Let’s face it: individuals aren’t shopping for BMWs as a result of they’re dependable. In truth, reliability has by no means been the robust level of luxurious automobiles. Certain, the consensus is that Lexus is often higher than the remainder, and the 2025 U.S. Preliminary High quality Examine confirms Toyota’s premium model leads the pack with fewer issues reported by homeowners.
Lexus topped the record within the thirty ninth version of the examine, which was primarily based on responses from 92,694 automotive patrons or lessees of 2025 mannequin 12 months autos. For each 100 automobiles from the Japanese luxurious marque, drivers reported 166 issues. BMW didn’t fare as effectively, with 196 points, barely worse than the trade common of 192.
Seeing the glass half full, BMWs are literally extra dependable than they had been within the 2024 U.S. Preliminary High quality Examine, when homeowners reported 206 points. On one other constructive be aware, the Munich-based automaker is effectively forward of its home opponents. J.D. Energy crunched the numbers and located that Mercedes had 210 issues per 100 automobiles. Audi positioned lifeless final with a whopping 269 points. Infiniti and Volvo additionally ranked close to the underside, with 242 and 258 issues, respectively.
In the event you personal a current-generation Z4, you’ll be glad to listen to the Graz plant in Austria, the place Magna Steyr assembles the roadster, earned the Platinum Plant High quality Award. Nonetheless, the G29 isn’t lengthy for this world, as a number of stories recommend manufacturing will finish in Could 2026.
Relating to the information assortment course of, homeowners had been requested to reply to 227 questions throughout a examine carried out between June 2024 and Could 2025. J.D. Energy additionally factored in restore information and arranged the findings into 10 distinct classes: infotainment, options, controls, and shows; exterior; driving help; inside; powertrain; seats; driving expertise; local weather; and a class for uncommon repairs.
The examine additionally included awards by car phase. The BMW X7 triumphed within the Giant Premium SUV class, whereas the X6 got here first amongst Higher Midsize Premium SUVs. The smaller X4, nonetheless, misplaced to the Acura RDX and Lexus NX within the Compact Premium SUV phase. In the meantime, the two Sequence was crushed by the Acura Integra within the Small Premium class. General, the Porsche 911 emerged as the large winner.
You possibly can argue that with the proliferation of the Neue Klasse, BMWs could develop into extra dependable, on condition that EVs have far fewer mechanical elements than combustion-engine autos. Then once more, with a lot new tech on the horizon, it’s sensible to stay cautious. Even when BMW isn’t successful reliability awards, it nonetheless reigns supreme within the luxurious phase in relation to gross sales.
J.D. Energy additionally discovered that luxurious automobiles expertise 4.2 occasions extra points than mainstream autos. One other attention-grabbing discovering is that plug-in hybrids are probably the most vulnerable to issues. For each 100 PHEVs, there are 237 points, barely greater than the 212 issues reported by EV homeowners.
Supply: J.D. Energy
