Tesla has reached a new milestone in Consumer Reports’ (CR) highly influential auto brand rankings. For the first time ever, the electric-only automaker landed in the top 10, moving all the way up to 10th place for the 2026 model year – a big leap from 18th last year.
CR didn’t hold back in explaining why the brand jumped ahead. “Tesla makes the most reliable electric vehicles now,” the organization said, adding that “quality issues have significantly improved for 2026.” The acknowledgment marks a major shift for Tesla, which has historically been dinged for panel gaps, trim inconsistencies, and early production glitches.
The report ranks more than 30 brands by combining CR’s road-test evaluations with safety data, owner satisfaction, and — most importantly — reliability. Tesla earned the No. 9 spot in reliability among all automakers with a score of 50, outpacing the other pure-EV brand in the rankings, Rivian, which came in dead last with a score of just 24.
Joining Tesla in the overall top 10 were some familiar names at the top of the industry:
So what changed? CR’s analysts pointed out that Tesla’s steady approach to hardware has been paying dividends. Instead of redesigning models every few years like legacy automakers — a process that often introduces new reliability headaches — Tesla refines its existing platforms and rolls out improvements via over-the-air software updates.
That consistency has translated into fewer real-world issues for owners. CR also highlighted the strength of Tesla’s powertrains, which continue to outperform most EV competitors in long-term durability. The only outlier dragging down Tesla’s average is the Cybertruck, which features brand-new systems like steer-by-wire and a 48-volt architecture that are still going through growing pains in the first model year.
“There are definitely improvements by keeping with things and refining,” said Jake Fisher, CR’s Senior Director of Auto Testing. He noted that Tesla still struggles when looking back at older vehicles — particularly those from five to ten years ago — but emphasized that avoiding major redesigns has delivered measurable reliability gains.
While disregarded by some, CR’s rankings are closely watched across the automotive world and can heavily influence purchasing decisions, especially among mainstream shoppers who may be hesitant to try a fully electric vehicle.
