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Tesla has cracked Consumer Reports’ annual top 10 auto brands list for the first time ever, marking a major shift for the EV maker as it continues refining both quality and affordability. The 2026 Automotive Brand Report Card, published by Consumer Reports magazine and detailed by the Detroit Free Press, places Tesla at No. 10 overall — up from 18th last year and its highest ranking to date.
The publication has historically been one of Tesla’s toughest critics when it comes to reliability, but this year’s results tell a different story. “Tesla makes the most reliable electric vehicles now,” said Jake Fisher, Consumer Reports’ senior director of automotive testing. He credited the improvement to Tesla’s long production cycles: “Who’s been making EVs as long and as many as Tesla? Nobody. The Tesla S hasn’t been redesigned in 15 years. Nobody else leaves a vehicle in production that long, but it’s been refined over time.”
In reliability alone, Tesla placed 9th overall with a score of 50 — a sharp contrast to Rivian, the only other all-electric brand evaluated by Consumer Reports, which landed in last place with a score of 24. Interestingly, Fisher also noted that while current-generation Teslas are scoring better than ever, “5- to 10-year-old Teslas rank last in reliability for vehicles that age,” underscoring how the brand’s long-term durability still trails rivals.
The overall 2026 rankings remain dominated by foreign automakers, with Subaru securing the No. 1 spot for the second consecutive year, followed by BMW, Porsche, Honda, Toyota, Lexus, Lincoln, Hyundai, Acura, and then Tesla rounding out the list.
Tesla’s strong placement comes at a time when the company has been aggressively expanding its product lineup. In October, it launched its cheapest EVs yet — the Model 3 Standard and Model Y Standard — significantly lowering the barrier to entry for new buyers. The automaker also recently began delivering the refreshed Model Y Performance, which brings updated internals and chassis improvements to its best-selling SUV.
With improved reliability scores, new budget-friendly models, and fresh Performance variants arriving in customers’ hands, Tesla’s first-ever Consumer Reports top-10 finish adds yet another milestone to a notably active year for the company.
