On Sunday mornings in Portland, you can hear a long-running talk show on 91.5 caled “Car Talk.” It’s hosted by two brothers from New England who help people sort through their own non-critical (engine/trans rebuild) car problems.
They recently published a list of cars they hate the most. Not because they’re difficult to work on (Rover, Audi, VW, for example), but because they seldom break. These are the cars with the smallest average “ticket” (total repair bill) in the maintenance business.
Not many surprises on this list but one: the Ford Fusion. The Fusion has been for sale for less than 5 years, so it’s a stretch to add it to this list of cars with decades-long histories of reliability. In fact, most Fusions are under manufacturer’s warranty still.
Also, the list doesn’t mention trucks. Consumer Reports has documented truck reliability for years, and the same trucks/SUVs show up repeatedly: Ford F Series, Toyota Tundra, Toyota Tacoma, Toyota Highlander, Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Honda Pilot, and Honda Ridgeline.
One thing these trucks and cars also have in common: resale value. Yes, you will have to pay quite a bit more for these cars when used. But don’t be tempted by a Chrysler or VW for their bargain-prices. In the long run, it’s well worth to pay extra up front for the car and less in repairs later.
The full list:
One of the most reliable cars available today. The Civic rarely seems to break, and when it does, its problems are easy to diagnose. Original Equipment Manufacturer, aka OEM, parts are both affordable and easy to get.
Honda Accord
See “Civic.”
Toyota Camry
The Camry used to be the clear-cut winner when it came to reliability. Other cars are catching up, but it’s still one of the most reliable performers around. Affordable and easy-to-get OEM parts, too.
Toyota Corolla
About all that’s ever needed on the Corolla are regular maintenance and an occasional brake job. We’re not making any money on this car, that’s for sure. OEM parts are affordable, too.
Toyota Prius
Unfortunately for us, only dealers are currently servicing the expensive hybrid components in the Prius. That will change in time. But, for now, we’re not making any money off the Prius.
The Prius is crammed full of technology, but Toyota has put plenty of effort into the layout, which is well thought out. Considering the number of components that are under the hood, the non-hybrid parts are pretty easy to access and service.
From our point of view, the Prius is terrible news for mechanics — not even the brakes wear out, thanks to the regenerative braking system. All we get to install are wiper blades. How are you supposed to buy a pair of Jet Skis on that money?
Ford Fusion and Ford Fusion Hybrid
In our humble opinion, these are two of the few American cars that really approach the reliability of the Japanese brands. (Official Car Talk Disclaimer: Ray is a Ford stockholder — as well as a disgruntled former GM stockholder.)
Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey
Minivans have generally been pretty good to us. They’re big cars with a lot of parts that eventually fall off. But if you’re looking for the best of the minivans — the ones on which we make the least amount of money — those would be the Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey. Are they as reliable and as affordable as the other cars in this list? Probably not. But in the minivan class, they’re the best choices going.
Honda CR-V
See “Civic” and “Accord.” The only repair issue we see with the CR-V is a “chattering” final drive in the all-wheel-drive version. Other than that, the CR-V is just as reliable as any other Honda. The transmission, engine and everything else are all great. Parts are affordable, and big repairs are infrequent. Drat!
Honda Element
Unfortunately for mechanics, the Element has the same reliable drivetrain as the CR-V, so the same comments apply. The other reason we hate this car? Element owners always seem to have big dogs, which translates to a “big stink for mechanics.”
Subaru Impreza
For an all-wheel-drive car, the Impreza is very reliable. Usually, we count on making a lot of money on all-wheel-drive vehicles, thanks to all the additional drivetrain components. Sadly, that’s not the case with this car. Thanks a lot, Subaru. We find parts to be reasonably priced and widely available.
Subaru Forester
Parts are readily available and reasonably priced. When it comes to all-wheel-drive vehicles, like the Impreza, the Forester is a sturdy, reliable choice.
Nissan Altima
The Altima runs forever, and it’s great to drive. The four-cylinder edition is a reliable car that’s easy to fix. These cars just don’t seem to break. Other than routine oil changes, we only see Altima owners when they’ve racked up 150,000 miles or more.”