As new car prices rise, choosing a reliable car brand has arguably become more important than ever for average American drivers.
Reliable new cars can easily last more than 200,000 miles if properly cared for. Regular maintenance takes a lot of time, but there are some vehicles that are more reliable than others. J.D. Power conducted a US vehicle dependability study to identify “problems experienced by original owners of 3-year-old vehicles”.
The study yielded a list of car brands with the fewest problems per 100 vehicles. According to the vehicle dependability study conducted by J.D. Power, these are the most reliable car brands of 2026.
J.D. Power says Mini produces some of the most reliable vehicles
JD Power says that Mini, the British automotive brand responsible for the Mini Cooper, makes some of the less problematic vehicles.
Mini currently produces the Mini Cooper and Mini Countryman models. Highly customizable British cars have a distinctive exterior design. Mini vehicles resemble go-karts due to their quick steering and engaging driving dynamics and handle just like them.
The British brand has been using components and engines co-developed by luxury German automaker BMW since 2001. Mini has simplified the design of its best-selling vehicles to deliver predictable reliability year after year, earning it the third spot on J.D. Power’s Most Dependable Car Brands list for 2026.
Buick builds reliable American cars based on study results
General Motors brand Buick holds the title of second most trusted car brand for 2026, according to J.D. Power. American automaker Buick produces several notable SUV nameplates, including the Envista, one of its newest models.
Buick’s new SUVs are affordable and luxury-adjacent, offering premium interiors and upper trims loaded with great features. GM’s Chevrolet and Cadillac brands also ranked among the top 10 most reliable vehicles, based on the results of a J.D. Power study.
Lexus is J.D. Power’s least problematic car brand for 2026
Toyota’s luxury brand Lexus has created an identity of its own, but it uses many of the reliable parts, components and designs that have earned Toyota its status as one of the most consistently reliable car brands in the industry.
Lexus tops JD Power’s list of most trusted car brands. Its vehicles may be more expensive than Toyota vehicles, but Lexus models add a level of sophistication and performance that sets it apart from its parent company. Lexus also landed in the top three on the Most Trusted New Car Brands of 2025 list compiled by Consumer Reports.
Models like the mid-size RX SUV have become best-selling vehicles in their respective segments. Like Toyota, Lexus also produces several hybrid options for its most popular nameplates, such as the NX and RX SUVs. These options offer better fuel efficiency and more power despite a slight price increase.
10 most trusted car brands according to JD Power study
The study conducted by J.D. Power included 30 automotive brands that produce gas, hybrid and electric car, truck and SUV models. Only 10 brands have 194 problems per 100 vehicles or less.
The 10 most reliable vehicle brands for 2026 (from least to most problems per 100 vehicles):
1. Lexus
2. Buick
3. Mini
4.Cadillac
5.Chevrolet
6.Subaru
7. Porsche
8. Toyota
9. kia
10. Nissan
J.D. Power found 204 problems per 100 vehicles, the industry standard. If you’re looking for a new car that’s affordable to maintain, the top three brands on this list are worth considering.
Charles Singh is an Autos Connect reporter for The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network. Contact him at (email protected)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: This brand makes the most reliable cars for 2026, according to J.D. Power
Reporting by Charles Singh, USA TODAY/USA TODAY
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