Which Auto Brands Make the Best Used Cars?

If you’re shopping for used cars, knowing which brands make the most reliable models is crucial. One of the top anxieties for used car shoppers is whether the car will be reliable. Any vehicle, if well-maintained, can be reliable. However, some brands have a more solid reputation than others when it comes to making reliable used cars.

Lexus

According to Consumer Reports, the most reliable auto brand is Lexus, which is a luxury nameplate under Toyota. The brand scores a 75 out of 100 in Consumer Reports’ reliability metric. Lexus makes a wide range of models, including crossovers, sedans, and body-on-frame SUVs. The Lexus GS sedan is widely considered to be one of the top Lexus models for reliability. It consistently scores highly in reliability ratings and has multiple generations of success. The Lexus RX SUV and ES sedan are also considered to be very reliable.

Toyota

Second in the reliability rankings is Toyota with a score of 72 out of 100. Toyota has long been known as a bastion of reliability and has been at the top of used car reliability lists for many years. Toyota is most known for models like the Tacoma pickup, the Camry sedan, and the 4Runner SUV. The brand’s most reliable models include the 4Runner, the Tacoma, the Tundra full-size pickup, and the Avalon sedan. The Tundra might be its most famous model thanks to the Million Mile Tundra from the 2007 model year.

Mazda

Mazda has been around for a while, but the brand has recently jumped in the reliability rankings. It now sits third in the rankings with a score of 59. The most well-known current Mazda model is the MX-5 Miata, an affordable and fun roadster. Mazda also makes several SUVs, including the CX-3, CX-5, and CX-9. The CX-5 is arguably its flagship SUV and is one of the brand’s most reliable models. The Mazda 3 and Mazda 6 sedans round out the model lineup.

Acura

Acura is the luxury brand under Honda and it used to only vie with Toyota for the top spot, but its reliability has slipped in recent years. Nevertheless, with a score of 57, it’s still one of the most reliable brands out there. Current Acura models include the MDX, RDX, and TLX. According to iSeeCars, the Acura MDX is by far the most reliable Acura model with a rating of 9.4 out of 10 in the site’s reliability metrics.

Honda

Honda gets a 57 out of 100 rating, but the brand has long been known to produce reliable used cars. The current Honda lineup includes the venerable Accord and Civic cars, plus SUVs like the Pilot, Passport, and CR-V. Honda also makes a unibody pickup with the Honda Ridgeline. The Honda Civic is widely considered to be Honda’s most reliable model over the years.

Ultimately, the best used cars are the ones that have been well-maintained. For this reason, Certified Pre-Owned Cars from the brands listed above tend to be the ones that will give you the most peace of mind.