The Most Reliable Cars of 2010

If you are an owner of a Ford Fusion Hybrid, you are getting great value for your money. Not only do you save on gas, but the Ford Fusion was judged the most reliable family car according to Consumer Reports 2010 Annual Auto Survey. But what makes for a reliable car? Reliability to Consumer Reports means focusing on 17 problem areas and the possible faults that can exist in each area. So for example, under the problem area of "Power Equipment" how many owners of that specific model report the dashboard warning lights or tire pressure monitor failing or under the problem area of "Body Integrity" do the seals allow water to leak, is there a lot of squeaking and/or rattling.

Keep in mind reliability and quality don't mean the same thing. As a group, small cars are the most reliable and luxury SUVs the least reliable. One reason that the luxury SUVs are the least reliable is that they have more complicated systems over a bigger vehicle. Smaller cars however may be reliable but their quality may be dubious, for example the Toyota Yaris is number one among small cars for reliability but has terrible performance so Consumer Reports doesn't recommend the Yaris.

1. Ford Fusion Hybrid
2. Ford Fusion V6
3. Subaru Legacy 4-cylinder

1. Toyota Yaris - not recommended by Consumer Reports because of its low performance scores during testing.
2. Honda Fit
3. Scion XD

1. Acura RL
2. Acura TL
3. Lexus Is 250 rear wheel drive

1. Porsche Boxter
2. Corvette Z06
3. BMW M3 - currently not recommended by Consumer Reports because it has not gone through testing.

1. Honda CR-V
2. Toyota Rav-4 V6
3. Mitsubishi Outlander

1. Toyota Sienna V6
2. Subaru Outback 4-cylinder
3. Volkswagen Jetta 5-cylinder

1. Toyota FJ Cruiser - not recommend by Consumer Reports because of its low performance scores during testing.
2. Toyota Highlander 4-cylinder - currently not recommended by Consumer Reports because it has been through testing.
3. Toyota Highlander V6

1. Ford Flex Turbo V6
2. Toyota Sequoia
3. Chevrolet Traverse (front-wheel drive) - currently not recommended by Consumer Reports because it has not gone through testing.

1. Toyota Tundra V6 - currently not recommended by Consumer Reports because it has not been through testing.
2. Honda Ridgeline
3. Nissan Frontier (2-wheel drive)

1. Lexus LX570 - currently not recommended by Consumer Reports because it has not been through testing.
2. Acura RDX
3. Acura MDX

For a model to have been included in this year's list, at least 100 surveys of each model must be received by Consumer Reports.