The definition of reliable has changed quite a bit in recent years where cars are concerned. According to J.D. Power’s 2025 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study examining 2022 model year vehicles, half of all problems raised by car owners today are related to smartphone connectivity, specifically Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This is only part of the story, though, as vehicle reliability is trending downward overall and is currently at its lowest level since 2009. This is an ongoing consequence of the pandemic, say J.D. Power’s experts, when staffing and supply chain issues affected the entire automotive industry.
When you’re shopping for your next vehicle, it’s more important than ever to keep reliability top of mind. We’ve dug into J.D. Power’s 2025 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study as well as other trusted surveys to compile this list of the most reliable cars available in Canada in 2025. If you’re looking for an SUV, check out our separate guide to the Most Reliable SUVs in Canada
The Most Reliable Cars in Canada
- Methodology
- J.D. Power Rankings
- Consumer Reports Rankings
- Hybrids are the Most Reliable Powertrain
- BMW 3 Series/4 Series
- Chevrolet Corvette
- Ford Mustang
- Hyundai Elantra Hybrid
- Subaru Impreza
- Toyota Camry
- Toyota Corolla
- The Least Reliable Cars and Brands
Methodology
To come up with this ranking, we consulted both the 2025 J.D. Power U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study and the Consumer Reports list of the most reliable vehicles in 2024. Check the bottom of the list for a look at the least reliable cars on the market today. Note that the Consumer Reports data covers a wide range of model years but doesn’t examine new vehicles since they don’t yet have sufficient data collected to consider their reliability.
Similarly, the J.D. Power survey is conducted specifically on three-year-old vehicles that would be used cars today. For this reason, you won’t find the newest cars on this list. This doesn’t mean new vehicles won’t prove to be reliable down the line as used cars, only that we don’t yet know how these new models will perform over the long term.
J.D. Power Rankings
Although J.D. Power’s study takes place in the U.S. market, its results also apply to Canada since vehicles sold here are very similar. However, there’s one key difference that comes into play: the top-ranked car overall for dependability in 2025 is the Toyota Avalon, which hasn’t been sold in Canada since 2022. (However, this is the model year to which this year’s study applies, so if you’re interested in a large sedan, the Avalon is worth seeking out on the used car market.)
Lexus maintains the top spot overall among brands in J.D. Power’s 2025 study. On the mainstream end, while Toyota performs well, both Mazda and Buick achieve better results in this year’s study. Four of the top six positions are held by the General Motors brands: Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, and Cadillac.
While the Korean brands — Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis — dominated this ranking as recently as three years ago, Hyundai and Genesis both slid below the industry average this year and Kia falls outside the top 10.
Honda has improved significantly in recent years and now scores above the industry average, but its Acura luxury counterpart is among the bottom 10 brands.
Consumer Reports Rankings
Interestingly, the 2025 reliability data from Consumer Reports tells a different story. The outlet ranks Subaru above all other brands, while J.D. Power puts it below average. In fact, only the Subaru Solterra EV has below-average reliability in Consumer Reports reporting, a rebadged version of the Toyota bZ4X. That latter model caused Toyota’s results to take a hit according to the publication, as did below-average ratings for the Tacoma and Tundra pick-up trucks. According to Consumer Reports, both Honda and Acura land within the top five brands overall for dependability.
Hybrids are the Most Reliable Powertrain
Hybrid vehicles are the most reliable powertrain type out there according to both J.D. Power and Consumer Reports, followed closely by gas-powered vehicles. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are reportedly getting more reliable, while plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) owners report the most problems.
Consumer Reports also says cars are more reliable than any other body style, including SUVs, trucks, and minivans. According to the publication, sedans in particular are very reliable and remain a practical choice.
Top 10 Most Reliable Vehicles in Canada
BMW 3 Series/4 Series
The closely related BMW 3 Series sedan and 4 Series coupe stand out as being the only two cars ranked within the compact premium car segment at all by J.D. Power. Both J.D. Power and Consumer Reports put BMW within the top 10 most reliable brands in the industry. These ratings apply to the seventh-generation (G20) 3 Series and second-generation (G22) 4 Series, which remain on sale for the 2025 model year.
