Predicted reliability is one of the most useful numbers a new-car shopper can check before signing anything. Consumer Reports builds its forecasts from large owner surveys and ranks vehicles by how few problems they are expected to have. Here are twelve models that landed near the top of the 2026 lists, from a compact sedan to a three-row hybrid SUV.
1. Subaru Impreza: Tops The Scoreboard
The compact sits at the very top of the 2026 field, with a predicted reliability score of 80 in Consumer Reports’ score of 80. That figure is the highest Consumer Reports assigned to any new model in this ranking, and it puts an entry-level Subaru ahead of far pricier vehicles.
For shoppers who want a new car with the lowest expected odds of trouble, the top slot is the clearest signal in the data. A predicted score is a forecast based on past owner surveys, so it describes likelihood, not a guarantee for any single car.
2. Toyota Corolla Cross: Close Behind The Leader
Consumer Reports gave the subcompact crossover a predicted reliability score of 79, just one point under the leader, as Car Guide’s reliability list lists it. That places a small, affordable Toyota crossover in the very top tier of the 2026 rankings.
Buyers weighing a small SUV can treat the number as evidence that low running costs need not mean a compromise on dependability. Because the score is a prediction built on survey history, checking a specific car’s condition and service record still matters.
3. Subaru Crosstrek: Rugged Look, Steady Score
Consumer Reports scored the Crosstrek 78 for predicted reliability, a figure reported in Consumer Reports’ score of 78 that keeps it in the top group. It shares that score with the Toyota Crown, so a raised hatchback and a large sedan land at the same mark.
Owners attracted by the raised ride height and all-weather image get a dependability forecast that matches the pitch. As with every predicted score, it is an expectation drawn from past surveys rather than a promise.
4. Toyota Crown: A Big Sedan At 78
The Crown earned a predicted reliability score of 78 from Consumer Reports, according to Car Guide’s top ten. That ties it with the Subaru Crosstrek and keeps a newer, more unconventional Toyota among the 2026 leaders.
Shoppers curious about a newer nameplate often worry about early-production glitches, so a high forecast is a useful counterweight. The score remains a prediction, and individual cars can still differ. Reading the number alongside the rest of the list helps put a single score in context.
5. Toyota Highlander: A Top-Ten Family Hauler
The three-row SUV ranks No. 9 on Consumer Reports’ most reliable list for 2026, per Quartz’s 2026 ranking. It is one of several Toyotas that make the cut, which says something about how consistently the brand shows up in such surveys.
Families who need space for passengers and cargo can see the Highlander as a rare large vehicle with a top-ten reliability ranking. Rankings shift with each survey cycle, so the position reflects this year’s data only.
6. Toyota Tacoma: A Truck Built To Last
The midsize pickup holds the No. 6 spot on Consumer Reports’ 2026 list, and Quartz’s rundown credits it with earning that place for durability. A truck in the top six of a list dominated by cars and crossovers is notable.
Buyers who plan to tow, haul or work the truck hard get a ranking that supports the Tacoma’s long-standing reputation. A strong list position still depends on how the individual truck is used and maintained.
7. Honda Accord: Midsize Stalwart At No. 7
The Accord sits at No. 7 on Consumer Reports’ most reliable list for 2026, as Quartz’s list of winners reports. The midsize sedan is one of the larger cars on a ranking that leans toward compact models.
Commuters and families who prefer a conventional sedan can read the placement as confirmation that the Accord remains a safe pick. The list ranks the vehicle as a whole, so specific trims and powertrains may vary.
8. Toyota Grand Highlander: The Hybrid Lands At No. 8
The Grand Highlander Hybrid is No. 8 on Consumer Reports’ 2026 most reliable list, according to Quartz’s top-ten tally. Notably, the ranking is for the hybrid version of a roomy three-row SUV.
Large families who want extra cargo and seating room alongside hybrid efficiency get a model with a top-ten forecast. The ranking applies to the Hybrid specifically, so other configurations are not covered by it. That distinction matters because trim and powertrain choices can change how a model performs in owner surveys.
9. Honda HR-V: Above Average And Affordable
Consumer Reports predicts above-average reliability for the HR-V, a point made in CarEdge’s reliability guide. The subcompact crossover is the entry point to Honda’s SUV lineup.
Buyers shopping at the low end of the crossover market can expect better-than-typical dependability without moving up a size class. Above average is a broader claim than a numeric score, so the forecast is directional rather than precise. Reading it next to the numeric scores elsewhere on the list shows how the broader ranking works.
10. Hyundai Elantra Hybrid: A Sedan Near The Front
The Elantra Hybrid is among the top-ranked sedans in the latest Consumer Reports reliability survey, as CarEdge’s sedan picks describes it. That puts a fuel-sipping compact sedan in the leading group of its class.
Commuters who want low fuel use and a dependable forecast in one package find both boxes ticked here. The wording describes a place among sedans rather than a specific score. Reading it alongside the other sedans on the list helps put the position in context.
11. Kia Sorento Hybrid: The Three-Row Champion
Consumer Reports named the Sorento Hybrid the most reliable three-row SUV, according to CarEdge’s three-row verdict. That is a category-level win, not merely a spot on an overall list.
Families comparing three-row vehicles get a clear answer from the survey data about which hybrid has the best forecast. The title covers that segment only, so it says nothing about vehicles outside it. Reading the claim alongside the other models on the list helps put its significance in context.
12. Subaru Forester: Consistently Above Average
The Forester regularly scores above average in Consumer Reports reliability surveys, as CarEdge’s compact SUV entry notes. The word regularly points to a pattern across survey cycles rather than one strong year.
Compact SUV shoppers who value a track record can lean on that repeated showing. Because the claim is general, it signals a trend and not a specific number for the current model. Reading it next to the numeric scores elsewhere on the list shows how steady the pattern is.
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