EVs Are Getting More Reliable, but They Still Lag Behind Hybrids and Gas-Only Cars
Many hybrid cars are reliability stars, but a few newer models have problems
Consumer Reports’ annual reliability survey has found that new electric vehicles (EVs) have fewer problems today than in the past. But EVs and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) are still likely to have more problems compared with both regular hybrid and conventional gas-only vehicles.
On average, EVs from the past three model years have had 42 percent more problems than gas-only cars, according to our exclusive survey data. That might sound like a lot, but the figure represents a significant improvement over our previous year’s survey results, when EVs had 79 percent more problems than gas-only cars. PHEVs improved this year as well, with 70 percent more problems than gas-only cars. That’s a significant improvement from last year, when they had 146 percent more problems than both hybrid and gas-only vehicles.
Many Hybrids Are Reliable—But Not All
Hybrid vehicles combine a gas engine, battery, and electric motor for improved fuel economy. Unlike PHEVs, standard hybrids can’t be plugged in to recharge their battery. Many hybrids stand out as the most reliable vehicles you can buy, and our survey data shows that hybrids, as a category, are as reliable as nonhybrid gas cars. They’re also more reliable than PHEVs (hybrids that can be plugged in for recharging and driven for a short range using only the battery) or pure EVs (which have no gas engine).
“There are more new hybrids on the market than ever, from more automakers than ever, and they aren’t immune to the issues we see from most brand-new vehicles,” says Steven Elek, who leads the auto data analytics program at Consumer Reports.
For example, the makers of some full-sized trucks tried to improve fuel economy with optional hybrid powertrains. But these trucks typically have more problems than their nonhybrid counterparts. Most notable is the Ford F-150 Hybrid, which is the least-reliable vehicle in our survey.
“Even Toyota has tested some new technology with newer motors and infotainment systems, and it has shown up as problems with their redesigns the last few years, like the Tacoma and Tundra pickup trucks,” Elek says.
But our survey also shows that some longstanding Toyota and Lexus hybrids and PHEVs remain some of the most reliable vehicles, period. The Toyota RAV4 Prime and RAV4 Hybrid SUVs, Toyota Corolla Hybrid sedan, Toyota Prius hatchback, and Lexus NX Hybrid are all on our list of the 10 most reliable cars, joined by the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid sedan.
Learn more about the reliability of new and used cars.
EVs Get Better as They Grow Up
EVs are battery-powered vehicles that need to be plugged in to charge. As was the case in prior years, newer manufacturers are still struggling to catch up with more established automakers. Both Lucid and Rivian started delivering new cars to owners only in 2021. The Lucid Air is the least-reliable electric sedan, and of brands for which we have sufficient data, Rivian is the least reliable. (We didn’t have enough data to rate Lucid as a brand overall.) By comparison, Tesla has been building vehicles since 2008. Today, the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y have average reliability, while the Model X and Model S have below-average reliability.
“Building cars is a complex endeavor, and it can take a while for a new company to get the hang of things,” says Jake Fisher, senior director of auto testing at Consumer Reports. “Although Tesla still struggles with some quality issues, it shows that it’s possible for a startup automaker to mature into building more reliable vehicles.”
The most reliable EV in our rankings is the BMW i4, which has been on sale since 2022. Many other EVs have average reliability, including the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Genesis GV60, Hyundai Ioniq 6, Kia EV9 and Niro Electric, Nissan Ariya and Leaf, and Tesla Model 3 and Model Y.
Other legacy automakers still struggle with EV technology. For example, the new Chevrolet Blazer EV and Cadillac Lyriq are based on an all-new electric vehicle platform from GM. Both vehicles had problems when they first debuted, including some we experienced with our own tested vehicle. Although we don’t factor our experiences into vehicle reliability scores, many owners also complained about the EV battery, electrical accessories, climate system, and in-car electronics. This is reflected in the below-average reliability scores of both vehicles. The Volkswagen ID.4 and Ford F-150 Lightning also make our list of least-reliable new cars.
The BMW iX and Audi Q8 E-Tron luxury electric SUVs lost their Consumer Reports recommendations due to reliability problems, including those with their EV batteries. The Kia EV6 lost its recommendation for several reasons, including charging problems. (We only factor in reports where charging problems are with the vehicle itself, not with home or public chargers.)
In addition, some EVs have problems beyond their electric drivetrains. Owners were also likely to report problems with in-car electronics and electrical accessories, according to Elek. “EVs are often a test bed for new technology, so there are more electrical accessory and in-car electronics issues as well,” he says.
Plug-In Hybrids Have Fewer Problems Than Before
Plug-in hybrids, which are like traditional hybrids but can be plugged in to charge the battery for short-range all-electric driving, have also become more reliable as a category. We now recommend the Volvo XC60 PHEV, and the Toyota RAV4 Prime PHEV is once again one of the most reliable vehicles in our survey.
But having both electric and gasoline powertrains increases the chances of problems. This is partly why, even after improving reliability from last year, PHEVs typically have more issues than both standard hybrid and gas-only vehicles. Although the BMW X5, Kia Sportage, and Lexus NX PHEVs all have average reliability, their non-PHEV versions are more reliable.
The Mazda CX-90 PHEV is the least reliable three-row SUV we have data on because of issues with the hybrid battery, electrical accessories, and climate system. It’s not surprising that its unique engine, PHEV system, and rear-wheel drive setup were all designed from the ground up.
