14 most dependable cars on the road

Toyota is a dominant force in J.D. Power's dependability study in 2012: Eight of the 14 vehicles to win top honors are made by Toyota.

2013 Toyota Yaris

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The Yaris, which made its debut in 2007 and is Toyota's top-seller in Europe, competes with cars such as the Scion xD and the Honda Fit, which took second and third places, respectively, in the subcompact category. The diminutive Yaris gets 38 mpg highway, and it comes standard with traction control and vehicle-stability control. In recent years, its fuel efficiency and safety features have been upgraded.

Read:  2012 Toyota Yaris: First Drive

Although the Prius hybrid was involved in one of the biggest vehicle recalls of all time in 2010, it led the compact-car category in the J.D. Power study this year.

2013 Toyota Prius

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This is also an accomplishment seeing as hybrid technology is newer, which means it tends to have more kinks. The Prius was the first mass-produced gasoline-electric hybrid when it entered the Japanese market in 1997, and today it's the best-selling hybrid worldwide. Even with electric cars infiltrating its ranks, it still gets impressive mileage: up to 51 mpg highway.

Read Blog:  What Car Problems Does J.D. Power Look At?

The tC is one of two Scions to get top honors in J.D. Power's 2012 dependability survey. Considering that only four Scion models are in production, those aren't bad statistics. The Scion, produced by Toyota, is geared toward younger drivers, with options such as subwoofers and yellow paint.

2013 Scion tC

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The tC is Scion's more subtle 2-door sports coupe, whereas the cube-shaped xB, also on this year's dependability list, is the most recognizable Scion, perhaps because it cuts such a large and distinctive profile. Competitors to the tC include the MINI Cooper and the Volkswagen GTI, which were the runners-up in the category.

Bing Images: Scion tC

Smaller than the Ford Five Hundred (now called the Taurus) but bigger than the Focus, the Fusion debuted in 2006, inspired by the Ford 427 concept car.

2013 Ford Fusion

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It, along with the Explorer and the Lincoln MKZ, are Ford's most reliable vehicles, according to J.D. Power. The Fusion also scores well in terms of safety: It received the highest ratings in five out of seven categories in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety frontal offset crash test. The Mitsubishi Galant and the Toyota Camry were runners-up in the midsize car category, earning the second and third spots, respectively.

Compare: Ford Fusion vs. Mitsubishi Galant vs. Toyota Camry

The best of the big guys, the Lucerne is Buick's sole top-ranking vehicle in the 2012 dependability study and one of only two for General Motors.

2011 Buick Lucerne

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Buick, which doesn't enjoy an image of dependability among consumers, is actually more reliable than several other automakers with better reputations, such as Honda, Subaru and Nissan, according to study results. The Lucerne also gets glowing reviews from MSN Autos users: "There is nothing I dislike about the Lucerne," one reviewer wrote. Actually, there was one thing: "Buick has made a mistake in discontinuing the Lucerne for 2012 with no replacement."

Find: Luxurious Family Sedans

The Lexus ES 350 and Lincoln MKZ tied for the win in the entry premium category, with the Acura TL ranking second.

2013 Lexus ES 350

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Overall, Lexus was the most dependable brand in J.D. Power's 2012 survey, and the ES is making its fifth appearance as an award winner. Along with Porsche, it was the only brand to have fewer than 100 problems reported per 100 vehicles. The MKZ is unusual in that it received mediocre quality ratings in J.D. Power's initial assessment of it back in 2009, when the car was new — usually a predictor of long-term dependability — but it still got stellar dependability ratings.

See: New Premium Sedans

Hyundai, not the first manufacturer that leaps to mind on the subject of dependability, topped the midsize premium car category with its Genesis, a rear-wheel-drive luxury sedan. The real shocker, however, is that it muscled out the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, which came in second.

2013 Hyundai Genesis

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The Volvo S80 took third. MSN Autos reviewers — among them former Lexus, Cadillac and Mercedes owners — were equally enthralled with the Genesis. "Hyundai has come a LONG way. Good job!" one wrote. It also gets high ratings for comfort: Its cabin is larger than those of the Mercedes E-Class and BMW 5-Series.

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The Scion xB won the highest marks in powertrain, body and interior; features and accessories; and overall dependability — smoking the competition in the compact multipurpose vehicle category. The Chevrolet HHR and Mazda5, which came in second and third, respectively, didn't hold a candle to the Scion.

