11 Cars More Reliable Than A Toyota Highlander

Are you uncertain whether your next vehicle should be a Toyota Highlander? There are few things worse than being saddled with a car that's almost but not quite to your liking. To keep that from happening, consider the traits you like in the Highlander, such as its reliability, then compare them with those found in other cars. We found 11 vehicles that scored higher in reliability with Consumer Reports (CR) than did the Highlander.

​If you like the fact that Highlander gives you the option of choosing either a conventional internal combustion engine or a hybrid system, you'll find vehicles with either type of powerplant on this list. Do you trust the Toyota brand? Below, you'll find several Toyotas, including the Camry, Tacoma, Corolla, and Crown.

​Do you need a vehicle exclusively for city driving, or do you also demand off-road capability? It was not difficult to find reliable vehicles that fill both roles. You'll also discover vehicles with high marks for styling, comfort, handling, braking, and warranty protection. When you're looking for a new car, the Toyota Highlander is an excellent place to start. But it should only be a beginning. There are plenty of well-reviewed SUVs, sedans, hatchbacks, and trucks that may better serve your needs.

Consumer Reports found the Accord to be a solid entry in the mid-sized car category, ranking fifth out of 10. Reviewers appreciated the roomy cabin with its excellent visibility. The build quality received praise, especially the designers' thoughtfulness in making the most often used controls the easiest to reach and manipulate. Under the hood, the turbocharged Accord uses a four-cylinder engine and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) for front-wheel drive. CR had good things to say about the powertrain performance under normal conditions and expects it to be one of the vehicle's more reliable features.

​Good handling and a smooth ride were two of the reasons Car and Driver (C&D) chose it as its preferred family sedan. It received praise for its minimal body roll in corners despite its size. The Accord is a perennial entry on the magazine's annual list of the 10 best vehicles and currently is its number one choice for a mid-sized family sedan. C&D, like CR, pointed out the controls for their ease of use, which make the Accord appeal to everyone from retirees to first-time drivers. Although it's far from a luxury sedan, the Accord did garner praise for its tasteful interior design, such as its hidden-in-plain-sight air vents. There's notable legroom for rear-seat passengers, and if you need the room for cargo, the rear seats fold down.

The Camry Hybrid, which has the challenge of upholding Camry's reputation for being a low-cost vehicle to maintain, comes in at number one on CR's list of mid-sized cars. CR loved the car's impressive fuel economy of 48 mpg with a 4-cylinder 2.5-liter engine. The engine is available with either a 225 or 232-horsepower setup. The Camry offers both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. The testers praised the drivetrain for its smoothness, which contributed to a comfortable and even sporty test drive. The roomy sedan can still manage to record a respectable 7.7 seconds in the 0 to 60 mph test. During acceleration, the gas engine's revs can be attention-getting, but even the entry-level model had enough insulation to dampen the noise. However, the upgraded trim models use superior glass for the front windows, which blocks even more sound.​

Consumers at Edmunds gave the Camry 4.2 out of 5 stars. One owner said that it was the best of the five hybrids they've owned, which include an Avalon, a Lexus, an Accord, and a Corolla. The owner said that even in cold wintry weather, the car was averaging 50 mpg. Another driver using the car in warm weather reported that, according to the car's computer calculation, the Camry was averaging over 54 mpg.

C&D appreciated the fact that the Tacoma comes in a variety of configurations using a dependable turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. The three versions produce 228, 270, and 278 horsepower. The Tacoma also offers drivers the increasingly rare opportunity of choosing a 6-speed manual transmission over an 8-speed automatic. Toyota backs the rear-drive or all-wheel drivetrains with a warranty for five years or 60,000 miles. The basic warranty runs for three years or 36,000 miles.

​CR was most impressed with the truck's performance off-road. Many consumers are accustomed to pickup trucks that are more suited for picking up groceries than hauling a heavy load to the top of a hill. But off the beaten path is where the Tacoma excels, using its rugged construction to its advantage. As proof, it had no trouble defeating the magazine's Rock Hill course, which is part of its test track. The Tacoma checks in with a 1,200-pound payload capacity while being able to tow 6,400 pounds. The driving experience was good enough for CR to predict that three-quarters of owners will be highly satisfied with such characteristics as its acceleration and handling. Overall, both C&D and CR named the Tacoma their third-favorite mid-sized pickup truck. C&D placed it ahead of the Chevrolet Colorado, the GMC Canyon, and the Honda Ridgeline.

