4 Most Reliable Cars You Can Buy Used

When you’re shopping for a used car, reliability matters. No matter how great of a deal you get, the last thing you want is to end up paying for costly repairs further down the road. Here are four of the most reliable cars you can buy used.

Compact Car: 2013 Buick Verano

The 2016 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) ranks the 2013 Buick Verano as the most reliable vehicle in its category. It’s a great vehicle for other reasons too; it has a quiet and comfortable interior and precise handling. The trunk has 15.2 cubic feet of cargo space, which is a good amount for a car this size. If possible, try to find a model outfitted with the turbo engine; it pushes out 250 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, earning high praise from reviewers.

Consumer Reports also rates used cars, and it recommends the 2009 Scion xB, the 2014 and 2015 Hyundai Elantra, and the 2014 Honda Civic.

Midsize Car: 2013 Chevrolet Malibu

J.D. Power gives the highest ranking to Chevrolet Malibu for the most reliable vehicle in its category. If you go with this vehicle, you can connect your smartphone to the MyLink technology. You can enjoy the quiet cabin, or rock out to some tunes with the six-speaker sound system. Depending what you find at the dealership, the Chevrolet Malibu could have an ECO mild-hybrid, 2.5-liter, or 2.0-liter turbo engine.

Other reliable cars in this category include the 2013 Hyundai Sonata, 2013 Toyota Camry, and the 2012 Nissan Ultima.

Large Car: 2013 Buick LaCrosse

Buick stunned the automobile industry when it cracked Consumer Reports’ top three most reliable brands. While the results mostly pertain to 2017 models, Buick’s earlier models also perform well. The J.D. Power study ranks the 2013 Buick LaCrosse as the most reliable vehicle in its category. If you want a luxurious interior, this car is for you. It also received top safety ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. It comes with either an eAssist mild-hybrid or 3.6-liter, V6 engine.

Honorable mentions go to the 2012 Toyota Avalon, 2009 Buick Lucerne, 2013 Chevrolet Impala, and 2013 Chrysler 300.

Sporty Car: 2013 Chevrolet Camaro

Sports cars aren’t known for reliability, but a few models rise to the challenge. According to J.D. Power, the 2013 Chevrolet Camaro is the most reliable vehicle in the midsize sporty car category. In fact, it has a higher score than the 2013 MINI Cooper, which ranks first in the compact sporty car segment.

Either car is a good choice. The MINI Cooper has a cool retro style, and it’s fun to drive. It has excellent gas mileage, giving 29 miles per gallon in the city and 37 mpg on the highway. This is better than the Chevrolet Camaro, which gives 16 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. However, the Camaro is available as a coupe or convertible, and it has better acceleration; it goes from zero-to-60 mph in 4.5 seconds.

Buying a used car doesn’t mean sacrificing reliability. If you do your research ahead of time, you can bring home a vehicle that will last for years to come. Keep an eye out for one of these models and make sure to give them a test drive.