With the average new car nudging past the fifty-grand mark, purchase price has become the line in the sand for a lot of shoppers. Buyers who used to wander into showrooms with a thorough list of needs and likes now find themselves shopping with a slip of paper they intend to push across the desk. It doesn’t help that at the top of most buyers’ lists are crossovers or SUVs, escalating the demand for those vehicles and pushing prices upward.
That’s pushed a wave of buyers toward the used market, where a sedan that’s a few years old can cost barely half of what a comparable new model does. But price alone doesn’t cut it in the used-car market, where a bargain isn’t worth much if it turns into a vortex of repairs. That’s where reliability becomes the right-hand of affordability, and these dependable used sedans ensure that the savings you realized on the sticker, won’t be recouped in the service bay.
The models in this list have been extensively researched to ensure the most accurate information possible as of the time of publishing. Models are listed in ascending order from least to most reliable.
The sport-sedan-like 2019 Hyundai Sonata Limited 2.0T represents a later-generation midsize sedan that blends turbocharged performance with value. Once a reasonable new offering with an MSRP of just over $33,000, it’s now estimated by Kelley Blue Book at a fair purchase price of $13,745. Appealing to budget-conscious young professionals or families who want a sporty yet reliable daily driver, it benefits from Sonata’s consistently high performance in J.D. Power owner surveys.
RepairPal gives the soon-to-be-retired Hyundai Sonata four stars out of five for 2019, ranking it fifth out of 24 midsize offerings, adding that its repair frequency and severity are comparatively low in its segment. CarEdge estimates that Sonata maintenance and repair costs over its first ten years will total about $6,500, which is slightly elevated in the midsize sedan class, and the chance of a major repair in that time is 18.3%, which is also slightly higher than its rivals.
The 2019 Buick LaCrosse Avenir sits near the top of Buick’s sedan range, blending mature luxury and refined comfort in a manageable footprint. The third-generation Buick LaCrosse was well liked by its owners, returning borderline 90% ratings in J.D. Power surveys. On the used-car market, KBB pegs its value between $18,010 and $25,934 (depending on trim and condition), with the Cadillac-like Avenir (the previous-gen LaCrosse shared a platform with the Cadillac XTS) topping the line.
In terms of dependability, the 2019 Buick LaCrosse earns a four-star reliability rating from RepairPal, reflecting above-average repair frequency and severity, and placing it mid-card in the premium sedan segment. According to CarEdge, Buick models—including the LaCrosse—are estimated to incur about $9,000 in maintenance and repair costs over their first 10 years, which is slightly higher than the average, with a 26% chance of major repairs.
The 2011 Lexus IS F arrived as Lexus’s competitor in the compact sports sedan segment (alongside the Audi S4, BMW M3, and Mercedes C 63 AMG), powered by a 400-hp 5.0-liter hand-built V-8 and fitted with all-electric steering and a track-tuned suspension. A well-kept example is valued at $25,682 by KBB, which is a heck of a bargain from its original MSRP of $64,000. And, it comes with the dependability and reliability inherent in the Lexus brand.
Reliability-wise, there really isn’t a bad Lexus IS F you can choose, and the 2011 Lexus IS F has held up exceptionally well, with RepairPal giving it a four-star rating that ranks the compact sedan seventh among its peers. The car’s long-term ownership burden isn’t excessive for the segment, either, with CarEdge estimating excessively low maintenance and repair costs that undercut luxury sedans by more than half, with a 15.6% chance of a major repair in its first 10 years of ownership.
The 2019 Chevrolet Impala Premier was the penultimate example of Chevy’s sedan legacy that dated back to the early days of NASCAR, blending V-8 thunder with American cruising comfort, though by the time it was done, it was simply a large, roomy sedan. Kelley Blue Book lists its fair purchase price today at $14,670 for the range-topping Premier trim. That affordable price makes it attractive to older buyers seeking the big-car cabin that is no longer available in the new-car market outside of luxury marques. However, it also comes with an impressive Quality & Reliability record, acquiring a “Great” label from J.D. Power, with strong owner satisfaction and few problems.
RepairPal gives the 2019 Chevrolet Impala four stars out of 5, ranking it fifth among the 12 full-size cars at the time, with average figures for yearly maintenance costs and frequency and severity of repairs. CarEdge doesn’t have specific 10-year costs for Impala, but shows Chevrolet models averaging a fairly high cash outlay for maintenance and repairs over the first decade of ownership, but that figure takes into account all Chevrolets, from the tiny to the behemoth.
The 2017 Buick Regal GS is Buick’s sportiest take on its midsize sedan, which has since departed the lineup as the brand moved to a full crossover roster. The GS badge carries some serious performance cred with Buick, and the sixth-generation Buick Regal GS offers performance, comfort, and refinement, all contributing to its high reliability reports from owners, contributing to J.D. Power’s ownership rankings. The current fair value is $11,759, according to KBB.
