Are Japanese cars more reliable than their German counterparts?

Automotive experts and car enthusiasts around the world have been debating whether Japanese cars are more reliable than German-made ones, while American vehicles haven’t even entered the discussion. The most frequently mentioned brands in this context are Toyota, Honda, Volkswagen and Mercedes. Although German cars were considered the most reliable until the 1970s, over the last two decades it seems that Japanese automakers have succeeded in dethroning them.

German cars have always been praised for their incredible performances, powerful engines, beautifully designed, luxurious interior with many high-tech features, but they have proven to be more susceptible to flaws. They are quite fast and have excellent handling and steering. But those high-tech pieces of equipment, like touchscreens and intricate climate control and navigation systems, are a big part of the problem, with frequent failures often affecting the car’s overall performance.

Another reason why German cars are not so reliable is that their biggest automakers like VW, Audi, BMW, and Mercedes are investing most of their resources and focusing their attention on making high-performance cars, and when it comes to segments that don’t affect the car’s acceleration or power output, they tend to use cheaper parts that are more prone to failure. That is why there are more defects reported for their models, than for Honda or Toyota, for example.

Almost all Japanese vehicles today come with a 5-year/100,000-mile warranty, which is enough to assure customers that they won’t have to worry about serious faults like engine failure and paying for expensive repairs for a long time. weather. after you buy one.

However, reliability should not be confused with security. German vehicles are quite safe, they are equipped with the latest in car safety technology such as anti-lock brake systems, parking assist sensors, traction control systems, multiple front and rear airbags, electronic stability control, etc.

All of these arguments may sound strange, considering how many vehicles have been recalled by Honda and Toyota in recent years, due to various failures in electrical systems, transmissions, door and window mechanisms, but it seems that they have been able to overcome those problems and returned to normal, especially during the second half of 2012, when a large increase in sales was reported. That shows that consumers once again trust its safety and reliability. So it’s no surprise that Toyota returned to the top of the best-selling car list last year, with over 9 million units sold, which is its best result in over 5 years.