10 Used Cars More Reliable Than Many New Models

Buying new no longer guarantees peace of mind. In fact, J.D. Power’s 2025 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study found that problems in three-year-old vehicles rose to the highest level seen since 2009, with the industry average worsening to 202 problems per 100 vehicles. That does not mean every new car is troublesome, but it does mean a carefully chosen used model can still be the safer reliability play.

That is especially true when you focus on brands and nameplates that keep showing up across long-term durability studies, used-car rankings, and value lists. Lexus, Toyota, Mazda, and Honda remain especially strong in recent reliability-focused research, and many older versions of their best-known models still look like smarter bets than some newer, more complex rivals.