Most Reliable Cars Ranked
Based on its price and longevity, the annual cost breakdown of purchasing a Civic is $2,006, according to the study.
Based on their list prices and lifespans, 15 cars have been given the distinction of the most reliable on today’s roads.
The Honda Civic rises to the top of the list, according to the iSeeCars.com study, which gave the compact car about a 14-year lifespan at an average list price of $27,564 based on sales in the last half of 2024.
The listing is particularly relevant due to the affordability issues that continue to dog the average consumer in still-elevated vehicle prices and high insurance rates, repair costs and loan rates.
To compile the list, the used-vehicle listings analyst reviewed prices for 3.8 million new cars sold between July and December and odometer readings of 368 million used cars from a study it conducted on the longest-lasting vehicles.
Asian carmakers swept the list, Toyota with the most models at four entries, and compact cars dominate with nine entries.
“It’s not surprising to see subcompact and compact models dominating the top most reliable cars for the money rankings, though within this group there’s some variety in the types of vehicles to choose from, including sedans, wagons, and crossovers,” said iSeeCars Executive Analyst Karl Brauer in a press release on the study.
“All of these cars are strong sellers, suggesting the car-buying public recognizes the value of affordable cars offering a long lifespan.”
The Civic blows away the average new car sold today, according to the analysis, which found that the average costs a hair over $48,000 and lasts 11 ½ years, for an annual cost of $4,197 based on the purchase price alone. The Civic’s annual price, by contrast, is $2,006.
Rounding out the top three most reliable cars are the Toyota Corolla and the Mazda3 hatchback.