MENU
SEARCHAnnual Consumer Reports survey shows they present far more problems for consumers.
The Toyota 4Runner is ranked as the most reliable brand on Consumer Reports list this year.
IMAGE: Toyota
Electric vehicles, which already face strong adoption obstacles in the U.S. due to their higher prices and limited public charging infrastructure, also carry reliability baggage, based on Consumer Reports’ latest annual survey.
The nonprofit organization, which tests consumer products across many metrics, says the average new EV has 79% more problems than internal-combustion-engine vehicles and that pickup trucks are the least reliable.
Plug-in hybrids, or PHEVs, scored the worst, with 146% more problems than ICE models.
Hybrids, which more Americans favor if they go non-ICE, have 26% fewer problems than ICE on average.
Consumer Reports points out that it makes sense newer auto technology will experience more bumps in the road, so to speak, but said there are signs the segment is making improvements.
“… as our data has consistently shown, reliability-minded consumers would be best served by forgoing brand new vehicles in their first model year,” said its senior director of auto testing, Jake Fisher.
It said charging and battery problems top the list of EVs’ issues, though U.S. market leader Tesla has fewer problems there.
To rank vehicles and automakers, Consumer Reports surveys members about problems they’ve experienced with their vehicles in the previous 12 months to predict reliability of new cars from major mainstream models. This year’s survey covered more than 330,000 vehicles from the 2000 to the 2023 model years, plus a sampling of 2024 models.
Brands topping the ranking this year are Lexus and Toyota as Nos. 1 and 2, and the Toyota 4Runner is the survey’s most reliable model.
For more detail, see Consumer Reports’ auto reliability page.
Originally posted on Auto Dealer Today
The increasingly important profit center continued making gains in the first quarter, according to StoneEagle data, ancillary products proving more popular as consumers hold onto their buys longer.
Read More →
For dealer-owned reinsurance entities, avoiding volatility entirely can mean falling behind inflation and missing market rebounds that drive long term surplus growth. Missing just a handful of strong market days can materially impact cumulative returns—an important reminder for long horizon trust and investment strategies.
Read More →
In this video, Ryan Ruff explains the rule that elite sales professionals use to turn ordinary conversations into unforgettable customer experiences.
Read More →
What’s the atmosphere saying about you to your customers? You can make minor adjustments and additions that transform your space into one that creates trust with the people on the other side of the desk.
Read More →
How can auto dealerships help F&I managers fulfill their vital role in the most effective ways? Industry expert Rick McCormick shares his insights on the best ways to train these professionals and help them maintain good habits.
Read More →
More consumers and businesses are opting for all-season options for various reasons as safety, sustainability and convenience push practical change.
Read More →
It’s time to take the next digital step to free F&I managers to handle the most challenging aspects of customer meetings.
Read More →
Some of it should be given to the customer, but that doesn’t mean the F&I office relinquishes the process. In fact, a different approach both builds trust and boosts sales.
Read More →
Talk to F&I customers like you’d talk to a friend, without industry lingo or sales-like questions, and use hard proof to show, not tell, them about a need.
Read More →