The popular review website Consumer Reports recently released its study of the most and least reliable cars. The analysis looked at individual models, as well as overall vehicle segments in order to find which cars performed the best when it comes to performance and safety trends.
Consumer Reports considers reliability to be how well cars hold up over time, along with the odds that an owner may find themselves facing auto repair or vehicle maintenance. Not only can reliability affect how an automobile performs, but it can also influence how satisfied drivers will be with their vehicles when making a long-term purchase.
The study found that the highest rated cars were smaller, compact vehicles. Toyota's Prius was singled out as one of the most reliable individual models, with several other hatchbacks with good fuel economy and compact SUVs or trucks also received recognition, AutoBlog reports.
The opposite end of the spectrum belonged to upscale vehicles, which were rated to be the least reliable. Different than luxury cars, these automobiles are mostly in the price range of $33,000 to $40,000 for a new model. According to Consumer Reports, only one out of every 10 upscale cars earned a reliable rating.