The 17 Most Dependable Cars, According to Drivers

Some drivers choose a car for its style and flash, some for the sheer number of passengers and items it can carry. Others need a vehicle that can handle mountain roads or snowy highways.

But if there’s one thing any vehicle needs, it’s to be dependable: ready to start up and run smoothly when called upon.

J.D. Power’s 2023 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study compares the quality of 2020 model year vehicles using responses from more than 30,000 owners after three years of ownership.

The company redesigned their study in 2022 to include newer features and technology. It now covers 184 specific problem areas across nine major vehicle categories: climate; driving assistance; driving experience; exterior; features/controls/displays; infotainment; interior; powertrain; and seats.

Here’s a look at the most dependable cars, based on J.D. Power’s study for 2023.

Compact Car

In the category of compact cars, the models that ranked highest for dependability for 2023 are:

1. Kia Forte
2. Toyota Corolla
3. Hyundai Elantra

As for the Kia brand as a whole, it ranked third overall for dependability — and ranked highest among all mass-market brands for 2023. There were 152 problems per 100 Kia vehicles, J.D. Power found, compared with the industry average among all brands of 186 problems per 100 vehicles.

Compact Sporty Car

In the category of compact sporty cars, the model that ranked highest for dependability for 2023 is:

1. MINI Cooper

No other vehicle in the category performed at or above the segment average, J.D. Power found. The MINI Cooper brand (although owned by BMW, which is ranked separately) ranked ninth overall for dependability, with 170 problems per 100 MINI vehicles.

Midsize Car

In the category of midsize car, the models that ranked highest for dependability for 2023 are:

1. Kia Optima
2. Chevrolet Malibu
3. Ford Fusion

Midsize Pickup

In the category of midsize pickups, the models that ranked highest for dependability for 2023 are:

1. Toyota Tacoma
2. Chevrolet Colorado

The Toyota brand as a whole took seventh place for dependability, with 168 problems identified per 100 vehicles.

Large Light Duty Pickup

In the category of large light duty pickups, the models that ranked highest for dependability for 2023 are:

1. GMC Sierra
2. Toyota Tundra

The GMC brand ranked 14th in overall dependability, with 175 problems per 100 vehicles. Only one other brand, BMW, ranked below that while still above the industry average.

Large Heavy Duty Pickup

In the category of large heavy duty pickups, the model that ranked highest for dependability for 2023 is:

1. Chevrolet Silverado HD

No other vehicle in the category performed above the segment average, J.D. Power found. The Chevy brand had 162 problems per 100 vehicles, placing it fifth overall for dependability.

Compact SUV

In the category of compact SUVs, the models that ranked highest for dependability for 2023 are:

1. Kia Sportage
2. Buick Envision
3. Jeep Cherokee

Small SUV

In the category of small SUVs, the models that ranked highest for dependability for 2023 are:

1. Toyota C-HR
2. Buick Encore
3. Chevrolet Trax

Small SUV winner Toyota C-HR was the most dependable model in all categories overall, in a tie with the midsize premium SUV winner, the Lexus RX.

Midsize SUV

In the category of midsize SUVs, the models that ranked highest for dependability for 2023 are:

1. Chevrolet Blazer
2. Hyundai Santa Fe
3. Ford Edge

Upper Midsize SUV

In the category of upper midsize SUVs, the models that ranked highest for dependability for 2023 are:

1. Toyota Highlander
2. Kia Sorento
3. Toyota 4Runner

Large SUV

In the category of large SUVs, the models that ranked highest for dependability for 2023 are:

1. Chevrolet Tahoe
2. GMC Yukon

Minivan

In the category of minivans, the models that ranked highest for dependability for 2023 are:

1. Toyota Sienna
2. Kia Sedona

Both minivans and SUVs are efficient options for families, but minivans win some drivers over with additional leg room and sliding rear doors, which make climbing aboard easier both for children and for those with mobility challenges.

Automotive resource Kelley Blue Book points out that the Toyota Sienna, the highest-ranked minivan, features seven USB ports, making it a great choice for keeping those ever-present devices charged on long road trips.

Compact Premium Car

In the category of compact premium cars, the models that ranked highest for dependability for 2023 are:

1. BMW 4 Series
2. Volvo S60
3. BMW 3 Series

While BMW took two of the three top spots in this category, the brand overall just barely beat industry average — it had 184 problems per 100 vehicles, compared with the industry average of 186 across all brands, J.D. Power found.

Compact Premium SUV

In the category of compact premium SUVs, the models that ranked highest for dependability for 2023 are:

1. Lexus NX
2. Cadillac XT4
3. BMW X3

The Lexus brand was the least problematic in J.D. Power’s study overall, with just 133 problems per 100 vehicles.

Small Premium SUV

In the category of small premium SUVs, the models that ranked highest for dependability for 2023 are:

1. BMW X2
2. Mercedes-Benz GLA
3. BMW X1

Midsize Premium SUV

The Lexus RX, which won the midsize premium SUV category, also tied with the Toyota C-HR for most dependable model overall in the J.D. Power 2023 report. Another Lexus took second place among midsize premium SUVs for 2023:

1. Lexus RX
2. Lexus GX

Upper Midsize Premium SUV

In the category of upper midsize premium SUVs, the models that ranked highest for dependability for 2023 are:

1. BMW X5
2. Cadillac XT6
3. Volvo XC90