6 Car Brands With Reliable Used Cars

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With economic uncertainty and higher prices on just about everything we use, consumers are always looking for ways to save money. Because automobiles are among the priciest purchases many families make in a year, shoppers are looking for deals on new and used cars.

If you’re in the market for a used vehicle, you can score some great deals. The trick is finding a good ride at a good price. In this case, a good ride means one that is reliable and will hold up for years to come. 

With that in mind, here are some car brands to consider when looking for a reliable used vehicle.

Lexus

It may be no surprise that Lexus makes the list of reliable used cars. After all, Lexus is often included in the top ten reliability rankings for Consumer Reports and J.D. Power. In fact, according to Autolist, both outlets list Lexus as the number one car brand.

One thing to keep in mind is that Lexus offers a pretty small lineup of vehicles. Its UX earned a perfect predicted reliability score in 2024 from Consumer Reports, and all other Lexus models earned a higher-than-average score.

Toyota

Also making both lists for reliability is Toyota — Lexus’ parent company. Given its reputation for reliability, a Toyota vehicle could be a good bet for choosing a used ride. 

Just remember, as with any of the brands on this list, the reliability of used vehicles can vary widely. Carefully check out the one you’re considering before taking it home.

Kia

Also making both top ten lists is Kia. According to J.D. Power, Kia is the third most reliable car brand. 

Kia may also be a good brand to consider given that some of its vehicles make the top list of most reliable used cars by U.S. News & World Report. In fact, the 2020 Kia Soul and the 2020 Kia Forte are both on the list. The Soul has a reliability rating of 89, and the Forte has a rating of 90.

For its part, U.S. News uses the J.D. Power 100-point ranking scale. A reliability score of 91 to 100 is considered the best, while 81 to 90 is great.

Chevrolet

Another good choice for a reliable used car may be a Chevrolet. According to U.S. News, the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu, the 2021 Chevrolet Corvette and the 2020 Chevrolet Sonic are among the most reliable used cars. The Malibu and Corvette both have reliability scores of 89, while the Sonic has a 93 reliability score.

Nissan

Also consider Nissan if you’re looking for a reliable used car. The manufacturer makes the top ten list from J.D. Power for most reliable car brands. And, according to U.S. News, the 2021 Nissan Murano, the 2020 Nissan Armada and the 2021 Nissan Maxima all make the list for most reliable used cars.

BMW

Another brand to check out for a reliable used ride is BMW. It made Consumer Reports’ list of most reliable. The 2021 BMW X4 and 2020 BMW X6 also both placed on the U.S. News list of most reliable used cars.

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