Car reliability ranking 2025: Toyota, Subaru, Lexus and Honda at the top

Top of the most reliable car brands in 2025: Toyota returns to first place, while the Japanese dominate the market.

The 2025 global auto rankings confirm Asian technological supremacy, but also bring major surprises in terms of the order of the podium. The annual study by Consumer Reports, based on data collected from hundreds of thousands of owners, puts the reliability of new cars and their long-term performance under the microscope.

Japanese Dominance: Top 4 is "Nipon"

For 2025, Japanese brands achieved a rare feat, occupying the top four positions in the ranking entirely. The secret to their success remains consistency: using proven technical platforms and gradual evolution, instead of risky technological leaps.

1. Toyota: Returns to first place after a three-year hiatus. The brand remains the benchmark for hybrid powertrains, with models like the Corolla and RAV4 considered the most "indestructible" cars on the market.
2. Subaru: Although it has lost its top spot, it remains a leader in reliability. Analysis shows that their success comes from their constructive simplicity and the consistency of their range.
3. Lexus: Toyota's luxury division completes the podium, proving that premium refinement can go hand in hand with flawless mechanics.
4. Honda: Reconfirms fourth position, being appreciated for its efficient thermal engines and the durability of electronic systems.

Reliability Ranking (1-10th Place)

The only European presence in the "elite" of the top 10 is BMW, which manages to surpass many rivals by constantly optimizing its six-cylinder engines and infotainment systems.

Note: The study highlights an interesting trend: classic hybrid cars (without plug-in charging) are currently the most reliable, outperforming both purely thermal models and plug-in hybrids, which suffer from excessive system complexity.

The Romanian Context: Toyota, the "King" of Hearts and Statistics

If in the US these rankings are reference points for consumers, in Romania preferences are beginning to mirror this Japanese pragmatism.

According to ACAROM data for the first 11 months of 2025, the domestic market shows a paradigm shift:

• Toyota is the second best-selling brand in Romania, right after national leader Dacia. With over 14,000 registered units, the Japanese have surpassed traditional European brands such as Skoda or Volkswagen.
• Appetite for Hybrid: The success of Toyota and Suzuki (also in the top 10 sales in Romania) is fueled by Romanians' shift to alternative powertrains. In 2025, hybrid car registrations in Romania increased by over 25%, while diesel and gasoline engines recorded decreases of approximately 30%.
• Second-Hand Market: Japanese reliability also dictates prices on the second-hand market. Models like the Mazda CX-5 or Honda Civic retain their resale value much better than their European rivals, being considered "safe investments" by Romanian drivers who fear high repair costs.

Conclusion

The year 2025 marks a time when reliability becomes the main selling point in an unstable economy. The Japanese have understood that a customer satisfied with the fact that the car is not "in service" is a customer who will return. In Romania, this translates into an increasingly visible presence of Japanese logos on the roads, to the detriment of the German triad that has dominated for decades.