Have you ever felt that they just don’t make cars like they used to? It’s as if things from the past were built to last. While this might not be true about every car, there are certainly plenty of new vehicles that just don’t live up to the quality and reliability that we expect. Stacking a car with tons of features has become more important than having it run without needing constant repairs.
If we look into the past, there are plenty of nameplates that we instantly associate with reliability. A lot of these names are still on the road today, gracing modern cars. However, they don’t quite live up to the legacy they represent, not achieving the same levels of consistent reliability or being as sturdy.
We have collated a list of what we believe to be some of the most reliable cars of all time. Most of these cars can easily be picked up on the used market for an absolute bargain. We’ve compared these used cars to their modern-day counterparts to find that just about every model used to be more reliable in the past than they are today.
In compiling this article, we have cross-referenced information for vehicle reliability, maintenance, and pricing from sources like Kelley Blue Book, RepairPal, CarEdge, and Consumer Reports to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible. J.D. Power was used for all reliability scores of old and new models. Edmunds was used for average used pricing. Please note that cars are ranked from least to most reliable.
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10 2009 Honda Civic
Reliability Score: 82/100
In reality, just about any Honda Civic from the past is seen to be pretty bulletproof. On J.D. Power, the 2009 Civic scores a high 82 out of 100 for quality and reliability. The modern Civic doesn’t do too badly either, scoring 82 out of 100. While this is pretty good, it’s kind of impressive to think that a 15-year-old car is considered just as reliable as a modern one.
Reliability
Honda’s Civic sedan is one of the first cars that people point to when asked for something reliable. The 2009 Civic can also be bought on the used market for an absolute steal and will cost you much less than the average sedan to maintain.
- Average Used Price: $8,508 (Edmunds)
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $368 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $5,245 (CarEdge)
- Recalls: 0
- Worst Civic Year To Buy Used: 2006
9 2014 Subaru Legacy
Reliability Score: 84/100
Subaru’s reputation has definitely shifted over the last couple of years. While they used to be known for being rally legends, they’ve become much more mainstream. What is interesting is that modern Subarus, on the whole, are considered to be more reliable than older Subarus. This isn’t the case for the Legacy, however. The modern version only scored 80 out of 100 for quality and reliability, four points below its older sibling. The current Legacy, is pretty underrated in its segment, though.
Reliability
The 2014 Legacy is a brilliant car to pick up on the used market, costing much less than the average sedan. It also comes with some desirable features due to the fact that it isn’t too old. Its maintenance costs are below average, but they’re not quite as low as some of its competitors.
- Average Used Price: $7,671 (Edmunds)
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $563 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $6,073 (CarEdge)
- Recalls: 10
- Worst Legacy Year To Buy Used: 2005
8 2016 Hyundai Elantra
Reliability Score: 85/100
The current Elantra is actually a pretty decent car and is one of the best new sedans on the market. It scores 81 out of 100 for quality and reliability, which is pretty high. The previous generation, however, was a little better, with the 2016 model scoring the highest for reliability.
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Reliability
The Elantra is perhaps one of the best cars to pick up used if you’re looking for a bargain. The 2016 model has an incredibly low average price and comes stacked with technology and safety features well ahead of its time. It’s also much cheaper to maintain than similar cars and has a lower chance of needing a major repair in its first ten years.
- Average Used Price: $12,877 (Edmunds)
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $452 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $5,880 (CarEdge)
- Total Recalls: 1
- Worst Elantra Year To Buy Used: 2013
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7 2019 Mazda MX-5
Reliability Score: 86/100
The Mazda MX-5 Miata is perhaps one of the most iconic sports cars of all time. For just about every generation, it’s been considered as one of the most reliable sports cars that you can buy. In 2016, it entered its current generation. While the 2024 model scores 76 out of 80 for quality and reliability, if you go back a couple of years, you’ll find the 2019 model was considered much better.
Reliability
The appeal of the MX-5 is that it’s super affordable and has no gimmicks. In that case, buying one slightly used should be a no-brainer. The 2016 model goes for practically nothing on the used market and features most of the tech and character of the current model. The MX-5 is also easily one of the most affordable cars to maintain over its lifetime.
- Average Used Price: $24,186 (Edmunds)
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $429 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $5,761 (CarEdge)
- Recalls: 0
- Worst MX-5 Miata Year To Buy Used: 2004
6 2013 Audi A4
Reliability Score: 87/100
Part of the ‘big three’ German manufacturers and the only automaker on this list that isn’t Japanese or Korean, Audi used to be known for its reliability. Along with most luxury brands, however, this has changed in the last couple of years, and they are considered average or below average. The current A4 sedan scores 77 out of 100, with the 2013 model scoring ten more points than that.
