The Most Reliable Used Cars

Reliability is an important factor when choosing a vehicle, especially if you are planning to visit a Guntersville used car lot. This is because cars often require more frequent service as they age, and some of the parts wear out or break down. This then begs the question which used car is most reliable? This depends on a number of factors, including the type of vehicle you want, how you plan to use your car, and how much you are willing to spend.

In general, some brands outperform others when it comes to reliability. This can mean a number of different things. Some are going to hold their value better over time, so you will have some residual value when you go to sell it or trade it in for your next used car. Some will continue to perform and provide fuel economy almost as well as they did when they were brand new. Others will spend more time on the road and less time in the repair shop, giving you more usage than other makes and models.

At Guntersville Chevrolet, we offer a broad inventory of used sedans, SUVs, pickup trucks, minivans, and coupes, so you should have no trouble finding a reliable used vehicle that suits your needs and budget perfectly. We are not just another Guntersville used car lot. We are a full-service dealership that will help you find and finance your next used car and will be here when you need service so that you will have peace of mind when you buy your next used car from us.

The Most Reliable Automotive Brands

Like anything else in life, some automotive brands have a better reputation for reliability than others. These brands usually place more models on Top Ten lists than others and have become synonymous with dependability. However, this doesn’t mean that every vehicle manufactured by these brands is reliable; every automaker puts out a couple of models that are not as well-received as others in their lineup. Nevertheless, the vehicles manufactured by these automakers tend to have better service records and hold their values longer than those made by many of their competitors.

According to many industry observers, the fact that an automaker is considered a premium brand doesn’t mean it will be more reliable than those manufactured by mass-market brands. For example, the ten most reliable automakers based on a three-year survey by J.D. Power listed Kia as the third most reliable brand after Lexus and Porsche. Also making J.D. Power’s top ten were the mass-market brands Toyota, Buick, and Hyundai, alongside the premium brands Cadillac, Genesis, Lincoln, and Acura.

Consumer Reports also conducted a three-year survey for dependability, and it found that Mazda was the most reliable brand, followed closely by Toyota. This means that the vehicles produced by these two mass-market brands will be more reliable in general than those produced by other automakers. Buick, Honda, Hyundai, Subaru, and Dodge were other mass-market brands that made the Consumer Reports top ten, as did luxury brands like Lexus and Porsche. Interestingly, Ram made the Consumer Reports list for dependability even though it only manufactures pickup trucks.

Since an automaker’s individual models and vehicle types might vary with respect to reliability, let’s take a closer look at specific used models that might be best for you. This will be broken down by vehicle type.

Sedans and Coupes

Once the most common vehicles on the road, sedans and coupes have fallen out of favor in the past two decades, as more and more Americans have taken to driving SUVs and pickup trucks. This is unfortunate since sedans and coupes turned out to be more reliable than any other vehicle type.

If you are looking for a used compact car, then J.D. Power suggests you should consider such models as the Volkswagen Beetle, Chevy Cruze, Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, and Toyota Prius. These have proven to be some of the most reliable models available. What’s more, Chevy discontinued the Cruze, so you are sure to find some great deals on this car. In addition, if you want amazing fuel economy in your used car, then a used Toyota Prius might be ideal for you.

At one time, midsize sedans were the largest category of vehicle on the road. While these models have since been surpassed by crossovers, midsize SUVs, and full-size trucks, this doesn’t mean you should pass by these very reliable used cars. Heading J.D. Power’s list of reliable used midsize sedans are the Kia Optima, Hyundai Sonata, and Ford Fusion. Just like with the Chevy Cruze, the Buick Regal and Ford Fusion are no longer manufactured, meaning that you are probably going to find a really good deal on one of these two models. When an automaker discontinues a car because of dwindling sales, it tends to depress the resale value of used models of the discontinued car. This means that you can probably buy at a very affordable price, getting a highly reliable used sedan in the process.

J.D. Power’s two most reliable used full-size sedans are the Toyota Avalon and the Chevy Impala. Once one of the most popular full-size sedans in the USA, Chevy discontinued the production of the Impala just a few years ago, so you are sure to be able to find these reliable full-size models at a great price. The reason why it was discontinued is that Chevy decided to shift its focus to trucks and SUVs, cutting back on the number and types of sedans it produced. The Impala was a casualty of this shift in corporate focus.

If you have a need or speed, then you should consider a used sports car. Three used models that consistently rank among the leaders in this vehicle class are the Chevy Camaro, Dodge Challenger, and Ford Mustang. Buying one of these used will allow you to get maximum performance from a muscle car at an affordable price that won’t spend more time in the shop than on the road.

Sport Utility Vehicles

Today in America, the SUV has become a ubiquitous vehicle, outselling all other types of vehicles. This is because more people like the ruggedness, roominess, and performance of an SUV. Many of these models do a great job of combining the cargo space of a pickup truck with the handling and luxury features of a sedan. In addition, manufacturers have improved the reliability of these vehicles, which is why more of these SUVs make the reliability lists than ever before.

When choosing a used SUV, you need to decide on the size of the vehicle you want and the passenger capacity. For example, if you want a reliable used compact SUV that will give you great fuel economy and performance, then you should consider such models as the Kia Sportage, Buick Encore, and Hyundai Tucson. If you prefer a used crossover with the roominess of a midsize sedan, then the used models you may want to look at include the Buick Envision, Toyota RAV4, and Subaru Forester. These will give you plenty of trunk space as well as exceptional handling.

Midsize SUVs come in two-row models that will seat up to five passengers and three-row SUVs that can fit up to eight passengers. J.D. Power’s most reliable used midsize SUVs include the Kia Sorento, Toyota Highlander, and Ford Edge. The largest SUVs are full-size models, and these not only give you three rows of seats for up to nine passengers but also massive trunk space even with all the seats in the SUV filled. According to J.D. Power, the most reliable used full-size SUVs are the Chevy Tahoe, Chevy Suburban, and GMC Yukon.

Pickup Trucks

Once a very specialized class of vehicle mainly driven for commercial purposes, the pickup truck has experienced a Renaissance in the last two decades, with more suburban drivers discovering the benefits of these vehicles. As a result, automakers are producing more pickup trucks than ever before. J.D. Power’s most reliable used full-size models are the Toyota Tundra and the Chevy Silverado 1500, with the Chevy Silverado HD considered the most reliable heavy-duty truck built today. If you prefer a midsize truck, three of the most reliable used models are the Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, and Honda Ridgeline.

Reliability is the Key

One thing you will see when looking for a reliable used car is that you don’t have to buy one from one of the super-premium luxury manufacturers. Paying more does not guarantee reliability, and many of the most reliable used cars are made by mass-market manufacturers like Chevy, Honda, Buick, and Ford. Also, if you want a great deal on a reliable used vehicle, you might be best served by considering a sedan or coupe that has been discontinued. Models like the Chevy Cruze, Buick Regal, Ford Fusion, and Chevy Impala are considered some of the most reliable used cars available, even if they are no longer manufactured by their brands. Now that you know which brands and models will give you the most reliable used cars, stop into our dealership for your next used car!