2022 Top 10 Most Reliable Cars

Mike Schlee
by Mike Schlee

It’s a horrible feeling. Finally acquiring that car you’ve spent so long saving for, only to have it breakdown on the drive home.

Making a poor financial decision is bad enough, but when it comes to something as expensive as a car, it’s heartbreaking. To help you out, we’ve gathered a list of the 2022 top 10 most reliable cars currently on sale. According to Consumer Reports, these are the 10 sure-fire bets. The cars that should deliver miles of trouble-free driving.

It’s an interesting list with plenty of surprises that covers a wide variety of vehicles. Read on to see what makes the cut.


10. Mazda CX-9

Beginning the list is a three-row SUV from Mazda. The CX-9 is one of the more stylish and fun to drive seven seat SUVs out there, if not a bit compromised when it comes to passenger space. It’s been around for a few years now which means Mazda has had time to work out any possible trouble spots, making it the 10th most reliable vehicle currently on sale.

That’s pretty impressive considering it’s not the most basic vehicle mechanically. Surprisingly, it’s only the third most reliable vehicle here to offer at least six passenger seating, but more on that later.


9. Subaru Crosstrek

And speaking of surprises, here’s Subaru’s compact SUV, the Crosstrek. It’s not a surprise that a Subaru made this list, but it is a bit of a shock that the Crosstrek is the only small compact SUV to make the cut. And even more astounding is the fact that the vast majority of Crosstrek’s come equipped with a Continuously Variable Automatic; a transmission many “experts” have been telling us for years can’t possibly be reliable.

The rest of the vehicle’s greasy bits are very familiar, with a choice of Boxer engines paired to Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel drive system.


8. Toyota Highlander

Just ranking a bit higher than Mazda’s CX-9 is Toyota’s own three-row SUV, the Highlander. Offered as a pure gasoline-powered SUV or a fuel sipping hybrid, the Highlander offers a lot of choice. And apparently, a lot of reliability too. This isn’t too surprising as Toyota is a brand with a solid reputation for making cars that just don’t breakdown.

The standard 3.5-liter V6 engine may be in its last year of production, but it’s a solid unit that continues to give owners trouble free driving.


7. Honda Insight

Another hybrid making the list is one that might not be top of mind for a lot of folks. The Honda Insight is sort of the forgotten sedan in the Honda lineup, with the Civic and Accord receiving all the attention. But this mid-size hybrid gets the last laugh as it’s the most reliable family member, and the only Honda to make this list.

The tiny four-cylinder engine and electric motor focus on efficiency more than performance. Want trouble free driving and great fuel economy from a Honda? Here’s your car.


6. Mazda MX-5 Miata

What can’t the Mazda MX-5 Miata do? Always a favourite among the car loving masses, the Miata is fun, affordable, and quite efficient. Add in the bonus of being quite reliable too. That’s not an easy feat for a sports car as they usually lead a rough life, beaten on by drivers living their formula 1 fantasies.

But maybe it isn’t so surprising to see the little roadster on here after all. It has been in production for decades using the same basic blueprint. That’s a lot of time for Mazda to perfect the formula and make it last.


5. Cadillac XT5

The Cadillac XT5 is carrying the flag for American cars as it’s the only automobile for a USA manufacturer to make the 2022 top 10 most reliable cars list. Not only that, it’s also one of only two luxury vehicles to be featured here. With all the extra features and technology usually stuffed in these premium vehicles, there’s more that can break and hurt the reliability score.

What’s more, the mid-size XT5 is related to the more mainstream Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia but is the only sibling to make the reliability cut. So, kudos to Cadillac.


4. Toyota Prius

When the Toyota Prius first debut all those many, many years ago, people thought it was a novelty with technology that wouldn’t last. Well, it’s been a lifetime and the Prius continues to not just soldier on but be a completely bullet-proof reliable car. Look at how many of these cars get abused in taxi fleets across North America, but just keep going. This latest Prius is no exception.


3. Toyota Prius Prime

As we just mentioned, Toyota is an innovator in hybrid technology and over the decades has really worked to perfect the craft. Here is the third hybrid from the Japanese manufacturer to make the list. And it’s yet another Prius, but this time, it’s the Prius Prime.

As a refresher, the Prime is the Plug-in hybrid version of the Prius. It can run up to 25 miles on all electric power before the gas engine takes over. Pretty amazing that the more technologically advanced Prime ranks higher than the regular Prius on this countdown, right?


2. Kia Niro EV

Only one all-electric vehicle makes the top 10 list of most reliable vehicles and no, it’s not a Tesla. Its’ the Kia Niro EV. Kia, and the brand’s corporate cousin Hyundai, are quickly becoming leaders in the mainstream world of electric vehicles and the Niro’s placing here just solidifies that position.

Pretty amazing that Kia’s first attempt at an all-electric vehicle is here and longer established EVs like the Nissan LEAF, Chevrolet Bolt and Model S are not. Good on you Kia, good on you.


1. Lexus GX

Well, this is a surprise. Not that a Lexus tops the list of 2022 top 10 most reliable cars – that was almost a forgone conclusion as Toyota’s luxury division had built its entire brand around reliability. What’s shocking is that only one Lexus made the list and it’s one of the brand’s big V8 powered SUVs.

On second thought, maybe this does make perfect sense. As the saying goes, practice makes perfect, and the Lexus GX has been on sale in its current form more or less since 2009. That’s eons in the automotive world and has given the manufacturer a lot of time to work out the bugs and perfect this multi-person go-anywhere Sport ute.

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Mike Schlee
Mike Schlee

A 20+ year industry veteran, Mike rejoins the AutoGuide team as the Managing Editor. He started his career at a young age working at dealerships, car rentals, and used car advertisers. He then found his true passion, automotive writing. After contributing to multiple websites for several years, he spent the next six years working at the head office of an automotive OEM, before returning back to the field he loves. He is a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), and Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA). He's the recipient of a feature writing of the year award and multiple video of the year awards.

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  • KingDong KingDong on Oct 09, 2022

    Cuz Japanese cars are way more reliable and easier and cheaper to fix ..Germans didnt a make a good quality car since the 90s. ALLLES SCHROTTT

  • Allan Wakanene Allan Wakanene on Nov 13, 2022

    My favorite car is a Lexus. However, the Lexus IS did not make top 10 most reliable car in 2022. But, the Lexus bigger SUV Lexus GX; is the world ? most reliable vehicle 2022. Which is quite impressive.

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