German cars have been proven and tested for their performance, style, and luxury. These brands are globally famous and profitable in any region. It's easy to name five off the top of our head because that's how popular they are. But to every great model there is always that other one with problems and issues. Or maybe a car that performed below American standards. J.D. Power ranks automobiles based on reliability, quality and performance and here are some of the results.
This is a list of the five most reliable cars made by German car companies and another five they made but to which we say: Vergiss es (forget it!).
10 2016 BMW X3
J.D. Power is a California-based marketing research company whose prime focus is the automotive industry. The company is proud to state that they gather and provide data as the Voice of the Customer, working 50 years in the auto industry and servicing us, the consumers.
One of their awards is the Vehicle Dependability Study, it surveys car owners about issues with their vehicles after three years of ownership. The results of this particular research shows how reliable cars can be after 36 months of use. The German company BMW received the 2019 award for Best Compact Premium SUV in the 2016 BMW X3, getting a 5 rating (5 out of 5) blowing the competition away in powertrain dependability, body and interior dependability, and feature and accessory dependability.
9 2016 BMW 5 Series
If there is a country that always comes up on top of a J.D. Power list, it might just be Germany with it's quality and reliable vehicles. BMW receives another award for 2019 Vehicle Dependability with its 2016 BMW 5 Series. This model is the best midsize premium car, beating the likes of Cadillac XTS, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Hyundai Genesis, Cadillac CTS, and Audi A6. Used BMW 5 Series cars still sell from $24,000 to $38,000, on rough average that's $31,000 and still more expensive than a brand new 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The 2016 BMW 5 Series car comes in four classes: 528i, 535i, 535d and 550i, the Xdrive tag means that model is AWD (all wheel drive).
8 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan
VW has been making cars since 1937 and was founded in Wolfsburg, Germany. The most iconic car manufactured by Volkswagen is probably the Volkswagen Beetle. Transformer or not, VW has also produced one of the most reliable vehicles in 2019. According to JD Power, the 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan is the most dependable small SUV from that year. This is one tough category as the Tiguan beat other excellent cars like Buick Encore, Chevrolet Trax, Jeep Compass, Patriot and Renegade. The Tiguan may not be the best at fuel economy, and a bit smaller than its competition, but it is definitely amazing in driveability and overall reliability.
7 2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
The JD Power has another award based on performance. Vehicles are rated by customers who've had the car for 90 days. The 2019 Performance awards have just been announced and the winner for best compact premium car is from another German automaker, Mercedes-Benz. The 2019 Mercedes-Benz C-Class is a luxury sedan with a new C 300 engine packing a 255 HP and 273 lb-ft of torque. It got a perfect 5 rating for Performance and the highest overall for Performance and Design. The rest of the competition were inferior although some got close, like the Volvo S60, Audi A5, Kia Stinger, and Genesis G70.
6 2019 Porsche Cayenne
Porsche cars aren't popular as affordable everyday vehicles, but the 2019 Porsche Cayenne tried to turn that around. The 2019 model is relatively cheaper than it predecessors, but it still carries (some as options) the same engine, power, and tech. While cheaper, it also achieved what the three previous Cayennes did not, be awarded JD Power's 2019 best midsize premium SUV.
It had a perfect 5 rating for comfort and performance and was just better than the close 2nd and 3rd competitors, fellow German auto brands Audi Q8 and BMW X5. Purchasing a reliable Porsche Cayenne base model is still expensive, but hey, that base model is technically still a Porsche.
5 2016 Volkswagen Golf
The 2016 Tiguan was awarded the 2019 most dependable small SUV, but its little brother was not so lucky. Volkswagen may be leading in the compact SUV race, but when it comes to compact cars the VW Golf is down there at the bottom. JD Power awarded the best compact car to Buick's 2016 Verano getting 5 ratings across the board. The 2016 VW Golf received 2/5 for powertrain dependability and 3/5 for both body & interior and feature and accessory dependability. It shares a 2-rating with cars like Honda Civic, Ford Focus, and Dodge Dart. This is a problem with German cars, their sub par vehicle is still competitive in the open market.
4 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC may rank at the top in other car website lists three years ago, but in the JD Power 2019 Dependability ratings, it's actually one of two lowest-rated compact premium SUVs. Sharing this result with the 2016 GLC is the Land Rover Discovery Sport. Both SUVs got a 2 out of 5 rating in feature and accessory and powertrain dependability. The German vehicle was just a point better in body and interior dependability. The most common problems reported from owners of the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC are confusing control panels and the loud, screeching sound the brakes make most especially when backing up.
3 2019 Volkswagen Jetta
The third rating JD Power has for automobiles is the Initial Quality Study or IQS, it's a quality survey for new car owners who've had their car for 90 days. The rating is averaged through eight categories all focusing on quality. The 2019 winner among compact cars in the market is Kia's Forte. The German car VW Jetta is one of the lowest in a pool of at least 15 different compact cars. The Jetta scored 2 in all categories except three: Features & Accessories Mechanical, and Design, and Body & Interior Design. The most common complaint of VW Jetta owners is about the transmission grinding noise when accelerating to just 20-30 mph. The 2019 VW Jetta is priced at $18,745.
2 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLS
It seems that big German auto manufacturer Mercedes-Benz after 93 long years in the industry and about 21 years making SUVs have not had quite a solid grip in terms of quality and reliability with its sport utility vehicles. The first Mercedes-Benz car in this naughty list is the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC, a midsize crossover SUV, and now we have the 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLS, the company's new large luxury SUV. It only received a 2/5 JD Power IQS rating, the 2019 best large premium SUV is Cadillac's Escalade. This model needs the new infotainment system (the MBUX, perhaps) and initial feedback about the interior is not good and got a rating of 2 out of 5, among others.
1 2019 Audi A6 - 2/2 midsize premium car - 2019 iqs
The 2019 Audi A6 may be the latest A6, but it's not showing good promise early on. If we compare it to the older version, the 2016 Audi A6 received a 3-rating for dependability, not outstanding, but after three years the new Audi A6 should have made adjustments and gotten at least a rating of 4. But JD Power surveys place the 2019 car a point lacking, 2 out of 5 among midsize premium cars. Most consumers share the same sentiment, it's new but no improvements were really felt. It looks good on paper, but the actual owner’s feedback of the German-made 2019 Audi A6 has been found wanting.