagen 34
19 Jeep 33
Acadia
GMC
20 GMC 33
21 Cadillac 27
22 Rivian 14

If you are looking for your chosen brand and don’t see it ranked, that is because Consumer Reports did not have sufficient data to rank Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Infiniti, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Lucid, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Mitsubishi, Polestar, Porsche, or Ram.

Asian-based automakers dominate reliability

Subaru
Subaru / Subaru

While many domestic car company commercials have tried to sway public opinion into believing they are the most reliable, the truth of the matter is that they are not, at least not according to Consumer Reports. Taking 8 out of the top ten reliability rankings, the average score for Asian-based brands was 57.

Although only two brands cracked the top ten with Audi and BMW, European automakers rank second in terms of region with a score of 48.

In last place, domestic brands don’t even make the top ten most reliable automakers. The highest-scoring domestic company is Buick, which comes in 11th place.

In terms of individual domestic cars, Consumer Reports says:

“This year, among U.S. brands, the Ford Mustang scored well above average, while the Chevrolet Trailblazer and Ford Escape scored above average. The Buick Encore GX and Envision; Cadillac XT5; Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 2500, and Trax; Chrysler Pacifica; Ford Bronco, Bronco Sport, Explorer, Maverick, Maverick Hybrid, and Mustang Mach-E; GMC Sierra 2500; Ram 2500; and Tesla Model 3 and Model Y all scored average.”

Cars continue to be more reliable than SUVs

Mustang Dark Horse
Ford

Whether it is sedans, wagons, or hatchbacks, the ‘car’ category checks in with an average score of 60 (out of 100), according to Consumer Reports. The minivan was the next most reliable vehicle type, with an average score of 57. Although our nationwide obsession with SUVs rages on, unfortunately, their reliability score came in third with a score of 49. And rounding out the list in last place was the category of pickup trucks, with a disappointing score of 36.

Lou Ruggieri
A lifelong lover of cars, Lou contributes to Motor Trend, Hot Cars, Auto & Truck Connection, and the PowerAutoMedia Group.
Honda to finish 2025 F1 season with Red Bull before 2026 switch to Aston Martin
Honda celebrates the 60th anniversary of its first F1 Grand Prix victory
Max Verstappen wins his first F1 World Drivers' Championship in 2021.

After the 2025 F1 season, Honda Motor Company's Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) will cease supplying and supporting engines for Red Bull's two Formula 1 teams, Red Bull Racing and the Racing Bulls. In 2026, Honda will begin a works partnership with Aston Martin to supply power units that comply with the new FIA F1 Technical regulations that start that year.

Honda’s first F1 victory at the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix. Courtesy of Honda Motor Cpompany

Read more
Cadillac scores 4 spots in 24 hours of Le Mans endurance race for 2025
It will be 75 years since Cadillac first raced in in the 24 Hours of Le Mans
cadillac scores 4 spots in 24 hours of le mans endurance race for 2025 cadiallac v series r care running at daytona on track

Cadillac ran three racecars in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2023 and 2024. Based on the GM brand's performance those two years, Automobile Club de l'Quest, the coordinator for the world-famous endurance race, invited Cadillac Racing to enter four Cadillac V-Series.R cars in the Hypercar class.
Why GM was invited to enter four cars in 2025

Cadillac was a top performer in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC)  in 2023, with Cadillac Racing cars finishing in third and fourth place. In 2024, Cadillac factory cars finished second and third and two V-Series.R cars from the Hertz Team JOTA finished eighth and ninth.

Read more
McLaren’s MCL39 Formula 1 race car is ready for the 2025 season
This year, Norris and Piastri are both in the hunt for both F1 Championships.
McLaren's MCL39 Formula 2025 1 race car.

Only a few months have passed since McLaren won the 2024 F1 Constructors' Championship in Abu Dhabi at the season's final race. F1 teams develop new cars each season, and McLaren's MCL39 is the car that drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will drive in 2025.

McLaren's motto during the F1 75 Live launch at the O2 Arena was "Never stop racing," and team members spoke highly of the MCL39 while acknowledging that the competition will be tough this season. As the reigning champion, McLaren is a target for all the other teams, especially Ferrari, Red Bull, and Mercedes.
2025 will be especially competitive

Read more