20 Most Reliable Cars of the Decade

Horsethief said:
I really want to love the Jeep, but as I get older and more practical reliability is becoming more important to me than coolness. The Jeep is undeniably a cooler vehicle, but I don't trust it to not become a POS by 100k miles.

I feel like I could get a 4R and easily drive it to 200k miles with nothing but routine maintenance.
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This is literally where I am today. Unwilling to wait 5 months on a T4R build and seriously considering paying the extra $10K for a loaded '18 Rubicon. Yet, fearing longevity will not be my best friend with the JLUR and sitting on a rather thorned fence trying to research / evaluate my decision.

The only thing I have noticed is that in 2012 / 2013 Fiat overhauled the Pentastar engine design and improved it's reliability, supposedly based on cumulative data of over 5 million miles gathered from various engines in existence. But, there still remains the question about the rest of the vehicle.
 
Horsethief said:
Thanks. It's a shame no domestic brands made the list.

I normally take these things with a grain of salt, but it seems like the same results over and over.

I really want to love the Jeep, but as I get older and more practical reliability is becoming more important to me than coolness. The Jeep is undeniably a cooler vehicle, but I don't trust it to not become a POS by 100k miles.

I feel like I could get a 4R and easily drive it to 200k miles with nothing but routine maintenance.
Click to expand...

I did consider a new Rubicon for a bit. I've got friends with Jeeps. But, like you, the reliability really hit home for me. And, I've got Toyota knowledge, and contacts at the dealership.
But... I think the T4R's can be every bit as cool as the Jeeps. I've grown to really love the 5th gen's, and with a few mods, they look as rugged or tough as any of the Rubicons. Obvious differences, but I'm going to be wheeling everywhere I want to with my Jeep friends!
 
encryption said:
This is literally where I am today. Unwilling to wait 5 months on a T4R build and seriously considering paying the extra $10K for a loaded '18 Rubicon. Yet, fearing longevity will not be my best friend with the JLUR and sitting on a rather thorned fence trying to research / evaluate my decision.

The only thing I have noticed is that in 2012 / 2013 Fiat overhauled the Pentastar engine design and improved it's reliability, supposedly based on cumulative data of over 5 million miles gathered from various engines in existence. But, there still remains the question about the rest of the vehicle.
Click to expand...

I have no worries on the engine/drivetrain of the Jeep, it's just everything else that worries me. By most accounts the Pentastar is rock solid, as well as the 5 speed auto and axles.

It's the suspension bits, electrical, and interior parts/fit & finish that worry me. That's where my problems were on my old 97 Grand Cherokee. The engine/transmission never gave me any trouble during 12 years and 165k miles of driving, but by then it was rattletrap, the ac had long stopped working, and the suspension and steering were so loose they were scary. Also a few niggling electrical problems with the clock. radio, and VIC.

My '07 Volvo on the other hand, at 11 years old and 205k miles, still looks and drives like a nearly new car. And other than a finicky backup alarm (probably due to my bike rack) and an intermittent "bulb out" warning that seems to be false, has zero issues.
 
HanginInUtah said:
I did consider a new Rubicon for a bit. I've got friends with Jeeps. But, like you, the reliability really hit home for me. And, I've got Toyota knowledge, and contacts at the dealership.
But... I think the T4R's can be every bit as cool as the Jeeps. I've grown to really love the 5th gen's, and with a few mods, they look as rugged or tough as any of the Rubicons. Obvious differences, but I'm going to be wheeling everywhere I want to with my Jeep friends!
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Yeah, the 5th gens seem pretty solid, though IMO they have some awkward styling cues.

I actually went from wanting a new JKU to wanting a 5th gen, but decided I did not need a $500/month car payment.

I see a lot of 5th gens that have been taken too far (do you even overland, bro?) with accessories, but a mild lift and some 33's def look good on them.

I don't think you can beat the doors and top off ride of the Jeep though, and stock for stock the Jeep is more capable on rock crawling type wheeling. I rented a JK Rubicon on stock tires in Moab last year, and that thing was a mountain goat. I did Fins 'n Things solo and didn't ever need to engage the lockers.

Aftermarket parts are also WAYYYY cheaper for the Jeep. Just price out a front or rear bumper of the 5th gen. Ouch.
 
Horsethief said:
Anyway, any chance the Jeep Wrangler is on the list (lol)? I've kind of been shopping those and just recently started cross shipping the T4R. This is another tick in the T4R column.
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No, no American models made the list - and if one did it would've been a Ford not a Jeep.
 
