5 used vehicles more reliable than you think
Tired of visits to the garage for maintenance and repairs? That makes sense. You should consider a vehicle that has a good reputation or a proven track record for quality, reliability and durability.
Certain brands such as Toyota, Lexus and Honda immediately come to mind. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule and there is no guarantee that you won't run into serious problems when buying one of their vehicles, but they are generally better pledges of trust.
Other brands and models that you might not think of can be a good choice as well. Among them, there are some that have made great strides in recent years, if not the last decade. Here are five used vehicles that are more reliable than you might think, according to recent rankings by the American firm J.D. Power:
Chevrolet Cruze
Overshadowed by the Toyota Corolla in the compact car category, the now-defunct Cruze is one of the most reliable American sedans you can find, with one of the lowest numbers of problems reported by owners. We're talking about the second and final generation. Forget the diesel engine and still consider taking care of the 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder.
Lincoln MKZ
Eliminated in 2020 due to disappointing sales, Lincoln's entry-level midsize luxury sedan is frequently among the least troublesome models for its owners, according to J.D. Power. The MKZ was even available as a hybrid (averaging 5.6 L/100 km), don't forget.
MINI Cooper
MINI is a brand that has climbed several places in reliability rankings over the past decade, including the one by Consumer Reports magazine. A late-model used MINI Cooper is a good buy as far as the engine is concerned (the mechanical problems mainly listed are in the transmission, drivetrain components and electronics). You should have a lot more fun driving it than disappointment in maintaining it.
Kia Sportage
Kia is now the number one brand for reliability (and among the best for initial quality) according to J.D. Power. Its Sportage is also doing well in the compact SUV category. Who would have thought so 20 years ago? If you don't want the latest and greatest in modern styling, as the next generation Sportage is set to do in 2023, a copy of the previous model is a pretty good choice.
Nissan Frontier
The Toyota Tacoma has a reputation for being puncture-proof, while the Honda Ridgeline has won several Car Guide Best Mid-size Pickup awards in recent years. But don't forget the Frontier! One of the reasons the older generation has lived so long is because of its durability and reliability. J.D. Power confirms this. And do you know the story of the guy who put over 1.6 million miles on his?
