Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.Which Japanese brand can you trust more?Lexus and Infiniti both launched in 1989 as part of a new wave of Japanese luxury cars. They promised high-end features and finishes combined with the dependable engineering expertise Japanese vehicles had become known for. Almost 40 years later, both brands are still close rivals, although Lexus has surged ahead on the sales charts. Given that fans of these brands expect superior reliability compared to their German counterparts, which one ranks more highly in that regard? Lexus or Infiniti? We consulted the latest reliability studies to find out.Consumer Reports: A Podium Finish For Lexus2026 Lexus RX 450h+Jared Rosenholtz/AutoblogView the 2 images of this gallery on the original articleAdvertisementAdvertisementThe latest brand reliability ratings from Consumer Reports (CR) is a solid indicator of how dependable different automakers are. It relies on data from around 380,000 vehicles produced between the 2000 and 2025 model years. There are 20 problem areas assessed, including software, powertrains, and build quality.In the most recent rankings, Lexus was ranked third with a score of 60, behind only Subaru and Toyota. Models like the Lexus IS sedan, NX crossover, and TX three-row crossover all perform strongly in their respective segments. Not a single Lexus has a below-average reliability rating.Unfortunately, Infiniti was excluded from this study as it did not meet CR's participation requirements. A clue to how Infiniti may have performed comes via Nissan's ranking, at sixth, since many Nissan and Infiniti models share components. However, as Infiniti was officially excluded, we can't definitively say whether it would have surpassed Lexus or not.Related: Acura vs Lexus Reliability: The Winner Isn't Even CloseJD Power: An Overwhelming Lead For Lexus2026 Lexus ISJared Rosenholtz/AutoblogJD Power has published results from two separate studies this year and Lexus is far ahead of Infiniti in both. The Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) was the first, in which 33,268 owners of 2023 model-year vehicles were asked about their experiences after three years of ownership. A total of 184 problem areas were covered, and brands were ranked by the number of problems per 100 vehicles (PP100).AdvertisementAdvertisementLexus performed exceptionally well, ranking first with 151 PP100, well below the industry average of 204 PP100. The Lexus IS was the top overall model in the study and Lexus topped four separate segments. Infiniti was way down at 22nd with 233 PP100 and did not appear as a winner or runner-up in any segment. Based on these results, Lexus models are far less troublesome after three years.2026 INFINITI QX80InfinitiThe picture gets even worse for Infiniti in the new Initial Quality Study from JD Power. Here, brands are ranked based on the number of problems experienced after 90 days. Lexus once again did well, with a fourth-placed finish and 156 PP100. Infiniti ranked dead last out of 27 brands with 235 PP100, well below the industry average of 175 PP100.Both studies indicate that Infiniti vehicles cause a lot more headaches for owners in the first few months and years of ownership.RepairPal: Lexus Keeps Its Advantage2026 Lexus NX 350LexusRepairPal takes a different approach to brand reliability ratings. It formulates scores based on millions of vehicle repair invoices. The cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs are all taken into account, while 2010 to 2019 model year vehicles are included. This is a better gauge of Lexus versus Infiniti reliability beyond the typical warranty period.AdvertisementAdvertisementOut of 32 brands, Lexus ranks seventh with a rating of 4 out of 5. Infiniti ranks 16th and has a score of 3.5 out of 5, placing it exactly in the middle. While Lexus models need an unscheduled repair an average of 0.5 times per year, Infiniti owners are looking at a visit roughly 0.7 times per year. And, while 8% of Lexus repairs are considered severe, about 10% of Infiniti repairs are serious.As these cars age, Lexus models tend to be cheaper to fix and less likely to go wrong in the first place.Lexus RX Vs. Infiniti QX60 Reliability: Top-Selling Models Compared2026 Lexus RX F Sport Handling in Caviar with Appearance packageLexus configuratorView the 2 images of this gallery on the original articleLexus sold 10,964 RX crossovers in the first quarter of 2026 and the Infiniti QX60 wasn't far behind, with 9,475 sales over the same period. These are the most popular models from each brand and share many components with other Lexus/Infiniti models, so a solid reliability reputation is important.AdvertisementAdvertisementWe used JD Power's quality and reliability rating over the last five years to see which of these crossovers comes out on top.Over the last five years, the Lexus RX consistently outperformed the Infiniti QX60. Lexus has relied on proven powertrains over the last few years that are known to achieve high miles with no major issues. The QX60's reliability reputation is reasonable, but not on the level of the Lexus.Related: Toyota vs. Lexus Reliability: The Winner Depends On Who You AskFinal Verdict: Lexus Is The Luxury Reliability King2024 Lexus TXJames RiswickIs Lexus better than Infiniti? Based on the available reliability studies where both brands were eligible, Lexus is ahead by a significant margin. Despite having a much broader lineup with numerous electrified models, Lexus vehicles have the same stellar reputation as the iconic LS 400 launched in the late 1980s. Infiniti is currently battling with initial quality, while older models have a few serious maladies, such as defective CVTs. If you want a luxury car with the reliability of a less complex mainstream model, Lexus remains undefeated.AdvertisementAdvertisementThis story was originally published by Autoblog on Jun 28, 2026, where it first appeared in the Features section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.