10 Most Reliable German Cars

2020 Mercedes Benz CLA ・ Photo by Mercedes-Benz

German cars are renowned for their leading-edge engineering. Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, and Volkswagen have been responsible for the popularization of a wide variety of technical innovations like fuel injection, antilock brakes, electronic stability programs, front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, and four-wheel independent suspension. At the same time, being on the leading edge of technology means German cars are often equipped with new systems that might well experience initial growing pains. There is no doubt the German-brand cars are well-built, no matter if that building takes place in Germany, Mexico, or the United States. But because of all they bring to the table in terms of tech and equipment, there are times when reliability can be challenging. That said, we have done extensive first-, second-, and third-party research to determine the 10 most reliable German cars and, in descending order of reliability, here is what we found.

2020 BMW 5 Series

The formula for the BMW 5 Series mid-size sports sedan has remained largely unchanged through seven generations. More than 7.6 million 5 Series vehicles have been sold worldwide since 1972 and, since 1975, more than a million units in the U.S. alone. The 5 Series is stuffed with tech, yet it retains the performance-oriented rear-wheel drive feel that so many carmakers have walked away from. Power for the BMW 530i and BMW 540i come from turbocharged four- and six-cylinder gasoline engines, respectively. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder inline engine in the 530i delivers 248 horsepower and puts its maximum torque of 258 lb-ft on tap from 1,450 rpm to 4,800 rpm. The 540i’s inline-six delivers 335 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque from 1,380 to 5,200 rpm.

Photo by BMW

2020 Audi A7

The original Audi A7 was one of the first cars to adopt the four-door coupe nomenclature because its fastback design was so expressive. Now another generation on, the Audi A7 remains a great-looking car that also boasts a roomy, accommodating interior, and, because of its liftback body style, nearly the utility of a station wagon. Based on the Audi A6 sedan mechanicals, the A7 is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine backed by the company’s seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch automatic transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive. The A7's massive dual-touchscreen MMI infotainment system draws mixed reviews, but once you understand it, it is easy to operate — and it better be, since most of the car's functions are accessed that way. For 2020, the most important new standard features are a lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, and Amazon Alexa integration that enables better voice control of certain features.

Photo by Audi

2020 Porsche 911

Not only is the Porsche 911 an iconic sports car that has just entered a new generation, but it is also one of the highest-quality German cars of the past decade. Once thought of as temperamental and hard to service, the 911 has begun to gain a reputation for reliability — when serviced as suggested by Porsche. Performance is, of course, paramount for the 911, and all of its current variants deliver there. Like the 2020 911 Carrera S and 4S models, the 911 Carrera and 911 Carrera Cabriolet are powered by a twin-turbo 3.0-liter horizontally opposed flat-six engine. Fitted with model-specific turbochargers, the engine develops 379 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 331 lb-ft of torque from 1,950 to 5,000 rpm, and with the standard eight-speed PDK (Porsche Doppelkupplung) dual-clutch automatic transmission, the 2020 911 Carrera accelerates from zero to 60 mph in 4.0 seconds.

2020 Audi A5

The Audi A5 coupe has long been regarded as one of the handsomest traditional two-door coupes on the planet. At the same time, its reputation for reliability continues to grow. In its second generation, the current A5 offers some of its classic design details, like the power dome and wave-design shoulder line, but as you'd guess they have been modified for the new body. Inside, the A5 is fitted with impressive technology such as the available Audi Virtual Cockpit and MMI. Driver-assistance systems include standard Audi pre sense city and available adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and traffic jam assist. The A5 is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged 252-horsepower TFSI four-cylinder engine, for the first time backed by a seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission.

2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class compact sedan is one of the brand's best-selling models, and its reputation for reliability has contributed to that. The attractive five-passenger sedan's exterior look was upgraded in a recent mid-cycle "refresh," and a big change is the addition of standard LED headlamps and taillamps. Inside, the C-Class has taken a page from the ultra-luxury S-Class with an optional fully digital instrument display offering the three different display styles: "Classic," "Sport," and "Progressive." The screen measures 12.3 inches diagonally and is supplemented by a 5.5-inch color display in the instrument panel. The base 2020 Mercedes-Benz C-Class is powered by a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder turbocharged engine that produces 255 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. It's backed by a sophisticated nine-speed automatic transmission.

