Only 1 Buick Model Gained Improved Reliability in 2022
Buick has traditionally occupied a niche in General Motors’ lineup between the mainstream Chevrolet brand and the luxury Cadillac brand. In this position, it offers upscale, near-luxury vehicles to those looking for a car with premium features at a somewhat more affordable price. Yet, potential buyers want reliability with affordability.
Who determines car reliability?
While there are plenty of rating agencies that analyze cars, most poll vehicle owners on the reliability of their vehicles in terms of performance, features, infotainment, and more. Outlets use the responses received to rank vehicles in terms of their predicted reliability, and certain trends typically emerge.
First, as usual, pickup trucks rank near the bottom, and of the dozen and a half pickup models ranked, only seven had average or better reliability. In addition, EVs faced struggles of their own. Challenges with EVs included their battery packs, charging systems, and drive motors, USA Today reports.
At the other end of the spectrum, hybrids and sedans fared well overall. Sedans continued their streak of being the most reliable type of vehicle in the survey, and hybrids proved themselves generally at least equal to their non-hybrid counterparts in terms of dependability. Nevertheless, the overlooked brand Buick did little to shed its forgetfulness as only one Buick model improved from the previous year.
This Buick model has improved its reliability ranking
Of the models that were gained in reliability, only one was made by Buick, the Enclave midsize SUV. The five-seater advanced from average to above average in owner satisfaction, and reliability took the same path.
The 2022 Buick Enclave ranked acceptably in predicted reliability and slightly impressed on its road test, according to Edmunds. It especially stood out with the following:
- Ample cargo and passenger room
- Generous standard features
- Multiple device charging stations
- Smooth, quiet ride
While the current 2022 Enclave seems reliable, some problems with past year models have made it challenging to get a very high predicted reliability score. For instance, CarComplaints indicates a slew of issues with the first-generation SUV. However, once Buick debuted the second-generation Enclave in 2018, owner-reported issues dropped dramatically.
Other models also had better reliability in 2022
Very few other American-made vehicles improved in reliability in 2022. The Chevy Corvette and the Ford Escape Hybrid made the grade, as did the Lincoln Corsair and Nautilus. Moreover, each brand rose in J.D. Power’s 2022 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), beating out typical reliable brands such as Honda and Volkswagen.
Unsurprisingly, many of the vehicles receiving accolades for increased reliability were made by Japanese and Korean manufacturers. Japanese cars on the improved reliability list include the Mitsubishi Outlander, Nissan Rogue, Subaru Ascent, and Toyota Corolla Hatchback. Among Korean-made vehicles, Hyundai and Genesis boasted two each: Hyundai’s Santa Fe and Santa Fe Hybrid and Genesis’ G80 and GV70.
Finally, we can’t forget our friends in Europe. The Mini Cooper’s reliability improved from the previous year, as did the Volvo S60. However, Volvo remains near the bottom of the most recent VDS.
Of course, there are also some vehicles to watch out for, in the sense that some rating agencies found that their reliability was declining. These include the Ford Bronco Sport and Mustang Mach-E, as well as the Hyundai Elantra and Kona. The Nissan Sentra, Toyota Tundra, and Volvo XC60 also were listed as having declining reliability.
Reliability is certainly a key consideration when vehicle shopping, so it’s always a good idea to check out what outlets have to say before making any final decisions. Otherwise, you might end up in the repair shop more often than you’d like.
