Porsche Had the Most Dependable Car of 2021
Editor’s note: This article was updated on 6/6/2023.
According to the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), the Porsche 911 outranked every other model in the study for 2021. This made it the most dependable in the car segment for three years in a row. Porsche came in at number two overall, just five points behind Lexus in the number one spot in the study. One sport utility vehicle from a surprising brand impressed shoppers, too.
The Porsche 911 came out on top
According to the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), the Porsche 911 was a slam dunk. So you might be wondering, is the 911 worth buying? The 911 might be a pricier option than most, but the reviews note that it is worth the price.
“It has a good predicted reliability rating, searing engine performance, well-rounded handling, and a high-quality interior,” U.S. News notes. With tons of horsepower and impeccable style, the 911 is an easy choice for some enthusiasts.
And while the Porsche 911 was the highest-rated car for J.D. Power, the other automobiles and brands also improved. Across the board, all eight problem categories improved, including exterior and driving experience. The ACEN (audio/communication/entertainment/navigation) category improved, but only by a small amount.
This was the area owners had the most reported issues. It includes apps and other technological advances that often run into trouble in their first few years of existence. While Lexus was the overall ranking brand with 81 PP100, Porsche followed with 86 PP100, Kia at 97 PP100, Toyota at 98 PP100, and Buick and Cadillac, shared the last spot with 100 PP100. This is the 9th time out of 10 years that Lexus has taken the top place.
What other cars ranked along with Porsche 911?
The Porsche Macan ranked number one in the Compact Premium SUV section. The Lexus NX and the Lincoln MKC are behind the Porsche Macan in the same SUV category. The focus for 2021 models is still heavily dependent on reliability, especially after the tumultuous year that was 2020.
In addition to the Macan, the Porsche 911 outranked every other model in the study for 2021. This made it the most dependable in the car segment for three years in a row. The Volkswagen Beetle ranked highest for other compact cars, followed by the Chevy Cruze. Tied in third place were the Toyota Corolla and Toyota Prius.
Regarding the pickup and van segment of the study, the Chevrolet Silverado HD beat out the Ram 2500/3500 for the large heavy-duty pickup category. The Toyota Tundra beat out the Chevrolet Silverado and the Ram 1500 for the lighter duty.
Increased reliability is key in the Vehicle Dependability Study
Dave Sargent, Vice President of global automotive at J.D. Power, said, “Automakers are making increasingly dependable vehicles—but there are still some problem areas that need to be addressed and some warning signs on the horizon.” As noted, many of those problem areas fall into the audio and entertainment/navigation sectors.
This Vehicle Dependability Study measures issues with cars from the past 12 months from owned initially cars that are three years old. These 33,251 owners offered responses based on their 2018 model-year cars. Sargent noted that these three-year-old vehicles are much more reliable and of higher quality than in previous years. However, cars might not be falling apart, but they seem to show many issues with new technology.
