2026 Reliability Survey Results

Consumer Reports' latest reliability findings are in, we share which brands deliver the most reliable cars, trucks, and SUVs in 2026—based on comprehensive survey data from hundreds of thousands of CR members. We break down how major automakers, including Toyota, Tesla, Subaru, Rivian, BMW, Mazda, and Honda, compare; how EVs and plug-in hybrids stack up against traditional gas models; which used cars offer the most dependable performance; and whether luxury brands truly provide an advantage over their mainstream counterparts. We also address why some automakers place the gas cap on the passenger side of their vehicles and offer advice on simple maintenance tasks you can perform yourself to help reduce car-related expenses. SHOW NOTES ----------------------------------- 00:00 - Introduction 00:30 - New Car Reliability 02:51 - Used Car Reliability 05:57 - Big News 06:40 - Cars Least Expensive to Maintain 08:22 - EVs/ Plug-in Hybrids Reliability 10:04 - Hybrid Vehicle Reliability 11:34 - Owner Satisfaction 13:18 - Importance of Car Reliability 15:27 - How CR Gathers Reliability Data 19:55 - Question : Why do some car manufacturers put the gas cap on the passenger side and others on the driver side? 23:09 - Question : Which simple maintenance tasks can car owners perform on their own to help reduce car-related expenses? ---------------------------------- Who Makes the Most Reliable New Cars? ?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT Which Brands Make the Best Cars? ?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT Reliability of 5 to 10 year-old cars ?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT Most and Least Loved Car Brands 10 Most Reliable Cars How Car Brands Stack Up On Lifetime Repair Cost ?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT 10 Best SUVs You Can Buy Right Now ?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT Car Reliability and Owner Satisfaction Guide Consumerreports.org/Talkingcars ?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

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2026 Reliability Survey Results is an episode from Talking Cars (HQ) by Consumer Reports.

This episode is 30:22 long.

This episode was published on Dec 4, 2025.

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