#ReliableCars

We rarely think of reliability and fun going hand-in-hand. The old British roadsters and Alfa Romeos memes exist for a reason, after all.

Japanese automakers including Toyota, Lexus, Honda and Acura are often seen as makers of long-lasting, reliable cars. But do all cars from Japanese automakers feature extraordinary reliability?

While Japanese brands continue to sit in the top three spots on this year’s Consumer Reports reliability study, companies from Germany, America and Sweden are creeping up the list. 

Sometimes the hype surrounding a car can make it seem like a better choice than it actually is, and to combat the false reputations some cars get, Consumer Reports has released a list of five popular vehicles that should be avoided. 

Out in Germany, a new vehicle must be inspected after three years by the TÜV, similar to America’s state-level emissions and inspection process (albeit much more rigorous). After that, residents of Germany then have to get their vehicles inspected every two years and each visit involves an extremely thorough inspection of your vehicle.