Reliable Luxury Cars and SUVs from Porsche, Lexus, and Genesis
There are some reliable luxury cars and SUVs that have retained trustworthy status year after year. The Porsche 911 made the list of reliable luxury cars, while the Lincoln Corsair is a reliable luxury SUV. With data from J.D. Power and the NHTSA, these five vehicles didn’t give the owners any extra headaches.
The Porsche 911 is a performance-oriented reliable luxury car
The Drive compiled a list of vehicles that are commonly labeled as “reliable.” The Porsche 911 consistently sits on the top of reliable luxury car lists. In the last five years, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) only had a few complaints about the Porsche 911. These are related to airbag sensors, the upper control arm, suspension components, and some other issues.
From J.D. Power, the 911’s lowest reliability score came in at 79/100. However, it was also rated the Most Dependable Car of 2021 by the company. The highest reliability score came in at 90/100. Car Complaints, a website that logs complaints by owners, no complaints about the 911 appear from the last seven years.
The Cadillac XT5 is a luxury SUV option
Cadillac has been working hard behind the scenes to repair its reputation for unreliable vehicles. The NHTSA has a few issues listed for the 2020 XT5 and the 2017 XT5. These include sudden air loss in tires, engine stalling, and a failing roof-rail airbag. The rest of the years didn’t show any problems for the Cadillac XT5.
When it came to the J.D. Power Consumer Reliability Score, there wasn’t much variation. The five years showed scores between 80/100 and 82/100. In the Car Complaints section, there were two common issues. One owner noted that the 2017 model shudders when the vehicle slows down. A second problem arose when drivers tried to pair a phone to the car. Apple CarPlay doesn’t always work, which can be a nuisance.
The Lexus ES is a reliable luxury car thanks to Toyota
The Lexus ES might not be the first car that comes to mind when you think of reliable luxury cars, but perhaps it should be. The NHTSA says there have been only four complaints in the last five years for the ES. The fuel pump failing is listed three times, which seems to be a common issue. That can be a pricy replacement, but it can be overlooked if that is the only issue.
The J.D. Power score goes from 79/100 to 87/100, all of which are relatively high. Car Complaints doesn’t show any formal complaints from customers in the last five years. The ES has been a reliable luxury car for many years, which likely won’t change anytime soon. It isn’t the most innovative sedan on the market, but it doesn’t need to be.
The Genesis G80 is a newcomer, but is worth a second look
When it comes to the Genesis G80, it is the newest luxury vehicle on the list. With that said, the 2017 model saw many complaints about the anti-lock brake system short-circuiting. In 2018, owners complained about the same brake issue. Customers filed another problem relating to an oil leak. The final major problem in 2018 Genesis G80 vehicles was the passenger airbag deploying with a child in the front seat.
The J.D. Power score doesn’t move around too much. The lowest score for the G80 came in at 76/100 and peaked at 80/100. Car Complaints doesn’t show any formal complaints from customers. If Genesis keeps it up, the brand will cement its place in luxury car history.
Whatever you want to call it, the Lincoln Corsair / Lincoln MKC is a reliable luxury SUV
Finally, the Lincoln Corsair, formally known as the Lincoln MKC, is the only SUV to grace this list. The Corsair is built on the Ford Escape and is a compact luxury crossover that offers the best of both worlds. The Lincoln SUV has a few complaints from the NHTSA on record. The brake hoses had an issue in 2018, while a broken rearview camera and missing bolts on the stop/start accumulator were present in 2020. For 2021, buyers found there might be inadequate lubrication in the rear-drive unit.
The score from J.D. Power remained consistent through the last five years. The score went from 83/100 to 81/100. Car Complaints noted a few issues from owners of the MKC, but nothing for the Corsair yet.
The IIHS is also a good source for vehicle safety
Another excellent source for researching cars is the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Similar to the NHTSA, the company offers safety ratings and crashworthiness scores for most cars and SUVs. Consumer Reports provides a reliability score for vehicles that includes feedback from owners as well.
