It’s always good to have a glance at the Consumer Reports Magazine from time to time when buying or thinking about purchasing a new vehicle. This year, Toyota again leads U.S. auto reliability survey, Buick surprises us all by being the first American brand in 35 years to place in the top 3.
When surveys like this come out, it makes our Toy Car Care team proud to be the largest, independent Toyota and Lexus service facility in Denver. And if you drive one, we’d be more than happy to help maintain your vehicle, ensuring you also enjoy the reliability they’re famous for providing.
As you might know, Consumer Reports has been tracking brand reliability since the early 1980s, and most people take to heart what the reports say, especially when it comes to the reliability factor.
Now, Buick is a semi-luxury vehicle catering to a particular demographic that really enjoys driving them. While owned by GM, the Buick brand doesn’t have an extensive product line, nor does it offer pickups or truck-based SUVs like other brands (Chevrolet and Cadillac) from its parent company. With so few models to judge, perhaps its ranking isn’t all that surprising.
Meanwhile, Toyota produces all types of vehicles, from small compact cars to heavy-duty pickup and work trucks for commercial fleets. So, when Toyota and Lexus rank in the top 2 for auto reliability for the last four years in a row, it makes people take notice, especially when there has been a steady rise in the reliability of other brands.
In fact, there have been improvements with different manufacturers across the board, especially U.S. manufacturers like Ford, Chrysler, GM, and Nissan, to name a few. For example, the Nissan Infinity was named most improved and gained a whopping 16 places in the overall Consumer Reports survey.
As for ever-popular SUVs, Toyota RAV4 and Toyota 4Runner were named best in their respective size categories. No surprise there!
Everyone has a style and brand of vehicle to which they tend to gravitate. While it’s easy to go out and test drive a new model for power, performance, and aesthetic quality, how do you test reliability? You really can’t. That’s why reports from the industry are an excellent way to get a feel for what has a solid reputation and won’t leave you stranded on the side of the road.
While the Consumer Reports data shows Toyota again leads U.S. auto reliability survey, Buick surprises with a third place finish. But the bigger picture shows that Buick’s small stable of vehicles and devoted fan base might give the brand an edge. It’s just a little something to think about if you’re eyeing a Buick.
Of course, Toy Car Care is a great place to bring your Toyota or Lexus if you want to ensure its reliability. While they’re rock solid vehicles, basic care and maintenance like oil changes affect their performance. Together, we can make sure Toyota and Lexus top the reliability charts again next year.
For more information about Toy Car Care visit our website at www.toycarcare.com
Steve Wilbur