Some Ford cars are less likely to have repair problems than some sedans from Honda and Toyota. That's one of the key findings in Consumer Reports' just-released annual assessment of car reliability—an assessment based on subscribers' experience with almost 1.5 million vehicles.

Of the 51 Fords in Consumer Reports' survey, only five were below average. That means Ford is basically on par with Honda and Toyota. The most reliable Fords were the front-wheel-drive Fusion and its twin, the Mercury Milan. Their reliability is right at the top of the family-sedan category. It's actually better than the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord.

The hybrid version of the Fusion and Milan also got top scores for reliability, along with several other hybrids, including the Toyota Prius, Nissan Altima Hybrid, and Toyota Camry Hybrid. That is significant because there has been concern with hybrids about how well the batteries will hold up over time. But Consumer Reports says, so far, so good. The Toyota Prius has now been out for eight years, and, according to Consumer Reports, it's one of the most reliable eight-year-old vehicles on the road. There have not been many battery replacements at all.

Consumer Reports' new survey also found that Hyundai and Kia continue to make many reliable cars, such as the Elantra sedan, the Tucson SUV, and the Kia Sportage SUV.

But the survey did find some problem cars among some usually very reliable brands. They include the all-wheel-drive Lexus GS, Subaru Impreza WRX, and Nissan Versa.

Getting a car that holds up well is worth it, Consumer Reports says. That can save you thousands of dollars in repairs, and reliable cars tend to have a higher resale value.

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