I Ranked All Asian Car Brands from Worst to Best

Summary

In this video, an experienced mechanic with 53 years of expertise ranks Asian cars sold in the U.S. from worst to best based on his personal experience. The list includes Suzuki, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Hyundai/Kia, Mazda, Honda, and Toyota, with Suzuki being the worst and Toyota the best. He highlights key issues such as poor build quality, unreliable transmissions, and outdated designs in some brands, while praising others for their reliability and improvement over the years. Toyota tops the list due to its consistent quality and longevity.

Takeaways

• 🚗 Suzuki cars in the United States were a massive failure, known for being underpowered and unreliable, especially with automatic transmissions.
• 🚗 Nissan's quality has sharply declined since Renault took over in the 2000s, with frequent transmission and engine issues. Nissan's luxury brand, Infiniti, faces similar problems.
• 🚗 Mitsubishi cars suffer from poor build quality, with frequent engine and transmission issues. Despite being part of a large corporation, their cars don't hold up well over time.
• 🚗 Subaru is popular for its all-wheel-drive vehicles, but their boxer engines are outdated and prone to issues like blown head gaskets. The 4-cylinder versions are more reliable than the 6-cylinder ones.
• 🚗 Hyundai and Kia, including their luxury brand Genesis, have improved in recent years but still face reliability issues. They are no longer significantly cheaper than Toyota or Honda, reducing their appeal.
• 🚗 Mazda's quality has improved significantly, partly due to partnerships with Toyota. Their SkyActiv technology is helping them make more efficient and powerful vehicles.
• 🚗 Honda is known for building reliable small cars, though some larger models and new technologies like their 1.5 turbocharged engines have faced issues.
• 🚗 Toyota remains the top brand for quality and reliability. Their cars are known to run for hundreds of thousands of miles with minimal maintenance and few serious issues.
• 🚗 Luxury brands like Lexus (Toyota) outperform their counterparts like Infiniti (Nissan) and Acura (Honda) in terms of reliability and long-term value.
• 🚗 While Hyundai and Kia have tried to make a name with their Genesis line, they still don't match the long-term reliability of Japanese brands like Toyota and Honda.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the video transcript?

The video is a ranking of Asian car brands sold in the United States from worst to best, based on the speaker's personal experience as a mechanic with over 50 years of experience.

Why does the speaker rank Suzuki as the worst Asian car brand in the U.S.?

The speaker ranks Suzuki as the worst because their cars were poorly made, underpowered, and unreliable, especially with automatic transmissions. Additionally, they lacked parts availability and service support in the U.S.

What is the main criticism of Nissan in the transcript?

The main criticism of Nissan is the decline in quality since Renault took over in the early 2000s. The speaker highlights issues with blown head gaskets, transmission failures, and poor overall reliability compared to earlier models under the Datsun name.

Why does the speaker group Nissan and Infiniti together in the ranking?

The speaker groups Nissan and Infiniti together because they are essentially the same company, with Infiniti being Nissan's luxury brand. He suggests that rebranding doesn't fix the quality issues both brands face.

What is the speaker's opinion on Mitsubishi vehicles?

The speaker considers Mitsubishi to have poor quality, especially with issues like burning oil due to subpar piston rings and frequent engine and transmission failures. He advises against buying Mitsubishi cars, labeling them as unreliable and low-quality.

What does the speaker say about Subaru's strengths and weaknesses?

The speaker acknowledges Subaru's appeal due to their all-wheel-drive systems, which are popular in regions with snow or off-road conditions. However, he criticizes Subaru's boxer engines for being outdated and prone to issues like blown head gaskets and transmission failures.

How does the speaker feel about Hyundai and Kia, and what improvements have they made?

The speaker acknowledges that Hyundai and Kia have made significant improvements in quality over the past decade, particularly with their Genesis brand. However, he notes that they still suffer from some quality control issues and engine problems, and no longer offer the significant price advantage they once did over Toyota and Honda.

Why is Mazda ranked higher than other brands in the video?

Mazda is ranked higher due to its recent improvements in quality, particularly through its collaboration with Toyota. The speaker mentions Mazda's SkyActiv technology, which enhances fuel efficiency and power, and praises the brand for overcoming previous reliability issues.

What does the speaker identify as Honda's main strengths and weaknesses?

The speaker praises Honda for its reliable, small cars that are fun to drive. However, he criticizes the brand for oil dilution issues in its 1.5-liter turbo engines and notes that Honda vehicles require more frequent valve adjustments than Toyotas, which is a downside in terms of long-term maintenance.

Why does the speaker consider Toyota the best Asian car brand in the U.S.?

The speaker ranks Toyota as the best due to its long-standing reputation for reliability, low maintenance, and longevity. He highlights Toyota's ability to learn from its mistakes and improve over time, making it a highly trusted brand with strong resale value and fewer major issues compared to competitors.