NEW YORK — Japanese automakers dominated the 2026 reliability rankings released by Consumer Reports, with Toyota, Subaru and Lexus securing the top three positions based on predicted reliability scores drawn from extensive owner surveys.

The rankings are closely watched by consumers because they signal long-term vehicle dependability and ownership costs. Consumer Reports said the results are based on analysis of self-reported data from roughly 380,000 vehicles, covering nearly every major car brand and model sold in recent years.

Toyota topped the list with a score of 66, followed by Subaru at 63 and Lexus at 60, reinforcing Japan’s long-standing reputation for durability and consistent engineering. Honda ranked fourth with a score of 59, while BMW emerged as the highest-ranked European brand in fifth place with a score of 58.

Tesla recorded the most notable improvement in the 2026 rankings, climbing eight positions to ninth place with a score of 50, driven by stronger reliability performance in the Model 3 and Model Y, which have benefited from ongoing design updates and refinements.

Despite the improvement, Tesla still trails several traditional automakers, a contrast reflecting the difference between newer electric vehicle platforms and brands built around longer-established production processes.

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Overall, Japanese brands claimed six of the top seven spots in the rankings. Consumer Reports said this performance reflects conservative engineering approaches, longer model cycles and reliance on proven technologies. European automakers, including Audi, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo, clustered in the middle of the rankings with scores largely in the low-to-mid 40s.

Lower-ranked brands such as Jeep, Ram and Rivian underscored reliability challenges often faced by newer platforms and performance-focused designs, particularly in early production stages.

Consumer Reports calculates predicted reliability scores by aggregating owner-reported problems across multiple vehicle systems and powertrains, including petrol, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric models, to identify brand-level trends.