Choose EVs, PHEVs, Or Hybrids? Consumer Reports: Hybrids Most Rely

Toyota 4Runner is the most reliable model in this year's CR survey. (Doc. Toyota)

JAKARTA - Electric vehicle enthusiasts continue to increase globally, be it pure electricity (EV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV), and hybrid. Well, talking about reliability, Consumer Reports (CR), non-profit organizations that research and test and advocacy consumers have just published the results of a survey of the reliability of each type of vehicle in collaboration with the Detroit-based Automotive Press Association on 29 November.

As per data released from the latest Annual Auto Reliability Survey from CR, the implementation of new technologies on the new EV is said to have greater potential problems such as next-generation semi-autonomous driving assistants, new full touch infotainment systems, and new control schemes. In fact, electric pickup trucks, especially the most recent ones, are the most unreliable categories of vehicles.

From the survey, the average EV that has just launched on the market has 79 percent more problems than ICE vehicles. Meanwhile, plug-in hybrid (PHEV) is even worse with an average of 146 percent more problems.

On the other hand, hybrid vehicles only experience 26 percent fewer problems than the average ICE vehicle. This is called because hybrid technology goes first from EVs and PHEVs, so manufacturers have overcome several obstacles, especially the pioneers of Toyota and Honda who have a good record of reliability.

However, even though the hybrid is not as good as the EV about environmentally friendly, Consumer Reports advises consumers to choose EV models that have been circulating on the market for a long time.

"The longer a vehicle or technology is produced, the more obstacles it will overcome," said Jake Fisher, senior director of automotive testing at Consumer Reports.

He also advised consumers who prioritize reliability to not buy new electric vehicles or the newly launched first generation PHEV.

"For EVs that are still relatively new, most manufacturers are still trying to solve the problem," said Jake Fisher, senior director of auto testing at Consumer Reports.

For the reliability rating, Lexus and Toyota are at the top two in the CR brand rankings for 2023. Five other Japanese and Korean brands are in the top ten of the year, joining there by German trio Mini, Porsche, and BMW.

Meanwhile, two of the four Tesla models, namely the popular Model Y and Model 3, are also recommended by CR. The reliability of the Model 3 has increased in recent years including the Model Y which has increased for this year.

Every year, CR conducts a survey of potential problems experienced in vehicles within the previous 12 months. This year's survey covers 20 areas of problems including engines, electric motors, transmissions, electronics in cars, and more. CR uses feedback from consumers to predict the reliability rating of new cars from each model. This year, CR collected data on more than 330,000 vehicles from models from 2000 to 2023, with several new models introduced for 2024.