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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
2,402
Cars inspected at 5–10 yrs old
5
Model-year generations
~66%
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: 30% in good shape (age-adjusted; 19 cars, raw 32%) 30 2015–17: 68% in good shape (age-adjusted; 27 cars, raw 63%) 68 2018–20: 65% in good shape (age-adjusted; 23 cars, raw 70%) 65 2009–11 2012–14 2015–17 2018–20 2021+
Volkswagen ▲ Newer Volkswagens are holding up better 40% 60% 80% 2012–14: 40% in good shape (age-adjusted; 19 cars, raw 37%) 40 2015–17: 56% in good shape (age-adjusted; 25 cars, raw 52%) 56 2018–20: 69% in good shape (age-adjusted; 15 cars, raw 73%) 69 2009–11 2012–14 2015–17 2018–20 2021+
BMW ▲ Newer BMWs are holding up better 40% 60% 80% 2012–14: 52% in good shape (age-adjusted; 34 cars, raw 53%) 52 2015–17: 65% in good shape (age-adjusted; 47 cars, raw 64%) 65 2018–20: 76% in good shape (age-adjusted; 49 cars, raw 82%) 76 2009–11 2012–14 2015–17 2018–20 2021+
Lexus ▲ Newer Lexus vehicles are holding up better 40% 60% 80% 2012–14: 66% in good shape (age-adjusted; 19 cars, raw 63%) 66 2015–17: 84% in good shape (age-adjusted; 46 cars, raw 80%) 84 2018–20: 88% in good shape (age-adjusted; 18 cars, raw 94%) 88 2009–11 2012–14 2015–17 2018–20 2021+
Mercedes ▲ Newer Mercedes vehicles are holding up better 40% 60% 80% 2012–14: 43% in good shape (age-adjusted; 32 cars, raw 44%) 43 2015–17: 58% in good shape (age-adjusted; 42 cars, raw 60%) 58 2018–20: 61% in good shape (age-adjusted; 34 cars, raw 68%) 61 2009–11 2012–14 2015–17 2018–20 2021+
Ford ▲ Newer Fords are holding up better 40% 60% 80% 2012–14: 41% in good shape (age-adjusted; 37 cars, raw 38%) 41 2015–17: 52% in good shape (age-adjusted; 97 cars, raw 48%) 52 2018–20: 58% in good shape (age-adjusted; 90 cars, raw 63%) 58 2009–11 2012–14 2015–17 2018–20 2021+
Toyota ▲ Newer Toyotas are holding up better 40% 60% 80% 2012–14: 69% in good shape (age-adjusted; 59 cars, raw 64%) 69 2015–17: 73% in good shape (age-adjusted; 116 cars, raw 69%) 73 2018–20: 73% in good shape (age-adjusted; 70 cars, raw 79%) 73 2021+: 80% in good shape (age-adjusted; 16 cars, raw 94%) 80 2009–11 2012–14 2015–17 2018–20 2021+
Hyundai ▲ Newer Hyundais are holding up better 40% 60% 80% 2012–14: 56% in good shape (age-adjusted; 33 cars, raw 55%) 56 2015–17: 78% in good shape (age-adjusted; 43 cars, raw 77%) 78 2018–20: 66% in good shape (age-adjusted; 29 cars, raw 72%) 66 2009–11 2012–14 2015–17 2018–20 2021+
Nissan ↘↗ Dipped in the mid-2010s — the newest generation recovered 40% 60% 80% 2012–14: 60% in good shape (age-adjusted; 29 cars, raw 55%) 60 2015–17: 48% in good shape (age-adjusted; 49 cars, raw 47%) 48 2018–20: 69% in good shape (age-adjusted; 46 cars, raw 76%) 69 2009–11 2012–14 2015–17 2018–20 2021+
Mazda ↘↗ Dipped in the mid-2010s — the newest generation recovered 40% 60% 80% 2012–14: 64% in good shape (age-adjusted; 23 cars, raw 61%) 64 2015–17: 53% in good shape (age-adjusted; 41 cars, raw 46%) 53 2018–20: 66% in good shape (age-adjusted; 32 cars, raw 72%) 66 2009–11 2012–14 2015–17 2018–20 2021+
Honda ▬ Consistent across generations 40% 60% 80% 2012–14: 60% in good shape (age-adjusted; 53 cars, raw 57%) 60 2015–17: 62% in good shape (age-adjusted; 113 cars, raw 59%) 62 2018–20: 56% in good shape (age-adjusted; 52 cars, raw 62%) 56 2009–11 2012–14 2015–17 2018–20 2021+
Chevrolet ▼ Newer Chevrolets aren't holding up as well 40% 60% 80% 2012–14: 61% in good shape (age-adjusted; 20 cars, raw 60%) 61 2015–17: 58% in good shape (age-adjusted; 48 cars, raw 56%) 58 2018–20: 45% in good shape (age-adjusted; 32 cars, raw 53%) 45 2009–11 2012–14 2015–17 2018–20 2021+

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 (5.5 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 66% 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, Volkswagen, BMW, Lexus, Mercedes, Ford, Toyota, Hyundai show newer generations holding up clearly better at the same age.
?
Which brands are slipping?
Chevrolet 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 2,402 inspections at the 5–10 year checkpoint · updated Oct 1, 2026