Recently Consumer Reports released charts of its predicted short-term reliability of sedans, coupes, convertibles, wagons, minivans, sport-utility vehicles, and pickup trucks. Its predicted reliability is based on the infrequency of serious problems within the three preceding model years – 2008, 2009 and 2010 – or fewer when an insufficient data history limits model year inclusion.
In this article I list the Top Ten by CR’s predicted reliability for model year 2011. Not included in this list of CR’s most reliable are those automobiles with only a one-year data history, as a reliability predicted on the basis of one year may be quite inaccurate.
The Top 10, 12 by tie or near tie, are:
The Toyota Yaris, a small sedan or 2-door or 4-door hatchback
The Honda CR-V, a small sport-utility vehicle
Toyota Motor Corporation’s Lexus LX, a large luxury SUV
The Honda Fit, a small 4-door hatchback
Toyota’s Scion xD, a small 4-door hatchback
The Honda Civic coupe
Honda Motor Company’s Acura RL, a luxury sedan
The V6 Toyota RAV4, a small SUV
Honda’s front-wheel-drive Acura TL, an upscale sedan
The Toyota FJ Cruiser, a midsize SUV
The Mitsubishi Outlander, a small SUV
The 4-cylinder Toyota RAV4, a small SUV.
Toyota Motor Corporation accounts for 6 of the 12 most reliable, Honda Motor Company for 5, and Mitsubishi Motor Corporation for 1.
The Toyota Yaris and its predecessor, the Echo, have an excellent long-term reliability history. Their combined 2010 Auto Reliability GPA, for model years 2000 to 2009, is a perfect 4.00 over a 9-year data history. Other 2010 Auto Reliability GPAs of the best of model year 2011 are:
Honda CR-V: 3.63 over 10 years of data
Lexus LX: 3.79 over 9 years
Honda Fit: 4.00 over 3 years
Scion xD: 4.00 over 2 years
Honda Civic coupe: N/A, but the Honda Civic sedan has a GPA of 3.75 over 10 years
Acura RL: 3.27 over 7 years
V6 Toyota RAV4: 2.95 over 4 years
Acura TL: 3.25 over 10 years
Toyota FJ Cruiser: 4.00 over 2 years
Mitsubishi Outlander: 2.88 over 5 years
4-cylinder Toyota RAV4: 3.88 over 10 years.