Car Quality Rankings 2010 – The Most Reliable Hatchbacks

Likely the most useful criterion of motor vehicle quality is reliability, as most people neither like nor want the irritation, inconvenience, and cost of dealing with serious problems. This article provides lists of hatchbacks employing this criterion in order to help guide consumers to the best hatchbacks on the U.S. new and used car market.

The lists in this article include hatchbacks whose 2010 Auto Reliability Grade Point Average falls within the stated range, with the qualification that any model with only a one-year data history is not included, as a one-year data history may serve as a weak, and possibly misleading, guide of what a car buyer may anticipate for more than one year.

The first list gives those hatchback models with a 2010 Auto Reliability Grade Point Average between 3.25 and a perfect 4.00 for the age range 0-to-4 years. These hatchbacks are:

• The Toyota Prius, a 4-door hatchback with a 2010 0-to-4-Year Auto Reliability GPA of a perfect 4.00,
• The Toyota Yaris Hatchback, with a GPA of 4.00,
• Toyota Motor Corporation's Scion xA, a 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 4.00,
• Toyota Motor Corporation's Scion xD, a 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 4.00,
• Honda Motor Company's Acura RSX, a sporty 2-door hatchback with a GPA of 4.00,
• The Honda Fit, a 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 4.00,
• The Honda Insight, a 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 4.00,
• The Volkswagen Golf/Rabbit, a 2-door and 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 3.67.

Of these 8, Toyota Motor Corporation accounts for 4 (50%), Honda Motor Company accounts for 3 (38%), and Volkswagen AG accounts for 1.

The second list gives those hatchback models with a 2010 Auto Reliability Grade Point Average between 3.25 and a perfect 4.00 for the age range 2-to-6 years. These hatchbacks are:

• The Toyota Echo, a 2-door hatchback with a 2010 2-to-6-Year Auto Reliability GPA of a perfect 4.00,
• The Toyota Prius, a 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 4.00,
• The Toyota Yaris Hatchback, with a GPA of 4.00,
• The Honda Fit, a 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 4.00,
• The Volkswagen Golf/Rabbit, a 2-door and 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 4.00,
• Toyota Motor Corporation's Lexus IS300, a 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 3.50,
• Toyota Motor Corporation's Scion xA, a 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 3.67
• Honda Motor Company's Acura RSX, a sporty 2-door hatchback with a GPA of 3.33.

Of these 8, Toyota Motor Corporation accounts for 5 (63%), Honda Motor Company accounts for 2 (25%), and Volkswagen AG accounts for 1.

The third list gives those hatchback models with a 2010 Auto Reliability Grade Point Average between 3.25 and a perfect 4.00 for the age range 4-to-8 years. These hatchbacks are:

• The Toyota Echo, a 2-door hatchback with a 2010 4-to-8-Year Auto Reliability GPA of a perfect 4.00,
• The Toyota Prius, a 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 4.00,
• Toyota Motor Corporation's Lexus IS300, a 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 3.75,
• Toyota Motor Corporation's Scion xA, a 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 3.50,
• Honda Motor Company's Acura RSX, a sporty 2-door hatchback with a GPA of 3.50,
• The Mitsubishi Lancer, a 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 3.33.

Of these 6, Toyota Motor Corporation accounts for 4 (67%), Honda Motor Company accounts for 1 (17%), and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation accounts for 1.

The fourth list gives those hatchback models with a 2010 Auto Reliability Grade Point Average between 3.25 and a perfect 4.00 for the age range 6-to-10 years. These noteworthy, durable hatchbacks are:

• The Toyota Echo, a 2-door hatchback and sedan with a 2010 6-to-10-Year Auto Reliability GPA of a perfect 4.00,
• The Toyota Prius, a 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 4.00,
• Honda Motor Company's Acura RSX, a sporty 2-door hatchback with a GPA of 4.00,
• Toyota Motor Corporation's Lexus IS300, a sporty 4-door hatchback with a GPA of 3.67,
• The Honda Insight, a 2-door hybrid hatchback with a GPA of 3.50.

Of these 5, Toyota Motor Corporation accounts for 3 (60%) and Honda Motor Company accounts for 2 (40%).

The final list gives those hatchback models with at least a 5-year data history which have achieved a 2010 Auto Reliability Grade Point Average between 3.25 and a perfect 4.00 for all of their age ranges offering data. These notable hatchbacks, together with their overall 2010 GPA, are:

• The Toyota Echo, a 2-door hatchback with an overall 2010 Auto Reliability GPA of a perfect 4.00,
• The Toyota Prius, a 4-door hybrid hatchback with an overall GPA of 4.00,
• Honda Motor Company's Acura RSX, a sporty 2-door hatchback with an overall GPA of 3.71,
• Toyota Motor Corporation's Lexus IS300, a sporty 4-door hatchback with an overall GPA of 3.64.

Of these 4, Toyota Motor Corporation accounts for 3 (75%) and Honda Motor Company accounts for 1 (25%).