2013 Scion xB

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Scion's boxy xB — along with the tC, which topped the compact sporty car category — give Scion a significant rise in the rankings in 2012. The Toyota-produced brand currently holds the No. 5 spot overall in J.D. Power's "nameplate" rankings, besting Honda, Mercedes-Benz and Ford.

View Slideshow:  Cargo Kings

The Equinox beat out 13 other vehicles in the compact crossover/SUV category, with perfect scores in all but one category: features and accessories. The Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4 were its closest competition.

2013 Chevrolet Equinox

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In addition to being incredibly dependable, the Equinox is also a versatile ride. It has a so-called multiflex rear seating system that allows passengers to move their seats back for added legroom and lets drivers push seats forward to accommodate extra cargo in the rear. The Equinox also gets top marks in six out of seven safety categories in the IIHS frontal offset crash test.

View Slideshow:  Best Bang for the Buck: Crossovers

Coming in neck and neck, the Explorer and Nissan Murano tied for top honors in their category, beating out the Toyota Highlander.

2013 Ford Explorer

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The Murano's sleek design prompted Nissan to name it after the sculpted glass art that comes from an island near Venice. It has the comfortable ride of a sedan, with practical features such as expansive cargo capacity and all-wheel drive. The Explorer debuted in 1990 and went on to become the best-selling SUV for 15 years. It edged out the Murano in terms of the dependability of its features and accessories.

View Slideshow:  Cars for the Big & Tall

After a 14 year run as the best-performing brand in the J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study, Lexus was upset last year by Lincoln. This year, Lexus recaptured the title, as Lincoln falls to seventh.

2013 Lexus RX 350

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The RX 350 was one of the first sedan-based utility vehicles ever built — and is still one of the best. Ever since its debut more than a decade ago, the RX 350 has been a consumer favorite thanks to its plush ride, spacious interior, strong reliability record and appealing high-tech features.

Read:  5 Frugal Yet Feisty Crossovers

Nissan is a pioneer in smaller trucks; think back to the Datsun compact pickup, which launched in 1959, nearly three decades before the company changed its name to Nissan. The Frontier, which came out in 1998, was the first pickup with the Nissan name, and it dominated the midsize pickup category in this year's J.D. Power study, losing points only for its powertrain dependability.

2013 Nissan Frontier

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The Ford Ranger and Honda Ridgeline were its toughest competition, but both suffered poor rankings in terms of body and interior dependability. The Frontier also gets respectable gas mileage for a pickup: 23 mpg highway.

Read:  Pickups Aren't Just for Contractors

Edging out the Honda Odyssey and the Dodge Grand Caravan for top honors in the minivan category, the Toyota Sienna got perfect scores in all four categories in the 2012 J.D. Power dependability study.

2013 Toyota Sienna

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Perhaps it's no coincidence that the Sienna is also the least expensive vehicle to insure in the United States, according to a new study done by the insurance industry website Insure.com, which factors dependability into its calculations. In terms of safety, it doesn't get any better than the Sienna: It received perfect scores in all seven categories of the IIHS frontal offset crash test.

Watch Video:  2009 Toyota Sienna

The Toyota Tundra got a makeover in 2007, offering three cab sizes with a frame that's 6 inches wider than its predecessor. Its double cab has front-hinged doors that open 80 degrees, and the CrewMax cab has the most rear-seat legroom of any of its competition.

2013 Toyota Tundra

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The CrewMax version of the Tundra, in fact, is the biggest truck in Toyota's history, measuring more than 19 feet. The Tundra took top honors in the large pickup category of the J.D. Power study, besting two American trucks: the GMC Sierra HD and the Chevrolet Silverado LD. The IIHS bestowed a Top Safety Pick rating on the 2009 Tundra.

View Slideshow:  Pump-Wise Pickups

For more information on any of the vehicles in this slideshow, click the links below:

-Toyota Yaris
-Toyota Prius
-Scion tC
-Ford Fusion
-Buick Lucerne
-Lexus ES 350
-Hyundai Genesis
-Scion xB
-Chevrolet Equinox
-Ford Explorer
-Lexus RX 350
-Nissan Frontier
-Toyota Sienna
-Toyota Tundra

Compare: All 14 Vehicles

Claire Martin has written for The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Outside magazine. She's the former deputy editor of Men's Journal and currently lives in Los Angeles, where she covers technology, travel and food.

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