The Most Reliable Car in the USA for 2024: Why Subaru Owns Dependability (and Why the Corolla Crowd Should Still Chill)
If you’re into cars, you’ve heard it all: “Buy Japanese!” “Get a Toyota and run it forever!” “Lexus is basically immortal!” But in 2024, if you’re searching for the most reliable car in the USA—and want a Jalopnik-style, not-so-stuffy take—the answer might surprise you a bit. Subaru, the unassuming hero of the sensible-cool crowd, has officially taken the reliability crown for 2024 according to almost every serious metric and survey you’ll find.
The Reliability Rankings: Who’s on Top (and Why)?
The Heavy Hitters
Across Consumer Reports, J.D. Power, and industry deep-dives, a pattern emerges:
- Subaru clinches the top spot for predicted reliability, with a score of 68 out of 100—outranking long-term legends like Lexus (65) and Toyota (62).
- Lexus keeps its luxury bulletproof rep and Toyota continues to hold its ground with rock-solid sedans and crossovers.
- Don’t count out Honda (especially the CR-V), Mazda (with their “engineer’s car” simplicity), and even Buick for an underrated stateside option.
But it’s Subaru’s consistency across the lineup (think: Outback, Forester, Crosstrek), rugged engineering, and just-the-right-amount-of-quirk that’s pushed it over the edge—especially now that Toyota’s got a couple hiccups with new truck and EV models.
The Rankings in a Nutshell
| Rank | Brand | Reliability Score (out of 100) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Subaru | 68 |
| 2 | Lexus | 65 |
| 3 | Toyota | 62 |
| 4 | Honda | 59 |
| 5 | Mazda | 55 |
| 6 | Audi | 54 |
| 7 | BMW | 53 |
| 8 | Kia | 51 |
| 9 | Hyundai | 50 |
| 10 | Buick | 48 |
_Judged by Consumer Reports & aggregated industry surveys for 2024.
What Makes Subaru King of 2024?
Smart Engineering, Not Overengineering
Subarus are built to survive Vermont winters and LA traffic. Their Symmetrical AWD keeps things moving no matter what’s falling from the sky. They’re not overloaded with new-fangled tech that could glitch up your morning commute; instead, they stick to tried-and-true formulae.
Ownership Data Matters
Unlike a lot of awards based on showroom glitz, 2024’s big surveys (like J.D. Power’s study of over 30,000 actual owners three years in) reward vehicles that keep running with minimal fuss. Subaru’s approach? “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it—just make it slightly better each year.” That’s paid off.
Safety and Simplicity (With a Side of Weird)
Subarus keep their safety reputation (those Outbacks and Foresters are everywhere in snowy places for a reason), and most repairs are straightforward—mechanics like seeing a Subaru roll in, rarely as a repeat offender. Plus, their owners are fiercely loyal, a sure sign a brand is getting dependability right.
What About Toyota, Lexus, and the Rest?
Toyota and Lexus are not going anywhere. The Toyota Camry and Corolla still have rep for running until the sun burns out, and Lexus models basically set the blueprint for luxury reliability:
- Lexus ES: Practically unkillable, especially in hybrid form.
- Toyota RAV4: One of America’s best-selling and most reliable crossovers.
- Honda CR-V: Ties with Mazda CX-5 as a “can-do-no-wrong” family hauler.
But even these brands have wobbled a touch with new tech and fresh models (looking at you, Tundra and bZ4X), giving Subaru space to shine.
Buy It If You Want to Drive, Not Worry
- Got a Subaru Outback or Forester? Keep it. If you’re shopping, you can’t go wrong—they’re built for tough weather, easy to maintain, and just “normal car” enough to never let you down.
- If you’re after bulletproof luxury, a lightly used Lexus ES or Toyota Avalon is still a snooze-fest in the best way—they just don’t break down.
- Love tech and turbo? Mazda and Honda keep things real—you’ll get sharp chassis and years of solid service.
Just stay away from new-model scandals and electric car teething issues unless you’re okay with the occasional dealer visit.
In the End…
For 2024, the best bet for folks who just want to buy a car and reliably forget about it? Subaru, by a nose. But if you stick with the Japanese top three (Subaru, Toyota, Lexus), you’ll almost always be on solid ground. The rest of the world is still catching up—and that’s perfectly fine if you like living on the edge. If not? Enjoy the quiet hum of your Subaru’s boxer engine for years to come.