Japanese vehicle brands continue to outperform competitors on long-term reliability, according to a new report from online used-car retailer Clutch.
The Clutch Certified Reliability Report, based on more than 100,000 vehicle inspections conducted since 2017, found German luxury brands such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi fail inspection 39 per cent more often than Japanese vehicles once they pass the 100,000-kilometre mark. American brands performed worse, failing inspections 60 per cent more often than Japanese models at similar mileage levels.
“With our Clutch Certified criteria, it becomes clear that the common marker of quality for consumers, brands, and price tag doesn’t hold up once a vehicle is driven and used,” said Dan Park, CEO of Clutch, in a statement.
The report ranked Lexus, Subaru, Acura, Toyota and Honda as the top five brands in its reliability index. Clutch said the findings challenge assumptions that premium pricing or luxury branding automatically translate into long-term durability.
The report also examined electric vehicle reliability and concluded Tesla manufacturing quality heavily skews perceptions of EV dependability. According to Clutch, Tesla vehicles accounted for 78 per cent of the EVs it acquired. The company said Teslas showed higher issue rates involving brakes and suspension, electrical systems, body quality, interiors and HVAC systems compared with non-Tesla EVs. Non-Tesla electric vehicles, meanwhile, recorded the lowest warranty claim rate of any powertrain category in the report, outperforming both gasoline and hybrid vehicles.
Rust remained the leading cause of inspection failures in Canada, appearing in nearly half of vehicles that failed inspections. Engine failures, drivetrain issues and fluid leaks were also major contributors.
Clutch based the report on vehicles processed through its 210-point inspection and certification program, using inspection data, warranty claims, reconditioning records and customer returns.
