These American brands are now more reliable than some Jap...

What’s Happening

Not gonna lie, While brands like Lexus still maintain their status, the tide has shifted.

These American brands are now more reliable than some Japanese rivals Credit: Buick By Joe Kucinski Published Apr 9, 2026, 5:00 PM EDT Joe Kucinski is an author at How-To Geek with a decade of automotive writing experience. As a former SCCA competition license holder, a certified high-performance driving instructor and Porsche Club of America regional officer, Joe brings a unique perspective to his automotive storytelling. (plot twist fr)

Writing and driving are his main passions but he can also quote any movie from the 1980s and holds a black belt in various martial arts disciplines including Taekwondo, Hapkido and Okinawa-Te.

The Details

Sign in to your How-To Geek account Add Us On follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap Buying a vehicle seems to get more expensive each year. On top of the purchase price, you have to factor in gasoline, diesel, or electricity to keep it running.

Insurance, registration fees, and depreciation only add to the overall cost. The last thing you need is an expensive repair bill.

Why This Matters

According to Cox Automotive, the parent company of Kelley Blue Book , the average trip to a repair shop will set you back $838. Repairs are not just costly, they are inconvenient and frustrating. That is why purchasing a dependable vehicle is so important.

This could have major implications for how we use technology going forward.

Key Takeaways

• And while many people assume that means buying a Japanese brand, that is not always the case.
• According to the JD Power 2026 U.
• Vehicle Dependability Study , several American brands proved more dependable than the Japanese brands many consider the gold standard.
• Infiniti, Mazda, and even Honda scored below the industry average, while Cadillac and Chevrolet ranked above it.

The Bottom Line

Infiniti, Mazda, and even Honda scored below the industry average, while Cadillac and Chevrolet ranked above it. Most notably, Buick topped the mass-market segment for the second consecutive year, beating Toyota in the process.

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