If you hate stopping at gas pumps, the Corolla could ease your pain. It got 36 mpg during CR's testing with a 2-liter, 4-cylinder engine producing 169 horsepower. Few people equate affordable automobiles with impressive driving ability, but CR testers applauded the car's improved handling in curves and the way it smoothly navigated uneven road surfaces. CR recommends spending a few extra dollars to upgrade to the XLE trim version, which offers adjustable lumbar support. If you prefer a more responsive driving experience and are willing to accept a noticeably less cushy ride, you can also opt for the SE or XSE trims. No matter your preferred driving style, you're protected with the standard warranties plus two years of roadside assistance regardless of the car's mileage. 

​Owners at U.S. News and World Report gave the Corolla 4.5 stars out of 5. The magazine said the Corolla is still a go-to choice for drivers searching for a compact car that won't leave them stranded but also a car that won't strain their bank accounts. U.S. News gave it especially high marks for fuel economy and safety.

CR named the Lexus ES Hybrid its number one choice among luxury mid-sized sedans. Testers liked the smooth acceleration they received from the 215-horsepower engine combined with the electric motor. But the power didn't overshadow the car's penchant for delivering a comfortable and cozy ride as testers highlighted the car's ability to absorb the shock of a demanding road surface. It's challenging for a vehicle to offer a relaxed riding experience while also being responsive when called upon to navigate curves at a reasonable driving speed. But experts at CR said the latest version of the car does just that, thanks to an upgrade in its handling. The car also registered a noteworthy 42 mpg during testing by CR.

​MotorTrend (MT) gave the ES Hybrid a thumbs up for routinely, including driver assist features that its rivals only offer for an extra charge. MT also mentioned the car's generous legroom of 42.4 inches for the front and 39.2 inches for the rear. Those measurements fare well against and even surpass most of the measurements for ES rivals such as the 2025 BMW 5 Series and the Acura TLX. The BMW offers only 41.3 and 37 inches, while the Acura has 42.5 and 34.9 inches.

For CR, Subaru is not only the best of all 31 car brands, but its Crosstrek is also the magazine's number one subcompact SUV. The vehicle's smooth ride got high marks thanks to an excellent suspension system. CR noted that, unlike most SUVs of its size, the Crosstrek's standard clearance allows for a decent amount of off-roading. The SUV's ground clearance and the vehicle's large windows give the driver and passengers excellent views from its comfortable interior. CR testers mentioned the comfortable seats and generous rear-seat legroom. The Crosstrek has never been a speedster, but it does come with an upgraded engine. It now sports a 2.5-liter rather than a 2-liter engine. The new powerplant delivers 180 horsepower.​

MT welcomed the increase in power and praised the vehicle's overall build quality. The magazine, like CR, also had terrific things to say about the Crosstrek's off-road ability. But if you're serious about exploring backroads, MT recommends opting for the special Wilderness trim. For starters, its suspension has more ground clearance than the other trim models. It also has tires more suited for rocks than roadways, along with water-resistant upholstery and floor mats. And to protect you from banging into that tree stump when you're trying to maneuver on a tight mountain road, the Wilderness trim includes more safety technology, including reverse emergency automatic braking.

The Toyota Crown impressed CR enough for the magazine to name it its number one choice among large cars. The Crown replaces the Avalon as Toyota's flagship sedan. The name Crown has appeared on non-US market Toyota offerings for decades, but was last seen in the US in 1972 before returning in recent years. However, this time it's a hybrid, though the word hybrid isn't used as part of the official name of the vehicle. The Crown is definitely a sedan, but it borrows characteristics from SUVs. For example, it sits higher than a typical sedan, better accommodating passenger entries and exits. According to GreenCars, the Crown is 4 inches taller than a Camry. The riding experience is enhanced by the panoramic sunroof on the upper-level trims. 

The Crown delivered 42 mpg during testing, where CR drivers found that they could drive up to approximately 25 mph before the gas engine kicked in. The standard engine is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder, producing 236 horsepower. You can upgrade to a turbocharged engine, which produces 340 horsepower as found in the Platinum trim, but expect a drop in fuel economy. A tester at GreenCars got a combined city and highway fuel efficiency of 26.9 mpg.

The 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross finished third on CR's ranking of 13 subcompact SUVs. The magazine noted its fuel economy at a combined 28 mpg during testing with an all-wheel drive version. Kelley Blue Book (KBB) was also impressed with its fuel efficiency, which it lists at 30 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway for the standard front-wheel drive. Those numbers are better than those for both the Mazda CX-30 and the Honda HR-V. KBB experts gave the Cross 4.5 stars out of 5, while consumers gave it 4. 

Despite being smaller than a Toyota RAV4, the Cross delivers on comfort. Passengers will have an easy time getting in and out of the vehicle because the seats are mounted so high. The Cross also has notably wide doors, generous headroom, and large windows, which all add to passenger comfort. CR recommends upgrading to the LE trim to get additional safety features, such as warnings for blind spots and rear cross traffic. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard with the Cross, while all-wheel drive is an option you can select with any of its trim levels. The reliable Cross also comes with Toyota's 25,000 miles or 2-year maintenance warranty.

J.D. Power named the 2025 Altima as the best mid-sized car. No wonder that Nissan offers its latest 2026 Altima with a better roadside warranty than most cars have. There's protection for three years instead of two or 36,000 miles instead of 25,000. It's unusual for a vehicle to be praised for both its fuel economy and its acceleration, but that's what CR did regarding the Altima. The magazine was able to coax 31 mpg from the car's 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. But besides being easy on the gas, the Altima was categorized as quick and responsive for a mid-sized sedan. The drivetrain uses, like many vehicles, a CVT. However, CR noted that the Altima's transmission performs better than the typical CVT. The Altima trim levels each come with a full slate of available safety features, but emergency braking is standard, along with blind spot and cross traffic warnings.

​C&D recommends upgrading to the SR trim. The magazine says it's a bargain since the basic Altima is priced comfortably within the reach of most of its target demographic. The SR takes the car from a basic sedan to a more sporty vehicle. It has larger wheels and a different suspension that's more suitable for drivers who want a tighter sportscar-like feel in the curves. The upgrade also gets you wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2026 Subaru Impreza has enough going for it to earn the number seven spot on CR's list of 21 small sedans and hatchbacks. However, the 2026 model is only available as a hatchback. Subaru has retired the sedan version. One of the features of the Impreza that CR highlighted was its fuel economy. During testing at the magazine, it used only 29 mpg in combined driving, which was less gas than any of its all-wheel drive competitors consumed. The fuel economy comes thanks to a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, which delivers 120 horsepower. If you need a little something extra under the hood, you can upgrade to the RS trim, which offers a 2.5-liter engine churning out 180 horsepower. 

Even though the vehicle is a hatchback, CR found it fun to drive on demanding, curvy roads. The magazine even said it was impressed with the way the Subaru made it through its accident-avoidance test at speeds up to 56 mph. ​KBB gave Subaru a thumbs up for making all-wheel drive standard on the Impreza, despite it being the brand's highly reliable but entry-level car. KBB also liked that Subaru makes a sunroof and a top-of-the-line audio system available with the RS trim. Four early owners gave the vehicle a perfect 5-star rating on KBB's website.

CR expects owners to find the 2026 Lexus IS a highly reliable luxury vehicle that's far more dependable than the typical new car. It's backed by a 4-year, 50,000-mile warranty. Lexus doesn't pretend the IS is a true sports model, but it's small and powerful enough to need only 6.1 seconds to go from 0 to 60 during CR's testing. The IS forgoes the modern CVT in favor of a traditional automatic transmission. The eight-speed version is matched with the rear-wheel drive IS model. The six-speed accompanies the all-wheel drive option. The IS also goes against the trend of using 4-cylinder engines. It opts for six cylinders producing 311 horsepower. The more power a vehicle has, the more important it becomes to have adequate braking, so it's important to note that CR testers loved the braking system's ability to bring the car quickly to a complete stop.

C&D found the IS more than capable of delivering a comfortable ride for passengers as it envelops them with the vehicle's attractive and cozy redesigned interior. If you don't often have passengers and would prefer getting the most from the driving experience, C&D recommends skipping the base model Sport Design trim and going for the Sport Package, then adding the Sport Handling Package.