9 Most Reliable Cars To Buy Used in Late 2024

Choosing a reliable vehicle is one of the most important aspects of getting a used car. After all, you want something that’s roadworthy and will keep you and anyone else in your vehicle safe. You also want something that won’t break the bank and will help you save money.

You should always do your due diligence before purchasing any vehicle — used or new. But if you want a starting point for your search, you’re in the right place. GOBankingRates compiled data from Edmunds and spoke with an automotive expert about the most reliable cars to get used this year.

• Edmunds rank: No. 1 midsize three-row SUV
• Edmunds rating: 8.4/10
• Customer reviews: 3.5 out of 5 stars
• Estimated monthly cost to drive (fuel): $197
• Combined miles per gallon: 22
• Price range: $35,990 to $53,185

The Kia Telluride is ranked as the best midsize three-row SUV on Edmunds’ list. It’s also got quite a few standard safety features, including driver assist features, plenty of space for child safety seats and adaptive cruise control.

“The brakes are strong and can bring the Telluride to a halt in a hurry,” wrote an Edmunds reviewer. “We recorded consistent stops from 60 mph in 123 feet, which is a bit shorter than average for the class. The brakes are also easy to control for consistent and smooth stops on the street.”

• Edmunds rank: No. 1 in midsize sedans
• Edmunds rating: 8.3/10
• Customer reviews: 4.1 out of 5 stars
• Estimated monthly cost to drive (fuel): $138
• Combined miles per gallon: 31
• Price range: $25,590 to $31,990

The Kia K5 is easy to drive, comfortable and ideal for long road trips due to its great suspension and quiet ride. According to the experts, this vehicle comes with safety features such as forward collision-avoidance assist, lane keeping assistance and blind-spot collision-avoidance assist. It gets four to five stars on safety from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA).

• Edmunds rank: No. 1 in large trucks
• Edmunds rating: 8.1/10
• Customer reviews: 4.4 out of 5 stars
• Estimated monthly cost to drive (fuel): $201
• Combined miles per gallon: 21
• Price range: $43,620 to $78,440

According to Edmunds, the Ford F-150 is superior to previous models for several reasons. This includes its new base engine, updated technological features — including driver aids — and overall style.

This model comes with such features as lane-keeping assistance, advanced driver aids (like emergency braking and blind-spot alert) and pre-collision assist. The NHTSA gives it a five-star rating on overall safety.

• Edmunds rank: No. 1 in luxury sports coupes
• Edmunds rating: 8.5/10
• Customer reviews: 4.8 out of 5 stars
• Estimated monthly cost to drive (fuel): $279
• Combined miles per gallon: 19
• Price range: $68,300 to $123,650

If you’re looking for a sporty vehicle that’ll go the distance and is reliable, a used Chevrolet Corvette could be just what you need. It has safety features like rear cross-traffic warning, side blind-zone alerts and more.

• Edmunds rank: No. 1 in small hatchbacks
• Edmunds rating: 7.9/10
• Customer reviews: 4.8 out of 5 stars
• Estimated monthly cost to drive (fuel): $130
• Combined miles per gallon: 33
• Price range: $24,950 to $44,795

Honda Civics have been consistently rated as being reliable vehicles — right up there with Toyotas. They’re also no slouch in the gas mileage department.

“It offers admirable performance, a refined and roomy cabin, and plenty of connectivity and safety tech to please most buyers,” according to Edmunds. Most of these tech features are very easy to use, but it does occasionally have false alarms from its various safety features.

“Would be hard to make it better,” wrote a reviewer. “If you want to buy a car that is fun to drive, safe and reliable look no further.”

• Edmunds rank: No. 1 in small SUVs
• Edmunds rating: 8.1/10
• Customer reviews: 4.1 out of 5 stars
• Estimated monthly cost to drive (fuel): $167
• Combined miles per gallon: 27
• Price range: $30,300 to $43,300

The Mazda CX-50 is another reliable vehicle — used or new. It boasts such safety features as forward and rear smart brake support, emergency lane keeping, and blind-spot alerts.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has also tested this vehicle extensively through simulated crash test scenarios. It ranked “good” in all tested areas.

Geoff Cudd, consumer advocate and owner of FindTheBestCarPrice.com, had a few other recommendations for reliable used vehicles to get this year.

“For those thinking about buying a used car this year, some of the most reliable options to consider include the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Subaru Outback,” he said. “These models are known for their durability, low maintenance costs and strong resale value.”

They also generally receive high marks in reliability studies — such as those by the NHTSA and IIHS.

If you plan to purchase a used car, make sure you go through a legitimate source. Some dealerships, for example, offer certified preowned programs verifying the reliability and safety of their vehicles. They also undergo rigorous inspections and may, in some cases, come with a warranty.

“Always get a third-party inspection done by a trusted mechanic before finalizing the purchase,” Cudd said. And check the vehicle’s history report via a reputable service like Carfax to determine whether there have been any major accidents or repairs.

All vehicle rankings, ratings, reviews, costs and miles per gallon figures were for 2024 models and were sourced from Edmunds.

Photo Disclaimer: Please note some photos are for illustrative purposes only and might not feature exact models, base models or the cars’ specific trim levels. As a result, some of the cars in the photos might have different MSRPs than the ones listed in this article.