While in the past we could draw on findings from an IPSOS report done in South Africa, very few organizations conduct local consumer surveys to ascertain which vehicles they find the most reliable. So, instead, we source information from consumerreports.org, to find out which vehicle that is available locally has scored the top position in their annual survey.
It should be noted that popular brands such as Suzuki that which are not available in the US market but also survey vehicles that are either not available in South Africa or are completely manufactured in different plants from where automakers source SA units. Thus, this article merely serves as a guide rather than a rule.
Related: What car brand lasts forever?
The most reliable car according to Consumer Reports
This consumer survey found that Toyota was the most reliable automaker out of all the contenders but Lexus was right on its heels. But what was even more interesting is that hybrid vehicles outperformed regular internal combustion-powered models. In fact, so much so that the most reliable vehicle, according to the Consumer Reports survey, is the Toyota Corolla Hybrid model.
This was more specific to the Toyota Corolla hybrid in sedan form, however, customers will be happy to note that hybrid powertrains are available in the hatch, sedan and crossover, Corolla Cross, models locally. In fact, the performance figures in both the sedan and hatch models are identical, however, the figures change slightly for the Corolla Cross range.
But before you start your search for new or used Toyota Corolla models on AutoTrader, remember that you can sell your car quickly and easily when you get an Instant Offer on your car. But now let us take a look at the performance figures.
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.8 Hybrid | Toyota Corolla Hatch 1.8 Hybrid | Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 Hybrid | |
| Engine | 1.8-litre, petrol-electric hybrid | 1.8-litre, petrol-electric hybrid | 1.8-litre, petrol-electric hybrid |
| Transmission | 5-step CVT | 5-step CVT | 5-step CVT |
| Power | 103 kW | 103 kW | 90 kW |
| Torque | 142+e Nm | 142+e Nm | 142+e Nm |
| Average fuel consumption | 3.9 L / 100 km | 4.0 L / 100 km | 4.3 L / 100 km |
| CO2 emission | 90 g/km | 91 g/km | 98 g/km |
*This table was correct at the time of writing this article, however, can change at any moment and without notice.
Verdict
Thus, according to the Consumer Reports survey, the Toyota Corolla in hybrid guise is the most reliable car available in 2023.
