BMW ranks seventh in Consumer Reports' used car reliability study

It is the time of year when Consumer Reports evaluates car manufacturers based on the reliability of their used cars for their owners. For the latest study CR analyzed more than 150,000 vehicles from model years 2014 to 2019. The result of this thorough evaluation is based on problems reported during the last 12 months of ownership.

Special, CR was curious about what kind of problems owners were experiencing, from minor issues like interior trim coming loose to major ones that required out-of-warranty engine or transmission replacement. Electric vehicles were also included in the analysis, with a focus on difficulties related to the battery and charging.

How did BMW fare? Quite OK. The German luxury brand came in seventh place with a reliability rating of 46. The models from the 2 to 5 series as well as the X1, X3 and X5 were analyzed. BMW came in ahead of Mercedes (10^th Place) and Audi (16th.^th place), it finished behind Lexus. Yes, Toyota's luxury brand was first. No surprise, right? As expected, its mainstream sibling finished second, while Mazda rounded out the podium.

For BMW, it is a ray of hope that the Munich-based company was actually the best-placed brand among European car manufacturers. MINI, on the other hand, ended up disappointingly low, reaching only 12th place.^th Place between two American luxury brands: Cadillac and Lincoln. At the bottom of the ranking were Tesla (24), Dodge (25) and Chrysler (26).

After looking at previous data, CR praises Lexus and Toyota for developing reliable new cars that remain reliable even as they age. Honorable mentions go to two other Japanese brands – Acura and Honda – which finished fourth and fifth, respectively. The only American automaker to make the top 10 was Buick, which came in sixth.

These lists don't necessarily tell the whole story, as the reliability of a car also depends on how well the owners take care of it. We all know that regular maintenance can make a big difference than neglecting maintenance for a long period of time.

Source: Consumer Reports