You can have a car that is as fast, powerful, and gorgeous as possible. But it is virtually useless if it is unreliable and decides it wants to break down most of the time. Reliability is one of the most important things to consider when buying any vehicle.
Of course, history is littered with some stinkers. Think of the Chevrolet Vega, Ford Pinto, and the rust-afflicted Lancia Betas of the 1980s. Nevertheless, history is full of remarkable cars with almost perfect reliability records.
This list contains 13 of the toughest and most reliable vehicles that will easily outlast your mortgage. Their reliability has placed them here, but we also factor in performance for some of them, helping them stand out even more.
1995 Mercedes-Benz W124
Station wagons are dying, so purchasing one from the used car market is probably the way to go. One that may become a classic is the brilliant 1995 Mercedes W124, built between 1989 and 1995. The final model year, in particular, stands out as a reliable daily driver.
Under the hood were the popular 3.0-liter inline-six Mercedes diesel engines, some of the toughest the German manufacturer had ever produced. Owners have reported a few faults over the years, with minor issues such as squeaking in the rear and windows, which are the only issues with a car that can travel nearly 200,000 miles.
Mazda Miata MX-5
Even sports cars can be reliable, and the Mazda Miata MX-5 is one of those. First produced for the 1990 model year, the MX-5 is over 30 years old and still going strong as Mazda has continued to evolve its roadster throughout every generation.
The MX-5 has fended off stiff competition, such as with the Honda S2000, and outlasted nearly all of them. With 181 horsepower from its Skayactiv-G 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, sports car thrills do not get much better than with the lightweight MX-5.
Toyota Aygo Mk1
The original Toyota Aygo is a tiny, unassuming car many might not consider buying. However, thanks to its typical Toyota reliability, the Aygo excels and is also a brilliant small car for first-time drivers. It’s economical, easy to park, and now quite quirky.
There are some downsides. The trunk is relatively tiny, and the rear space is premium. Plus, the Aygo might feel a little lost on highways and interstates. But as far as the reliability goes, the Aygo is a winner.
Volvo 900 Series
Volvo is practically a byword for reliability and safety. The ultimate expression of both comes in its station wagons, with the 900 Series a clear standout from its past. Not only is the 900 a great-looking station wagon, but it also uses Volvo’s four-cylinder engines, including the 2.3-liter turbocharged powertrain.
Volvo also added innovative safety features to the 900 Series, and the Swedish company catered to the American market by adding automatic transmissions to the wagons. Depending on the model year, these wagons might be around 30 years old, but they are still incredibly reliable.
Toyota Hilux
Remember when BBC Top Gear threw everything at a Toyota Hilux pickup truck, but it refused to give up and die? That is the best advert that the Hilux has ever had. Top Gear tried for a whole season to kill the Hilux, but they simply couldn’t, and not only is it robust, but it is reliable too.
The sixth generation, built from 1997 to 2004, is perhaps the most reliable. Power came from a 3.0-liter diesel or 3.0-liter KZ-TE with turbocharging, the latter producing 123 horsepower. The sixth-gen Hilux had a robust frame, a smooth and reliable powertrain, and, to top it off, a sturdy and handsome design.
Toyota Camry
Toyota’s excellent reliability record has extended well into the 2020s. If you are looking for something more modern, then the current Camry is one of the most reliable cars that money can buy. You are only looking at a starting MSRP of $28,400 for the latest 2025 model.
For less than $30,000, you get a great-looking sedan with Toyota’s Safety Sense 3.0, an excellent 2.5-liter, four-cylinder DOHC 16-valve engine, and a brilliant 51 MPG combined. Few modern sedans can match that.
First-Generation Honda NSX
Honda, like Toyota, is one of the best brands in the world in terms of reliability. A brilliant advert for this is the first-generation Honda NSX, one of the most reliable supercars ever built. Honda produced the brilliant NSX from 1990 to 2005, and along the way, they introduced some extraordinary editions, such as the 1992 NSX-R and the NSX Alex Zanardi edition.
The 3.0-3.2-liter V6 engines were incredibly reliable, and the NSX could produce up to 290 horsepower, which might not sound like a lot, but it was perfect for a 1990s supercar weighing just 3,010 lbs at its heaviest. But, of course, thanks to testing input from F1 world champion Ayrton Senna, it is in the corners where the NSX truly excels.
Honda S2000
Another Honda performance car with a brilliant reliability record is the S2000. Produced from 1999 to 2009, the S2000 is missed, and many enthusiasts still hanker after a revival, especially as its key rival, the Mazda MX-5, has remained in production.
The S2000’s power came from its super reliable 2.0-liter F20C and 2.2-liter F22C1 inline-four engines. These engines truly excelled in the high rev range, and the six-speed manual transmission is arguably the best given to a sports car. The S2000 also had an incredible specific power output of 124 horsepower per liter or two horsepower per cubic inch. The highest of any mass-production naturally-aspirated car until 2010.
Honda Accord
Few would argue that the Honda Accord isn’t one of the most reliable vehicles on sale in North America. It is also one of the most affordable, with the handsome sedan starting at just $27,895 MSRP. That alone is one reason to consider purchasing the excellent Accord.
It looks good, and the Accord also has a 204-horsepower hybrid powertrain available in some trim levels. Versions of the Accord hybrid also have an extra-wide 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, and you get the usual modern tech, such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
2024 Toyota Prius
The Toyota Prius was one of the biggest jokes in the American automotive market for many years. However, its recent massive redesign has made it one of the coolest hybrid cars currently for sale in North America, with a starting MSRP of just $27,950.
For the money, you get a 2.0-liter four-cylinder hybrid producing 194 horsepower in front-wheel drive trim. The all-wheel drive Prius sees a slight increase to 196 horsepower. However, the party piece is the incredible 57 mpg combined, showing that the Prius still has it for fuel economy.
Subaru Legacy
It might be one of the more unremarkable offerings from the Japanese manufacturer, but that doesn’t stop the Subaru Legacy from being one of the best Subaru has ever produced. The Legacy is a comfortable, luxurious sedan with plenty of interior space, and the chassis provides a fun driving experience.
The four-generation models are some of the best, particularly the later ones. The 3.0-liter flat-six produced 245 horsepower and 215 lb-ft of torque. Prodrive also worked with Subaru to tinker with the automatic transmission, making it more responsive. And yes, all-wheel drive came as standard.
Citroen 2CV
No matter which year or model, a Citroen 2CV will outlast nearly anything. The only flaw with the 2CV is rust, but that is to be expected for a car designed in the late 1940s as a simple but rugged machine. The 2CV was built to mobilize French farmers, and it soon became a car of the people that was affordable to the masses.
A simple, air-cooled two-cylinder engine was critical to the 2CV’s reliability and ease of maintenance. The suspension was famously soft enough to transport a basket of eggs across a field without them breaking, and now the 2CV is one of the all-time great classic cars.
1999-2003 Toyota Yaris
I might look unremarkable; by modern standards, it is pretty spartan. However, the 1999 Toyota Yaris was the genesis, the first generation of Toyota’s remarkable supermini. At the time, it was groundbreaking, with its 1.0-liter petrol engine the most powerful with that displacement in any production car.
The first-generation Yaris also became the first car in its class to have intelligent variable valve timing (VVT-i), winning car of the year awards in Europe and Japan. It is tough, rugged, and one of the most reliable car models ever produced in automotive history.
