We all know how to answer the question “what is the car that never fails?” We always, always say “Toyota” or “Lexus without a doubt”, don’t we? And for many years, these brands have expressed the ultimate definition of the concept of “trust”, always being the leaders in all the rankings, but this year, someone has overtaken them from the right, let’s talk about Subaru, who have surprised us in the latest Consumer Reports report. This turn has given us a lot to talk about.
What makes a car reliable?
It is not enough for us that it starts every day, Consumer Reports has analysed more than 300,000 vehicles and has reviewed a total of 20 key points, from the brakes and their resulting problems to the noises that the engines can generate. For them (and for us) every detail counts, and it is not enough that they meet certain requirements, they become a guide to follow so that when we choose a new vehicle, we know perfectly what we are facing.
Subaru: silent leader
Subaru has taken the gold in this past year of 2024, achieving a total of 68/100 points. The key has been in the solid performance that has exceeded the average in six of the seven points evaluated, of course, it is not all perfect… the Subaru Solterra (its first electric vehicle) has fallen far below what was expected of them, but it is a reality that even the best brands are facing many dramas to enter the electric vehicle market.
What happened to Toyota and Lexus?
It is very rare not to see them leading the ranking, but this year they have not been left behind, second and third position with 65/100 and 62/100 respectively, but, many points of the analysis were not up to par. Tacoma, Tundra and bZ4x have had some problems that have affected their rating, but you can not always be the kings and we already know how fast the motor market moves!
And the other brands?
There have been three other brands that have stood out positively, they have been Honda, Acura and Mazda, achieving 59/100, 55/100 and 55/100 respectively.
On the other hand, Audi was in eighth place (54/100) while BMW, Kia and Hyundai have remained in acceptable positions
And which have been “the worst”?
The bottom of the podium was GM, Cadillac and Rivian, which are certainly not going through their best moments… We will have to see what 2025 has in store for these brands and whether they manage to regain some of their customers’ trust.
What does all this mean?
This ranking is a reminder to brands that the market is very much alive, and technology is too, they can’t rest on their laurels! As the market is, it is practically necessary to innovate and meet all customer expectations. On the other hand, it makes it very clear that the electric market has not yet reached its prime and that they are facing very important challenges with which they have not yet managed to place themselves in the best positions.
For buyers, Subaru now presents itself as a stronger option to debate along with Toyota and Lexus, so, when you need a new car, you already know which one you are going to have to include in your list of “possible”. We already know that it is not all about rankings, but who would want a car that breaks down a lot or that does not meet your expectations? Subaru has taken that step forward to show that it can be a competitor to Toyota and Lexus, so, in the same old game, a new player has been added.