You could argue that tires are the four most important safety and performance features of a car, but all major components are equally critical. If one of them breaks down, the car becomes unusable.
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However, the engine is the heart of your car, and the performance of any moving thing depends largely on its heart. Speed and power are impressive, but Americans are increasingly driving their cars longer and want cars with engines that won’t let them down and don’t need inconvenient and expensive repairs.
Some brands are known not only for the reliability of their cars, but also for their engines. Here are five car brands that have the most reliable engines.
5. Ford
It has become second nature to say that the most reliable cars on the market come from Japan and, to a lesser extent, South Korea. That may be true, but American brands know how to build sophisticated, efficient, high-performance engines that last for centuries.
Ford has a long history with engines. In fact, Henry Ford’s first invention was the engine that he eventually used to power his first car. Throughout their history, Ford engines have been synonymous with performance, reliability and durability, with their vehicles often exceeding owners’ mileage expectations. Ford’s durable 5.0 Coyote V8 and 3.5 V6 EcoBoost engines pave the way for new engine technology for internal combustion, hybrid and electrified vehicles.
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4. Chevrolet
Owning many different car companies over the years – including Buick, Cadillac and Lotus now and Oldsmobile, Pontiac and Saturn in the past – General Motors has created countless engines. However, Chevrolet stands out among the GM subsidiaries with its reliable and powerful engines that hold up even after a few scrolls on the odometer.
While Chevy’s diesel engines are hard to beat, its V8s are iconic. The LS engine has gone through three generations of replacements since 1997 and has proven to be easy to maintain and trouble-free throughout its life. The 5.7-liter LT1 engine powered Corvettes and Camaros with plenty of horsepower in the 1990s, and the new Gen V engines move Chevrolet up JD Power’s reliability rankings every year.
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3. Lexus
According to JD Power’s 2023 Vehicle Reliability Survey, Lexus topped the list and the RX was named the most reliable vehicle on the market (tied with Toyota’s C-HR). For 2024, the luxury brand tops its segment and the entire industry for the second consecutive year.
Reliability has quickly become a hallmark of Lexus, which cannot be said for most other luxury brands on the market. According to RepairPal, Lexus owners typically spend about $551 per year on maintenance and upkeep. Equipped with engines like the 1UR-FE, 2JZ and 2GR variants, Lexus models (and some Toyotas) are some of the most reliable cars you can buy.
2. Honda
For decades, Honda has built a reputation for engines that can rack up the miles with nothing more than regular maintenance and care. In short, the typical life of a Honda vehicle is about 200,000 miles. However, many Honda models are known to exceed even the wildest expectations of their owners.
Whether Honda carries a K-series engine (Honda Civic SI, Element, CR-V), J35 (Honda Pilot, Acura MDX, Honda Accord, Honda Odyssey) or H22A (turn-of-the-century Preludes and Accord SiR sedans and Wagons), you are assured of reliability and durability of the highest class.
1. Toyota
You can’t become the best-selling and most reliable brand in the world without making great engines that perform consistently well. Over the years, Toyota has introduced resilient engines that have regularly provided owners with hundreds of thousands of miles of driving pleasure.
CarBuzz highlights several sturdy Toyota engines that have stood the test of time, including the 3.5-liter V6 2GR engine that has powered many of the brand’s most popular models (Tacoma, Camry, Highlander and Avalon; Lexus ES, GS, IS and RX).
Of particular note are the powerful 1JZ and 2JZ engines and the UZ engine family, which powered many of Toyota’s luxury sedans, vans, pickups (eg Tundra) and off-road SUVs (eg Land Cruiser, Sequoia and Lexus LX/GX).
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 5 Car Brands with the Most Reliable Engines
