On the whole, cars are getting more reliable. This is great news, but it also creates a catch-22 scenario: owners are expecting to keep their cars for longer, which means it’s more important than ever to choose a new car with a solid record for longevity and reliability.
Fortunately, there’s reputable information out there to guide us. We consulted both the 2023 J.D. Power U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study and the list of the most reliable vehicles in 2023 from Consumer Reports to compile this rundown of the top 10 most reliable vehicles in Canada for 2023.
Top 10 Most Reliable Cars in Canada for 2023
- J.D. Power Rankings
- Consumer Reports Rankings
- BMW 3 Series/4 Series
- BMW X1/X2
- Lexus NX
- Lexus RX
- Lexus GX
- MINI Cooper
- Toyota C-HR
- Toyota Corolla
- Toyota Tundra
- Toyota Prius/Prius Prime
- The Least Reliable Cars and Brands
J.D. Power Rankings
Lexus shoots back to the top of the J.D. Power rankings in this year’s survey, beating last year’s luxury winner Genesis by one position. Among the mainstream brands, Kia is tops in third place overall. Hyundai was a strong performer for 2022 but dropped several positions in the rankings in this year’s study, which examines vehicles that are three years into their ownership period (meaning the 2023 results apply to 2020 model year vehicles). J.D. Power’s list is also heavy on cars from Toyota and Chevrolet.
Consumer Reports Rankings
For 2023, the Consumer Reports top 10 list has quite a different make-up from the J.D. Power results: the Consumer Reports top five lists Toyota as number 1 followed by Lexus, BMW, Mazda, and Honda. As an average, Consumer Reports says hybrid cars are the most reliable type of vehicle, followed by sporty cars and then hybrid SUVs, which is good news for those considering electrification in their next vehicle. Fully battery electric vehicles, however, drop toward the bottom on the Consumer Reports reliability list as automakers work out the kinks in this relatively new technology. The worst-performing vehicle type according to this ranking is full-size pick-up trucks.
BMW 3 Series/4 Series
BMW makes a big surge in the reliability lists for 2023. The 3 Series compact sedan and related 4 Series coupé—the grilles look dramatically different, but these two luxury cars remain very similar in most other ways— collected a long list of accolades in the most dependability studies. With Consumer Reports, the BMW brand ranks third overall and the 3 Series finishes 9th overall among vehicles, while these two models take two of the three spots in J.D. Power’s Compact Premium Car category. These results apply to the G20 (3 Series sedan), G22 (4 Series coupé), G23 (4 Series convertible), and G26 (4 Series Gran Coupé 4-door) for the 2020 model year.
BMW X1/X2
It seems you can’t go wrong with small BMWs. On the subcompact SUV side of the German brand’s line-up, the X1 and the related X2, a coupé version, take two of the three positions in J.D. Power with the Small Premium SUV category with the X2 taking its top honours, while the BMW brand ranks in the top three in reliability with Consumer Reports. Note that a third-generation X1 was released for the 2022 model year, but these results apply to the 2020 model year, which falls toward the end of the second generation (and which coincides with the first-generation X2, while a new version is launching later this year).
Lexus NX
And here begins the long list of Lexus models you’ll find mentioned here, which is unsurprising as Lexus is consistently named among the most reliable car brands, including ranking first as a brand with J.D. Power for 2023 and second overall with Consumer Reports. In fact, nearly every Lexus SUV appears somewhere on either the J.D. Power or Consumer Reports reliability lists. For the NX’s part, it’s once again ranked as the most reliable Compact Premium SUV by J.D. Power. This applies to the 2020 model year, which was part of the first generation built in Japan. Whether the manufacturing in Cambridge, Ontario, that began with the 2022 model year will help the NX retain this distinction is yet to be seen.
Lexus RX
The Lexus RX repeats as the highest-ranked Midsize Premium SUV for dependability according to J.D. Power. This one’s a jewel of the Canadian automotive industry: the fourth-generation RX that includes the 2020 model year has been in production since the 2016 model year both in Japan and in Cambridge, Ontario. A new generation of RX launched for 2023, but it’s too new to be ranked for dependability.
