Cheap Reliable Cars: 10 Affordable Cars That Will Last Forever

Toyota Corolla

The poster child for automotive reliability, the 2024 Toyota Corolla, starts at a very reasonable $22,050 or $23,500 for the Hybrid LE. The gas-only model only produces 169 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque and keeps things simple with no turbocharger.

For even less money, you can pick up a previous-gen Corolla on the used market.

Toyota RAV4

A starting price of $28,675 for a new RAV4 LE may not be dirt cheap, but you can easily pick up a lightly used example for less than that. Like the Corolla, the base RAV4 has a naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine; it makes 203 hp and 184 lb-ft.

Honda Civic

A great quality and reliability rating from J.D. Power, brilliant build quality, and a starting price of $23,950 makes the Honda Civic easy to recommend for value and long-term longevity. Some Honda Civic generations are better than others, but it’s a nameplate that’s as sensible as any other.

Honda CR-V

According to an iSeeCars study, the CR-V is one of the few compact cars that has a high chance of hitting a quarter-million miles.

Kia Forte

Think small sedans are dead? Kia sold just under 124,000 Fortes in the USA last year, proving that its combination of value and dependability hold much appeal. The base, frill-free Forte starts at under $20,000 and uses a 2.0-liter four-pot making 147 hp and 132 lb-ft.

According to J.D. Power, the quality and reliability rating of 87/100 for the Forte places it above the Civic and Corolla – and everything else in the segment. Throw in Kia’s ten-year/100,000-mile warranty, and you end up with a car that delivers a trouble-free ownership experience.

Kia Soul

There’s much to like about the Kia Soul, a cheerful subcompact crossover that starts at only $200 more than the Forte. The base Soul has the same 2.0-liter engine as the Forte and matches that sedan’s excellent quality and reliability rating of 87/100.

Subaru Crosstrek

There are many reliable Subarus that relish hard lives with adventurous families. But the Crosstrek is one of the most attainable, with its starting price of just over $25,000, a sum that buys you the base model. With only 152 hp from the 2.0-liter Boxer four-cylinder engine, you won’t be going anywhere in a hurry, but a larger 2.5L mill with 182 hp is available.

Hyundai Accent

Although it was discontinued for the 2022 model year, the subcompact Hyundai Accent is a very reliable car, boasting a J.D. Power quality and reliability rating of 87/100. Being a budget-minded sedan, the simple 1.6-liter naturally aspirated engine is underpowered but robust, and running costs are appreciably low.

We found many sub-$15k examples with low miles; if well maintained, a two- or three-year-old example still has plenty of life left.

Mazda MX-5 Miata

Sports cars are not typically top of mind for long-term reliability, but the MX-5 – which starts at a respectable $28k – has always bucked this trend.

Over the years, Mazda has resisted adding complex turbocharged engines, dual-clutch transmissions, and unnecessary technologies to the small convertible, which explains why you have to go all the way back to the 2019 model year to find a single recall for the Miata. For that model year, one of the problems was a software issue with the automatic transmission, so we recommend springing for the manual if you want the simplest, most engaging, and most reliable ownership experience.

Nissan Frontier

An all-new Frontier arrived for the 2022 model year, but the new one already has one of the best quality and reliability ratings in its segment. It’s the previous-gen D40 Frontier that is a safe bet for long-term ownership and our focus here, however – it was on sale in the USA for over 15 years, more than enough time to iron out any major issues.