^^^^more reliable in terms of manufacturing quality? Yes - “lemons” are a thing of the past.
But modern cars are often way under spec’d to keep weight down (this is the only excuse for undersizing brakes and other components besides maximizing things like room for more cupholders), and because electronics take up less room and weigh virtually nothing, modern vehicles are extremely limited in what can truly be owner maintained.
The lowest common denominator parts bin is why people report feeling like the newer models are “cheaper” IMO. Anything that can be shared across models will be, so some stuff that is on base models shows up on more premium models across global markets.
In simple user experience, that’s stuff like door checks (that little thing that holds your door open) and latches that when they wear out cost substantial money to replace if you aren’t comfortable doing it yourself.
I’ve had to replace 3 of the 4 door checks on the Sequoia, two power lock actuators, and the driver’s door latch last week along with the turn signal and headlight stalk. Zero of these things have failed on the 1995 Land Cruiser. That’s a parts bin sharing problem.
The drivetrain on the other hand is running like it just came off the lot at 282K, because that is shared with the 100 series Land Cruiser.
The door and other parts stuff has been around $450 in parts, no big deal when I paid $6K for the entire vehicle, but would have been upwards of $2K with shop labor.
Of course one can live with some of these things, but not when one has sold one’s wife’s minivan (with perpetual brake judder despite upgrades) and the Sequoia is now her daily driver.