'Buick is dependable in the US - so why can't Brits buy them?'

US reliability reports say Buick is the most reliable brand across the pond; Mike Rutherford asks why they aren't in the UK...

Here at Auto Express we’re healthily obsessed with car reliability. We know – because our latest Driver Power survey tells us – that Lexus, Toyota, Honda, Subaru and Mazda (in that order) are world-beaters.

In a similar but entirely separate survey just conducted by our friends at Consumer Reports (CR) in New York, drivers in America pretty much concur with their Brit counterparts. In 2015, they placed Lexus and Toyota at the top of the pile (as did you), followed by Audi, Mazda and Subaru, then Honda just outside the top five.

We already know these Japanese giants wipe the floor with their rivals in Britain. But now it can be unequivocally confirmed that Japanese brands rule the reliability roost across countries and continents. 

Driver Power: best cars to own in 2015

Intriguingly, Americans and Brits can’t agree on Audi, which is a reliability champ over there but, sadly, not here. Unfortunately, we do agree that Nissan is the worst of the big Japanese firms and more like a reliability chump than champ these days. Even more worrying is that its Infiniti brand languishes fifth from bottom of the CR reliability league table, just below the Chrysler and Dodge brands, but above Cadillac, Ram, Jeep and, in last place, Fiat.

Seems Nissan owners in the States have been suffering transmission problems. Meanwhile, the Infiniti Q50 is reportedly plagued by an array of teething troubles with its new electronic gearing and computers. Other Infiniti models are said to be tormented by gearbox issues. Let’s hope such faults won’t blight Sunderland-built Nissans and Infinitis.

New Infiniti Q30 2015 review

CR also has damning evidence that says the BMW 5 Series and X5, Chevrolet Corvette, Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Rio and Tesla Model S are all “models with declining reliability”. It’s scathing of some cheap Fords with “reliability headaches”, plus describes some expensive Mercedes models as “least-reliable” in class. Ouch!

On a more positive note, Buick is now the most dependable US brand by far, impressively sitting in seventh place in the CR reliability rankings. These cars are well priced and currently blessed with discounts of up to $6,000 (just under £4,000). They look good and, evidently, they are good. So why has America spent decades trying – and spectacularly failing – to flog iffy Cadillacs, Chevrolets and Chryslers in Britain when it could and should have been sending over and selling us far superior Buicks?

Do you agree with Mike? Should General Motors ship over their Buick range to the UK? Let us know below...

Chief columnist

Mike was one of the founding fathers of Auto Express in 1988. He's been motoring editor on four tabloid newspapers - London Evening News, The Sun, News of the World & Daily Mirror. He was also a weekly columnist on the Daily Telegraph, The Independent and The Sunday Times. 

Most Popular

New Renault Scenic 2023 review: the famous nameplate returns in style
Renault Scenic - front
Road tests

New Renault Scenic 2023 review: the famous nameplate returns in style

We get behind the wheel of new all-electric Renault Scenic to see what all the fuss is about
27 Nov 2023
“Renault is taking over as the manufacturer of cars for the people”
Opinion - Renault Twingo
Opinion

“Renault is taking over as the manufacturer of cars for the people”

Mike Rutherford thinks Renault is doing more than any other manufacturer when it comes to making affordable electric cars
26 Nov 2023
New 2024 Dacia Duster: third generation of Europe’s best-selling SUV revealed
Dacia Duster - front
News

New 2024 Dacia Duster: third generation of Europe’s best-selling SUV revealed

Dacia has taken the wraps off the latest Duster, which arrives with a new look and fresh technology
29 Nov 2023