https://driving.ca/mazda/auto-news/news/these-are-2020s-most-and-least-reliable-new-cars-brands-per-consumer-reports

1. Mazda 83/100

Mazda clambered one spot to replace Lexus as the most reliable brand of the year. The average score of 83 was earned by crushing it with five vehicles scored at 80 or higher, including the 2021 Mazda CX-5, which snuck onto the top-10 most reliable models of the year list with a score of 85.

None of Mazdas listed vehicles is electrified in any way, however, indicating a correlation between CRs definition of reliability and the good old-fashioned gas engine. 

2. Toyota 74/100

Toyota also rose one place, displacing its luxury relative Lexus to earn the silver medal spot and prove to Mazda and everybody else that winners can do electric, at least partially. The 2021 Prius led the international pack with a 93 score, the highest for any model this year. The Prius Prime plug-in hybrid was also included on the top-ten most reliable list at sixth place with 88 points. 

3. Lexus 71/100

The third position this year went to Lexus, which is a regular in the top few. The LS lagged behind the rest of the lineup with a score of 13 (its tough out here for sedans) but the crossovers and SUVs (GX, NX and UX) all made up for it with scores in the 90s and, for the former two, spots on the top-ten most reliable list. 

4. Buick 70/100

Buick sells just four cars. This small product offering has apparently allowed the American brand to tighten things up in the quality department and leap up 14 spots on the list this year. CR only looked at the Encore and Enclave, but found few enough issues to give it a fourth-place placement. 

5. Honda 63/100

CR attributes steady improvements and some outstanding models for Hondas fifth-place ranking, up from 12th last year. The Odyssey and Passport dragged the fleet down a bit, likely due in part to the August recall that affected over 50,000 vehicles in Canada alone. Star models include the top-ten HR-V and, representing the sedans, the Insight and affordable Clarity PHEV. 

22. Ford 38/100

The Blue Oval found itself in the red chez CR this year, landing at fifth from the bottom of the reliability pile. The 2021 Ford Explorer scored particularly poorly in reliability this year, tipping the scales at 1 point. The Escape had similar issues and earned just ten points, followed by the EcoSport at 28, and Ranger at 29. Only the 2021 Ford Edge got a recommendation.

23. Mini 37/100

There were big problems for Mini this year. It fell 13 spots from last year and neither its Cooper (28 points) or Countryman (45 points) earned the Recommended status.

24. Volkswagen 36/100

Despite VWs popular and reliable Golf (82/100 model score), and the fact that its stationed in the upper half on another prominent organizations reliability ranking, the German automaker bottomed out at 24 of 26 on the CR list.

At 19 points each, the VW Atlas and Jetta more than offset the Golfs high score. In fact, the Atlas made CRs list of ten least reliable models of the year thanks to issues with the climate system, exhaust, fuel system, and more.

25. Tesla 29/100

Tesla is sitting at 25 of 26 on the list, with only one of its vehicles, the Model 3, being recommended by CR this year. For fans of the Musk and his products, this isnt really news, as the EV maker has only fallen two slots since last year, but it is still a clear warning that along with that new EV tech comes new EV issues.

The brands Model Y crossover, for example, got snubbed for basic manufacturing mistakes like poorly installed body panels and colours that dont match. And the Tesla Model S found itself on the least reliable models of the year list, which is no high honour.

26. Lincoln 8/100

Somebody call Matthew McConaughey because his favourite car brand is stinking it up this year, having fallen from mid-pack last year to the bottom this year. Not alright, alright, alright. With a dismal score of 8/100 and only three of its vehicles ranked, Lincoln is the least reliable automotive brand of the 26 included in the survey.