Lexus GX
On the Consumer Reports list of the 10 most reliable vehicles, the Lexus GX ranks in second place. It also ranks among J.D. Power’s most reliable in the Mid-size Premium SUV category. The current generation has been in production in Japan for well over a decade: it first rolled off the line as a 2010 model year vehicle. As the saying goes, they just don’t make ‘em like they used to—though a new generation is expected for 2024 that will test that theory.
MINI Cooper
Here’s BMW again, albeit under a different guise: the once-British MINI brand has been owned by BMW Group since 1996. The diminutive MINI Cooper sports car pops on to the scene with flourish in this year’s dependability studies: Consumer Reports ranks it third-best overall, while J.D. Power calls it the most reliable Compact Sporty Car. The MINI Cooper has been motoring along in its current generation since the 2014 model year.
Toyota C-HR
Pour one out for the Toyota C-HR: it’s the subcompact SUV North America refused to embrace despite its cost-effectiveness and reliability. Perhaps the lack of available all-wheel drive was too much of a deterrent. J.D. Power names the C-HR as the best mainstream vehicle overall for dependability in its 2023 survey as well as the top Small SUV, while Consumer Reports bolsters that result by naming Toyota the top brand for reliability overall. This is important to note despite the C-HR being discontinued in North America: this result applies to the 2020 model year, and this and others in the same generation are likely to be on the used market in Canada for some time to come.
Toyota Corolla
The Toyota Corolla dethroned the Honda Civic as Canada’s best-selling car in 2022, and its demonstrable reliability is a contributing factor to its strong sales results. For the 2023 surveys, Consumer Reports says the fuel-efficient Toyota Corolla Hybrid is the most reliable car you can buy and ranks it number one on its list of the most dependable vehicles, while the gas-powered Corolla ranks 7th overall. For J.D. Power’s part, the Corolla is listed among its top three in the Compact Car category. The 2020 model year is part of the Corolla’s 12th generation which remains in production today, so we can expect this small car to remain on these rankings for the foreseeable future. Note that the Corolla is sold with gas powertrains as both a sedan and hatchback in Canada, but these body styles are not distinguished in the survey results.
Toyota Tundra
We can’t discuss dependable vehicles in Canada without bringing trucks into the equation. J.D. Power says if you’re going to buy a truck for its reliability, make it a Tundra, which placed top within in its segment on this year’s survey. Add in the strong result in both surveys for the Toyota brand as a whole, and the Tundra is a solid bet. Note this result applies to the 2020 model year, which falls toward the latter portion of the Tundra’s second generation sold between 2014 and 2021, when different powertrains were offered. As much as history can be a guide, the reliability of the third generation released for the 2022 model year has yet to be tested.
Toyota Prius/Prius Prime
Consumer Reports looks very highly on the Toyota Prius, ranking the hybrid version fourth overall and sliding the Prius Prime PHEV into the final slot of its top 10 list. Add in the glowing results for the Toyota brand with this and J.D. Power’s 2023 U.S. Dependability Study, and the Prius lives up to its solid reputation for reliability on top of its well-known fuel economy. A fifth-generation Prius was just released as a completely new vehicle for the 2023 model year, but because these surveys look three model years back, these results apply to the 2020 model that formed part of the fourth generation.
The Least Reliable Cars and Brands
For your additional shopping consideration: the Jeep Wrangler, Mercedes-Benz GLE, Jeep Gladiator, Chevrolet Silverado 1500/GMC Sierra 1500, Chevrolet Bolt, Ford Explorer, Nissan Sentra, Lincoln Aviator, Hyundai Kona Electric, and Ford F-150 Hybrid are the 10 least reliable vehicles according to Consumer Reports, while J.D. Power’s bottom 10 brands are Land Rover, Lincoln, Audi, Ford, Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Chrysler, Volkswagen, and Volvo.
Note: Images may show US models.