Advertisement

The Most Reliable Car Brands on the Road

Bruce Benedict / Kia
Bruce Benedict / Kia

When you buy a new car, you want to ensure you're getting the most value for your money. That doesn't mean that you're looking for bells and whistles. Most often it means you're looking for the most reliable car to bring into your life.

Related: 15 Great Cars To Own for 15 Years
Learn More: What Percentage of Your Income Should Go Toward Auto Loan Payments?

Using data from J.D. Power and Associates, GOBankingRates has put together a list of the manufacturers with the least number of problems in the first three months. These brands' cars came in under the industry average of 166 problems per 100 new cars. Take a look if you need a reliable vehicle.

Last updated: July 14, 2021

DREW PHILLIPS / Hyundai
DREW PHILLIPS / Hyundai

10. Hyundai

  • Problems per 100 vehicles in first 3 months: 153

The prolific automobile maker isn't just reliable -- several of its models made the shortlist for top vehicles in their segment (type of car). The Tuscon was rated as the best compact SUV, while the Veloster tied for best compact sporty vehicle when it comes to fewest problems.

See More: 22 Safe and Reliable Cars You Can Get for Under $15,000

Volkswagen
Volkswagen

9. Volkswagen

  • Problems per 100 vehicles in first 3 months: 152

VW continues to be one of the most reliable brands around and the Jetta made the shortlist for best compact car.

Read: 25 Tips and Tricks for Buying a Car Online During the Pandemic

GMC
GMC

8. GMC

  • Problems per 100 vehicles in first 3 months: 151

Aside from having fewer problems than average among new vehicles, GMC's Sierra also made the shortlist for large light duty pickup.

Check Out: Cars, Trucks and SUVs With the Best Gas Mileage

Buick
Buick

7. Buick

  • Problems per 100 vehicles in first 3 months: 150

Buick's Encore also made it onto the shortlist of best small SUVs. Plus, General Motors' Yantai Dongyue 2 manufacturing plant in China, which produces Buick's Envision, received an award for pushing out vehicles with the fewest defects or malfunctions.

See: 30 Cars With the Highest Resale Value

Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi

6. Mitsubishi

  • Problems per 100 vehicles in first 3 months: 148

Mitsubishi is only 1 of 3 Japanese brands to rank above the industry average for the fewest problems. The manufacturer's Outlander Sport also made it onto J.D. Power's shortlist for best small SUVs.

Ready To Look? The 5 Best Apps and Websites To Buy a New Car

James Lipman / Genesis
James Lipman / Genesis

5. Genesis

  • Problems per 100 vehicles in first 3 months: 142

Luxury cars don't always mean "zero problems." In fact, Genesis is 1 of 3 premium manufacturers to create autos that have fewer than average problems in the first few months. The trade-off to having more complex tech in your car is that the tech can require a lot of support.

Find Out: The Best and Worst Time of Year To Buy a New Car

Chevrolet
Chevrolet

3. (tie) Chevrolet and Ram

  • Problems per 100 vehicles in first 3 months: 141

Chevrolet and Ram also make some very reliable vehicles, though these manufacturers trail just a little behind the best on the list. If you're looking for the most reliable vehicle, though, you may want to check out the Chevy Sonic, which achieved the study's best score — only 103 problems per 100 vehicles.

Related: 35 American Cars To Buy Now That the Auto Industry Is Back

FCA US LLC
FCA US LLC

1. (tie) Dodge and Kia

  • Problems per 100 vehicles in first 3 months: 136

You can't go wrong with Dodge or Kia if you're looking to spend as little time as possible at the dealership. At 136 problems per 100 vehicles, these manufacturers made some of 2020's most reliable cars. It's important to keep in mind that "problems" aren't always defined as issues regarding safety. In many cases, you're looking at something trivial, like a Bluetooth connection issue.

Tesla
Tesla

The Best of the Rest — and the Worst

Jeep, Lexus, Nissan and Cadillac rounded out the list for cars that have the fewest problems compared to the industry average. If you're looking to avoid problems, though, you may want to think hard before you settle on a Volvo, Audi or Land Rover. These cars report more than 200 problems per 100 new vehicles. And though Teslas definitely have a cool factor, these cars were rated as having 250 problems per 100 vehicles.

More From GoBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: The Most Reliable Car Brands on the Road