Short answer — for 2025 the most reliably performing brands and models are still the familiar Japanese names plus a few standouts from other makers. Major reliability studies in late 2024 and early 2025 put Subaru, Lexus, Toyota, Mazda, Honda and (in some studies) Buick/Kia/Hyundai near the top; model-level winners include Toyota Avalon, Corolla/Corolla Hybrid, Camry (Hybrid), Lexus GX, Chevrolet Tahoe and Subaru Crosstrek/Outback. (consumerreports.org, jdpower.com)

Details and why (sources and dates)

• Brand-level winners

  • Consumer Reports’ 2025 brand rankings (published Dec 2024) lists Subaru as the most reliable overall brand for the 2025 model-year analysis, followed by BMW, Lexus and others. CR’s ranking combines owner-survey reliability, road‑test results and owner satisfaction. (consumerreports.org)
  • J.D. Power’s 2025 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study (published Feb 13, 2025) shows Lexus as the highest-ranked brand on dependability (fewest owner‑reported problems per 100 vehicles). J.D. Power measures problems reported by owners of three‑year‑old vehicles (i.e., 2022 model-year cars in the 2025 VDS). (jdpower.com)

• Model-level standouts

  • J.D. Power’s 2025 VDS named the Toyota Avalon the overall top model for dependability and gave segment awards to vehicles such as the Chevrolet Tahoe (large SUV), Toyota Tacoma (midsize pickup) and Lexus GX (midsize premium SUV). Consumer Reports’ model‑level lists also favor Toyota/Lexus models plus Mazda MX‑5, Corolla (and Corolla Hybrid), RAV4 Hybrid and several Hyundai/Kia hybrids in their predicted‑reliability tables. (jdpower.com, GuideAutoWeb.com)

• EVs vs hybrids vs ICE

  • Both Consumer Reports and J.D. Power report that conventional hybrids and internal‑combustion vehicles generally show fewer owner problems than many battery‑electric (BEV) and plug‑in hybrid (PHEV) models in the 2024–2025 data sets — BEVs have improved but still tend to report more issues in some surveys, largely driven by software/electronics growing pains. If you want the lowest short‑term problem risk in 2025, established hybrid or ICE models from Toyota, Lexus, Honda and Subaru are a safer bet than newly released EVs. (consumerreports.org, jdpower.com)

• Other reliable-data sources

  • RepairPal’s ongoing reliability/repair‑cost database also ranks Honda/Acura, Toyota/Lexus, Kia/Hyundai and Mazda highly for low repair frequency and cost — useful to check model‑level annual repair‑cost estimates before buying. (RepairPal.com)

How to use this when shopping

• Prefer model‑level ratings over brand averages — a brand can have very reliable models and some problem models. Check J.D. Power (dependability and initial quality), Consumer Reports (owner surveys and predicted reliability) and RepairPal (repair frequency/cost) for the specific year/model you’re considering. (jdpower.com, consumerreports.org, RepairPal.com)
• Be cautious about newly redesigned models and brand-new powertrains: new launches often show higher problems in these 2025 studies. (jdpower.com)
• If you prioritize long‑term low ownership cost: mainstream Toyotas/Lexus, Hondas, Mazdas and certain Subarus and well‑rated Kia/Hyundai models remain among the safest choices based on 2024–early‑2025 data. (consumerreports.org, RepairPal.com)

If you want, I can:

• Give a short list of the top reliable models in a particular segment (compact car, midsize sedan, small SUV, pickup, EV) with direct links to the J.D. Power / Consumer Reports / RepairPal pages for each model, or
• Look up reliability for one or two specific 2025 models you’re considering (and show the model‑by‑model data).