Study finds the most reliable new cars for how much they cost and one brand dominates
Published on Feb 08, 2026 at 12:14 AM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Feb 04, 2026 at 9:24 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
A study has revealed the most reliable new cars on the market, and one brand dominates above all others.
When it comes to buying a new car, reliability is something we all look for.
After all, a car isn’t much use if it’s constantly causing us issues.
Now iSeeCars has compiled a list of 2026’s most reliable and cost-effective cars, and the findings are stark.
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Revealing the most reliable new cars
To compile the rankings, iSeeCars based its list on odometer readings taken from more than 400 million used vehicles.
Pricing data was analyzed from around 8.7 million cars sold between July and December last year.
Therefore, the ranking is ordered by price per year, representing how much it would cost relative to the number of years it could be expected to last.
One thing to bear in mind – the average cost per year is $4,251, based on the average vehicle price of $46,699 and an anticipated lifespan of 11 years.
The car with the longest lifespan was the Honda CR-V, coming out on top with 13.9 years – so this guy has a little bit of time left.
With an average list price of $36,385, that comes out to around $2,620 per year.
Following hot on its heels was the Mazda3 Sedan, priced at around $2,616 a year, with a lifespan of 10.7 years – so $28,006 in total.
And then there was the Hyundai Elantra, with a price per year of $2,538 and a lifespan of 9.9 years – $25,172 in total.
It can certainly handle a lot of miles, as one medical courier demonstrated when he put one million on it.
The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport clocked in at $2,523 per year, based on an average listing of $28.396 and a lifespan of 11.3 years.
For the Subaru Impreza, it was $2,507 per year with an expected lifespan of 11 years.
In the middle of the ranking was the Honda Accord, hitting $2,489 per year, over 12.4 years at an average price of $30,927.
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Which is the most reliable new car, according to this study?
The Volkswagen Jetta came in at fourth, with a price per year of $2,313 – $26,522 average price and 11.5 years lifespan.
In third place was the Mazda3 Hatchback – $2,300 per year for an average list price of $31,801 and a lifespan of 13.8 years.
The runner-up car was the Toyota Corolla, valued at $2,258 per year from an average cost of $25,423 and an expected lifespan of 11.3 years.
But before we reveal the top car, let’s look at some commonalities these cars shared.
Japanese brands did very well in this ranking, with Honda, Toyota, and Mazda all dominating.
Gas cars tended to do better than hybrids.
It’s also interesting to note that the Mazda3 Hatchback lasted an average of three years longer than its sedan counterpart.
At any rate…it’s time for the ultimate reveal.
The most reliable car in iSeeCars’ study is the Honda Civic – a price per year of $2,058 and a lifespan of 13.5 years.
So there you have it – the 10 most reliable new cars in one nice little list for you.
Preferences may vary, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a list as comprehensive as the one put together by iSeeCars.
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Following stints at LadBible, The Sun, The New York Post, and the Daily Mail, Ben joined the team full-time in February 2025. In his role as Senior Content Writer, his sparkling copy, the ability to sniff out a good story at 100 paces, and a GSOH quickly led to him becoming an integral and invaluable member of the writing staff.
