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Reliability by generation

Are new cars more reliable? Same brands, different generations

Every car here was checked at the same point in its life — 5–10 years old — so a 2012 model inspected back then and a 2018 model inspected recently compare fairly. Across all brands the answer is humbling: the share still in good condition has barely moved between generations (~55–60%). Cars overall aren't getting better or worse — but individual brands moved a lot, in both directions.

12
Brands with enough data
2,214
Cars inspected at 5–10 yrs old
4
Model-year generations
~55%
Of the newest generation in good shape — same as a decade ago
Brand by brand
Audi ▲ Newer Audis are holding up better 40% 60% 80% 2012–14: 61% in good shape (age-adjusted; 19 cars, raw 63%) 61 2015–17: 54% in good shape (age-adjusted; 24 cars, raw 50%) 54 2018+: 79% in good shape (age-adjusted; 20 cars, raw 85%) 79 2009–11 2012–14 2015–17 2018+
Lexus ▲ Newer Lexus vehicles are holding up better 40% 60% 80% 2012–14: 61% in good shape (age-adjusted; 19 cars, raw 58%) 61 2015–17: 72% in good shape (age-adjusted; 44 cars, raw 68%) 72 2018+: 68% in good shape (age-adjusted; 16 cars, raw 75%) 68 2009–11 2012–14 2015–17 2018+
BMW ▬ Consistent across generations 40% 60% 80% 2012–14: 67% in good shape (age-adjusted; 34 cars, raw 68%) 67 2015–17: 64% in good shape (age-adjusted; 46 cars, raw 63%) 64 2018+: 73% in good shape (age-adjusted; 42 cars, raw 81%) 73 2009–11 2012–14 2015–17 2018+
Ford ▬ Consistent across generations 40% 60% 80% 2012–14: 45% in good shape (age-adjusted; 37 cars, raw 41%) 45 2015–17: 50% in good shape (age-adjusted; 93 cars, raw 46%) 50 2018+: 49% in good shape (age-adjusted; 82 cars, raw 57%) 49 2009–11 2012–14 2015–17 2018+
Volkswagen ▬ Consistent across generations 40% 60% 80% 2012–14: 62% in good shape (age-adjusted; 19 cars, raw 58%) 62 2015–17: 68% in good shape (age-adjusted; 22 cars, raw 64%) 68 2018+: 59% in good shape (age-adjusted; 17 cars, raw 65%) 59 2009–11 2012–14 2015–17 2018+
Mercedes ▬ Consistent across generations 40% 60% 80% 2012–14: 58% in good shape (age-adjusted; 32 cars, raw 59%) 58 2015–17: 64% in good shape (age-adjusted; 41 cars, raw 66%) 64 2018+: 54% in good shape (age-adjusted; 34 cars, raw 62%) 54 2009–11 2012–14 2015–17 2018+
Toyota ↘↗ Dipped in the mid-2010s — the newest generation recovered 40% 60% 80% 2012–14: 72% in good shape (age-adjusted; 59 cars, raw 66%) 72 2015–17: 57% in good shape (age-adjusted; 109 cars, raw 53%) 57 2018+: 66% in good shape (age-adjusted; 68 cars, raw 74%) 66 2009–11 2012–14 2015–17 2018+
Mazda ▼ Newer Mazdas aren't holding up as well 40% 60% 80% 2012–14: 56% in good shape (age-adjusted; 23 cars, raw 52%) 56 2015–17: 55% in good shape (age-adjusted; 35 cars, raw 49%) 55 2018+: 49% in good shape (age-adjusted; 35 cars, raw 57%) 49 2009–11 2012–14 2015–17 2018+
Nissan ↘↗ Dipped in the mid-2010s — the newest generation recovered 40% 60% 80% 2012–14: 65% in good shape (age-adjusted; 29 cars, raw 59%) 65 2015–17: 45% in good shape (age-adjusted; 45 cars, raw 44%) 45 2018+: 56% in good shape (age-adjusted; 50 cars, raw 64%) 56 2009–11 2012–14 2015–17 2018+
Chevrolet ▼ Newer Chevrolets aren't holding up as well 40% 60% 80% 2012–14: 56% in good shape (age-adjusted; 20 cars, raw 55%) 56 2015–17: 56% in good shape (age-adjusted; 46 cars, raw 54%) 56 2018+: 45% in good shape (age-adjusted; 35 cars, raw 54%) 45 2009–11 2012–14 2015–17 2018+
Hyundai ▼ Newer Hyundais aren't holding up as well 40% 60% 80% 2012–14: 59% in good shape (age-adjusted; 33 cars, raw 58%) 59 2015–17: 59% in good shape (age-adjusted; 40 cars, raw 58%) 59 2018+: 48% in good shape (age-adjusted; 29 cars, raw 55%) 48 2009–11 2012–14 2015–17 2018+
Honda ▼ Newer Hondas aren't holding up as well 40% 60% 80% 2012–14: 65% in good shape (age-adjusted; 53 cars, raw 62%) 65 2015–17: 51% in good shape (age-adjusted; 94 cars, raw 49%) 51 2018+: 40% in good shape (age-adjusted; 48 cars, raw 48%) 40 2009–11 2012–14 2015–17 2018+

Blue = share of that brand's cars scoring 60+/100 when we inspected them at 5–10 years old, by model-year generation; the dashed grey line is the all-brand average. Because newer generations are inevitably inspected at the younger end of that window, every point is age-adjusted to a typical 7½-year-old using the decline we measure in our own data (5.9 points per year of age). Each point covers at least 15 cars — hover a dot for the sample. Brands appear once three generations have enough data, and the newest generation splits into its own column as inspections accumulate — the chart grows on its own. One honest caveat: a brand's model mix shifts between generations, and the newest generation's high-mileage story isn't written yet.

FAQ
?
Are new cars more reliable than older ones?
Not as a whole. Comparing cars at the same age (inspected at 5–10 years old), about 55% of the newest generation is in good condition — essentially the same share as generations from a decade earlier. Individual brands, though, moved a lot in both directions.
?
Which brands are improving?
Audi, Lexus show newer generations holding up clearly better at the same age.
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Which brands are slipping?
Mazda, Chevrolet, Hyundai, Honda score lower in their newer generations than they did in the early 2010s — worth knowing before paying a premium for the badge's old reputation.
Averages describe the brand — not the car in front of you. Get the exact car inspected before you pay.
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Based on 2,214 inspections at the 5–10 year checkpoint · updated Aug 1, 2026