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These Are the Best Sedans for Long-Term Reliability

Sedans used to rule the road, but they’ve declined in popularity as more Americans have fully embraced crossovers and pickup trucks. This has caused many automakers to drop sedans from their lineups due to lackluster sales. 

While there might not be as many sedans to choose from as there once were, these vehicles still prevail as the preferred mode of transportation for many consumers. After all, some sedans have enjoyed a long reign as the most popular cars in America, proving these affordable, fuel-efficient and still-practical vehicles remain in demand. Many of the sedans that have survived the production chopping block in recent years are still in production because of their reliability. So which sedans are the most reliable? To determine the most reliable sedans, iSeeCars analyzed over 14.9 million used vehicles to determine the reliable cars with the best long-term staying power based on their ability to reach 200,000 miles. Of the longest-lasting cars, these are the 10 most reliable sedans based on their reliability ratings.

#1. Toyota Avalon

iSeeCars Reliability Score: 9.8 (of 10)

The Toyota Avalon full-size sedan earns the top spot. It has ample passenger and cargo space, and an interior full of high-end materials, including synthetic leather upholstery. It comes with a suite of standard safety features such as blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, LED automatic high-beam headlights, lane keeping assist, and automatic emergency braking to name a few. It also comes standard with front-wheel drive and a 301-horsepower V6 engine. The upper XLE and Limited trims offer a 205-horsepower four-cylinder with all-wheel drive at no extra cost. The Toyota Avalon has lower than average repair costs, which encourages owners to keep them on the road longer. It is also the highest-rated sedan by Consumer Reports. Sadly, the Avalon will be discontinued after the 2022 model year. 

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A new Toyota Avalon costs an average of $39,625, and a three-year-old used Toyota Avalon costs an average of $37,792.

#2. Honda Accord

iSeeCars Reliability Score: 9.0 

Ranked second is the Honda Accord midsize sedan. The Accord is praised for its sporty handling while offering more passenger room in the front and rear seats than most of its competitors. It also has appealing engine options, starting with its responsive 1.5-liter turbo four-cylinder engine producing 192 horsepower. A 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 252 horsepower is available on higher trims for drivers who want more power. The Accord’s base engine gets an EPA-estimated 30 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway, which is excellent for its class.

A new Honda Accord costs an average of  and a three-year-old used Honda Accord costs an average of $31,435.

 

#3. Toyota Camry

iSeeCars Reliability Score: 9.0

The Toyota Camry midsize sedan ranks third. The Camry was 2020’s best-selling midsize sedan, and for good reason. It provides a smooth ride and comes with plenty of legroom and headroom for passengers. Its standard infotainment features include a 7-inch touchscreen display, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Bluetooth connectivity. It comes with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 202 horsepower on base modes, with a more rugged 3.5-liter V6 making 301 horsepower available on higher trims. It also comes with a suite of safety features including lane keep assist, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, and automatic emergency braking.

A new Toyota Camry costs between $23,215 and $35,219 and a three-year-old used Toyota Camry costs between $15,990 and $25,994.

#4. Honda Civic

iSeeCars Reliability Score:  8.9

The Honda Civic compact car ranks fourth. Despite its small car designation, the Civic has impressive passenger space and cargo room. It also provides a comfortable ride with quick acceleration and sporty handling.   

The versatile vehicle is available as a hatchback, with its previous coupe body style discontinued for the 2021 model year. The Civic sedan is offered with two powertrain options including the  base 2.0-liter four cylinder with 158 horsepower and a turbocharged 1.5-liter four cylinder with 174 horsepower. Civics come with a suite of safety features that include forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, and automatic high-beam headlights.

A new Honda Civic costs an average of and a three-year-old used Honda Civic costs an average of $35,720.

#5. Nissan Maxima

iSeeCars Reliability Score: 8.6

The Nissan Maxima full-size sedan ranks fifth. A JD Power award winner in initial quality, the Maxima has a powerful 300-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine to appeal to drivers who want a powerful sedan with the characteristics of a sports car. It comes standard with a touch screen infotainment system, AppleCarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity. The Maxima’s standard safety features include automatic high-beam headlights, rear cross traffic alert, pedestrian detection, traffic sign recognition, and rear door alert.

A new Nissan Maxima costs an average of $42,550, and a three-year-old used Nissan Maxima costs an average of $30,050.

#6. Toyota Corolla

iSeeCars Reliability Score: 8.5

The Toyota Corolla compact car ranks sixth. The Corolla provides a comfortable ride and has above-average fuel economy for the small car class. It comes standard with the Toyota Safety Sense suite of safety features, which include: lane keep assist, lane departure warning, pedestrian detection, emergency braking and traffic sign recognition. 

