Here Are the 10 Most Reliable Car Brands

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Car ownership comes with a ton of expenses. There's the purchase price, fuel costs, registration, and insurance -- and all this assumes the car is working well. When a car breaks down, you'll have even more bills.

Purchasing a car from a brand that's known to be reliable can decrease the amount of money you spend on vehicle maintenance and repairs. Below, we'll look at 10 of the most reliable vehicle brands as determined by J.D. Power and Consumer Reports.

The 10 most reliable car brands

Here's a look at 10 of the most reliable car brands and their ratings as determined by two major ratings organizations -- J.D. Power and Consumer Reports.

As you can see, there are some discrepancies between the two lists. But both rate the 10 brands listed in the table as above-average for reliability. However, this doesn't always tell the full story.

For example, while Kia may make reliable vehicles that don't break down easily, several models have recently been targets of theft due to security vulnerabilities. Though Kia has issued fixes for the affected models, some car insurers still refuse to provide cheap car insurance to drivers who own them because of the increased risk of theft. This is a factor to consider when deciding whether a Kia is the right choice for you.

Other advantages of purchasing a reliable car

Fewer breakdowns are a definite advantage to purchasing a reliable vehicle, but it's not the only benefit. Cars that break down frequently can upend your schedule, forcing you to make several trips to the dealership or another repair shop.

Reliability may also affect car insurance premiums, as in the Kia example above. If a lack of reliability increases the risk of accidents or theft, car insurance companies may charge these drivers higher rates or refuse to cover them altogether. However, this is pretty rare.

Still, it's a good idea to investigate a vehicle's reliability before making a purchase. Check out ratings and reviews online and familiarize yourself with common problems with a given car. If you're buying a used vehicle, have someone who knows a thing or two about cars come along, if possible. They may spot issues you otherwise would've missed.

A note on electric cars

For those interested in plug-in hybrid or electric vehicles (EVs), it's worth noting that these cars are more likely to have issues than gas-powered vehicles. EV powertrains were 79% more likely to have problems than gas-powered vehicle powertrains, according to Consumer Reports. And plug-in hybrids were 146% more likely to have problems.

Compounding this issue is the fact that EVs and hybrids typically have more complex and expensive components and there are fewer technicians who know how to do these repairs. This means that in addition to having more breakdowns, these breakdowns may also be more expensive. However, you must weigh this against the environmental effect and cost savings that EVs and hybrids offer to decide which type of vehicle is right for you.

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