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Mazda tops 2020 Consumer Reports reliability survey

Friday, 20 November 2020

Toyota lost its seemingly unshakable perch atop the closely followed Consumer Reports Auto Reliability rankings, usurped by previously second-place Mazda for the first time in the 2020 list.

But Toyota - whose vehicles have topped the rankings in every previous year - still performed well, with the automaker's namesake brand placing second and its luxury brand, Lexus, placing third.

Tesla, which has struggled in quality studies due to manufacturing miscues, placed second to last. Ford's luxury brand, Lincoln, was last.

Mazda has taken the top position in the 2020 Consumer Reports Auto Reliability rankings, beating Toyota for the first time.
Mazda has taken the top position in the 2020 Consumer Reports Auto Reliability rankings, beating Toyota for the first time.

The Consumer Reports rankings reflect the magazine's predictions of 2021 model-year reliability based on an assessment of recent vehicle performance data reported by more than 300,000 car owners. The fewer problems reported in the last 12 months for vehicles from the last three model years, the better the score.

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Toyota still ranked highly, despite losing pole position. It took second, while its luxury brand, Lexus came in third.
Toyota still ranked highly, despite losing pole position. It took second, while its luxury brand, Lexus came in third.

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Part of Mazda’s winning strategy is designing attractive cars that incrementally improve on older models. It also doesn
Part of Mazda’s winning strategy is designing attractive cars that incrementally improve on older models. It also doesn't offer hugely technical infotainment systems, a common source of complaints from users.

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Out of all the vehicles Tesla offers, Consumer Reports said it can only recommend the Model 3.
Out of all the vehicles Tesla offers, Consumer Reports said it can only recommend the Model 3.

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The group also rated the top 10 most-reliable cars of 2021, ranking the Toyota Prius at the top, and the 10 least reliable, with the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups earning the dubious honours of least reliable.

Mazda achieved the highest overall score among 26 rated brands due in part to what Consumer Reports called an iterative approach to vehicle redesign. In other words, Mazda doesn't change a lot when it redesigns its vehicles, making it less likely that its vehicles will experience unexpected flaws and defects due to new technology.

But Mazda still has a stylish design that ensures its vehicles aren't stodgy, said Jake Fisher, senior director of automotive testing for Consumer Reports.

'When it comes to reliability, it's always been this argument of making the cars exciting or making them reliable,' Fisher said. Mazda 'shows you can make cars that are fun and reliable.'

One factor boosting Mazda's scores: It hasn't invested heavily in modern infotainment systems, which tend to generate complaints about flaws.

'They're just about the only manufacturer that's launching new models without a touch screen,' Fisher said.

While infotainment systems remain problematic in many cases, owners are increasingly reporting flaws with their vehicle transmissions, as well, according to Consumer Reports.

Fisher attributed the trend to automakers' introduction of high-tech transmissions, such as dual-clutch automatic transmissions that uses electronic controls to mimic the performance of a manual.

Silverado and Sierra owners reported transmission issues, for example, Fisher said.

Meanwhile, Tesla owners continue to report problems with the assembly of their vehicles, including fit-and-finish defects.

“One owner found what they thought was human hair stuck in the paint,' Fisher said. 'We don't see other manufacturers having those types of issues.'

Of Tesla's four vehicles - the Model 3 compact car, the Model Y crossover, the Model X SUV and the Model S sedan - Consumer Reports said it can only recommend the Model 3.

Here is Consumer Reports' ranking of the major automotive brands, according to their average reliability score:

The 10 most reliable cars of 2021, according to Consumer Reports:

The 10 least reliable 2021 models, according to Consumer Reports: