11 Cars More Reliable Than A Toyota Highlander

Are you debating whether your next vehicle should be a Toyota Highlander? If you're looking for a new car, the Toyota Highlander can be an excellent place to start — but the search doesn't need to stop there. In fact, there are few things worse than being saddled with a car that's not quite to your liking. To keep that from happening, it's important to consider the traits that you like in a vehicle like the Highlander — perhaps, reliability — and then compare these traits to other cars. You might be surprised by the results. In fact, 11 vehicles ranked higher for reliability than the Highlander did, according to Consumer Reports (CR).

​If you like the fact that Highlander gives you the option of choosing either a conventional internal combustion engine or a hybrid system, you can find alternative vehicles with either type available. Or, perhaps you need a vehicle that is best suited to city driving or off-road demands. Regardless, there are vehicles with high marks for styling, comfort, handling, braking, and even warranty protection. Here are 11 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 No. 5 out of 10. Reviewers appreciated the roomy cabin with its excellent visibility. CR also had good things to say about the powertrain performance 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) also chose the Accord as its preferred family sedan. The Accord is a perennial entry in the magazine's annual list of the 10 best vehicles and is currently the No. 1 for mid-sized family sedans. 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 boasts a tasteful interior design, such as 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 the Camry's reputation for being a low-cost vehicle to maintain, comes in at No. 1 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. Testers praised the drivetrain for its smoothness, which contributed to a comfortable and even sporty drive. 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 included 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 Tacoma also offers drivers the increasingly rare opportunity of choosing a 6-speed manual transmission over an 8-speed automatic. Toyota backs all rear-drive or all-wheel drivetrains with a warranty for five years or 60,000 miles, while the basic warranty runs for three years or 36,000 miles.

​CR was most impressed with the truck's performance off-road. 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 most owners will be highly satisfied with acceleration and handling. Overall, both C&D and CR named the Tacoma their third-favorite mid-sized pickup truck.

If you hate stopping at gas pumps, the Corolla could ease your pain. The vehicle boasted 36 mpg during CR's testing. CR testers also applauded the car's 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. No matter your preferred driving style, you're protected with standard warranties plus two years of roadside assistance regardless of the car's mileage. 

U.S. News and World Report gave the Corolla 4.5 stars out of 5, finding that the Corolla is 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 No. 1 choice among luxury mid-sized sedans. Testers liked the smooth acceleration and comfortable ride, with testers highlighted the car's ability to absorb the shock of a demanding road surface. The car also registered a noteworthy 42 mpg during testing by CR.

​MotorTrend (MT) gave the ES Hybrid a thumbs up for including driver assist features that rivals charge more for. 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.

For CR, Subaru is not only the best of all 31 car brands, but its Crosstrek is also the magazine's No. 1 subcompact SUV. The vehicle's smooth ride got high marks thanks to an excellent suspension system. and 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 large windows give the driver and passengers excellent views from its comfortable interior.

Motor Trend also praised the vehicle's overall build quality. The magazine, like CR, had terrific things to say about the Crosstrek's off-road ability and was pleased that the vehicle is now also being offered as a traditional hybrid.

The Toyota Crown impressed CR enough for the magazine to name it its No. 1 choice among large cars. The Crown replaces the Avalon as Toyota's flagship sedan. While the Crown name has appeared on non-U.S. market Toyota offerings for decades, it was last seen in the U.S. in 1972 before returning in recent years. However, this time it's a hybrid, and while it is definitely a sedan, it have characteristics that SUV lovers might enjoy. For example, it sits higher than a typical sedan. According to GreenCars, the Crown is 4 inches taller than a Camry.

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.

The 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross finished No. 3 among subcompact SUVs. The magazine noted its fuel economy at a combined 28 mpg during testing with the 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. KBB experts gave the Cross 4.5 stars out of 5, while consumers gave it 4. 

The Cross 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. 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 or 36,000 miles instead of 2 years and 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. 

​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.

The 2026 Subaru Impreza has enough going for it to earn the No. 7 spot on CR's list of 21 small sedans and hatchbacks. However, the 2026 model is only available as a hatchback. 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.

CR was impressed with the way the Impreza 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 lower trims.

Lexus is among the most reliable luxury vehicle brands, and the IS is backed by a 4-year, 50,000-mile warranty. During CR's testing, testers loved the vehicle's braking system — specifically its 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.