A new Toyota Corolla costs an average of $24,298 and a three-year-old used Toyota Corolla costs an average of $21,361.

#7. Chrysler 300

iSeeCars Reliability Score: 8.4

The Chrysler 300 large sedan ranks seventh and is the only American vehicle to make the list. The 300’s base engine is a 292-horsepower V6, making it a good option for those who want a roomy and powerful sedan. It shares a platform with the Dodge Charger, giving it the appearance of a muscle car rather than a practical family sedan. It offers a comfortable ride and a roomy interior, and comes standard with rear-wheel drive while all-wheel drive is also available.  

A new Chrysler 300 costs an average of $36,963 and a three-year-old used Chrysler 300 costs an average of $29,405.

#8. Mazda Mazda6

iSeeCars Reliability Score: 8.4

 

The midsize Mazda Mazda6 ranks eighth. The fun-to-drive Mazda6 is praised for its driving dynamics, and it has an upscale interior that rivals a luxury vehicle. Its base engine is a powerful 187-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder offering swift acceleration. A turbocharged four-cylinder that produces up to 250 horsepower is available on higher trims. The Mazda6 includes plenty of standard safety features like automatic high-beam headlights, lane keep assist, pedestrian detection, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. The Mazda6 was discontinued for the 2022 model year.

A new Mazda Mazda6 costs an average of $31,988, and a three-year-old used Mazda6 costs an average of $25,660.

#9. Nissan Altima

iSeeCars Reliability Score: 8.3

The Nissan Altima midsize sedan ranks ninth. It has a powerful engine and provides comfortable seating. The Altima comes standard with many tech features including proximity keyless entry, a remote start, and a voice command control system. Its standard safety features range from forward collision warning to automatic emergency braking to driver drowsiness detection.

A new Nissan Altima costs an average of $29,400 and a three-year-old used Nissan Altima costs an average of $23,708.

Honorable Mentions

Tesla Model S

The Tesla Model S is an electric vehicle with sedan practicality and the performance of a sports car. It offers rapid acceleration and can go from 0 to 60 in 2.3 seconds. The base Model S can travel 390 miles on a single charge, which is the best in its class. It also offers cutting-edge technology features that can remain current thanks to over-the-air software updates.

A new Tesla Model S starts at $69,420 and its most expensive trim, the Plaid+ costs $149,990. A three-year-old used Tesla Model S costs between $46,470 and $79,403.

Lexus ES 350

The Lexus ES 350 earns an honorable mention as the most reliable luxury sedan. The ES 350 shares a platform with the third-ranked Toyota Camry, but has a more luxurious interior and sporty exterior as well as a more powerful engine. The Lexus ES 350 has a 302-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine, which provides rapid-yet-refined acceleration. The Lexus provides standard infotainment features including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a Wi-Fi hot spot. The Lexus ES 350 also comes with a suite of active safety features such as forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, automatic high-beam headlights, and road sign recognition.

A new Lexus ES 350 costs an average of $45,320, and a three-year-old used Lexus ES 350 costs an average of $42,058.

Subaru Impreza

The Subaru Impreza offers standard all-wheel drive, impressive interior and cargo space, and a fun ride. The Impreza achieves Subaru’s characteristic high safety score and includes standard safety features such as adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. 

A new Subaru Impreza costs an average of $23,610, while a three-year-old used Subaru Impreza costs an average of $23,238.

Hyundai Elantra

The Hyundai Elantra compact car deserves special recognition as it was named as the 2021 North American Car of the Year. While it may not measure up to other vehicles for long-term reliability, it has earned praise and accolades in recent years thanks to its balance of value and quality. It comes with an array of standard technology features and offers a smooth and comfortable ride. 

A new Hyundai Elantra costs an average of $22,725, and a used Hyundai Elantra costs an average of $19,107.

Bottom Line

Sedans have a lot of advantages over minivans and SUVs due to their affordability, fuel economy, and easy-to-drive nature. While many domestic sedans have disappeared from the automotive landscape in recent years, such as the Chevrolet Impala, Ford Taurus, Ford Fusion, the Cadillac CT6, and the Buick Regal, there are still a number of high-quality and reliable sedans to choose from. In fact, the dependability of these sedans reflects why they are still in production. These reliable sedans are the most likely to last for 200,000 miles and should not be expensive to maintain once warranty coverage runs out. 

If you’re in the market for a new or used car, you can search over 4 million used and new cars with iSeeCars’ award-winning car search engine that helps shoppers find the best car deals by providing key insights and valuable resources, like the iSeeCars free VIN check reports. Whether you want a coupe, sedan, sports car, electric car, or hatchback, car buying has never been so easy.

This article, Most Reliable Sedans, originally appeared on iSeeCars.com.