Have you ever been looking at used cars and realized most of them were duds? It’s not just because they’re used – it’s because some car brands don’t make their vehicles in a way that lets them stand the test of time.
Where a Ford might give out in 10 years, a Toyota could last 20. So if you want a dependable used car as your next ride, check out the three most reliable car brands below.
What Makes a Car Reliable? The Biggest Determining Factors
For the purpose of this list, we considered information like the availability of older models, the number of problems found per hundred vehicles checked, and reliability scores from customer data to determine which brands were considered the most reliable and dependable.
Toyota
Toyota has the best overall reputation and scores for reliability among all the brands.
Even as far back as the 2010s, Toyota’s used vehicles were getting high-reliability scores from customers. Even today’s models have a lower-than-average number of problems per 100 vehicles inspected, so that trend is likely to continue for years to come.
From the near-indestructible Camry to the well-maintained Prius hybrid to the steady RAV4 SUV, you won’t go wrong choosing a Toyota model for your next used car.
Kia
While some of today’s Kia models have unique issues, the Kias of the past earned a stellar reputation as small, durable vehicles of choice for new drivers.
When inspected for issues in its 2012 models, Kias actually had even fewer problems than Toyotas, putting them in the top three for brand dependability at the time.
The brand’s reputation among customers is a bit lower, but you’ll find that lifelong Kia drivers have a lot of good points on why models like the Stinger and Soul should be your choice next time you go shopping for used cars.
Honda
Unlike the across-the-board sweep that Toyota models have, the main reason that no reliability list is complete without Honda can be attributed to a few very specific models.
Namely, the Honda Accord and the Honda Civic.
Take nearly any version of these two vehicles from any year, and they’ll still run just fine today – and because these cars tend to last for more than one generation of drivers, entire families swear by them.
Hondas tended to have more problems than average when inspected, but their reputation among customers put them in the top five of many reliability scores and surveys.
So if you’re looking for a used car any time soon, you can’t go wrong by finding a vehicle with the name Honda, Kia, or Toyota at the front! Even going back a decade, these brands showed a stark difference in dependability when compared to other automakers.
Don’t settle for anything less than the best when you’re buying used cars – get the sturdiest, most capable, most reliable vehicles on the market from these great brands, and you’ll be back (in a few years) to thank us.
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