Consumer Reports has released its annual reliability report and it has some interesting results. The company collected data from hundreds of thousands of vehicle owners in the US to build a picture of the reliability of the different models.
While the report found that electric cars tend to be less reliable than their equivalent petrol counterparts, some brands have topped the results to reverse the trend.
Tesla Model 3 The results were compiled from more than 1,000 vehicle owners who have owned the vehicle since 2018. The vehicle was given a reliability score of 3 out of 5 and placed third in the Luxury Compact Cars group, not just electric. Model 3 came in second in the electrical classification.
The Kia EV6 took first place, unsurprisingly despite being a new vehicle on the market. Customers seem very happy with their choice, but Consumer Reports notes that as the car ages, the reliability score may not hold up.
Interestingly, the good old Nissan Leaf took third place with an overall score of 70, estimating reliability as 3 out of 5.
Tesla and Nissan have the most experience in producing electric cars, both of which have been making the vehicles for over a decade. The cars produced by the two companies are much more reliable than their competitors, but they still lag behind older petrol or diesel vehicles, according to Consumer Reports.
Consumer Reports blames batteries and electric motors, which are still very new technology, but the new user interface offered by electric cars also has its fair share of blame. New EV companies are battling with increasing complaints and frequent recalls show vehicle issues, vehicle owners locking into cars.
Obviously, the relatively lower reliability of electric vehicles is partly due to manufacturers introducing new products to meet the ever-increasing demand.
In the long run, this approach hurts both the manufacturers and the market. Electric cars have a bad reputation and consumers don’t want to buy them. While it’s still too early to consider all the implications and honesty – Consumer Reports is limited to the US market, which unfortunately lags far behind the rest of the world when it comes to electric vehicle selection.
CR Electric vehicle reliability scores
It will be interesting to see the results next year when VW, Audi and Mercedes will launch a full lineup of electric vehicles in the US. Many more electric cars will be on sale than there are now, and then the numbers will be more representative. But the message is clear – quality needs to improve, high market demand is no excuse for below-average cars, and manufacturers need to step up their game.