Japanese losing the edge in auto reliability

GMC: Top domestic brand. pic: HighTechDad.

DETROIT: Some European and US car models could be on a par with their Japanese counterparts when it comes to reliability, according to new results published today. 

The results were released at a press conference today before the Automotive Press Association in the city of Detroit.



Well known Japanese brands - Lexus, Toyota, and Acura captured the top three spots in the survey. But  European car brands, Audi and Volvo and American brand, GMC all climbed the rankings to take places in the top ten. 

The survey, conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center is believed to be the largest of its kind and findings are based on Consumer Reports (CR) subscribers' experiences with 1.1 million vehicles.

CR then use the survey data to compile reliability histories and create predictions on how well new cars that are currently on sale will hold up.

Audi, which has shown steady improvement in reliability during recent years, moved up four places this year to finish fourth overall  and the top European manufacturer in the survey. Three models, the A6 sedan, Q7 SUV and Allroad wagon, scored "much better than average" reliability. 

Volvo jumped 13 places to seventh, while American car brand GMC emerged as the top domestic brand, finishing ninth - three places higher than last year.

Moreover, every model from Audi, GMC, and Volvo, for which CR has data, earned an average or better reliability score.

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