RepairPal says the 2017 Buick Regal displays moderate repair frequency and costs, granting the midsize sedan four stars out of five, and ranking it 13th among 24 midsize contemporaries. Its repair frequency is low, and the severity of repairs is moderate. According to CarEdge, the 10-year projected maintenance and repair cost for Buick models borders on $9,000, with an above-average chance of needing a major repair in that timeframe (26%), compared to others in its segment.
The 2021 Toyota Avalon was nearing the end of the long-running full-size sedan’s final generation, and it has since ceded to the resurrection of the Crown. A smooth, powerful V-6 cruiser wrapped in upscale finishes, the Toyota Avalon never shook the notion that it should have been a Lexus, but it effectively bridged the gap between the Toyota and Lexus sedan lineups. Kelley Blue Book pegs the 2021 Toyota Avalon XLE fair purchase price at $24,615, though higher trim levels near $30k.
The Toyota Avalon is another of those models with a sterling reputation for reliability, from its inception to its discontinuation. The 2021 model was the best received by owners, as reflected in its 92-percent rating from J.D. Power. RepairPal gives the Avalon a four-out-of-five-star rating, ranking it third out of 12 full-sized cars, and CarEdge estimates a 15% chance of its requiring major repairs over its first decade of ownership.
The 2019 Toyota Corolla XSE is the sportier, well-equipped, range-topping version of Toyota’s popular entry-level compact sedan that has been gracing roads for 60 years, and stands as the best-selling model in history. Its reputation for reliability has been equally impressive, consistently rated in the high 80th percentile, with 2019 emerging as its best. Originally priced in the mid-$20,000s, the range-topping 2019 Corolla XSE is today fairly priced at $14,382, according to KBB.
One of the most reliable cars on the street, the Toyota Corolla is awarded. On the reliability front, RepairPal awards the 2019 Corolla 4 ½ out of five stars (ranking it first among 36 compact cars), noting no major issues, low incidence of severe repairs, and average frequency of repairs. According to CarEdge, the Toyota Corolla’s expected maintenance and repair cost over 10 years is about a third less than competitors, and there’s just a 12.3-percent chance of major repairs needed in that timeframe (about 4.4% less than its rivals).
It’s probably no surprise that Toyota sedans are so well represented at the top of reliability charts, and certainly not a surprise the Camry is included. Although no separate data is available for the Camry Hybrid, it is one of the more widely respected cars in the market, consistently sitting near the top of J.D. Power’s rankings based on owners’ surveys. As for the 2014 Toyota Camry Hybrid, the SE Limited wasn’t the top of the line originally but now is the most prized, valued at $10,942.
The Toyota Camry Hybrid is one of the best well known hybrids in the market, and perhaps the most desired for its unwavering reliability. RepairPal rates the 2014 Camry at four out of five stars, with a lower-than-expected annual maintenance/repair bill and low frequency and severity of repairs, solidifying its reputation as one of the most reliable vehicles on the road. CarEdge projects 10-year costs about a quarter less than its competitors and just a 12.3% chance of major repairs in that time.
The 2015 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ is the high-spec version of Chevy’s midsize sedan and also its sportier blend, loading up on style, comfort, and refinement. According to Kelley Blue Book, the fair purchase price for the 2015 Malibu LTZ is $7,502, drawing buyers who want a roomy, well-equipped sportier sedan with a touch of luxury. It’s also one of the more respected versions of GM’s mid-size offerings in the J.D. Power ratings, though the Chevy Malibu too is ceding to crossovers.
On the reliability front, RepairPal gives the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu four out of five stars, ranking it ninth out of 24 mid-sized sedans, which includes the Camry you just read about (and which placed third on the same list), noting less frequent and less severe repairs than the average car. Over its first 10 years of ownership, Malibu is estimated to cost about 20% more than the average mid-sized sedan, with a 19.9% chance of a major repair (3.2% worse than average).
Part of the sixth-generation Lexus ES, the 2017 Lexus ES 300h made a strong statement about Lexus’s luxury-hybrid sedan lineup, with class-leading fuel efficiency and the brand’s attention to detail in style, comfort, and refinement. Of the two ES models that year, KBB lists the fair purchase price of the 2017 ES 300h at $19,601, with the non-hybrid ES 350 slotting in below, at $19,093. Of particular interest, though, is the exceptional J.D. Power Quality & Reliability rating of 96/100.
The Lexus ES 300h is one of the most value-packed sedans in the market, as well as perhaps the most reliable. RepairPal bestows a 4½-star rating on the 2017 Lexus ES 300h, ranking it third among luxury mid-size cars. Its repair frequency is average, while the severity of repairs is low, with lower-than-average costs. CarEdge estimates the Lexus ES 300h’s 10-year maintenance and repair cost at $5,952—38.6-percent lower than the segment average of $9,690—and it’s projected to have a 15.6-percent chance of a major repair in that time—13-percent better than its peers.
Sources: JD Power, CarEdge, RepairPal
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