Horsethief said:
Aftermarket parts are also WAYYYY cheaper for the Jeep. Just price out a front or rear bumper of the 5th gen. Ouch.
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This is another reason to want the Jeep. The aftermarket support is sheer insanity and people came up with some wicked creative add-ons to account for the sheer lack of default options.

Granted the JLUR has addressed a massive number of shortcomings and today, even being $10K more than the 4Runner that I have optioned out, there's still way more it delivers - Android Auto / Apple Car Play / Blind Spot Monitoring / Backup sensors / soft top - hard top combo / 4.41 gears / ability to add 35s without any lift / LED headlights / Remote Proximity Keyless Entry / Better Audio system / Way better steel bumpers / better gas mileage.

Save for the big question mark surrounding reliability and lesser interior / cargo room space, it is a very tempting ride. Plus it would be my first convertible purchase.
 
encryption said:
This is another reason to want the Jeep. The aftermarket support is sheer insanity and people came up with some wicked creative add-ons to account for the sheer lack of default options.

Granted the JLUR has addressed a massive number of shortcomings and today, even being $10K more than the 4Runner that I have optioned out, there's still way more it delivers - Android Auto / Apple Car Play / Blind Spot Monitoring / Backup sensors / soft top - hard top combo / 4.41 gears / ability to add 35s without any lift / LED headlights / Remote Proximity Keyless Entry / Better Audio system / Way better steel bumpers / better gas mileage.

Save for the big question mark surrounding reliability and lesser interior / cargo room space, it is a very tempting ride. Plus it would be my first convertible purchase.
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Oh yeah, the 5th gen is a dinosaur compared to what the JL offers in the way of tech. And with the suspension, gearing, bumpers etc that you mentioned, even at 10k more purchase price you're probably dollars ahead by buying the Jeep, if it fits your needs.

As for reliability, I put 25k a year on my vehicles, so I want longevity. If the Jeep were a 2nd car or I only did 10k-ish a year, I wouldn't even worry about it.
 
Crocket said:
Cool to see 4Runner in top spot..........although a little disappointed mine has the noisy windshield syndrome, weak winter cabin heating abilities and needs the front diff R&R'd due to a long running casting error for the needle bearing causing lots of noise in 2wd mode....

Sigh....I still like it though so will give it a few more chances :-)
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Crocket....what you need are some Mall Terrain mods...their noises will drown out the windshield noise for sure
 
With the exception of trucks I have never been an American automobile guy. Just not my cup of tea. Loved my Saab's, Volvo's, VW's and Audi's back until 2016 when I snagged my TEP and fell in love with it. Prior to that I found Toyota (with exception of the 4Runner and Tundra) to be boring and uninspiring. Reliability has never been something that has been a main factor in my car purchases. The vehicle also has to be appealing to me and an enjoyment to drive. This is subjective or course but give me the most reliable vehicle in the world and make it look like shit and I won't own it plain and simple.

There are those however who won't even wipe their ass unless their TP is top rated in consumer reports. I'm not that guy!
 
Sweet! We own three of the top 20:

#1 - 2017 4-Runner (mine)
#13 - 2013 Lexus RX (wifey)
#16 - 2017 Corolla (son)

Don't foresee needing a new vehicle in a really, really long time!
 
The secret in Toyota's success is their manufacturing capability and their approach to design where they only put in new tech if they absolutely have to and it is thoroughly vetted.

The German OEM's are catching up by using Toyota's techniques, but they are still overly complex relative to competition. This is a legacy issue stemming from the engineer being seen as the most important person in the project or even company.

Bottom line: I'd go through the Gobi desert in a used 5th gen before a brand new G wagen.
 
blanchard7684 said:
The secret in Toyota's success is their manufacturing capability and their approach to design where they only put in new tech if they absolutely have to and it is thoroughly vetted.

The German OEM's are catching up by using Toyota's techniques, but they are still overly complex relative to competition. This is a legacy issue stemming from the engineer being seen as the most important person in the project or even company.

Bottom line: I'd go through the Gobi desert in a used 5th gen before a brand new G wagen.
Click to expand...

Maybe for cheaper encono exports, but is this a worthwhile endeavor for German OEM?

I spent some time in Germany and recall seeing mostly 3-4 year old cars (tons of leases).

In the ‘States, it seems like people pay top dollar for the new tech in a European, then dump them after 3 years, or like me: baby them nervously.

I would argue, German reliability is right where they should be.
 
Before Lexus/Toyota and Honda/Acura rewrote the book, Mercedes Benz was king of reliability.

You still see some of those boxy old diesel 300Ds around, what...40 years later?

Those days are long gone though.
 
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