The vehicles listed below performed well in CR’s road tests when they were new and had consistent above-average reliability for multiple years, according to our surveys of CR members. Even among the used cars we recommend, there can be stinkers because of a bad day at the factory or a neglectful owner who didn’t keep up with the required maintenance. Make sure to have the car you’re considering thoroughly inspected by a certified mechanic before you sign on the dotted line.
All of them come standard with electronic stability control (ESC), a key safety feature. In addition, many of the models were available with safety features such as forward collision warning (FCW), automatic emergency braking (AEB), blind spot warning (BSW), lane departure warning (LDW), and/or lane keeping assistance (LKA).
We’ve created this guide to help you find the small cars, sedans, and SUVs that are most likely to fulfill your needs without breaking down and soaking you with repair bills.
If you’re a Consumer Reports member, the results below are available to you. If you’re not a member, click below to join and access this full list of cars, pickup trucks, SUVs, and wagons. As a CR member, you’ll also get access to our exclusive ratings and reviews for every product we buy and test, including cars, grills, mobile phones, and flat-screen TVs.