Buying a vehicle seems to be more expensive every year. In addition to the purchase price, you have to take into account gasoline, diesel or electricity to keep it running. Insurance, registration fees and depreciation it only increases the total cost. The last thing you need is an expensive repair bill.
According to Cox Automotive, the parent company of Kelley Blue BookThe average trip to a repair shop will cost you $838. Repairs are not only expensive, but also inconvenient and frustrating. That is why it is so important to buy a reliable vehicle. And while many people assume that means buying a Japanese brand, that’s not always the case.
According to the JD Power 2026 US Vehicle Reliability StudySeveral American brands have proven to be more reliable than the Japanese brands that many consider the gold standard. Infiniti, Mazda and even Honda scored below the industry average, while Cadillac and Chevrolet ranked above. In particular, Buick It topped the mass market segment for the second year in a row, surpassing Toyota in the process.
When looking at the latest data from JD Power, especially if you’re using it to help determine your next vehicle purchase, here are four things to consider.
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Tale as old as time.
GM was always a leader
Go back 20 years and look JD Power 2006 U.S. Vehicle Reliability Study. The most reliable midsize car was the Buick Century. The Chevrolet Monte Carlo was the most reliable mid-size sports car. The most reliable large SUVs in 2006 were the Cadillac Escalade and the GMC Yukon XL. The Mercury Grand Marquis took home the award for most reliable large car.
For the JD Power 2026 U.S. Vehicle Reliability Study, 33,268 original owners of 2023 model year vehicles were surveyed after three years of ownership. Owners were asked about 184 specific problem areas in nine main vehicle categories: climate, driver assistance, driving experience, exterior, functions/controls/displays, infotainment, interior, powertrain and seats.
The overall industry average was 204 problems per 100 vehicles (204 PP100). Lexus took the top spot with a score of 151 PP100, while Buick took second place with a score of 160 PP100.
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Japanese brands to reconsider
These automakers scored lower than the industry average for reliability
While Toyota and Lexus score well on reliability, there are some Japanese brands you may want to reconsider.
Acura and Infiniti are tied with a reliability score of 233 PP100. This is the worst score of all the Japanese brands in the study. They also don’t have a single model that is ranked in the top three of any vehicle segment.
The same goes for Mazda. They ranked slightly better than Acura and Infiniti with a score of 210 PP100, but it’s still below the industry average. Mazda makes some excellent vehicles and we all love the MX-5, but its overall reliability scores are disappointing.
What stands out here is that both Acura and Infiniti, luxury subsidiaries of Honda and Nissan, actually scored worse than their mainstream counterparts. Nissan performed well above average with 194 PP100, while Honda, while still below average with 211 PP100, beat Acura by a notable margin.
It’s easy to assume that added luxury and technology create more opportunities for things to go wrong. But that theory doesn’t hold up at all. Lexus bucks the trend and ranks even higher than its big brother, Toyota.
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The American success story
GM faces Japanese and German competitors
Buick may not get much media attention. They don’t make high-powered sports cars or off-road trucks for driving in the desert. However, they have the reliability game figured out.
The Buick Encore GX is tied for third most reliable small SUV. The Envision is the second compact SUV in the ranking. And in the upper-midsize SUV class, the Enclave ties with the Toyota 4Runner for the highest reliability score.
Buick may claim the top spot, but other General Motors brands are up there too. Chevrolet takes home the top spots in the large SUV and compact SUV categories with the Tahoe and Equinox, respectively. The Blazer and Traverse also rank in the top three in their segments. The Silverado is number two in the full-size light truck segment.
Those who want something more exclusive will be surprised to know that Cadillac surpasses its German rivals. For example, the XT6 beats the BMW X6 and Porsche Cayenne in JD Power’s 2026 U.S. Vehicle Reliability Study. The
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106 degrees
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Bigger is (usually) better
American automakers excel at making large, reliable vehicles
A closer look at JD Power’s data reveals a clear pattern: Americans know how to build big vehicles, and do it well. Take the Chevrolet Tahoe for example. It is the only large SUV that equal or exceed the average for its segmentreinforcing the strength of American automakers in the big-box space.
That trend extends to other SUV categories as well. Of 25 vehicles that scored above average, nine came from American brands, a strong result that highlights their overall competitiveness. But it is in trucks where dominance becomes undeniable. In the large and light truck category, American brands essentially stand alone and continue a dominance of the segment for decades.
However, the story changes when you move to smaller vehicles. In the compact and midsize car segments, not a single American model scored above average, a reminder that while American automakers excel at trucks and SUVs, smaller cars remain a weak spot.
American reliability is nothing new
While brands like Lexus maintain their status, the trend has changed. Modern drivers shouldn’t let decades-old reputations dictate their next purchase, especially when data shows that Buick, Cadillac and Chevrolet are outperforming many of their rivals.
By opting for a top-of-the-range domestic model, you get the peace of mind of a top-notch reliability score while benefiting from lower maintenance costs and parts availability exclusive to the US market. As repair bills go up and vehicle complexity increases, smarter buyers will look beyond the badge and follow the data.
