J.D. Power Says These are the Most Dependable Cars You can Buy in 2023

INSURANCE - CAR INSURANCE
Dependability should be an important factor when you’re trying to decide on your next vehicle.
Updated March 27, 2023
A man driving a car

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If you’re looking to buy a new car soon, you’ll want to consider the dependability of the vehicle.

It’s important to think about not just the cost to buy it, but also how much it costs to maintain it or any repairs that you might encounter during your ownership. That’s why a dependable car can help you lower your financial stress.

The J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study for 2023 took a look at brands based on how many problems a brand may have per 100 vehicles with the national average coming in at 186 issues per 100 vehicles.

Check out these brands (with number one being the most dependable) to see which vehicles might be better to add to your list if you’re concerned about reliability — and the costs you may incur if you own a less-than-dependable vehicle.

10. Nissan

William/Adobe Nissan logo on front grill of white Nissan juke

Nissan came in with 170 problems per 100 vehicles, which is below the national average of 186 problems per vehicle.

One of the factors for Nissan’s rank is its jump in dependability. The brand dropped 35 problems per vehicle this year compared to last year’s J.D. Power survey.

9. BMW MINI

Grigory Bruev/Adobe red color car with white stripes mini cooper parked on street

BMW’s MINI segment, including the MINI Cooper, came in with 170 issues per 100 vehicles.

The MINI segment is known for its compact design and unique features compared to more traditional cars and SUVs, which earned it the title of the most dependable compact sporty car.

8. Hyundai

Mike Mareen/Adobe Two Hyundai SUVs

Hyundai also came in with 170 issues per vehicle, tying it with Nissan and MINI in terms of dependability, according to the J.D. Power survey.

Hyundai’s line-up includes models like the Sonata, Elantra, and the Santa Fe SUV.

7. Toyota

Tobias Arhelger/Adobe Toyota car signs in Siegen Germany

Toyota earned a score of 168 issues per 100 vehicles, according to J.D. Power.

One reason for its spot was the Toyota C-HR, which earned a mark of 111 issues per 100 vehicles. That tied it for first place for the most dependable model on the survey.

And the Toyota Corolla was found to be the second-most dependable compact car in the survey.

6. Mitsubishi

artographer34/Adobe Mitsubishi L200

J.D. Power found that Mitsubishi’s dependability came in at 167 issues per 100 vehicles. The company’s offerings include the popular Highlander SUV and the Mirage sedan.

5. Chevrolet

lial88/Adobe 2017 Chevrolet Equinox SUV in white

The Chevy brand was found to have 162 issues per 100 vehicles, according to J.D. Power.

The survey found that Chevrolet’s spot was boosted by its well-performing models such as the Chevrolet Blazer, Chevrolet Silverado HD, Chevrolet Tahoe, and GMC Sierra.

4. Buick

art_zzz/Adobe Buick Enclave

J.D. Power found that Buick had 159 problems per 100 vehicles in its report on vehicle dependability.

Buick’s line-up includes vehicles like the Enclave and Encore SUVs. And like Chevrolet, which also made the list, Buick is owned by General Motors.

3. Kia

Виталий Сова/Adobe Silver Kia Sportage

Kia came in third place on the survey with 152 problems per 100 vehicles.

One reason for its spot on the list is its boost due to the dependability of its models such as the Kia Forte, Kia Optima, and Kia Sportage.

2. Genesis

Granmedia/Adobe A Genesis car

Second place in the J.D. Power survey went to Genesis with 144 issues per vehicle. Genesis is owned by Hyundai, which is also on this list, and makes both sedans and SUVs.

1. Lexus

Moose/Adobe Lexus RX 450h at the parking near river

Topping the list is Lexus with only 133 issues per 100 vehicles, according to J.D. Power.

Lexus got a boost from its models such as the Lexus NX and the Lexus RX. In fact, the Lexus RX tied for highest performing model with only 111 issues per 100 vehicles.

Bottom line

mimagephotos/Adobe happy black woman sitting in her new car and showing keys

It’s a good idea to create a budget before you start shopping and factor in not only the cost of the car but also issues like dependability, maintenance, insurance, and other costs you may incur as an owner.

You should also factor in the cost to run your vehicle and find ways to save money on gas if you’re concerned about a new car’s miles per gallon.

You’ll also want to make sure you add money to your savings and keep an emergency fund set aside to cover unexpected costs such as repairs or accidents if you do need to fix your car.

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Author Details

Jenny Cohen Jenny Cohen is a freelance writer who has covered a bit of everything, from finance to sports to her favorite TV shows. Her work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and FoxSports.com.

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