When buying a car, any clue to know how reliable it can be is always welcome: the opinions of those drivers who have (or have had) the model you are looking for are usually a scale to take into account. Above all, if your next vehicle is going to be an electric one and you share the same doubts as the rest: reliability, battery, autonomy, charging… A Consumer Reports survey reveals which brands make the most reliable electric cars.
Consumer Reports is an American magazine published by the Consumers Union and the results of its studies are the result of surveys carried out by hundreds of thousands of owners: In that information they collect they include the serious problems they have experienced to shape a history that they use to predict the reliability of new models.
The ranking
This time they have focused the focus on the reliability of electric cars: the Kia EV6 ranks first, but Consumer Reports points out that, being a new model, there has not been (yet) enough time to provide a fair assessment compared to its rivals.
Second place goes to the Tesla Model 3: data from more than a thousand owners reveals that, since 2018, the reliability of this model has been growing. Something that contrasts with the rest of the range: the report indicates that the Tesla Model S, Model X and Model Y are still below. The third place is occupied by the Nissan Leaf, which, like the American sedan, has very few problems related to the battery, the engine or the recharge.
The explanation
Consumer Reports explains that, in theory, electric cars should be more reliable than those of gasoline or diesel because they have many fewer parts and wear elements. They also lack complicated transmissions, ignition and fuel systems, valves, exhaust… There is no need to change the engine or gearbox oil either, spark plugs and even the brakes suffer less thanks to regenerative braking.
Despite this, he finds it in the aforementioned magazine, reveals that current electric cars tend to be most problematic than equivalent combustion or hybrid models. Owners point to hiccups with the battery packs, charging, motor, and unique climate control systems.
Why? The publication lists two reasons: the current electric ones settle in new platforms instead of taking advantage of the main components of existing ones and most brands have to face a learning curve when it comes to producing these types of vehicles. Tesla and Nissan have been mass-producing them for over a decade, and this gives them a distinct advantage over many competitors.
Keep in mind, though, that every car is unique: Customer Reports notes that a driver could buy a Tesla Model 3 or Nissan Leaf and have reliability issues. It is a matter of time before other manufacturers shape reliable electric vehicles: yes, today, that pair of models are the safest bet.
