These Are the Most Reliable New Cars for the Money, Study Finds

Reliability has always been a top consideration for car buyers when choosing their next vehicle. A dependable car allows owners to keep it longer without the hassle of frequent repairs, saving both time and money. Thanks to iSeeCars, prospective buyers shopping this year can now get an idea of which newer models offer strong reliability without breaking the bank.

The research website based its list on odometer readings from more than 400 million used vehicles, while pricing data was analyzed from over 8.7 million cars sold between July and December 2025. As such, the rankings are ordered by price per year, representing how much a vehicle costs relative to the number of years it is expected to last.

For reference, the overall average price per year is $4,251, based on an average vehicle price of $46,699 and an expected lifespan of 11 years.

10. Honda CR-V

Honda’s long-running nameplate, the CR-V, makes the list with a price per year of $2,620. While its average list price of $36,385 is the highest among the top 10 ranked, the model makes up for it with the longest expected lifespan on the list at 13.9 years.

The Honda CR-V is the Japanese marque’s best-selling model in the U.S., competing in the compact crossover segment against rivals such as the Toyota RAV4. It is available with either a 190-horsepower 1.5-liter turbocharged engine or a 2.0-liter hybrid powertrain that produces a combined 204 horsepower. While the latter is often assumed to face reliability concerns due to added components like electric motors, many argue that modern hybrids are actually more reliable, as they reduce engine stress and eliminate the need for traditional starter motors and alternators.

9. Mazda3 Sedan

Another Japanese model to make the list is the Mazda3 Sedan, which posts a price per year of $2,616. That figure is based on an average list price of $28,006 and an expected lifespan of 10.7 years—the second-shortest on this top 10 list, trailing only the Hyundai Elantra.

As standard, the vehicle is offered with a 2.5-liter Skyactiv engine, while buyers can opt for a turbocharged version that boosts output to as much as 250 horsepower, up from 186 horsepower. Both engine options can be paired with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. While AWD can improve traction, it may reduce long-term reliability due to the added components that can wear over time.

8. Hyundai Elantra

The Hyundai Elantra takes eighth place with a price per year of $2,538. As noted, the Korean compact sedan has the shortest expected lifespan at 9.9 years, but it still makes the cut thanks to its average list price of $25,172—making it the most affordable on the top 10 list.

This can reflect how far Hyundai has come since its reliability struggles in the early 2000s, particularly when compared with long-established Japanese rivals. From a sales perspective, Hyundai—along with its corporate sibling Kia—has also built strong momentum in the U.S., recording an all-time high in retail sales last year.

7. Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

Seventh on the list is the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, the smaller five-seat counterpart to the Outlander. According to iSeeCars, the model posts a price per year of $2,523, based on an average list price of $28,396 and an expected lifespan of 11.3 years.

The Outlander Sport serves as the brand’s entry-level model in the U.S. and is offered with either a 2.0-liter inline-four producing 148 horsepower or a 2.4-liter engine rated at 168 horsepower. Both engines are paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) as standard. While CVTs earned a poor reputation—particularly in some Nissan models during the 2010s—those concerns are generally less pronounced in today’s vehicles.

6. Subaru Impreza

While Subaru topped Consumer Reports’ 2026 Brand Report Card, only the Impreza made it into this top-10 list. The five-door hatchback posted a price per year of $2,507, based on an average list price of $27,559 and an expected lifespan of 11.0 years.

Under the hood is either a 2.0-liter or 2.5-liter boxer engine, with the latter producing 180 horsepower. Historically, this flat-engine layout caused Subaru issues with head gaskets, though those problems were more common on older generations and often linked to heavily modified or poorly maintained vehicles. The latest version pairs the engine with the brand’s Lineartronic CVT and Symmetrical AWD system.

5. Honda Accord

The Honda Accord may be larger than most of the sedans on this list—which typically means with a higher price tag—but it still claims the fifth spot thanks to its impressive expected lifespan of 12.4 years. With an average list price of $30,927, the Accord posts a price per year of $2,489.

While Honda is widely regarded for its reliability, the Accord has been sold exclusively with front-wheel drive, even as rivals such as the Toyota Camry offer all-wheel drive. This more conservative approach may have helped the midsize sedan avoid additional complexity and potential long-term issues.

4. Volkswagen Jetta

The Volkswagen Jetta may appear to be in need of a significant refresh to reignite interest, but it still performs well in terms of reliability—at least according to this study. It ranked fourth with a price per year of $2,313, based on an average list price of $26,522 and an expected lifespan of 11.5 years.

As standard, the Jetta—Volkswagen’s challenger to rivals like the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic—is powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine producing 158 horsepower. That’s the same engine used in its compact crossover sibling, the Taos. Power is sent exclusively to the front wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.

3. Mazda3 Hatchback

Interestingly, despite sharing many of the same components as the sedan while carrying a higher price tag, the Mazda3 Hatchback still earns the third spot on the list with a price per year of $2,300. That figure is based on an average list price of $31,801 and an expected lifespan of 13.8 years—about 3.1 years more than the four-door alternative.

For context, a 3.1-year difference in expected lifespan equates to roughly 42,000 additional miles of use, given that the average mileage of Americans per year is about 13,000 to 14,000 miles.

2. Toyota Corolla

Unsurprisingly, Toyota, known for its reliable everyday cars, claims a podium spot in second place with the Corolla. The ranking is based on a price per year of $2,258—about 0.53x the overall average—derived from an average list price of $25,423 and an expected lifespan of 11.3 years.

The Corolla is available with either a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated engine paired with front-wheel drive or a hybrid setup offered with all-wheel drive. However, prospective buyers who aren’t in a rush may want to wait a bit longer, as the next-generation model is rumored to arrive by 2027.

1. Honda Civic

Rounding out the top 10 list is a third Honda entry, the Civic, which boasts a price per year of $2,058—0.48x compared to the average. Like the CR-V, the Civic benefits from a long expected lifespan of 13.5 years, while keeping costs relatively reasonable with an average list price of $27,768.

The Civic’s first-place ranking stands in sharp contrast to the Civic Hybrid, which falls to 25th with an expected lifespan of 9.5 years. This suggests that buyers should weigh efficiency gains against long-term ownership expectations.

Here’s the full list of most reliable cars for the money for 2026, according to iSeeCars.

1. Honda Civic
2. Toyota Corolla
3. Mazda3 Hatchback
4. Volkswagen Jetta
5. Honda Accord
6. Subaru Impreza
7. Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
8. Hyundai Elantra
9. Mazda3 Sedan
10. Honda CR-V
11. Toyota Prius
12. Toyota Camry (Hybrid)
13. Nissan Sentra
14. Toyota Tacoma
15. Lexus IS 350
16. Jeep Compass
17. Ford Ranger
18. Nissan Rogue
19. Nissan Altima
20. Mini Hardtop 2-Door
21. Chevrolet Trailblazer
22. Mini Hardtop 4-Door
23. Nissan Frontier
24. Ford Escape
25. Honda Civic Hybrid