Reliability
If you’re looking for a used luxury car with all the fittings that you would expect from a German automaker, the 2013 A4 can be had for a very affordable price. The one thing to remember is that all luxury cars, no matter how reliable, cost a lot to maintain. The A4 manages to sit below the average for this class though, in terms of average repair costs.
- Average Used Prices: $10,630 (Edmunds)
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $739 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years:$9,054 (CarEdge)
- Recalls: 4
- Worst A4 Year To Buy Used: 2006
5 2008 Toyota 4Runner
Reliability Score: 87/100
The 4Runner that’s on the market today is considered one of the most reliable SUVs you can buy. This might be, however, because it houses tons of outdated tech. It scores 86 out of 100 for quality and reliability, just below the 2008 model. We’re curious to see if the updated 2025 model upholds its reputation for reliability.
Reliability
Toyotas are some of the most reliable used cars that you can buy and if you’re looking for an entry into the off-road scene, then the 4Runner is a great choice. As well as being incredibly cheap to pick up used, the 4Runner has some of the lowest ownership costs of any SUV that you can buy.
- Average Used Price: $12,039 (Edmunds)
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $514 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $5,825 (CarEdge)
- Recalls: 5
- Worst 4Runner Year To Buy Used: 2000
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4 2018 Toyota RAV4
Reliability Score: 88/100
Just like the 4Runner, the Toyota RAV4 has a long history of reliability and rugged off-road capability. The RAV4 is the car that arguably started the trend of compact SUVs. The current generation of the RAV4 is one of the best entry-level off-roader SUVs that you can buy. However, it scores 76 out of 100 for quality and reliability. While this isn’t awful, it’s much lower than a model from not too long ago.
Reliability
The 2018 Toyota RAV4 is an affordable compact SUV. Because it’s only a couple of years old, it still benefits from plenty of modern technology. You can also pick up a 2018 RAV4 for a pretty low price, even with all the bells and whistles. Just like other Toyotas, the RAV4’s ownership costs, like maintenance, are incredibly low.
- Average Used Price: $20,722
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $429 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $5,531 (CarEdge)
- Recalls: 3
- Worst ES Year To Buy Used:
3 2007 Toyota Corolla
Reliability Score: 88/100
The Corolla is one of the longest-running nameplates in the automotive world and has been around for as long as we can remember. It also always existed as one of the Japanese brand’s best-selling cars. Back in the day, the Corolla was considered the benchmark for reliability, with it being almost impossible to break. The 2024 model year only scores 76 out of 100 for quality and reliability though. A few points short of its older predecessor.
Reliability
Although Corollas hold their value pretty well, 2007 was a long time ago, and you can pick up this sedan for extremely cheap. While you can’t expect modern amenities, it’s likely that the powertrain will still have a good few years in it before it gives out. You’re also not likely to spend very much on maintenance or repairs.
- Average Used Price: $7,296 (Edmunds)
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $362 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $4,087 (CarEdge)
- Recalls: 4
- Worst Corolla Year To Buy Used: 2009
2 2007 Honda Accord
Reliability Score: 88/100
While there are plenty of cars on this list that are considered to be benchmarks for reliability in their class, the Honda Accord is the Holy Grail. When you think about reliability, you think of old Accords. The new Accords may achieve a reasonable 80 out of 100 for quality and reliability, but that doesn’t come close to the sturdiness of old versions of Honda’s midsize sedan.
Reliability
A stalwart of reliability, the 2007 Honda Accord is one of the most trustworthy cars out there. They are so widespread that there are also plenty of clean versions with relatively low miles on the used market. The next-gen 2008 to 2012 models are also great choices if you want something slightly newer. You aren’t likely to spend very much at all to keep up with the maintenance of a 2007 Accord, and it will continue to run for years to come.
- Average Used Price: $7,525 (Edmunds)
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $400 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years:$5,412 (CarEdge)
- Recalls: 0
- Worst Accord Year To Buy Used: 2003
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1 2015 Lexus ES
Reliability Score: 89/100
Lexus may be a luxury brand, but they prove that innovation and comfort don’t have to come at the cost of reliability. The ES is a great example of this. While the 2024 model scores pretty well, getting 85 out of 100 for quality and reliability, the 2015 model outdoes it by a decent amount.
Reliability
If you’re looking for a slightly used luxury car that isn’t going to break the bank, short-term or long-term, then there is no choice other than a Lexus. The 2015 ES 350 features all the comfort and convenience you would want out of a luxury sedan without incurring the maintenance costs of its rivals from Germany. It can also be picked up pretty cheap on the used market.
- Average Used Price: $15,629 (Edmunds)
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $468 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $5,488 (CarEdge)
- Recalls: 1
- Worst ES Year To Buy Used: 2007
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