Consumer Reports' brand ranking for used cars-focused on the reliability of 5- to 10-year-old models-makes it clear that buyers can reduce their risk of car trouble by concentrating on some brands over others.
Of 26 brands, Lexus and Toyota top the list with a commanding advantage over third-ranked Mazda. All three brands have consistently earned average or better reliability ratings over the years. Honda and Acura round up the top five. Dodge, Jeep, and Chrysler are the least reliable for used cars, with 24th, 25th, and 26th positions in the ranking, respectively.
"Brands like Lexus and Toyota have a history of conservative redesigns, incrementally improving their entire product line rather than introducing many all-new systems," says Steven Elek, CR's senior automotive data analyst. "Our data consistently shows over time that cars from those brands are reliable when new, and they continue to be reliable as they age."