Photo by Mercedes-Benz

2020 BMW 2 Series

The BMW 2 Series coupe and convertible represent the latest generation of BMW tech and driving prowess on the smallest scale on sale in the United States. Available the 230i or M240i, both the coupe and convertible offer a full range of BMW niceties, including the availability of xDrive, BMW's intelligent all-wheel drive system. The turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the 230i produces 248 horsepower, while the M240i M Performance model features a turbocharged six-cylinder engine that generates 335 horsepower. The standard transmission is an eight-speed Steptronic Sport that allows quick manual gear changes via paddle shifters. A six-speed manual transmission is available on the 230i Coupe and the M240i variants. As you would expect, the 2 Series features sophisticated suspension technology, including a double-joint spring strut front axle with anti-roll bars, plus a five-link rear axle.

Photo by BMW

2020 Audi A4

As the best-selling Audi model of all time, the A4 compact sedan carries a lot of expectations. And when it comes to dependability, style, and driving performance, those expectations are fulfilled. The current A4 offers attractive exterior and interior design, smart ergonomics, and high-level driver assistance. Under the hood is a high-efficiency 2.0-liter TFSI four-cylinder engine that contributes 252 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, mated to a seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission for both the front-wheel drive and Quattro all-wheel drive versions. A4s with Quattro also feature a self-locking center differential and wheel-selective torque control. Inside the five-passenger A4, advanced infotainment functions include the Audi Virtual Cockpit, along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration.

Photo by Audi

2020 BMW 4 Series

The BMW 4 Series coupe and hardtop convertible are venerable by industry standards and will soon be the subject of a complete makeover. That said, the current version has gained very good reliability marks through the years, and that makes the current model year’s 4 Series a good buy from that point of view. Currently, there are four separate 4 Series models: the 430i coupe, 440i coupe, 430i convertible, and 440i convertible in ascending order of price. With a chassis based on one of the most heralded sports sedans of all time — the previous-generation BMW 3 Series — the rear-drive-biased handling is stellar. The 430i models are powered by a 248-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine while the 440i models feature a 320-horsepower 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine, both with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Photo by BMW

2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA

The Mercedes-Benz CLA has always occupied a unique spot in the brand's lineup. For the past several years, until the U.S. introduction of the A-Class, it was the least expensive Mercedes-Benz for sale here, and it is a front-wheel drive car in a sea of rear-drive Benzes. Yet when it comes to reliability, the CLA has filled the bill. The CLA, befitting its four-door coupe designation, is longer, lower, and swoopier than the A-Class sedan with which it shares a platform. Initially, the 2020 CLA is available in CLA 250 front-drive and CLA 250 4MATIC all-wheel-drive versions with high-performance AMG variants waiting in the wings. The CLA 250s are powered by a new turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine that produces 221 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque.

Photo by Mercedes-Benz

2020 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Offered as a sedan, coupe, convertible, and station wagon, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class has been one of the luxury brand's mainstays for decades. The mid-size vehicle’s platform is rear-drive-biased, but many E-Class vehicles are fitted with Mercedes-Benz's 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system. What they all share is a high level of reliability. Last year Mercedes-Benz introduced the E 450 and E 450 4MATIC variants to supplement the E 300 and E 300 4MATIC sedans. The E 450 models are powered by a 362-horsepower 3.0-liter bi-turbocharged V6 engine, while the E 300s have a 241-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. As an option, the E-Class offers two 12.3-inch digital displays placed side-by-side to form a wide-screen cockpit. Two suspension systems with selective damping are available, including a lowered suspension, and a Dynamic Select switch in the cockpit enables the driver to select from four driving modes.

Photo by Mercedes-Benz