JD Power Study: Why Your Lexus Outlasts That Gadget-Packed EV

JD Power’s latest Vehicle Dependability Survey confirms what many drivers already suspected: Lexus remains the most reliable brand on the road, with the Toyota Camry topping midsize cars and GM brands like Chevrolet and Cadillac leading domestic contenders. But the real surprise?

All that fancy tech in newer vehicles has hit a point where it’s dragging down reliability without making the drive any better. Automakers loading up on screens and connectivity, think Rivian, are taking the biggest hit, while Lexus, despite its luxury status, stays relatively unscathed.

Here’s the breakdown.

Take the Rivian R1S versus the Lexus IS. Over the last three model years, JD Power gives Lexus an average Quality & Reliability score of 90 out of 100, compared to Rivian’s 70. Repair costs tell a similar story: a Lexus IS250 runs about $487 annually for maintenance, with common fixes like brake booster or AC condenser replacements costing between $500 and $1,500.

That’s manageable because Lexus shares parts with Toyota, a mechanic who can fix a Camry can handle a Lexus ES. Rivian, on the other hand, doesn’t have enough history for RepairPal data, but owner forums are full of complaints about phone pairing failures and key fob glitches. 6-inch touchscreen, adaptive air suspension, and a built-in air compressor, impressive, but nearly every function requires a phone or fob connection, creating more headaches than convenience.

JD Power has been flagging this trend for years. 7 of those issues. In the initial quality study, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration pushed that number even higher. Lexus and Toyota consistently score well because they resist feature bloat, luxury touches without the spaceship complexity.

And there’s a safety angle: 46% of distracted-driving incidents, per JD Power, were tied to fiddling with touchscreen menus. The Rivian R1S requires drivers to navigate submenus for climate, drive modes, and even door latches, one owner walkthrough video runs 77 minutes. That’s a lot of screen time when your eyes should be on the road.

This isn’t about EVs being unreliable long-term, electric powertrains need less upkeep than gas engines. The problem is the pile of gadgets that break or need over-the-air updates. The Slate EV, a bare-bones model with no infotainment screen or power windows, hints at a smarter direction.

Automakers should take a cue from Lexus: cut the extra bells and whistles, bring back physical buttons, and focus on what keeps drivers safe and satisfied. Nobody wants to program a microwave while driving.