Highlights:
- The Honda Civic is the most reliable new car for the money, with a 13.7-year predicted lifespan and average list price of $27,564, which translates to a $2,006 price per year
- Compact cars make up nine of the top 15 most reliable new cars for the money, with the Civic followed by the Toyota Corolla, Mazda Mazda3 (hatchback) in the top three slots
- Toyota is the most prominent brand, with four models ranked in the top 15, followed by Honda with three models, and Mazda and Nissan with two models each
- Japanese and Korean cars make up all 15 of the most reliable new cars for the money
- On average a new car costs $48,106 and has an 11.5-year lifespan, or a $4,197 price for each year of that lifespan
Automotive value can be defined in a number of ways, but for buyers seeking the longest vehicle lifespan at the lowest price, the Honda Civic offers the best new car value.
At today’s manufacturer suggested retail prices (MSRPs), the average new car costs $48,106 and has an 11.5-year predicted lifespan, which translates to $4,197 for each of those 11.5 years. But the Honda Civic only costs $27,564 and has a 13.7-year predicted lifespan, for a $2,006 price each year. The Toyota Corolla ranks second best, costing $25,218 and providing an 11.6-year lifespan, or a $2,166 price per year. The Mazda Mazda3 hatchback ranks third with a $31,849 price, 14.1-year lifespan, and $2,260 price per year.
iSeeCars analyzed the prices of over 3.8 million new cars sold in July - December 2024 and the odometer readings of over 368 million used cars from its Longest Lasting Cars Study. The average list price of each model was compared to its expected lifespan (in years) to calculate the list price per year.
“With new car prices remaining at near record highs, getting the best value for your new-car dollar remains a top priority for most consumers,” said iSeeCars Executive Analyst Karl Brauer. “We’ve identified the models offering the lowest purchase price and the longest lifespan, helping consumers maximize their new car budget.”
Most reliable new cars for the money
Toyota has four models on the Most Reliable New Cars for the Money list, followed by Honda with three vehicles. Mazda and Nissan make the list with two models each, while Hyundai, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Subaru have one model. For buyers seeking long-term peace of mind, the longer warranty coverage from car brands like Hyundai, Kia, and Mitsubishi should be taken into consideration.| 15 Best New Cars for the Money | |||||
| Rank | Model | Average List Price | Expected Lifespan (Years) | Price per Year | Compared to Average |
| 1 | Honda Civic | $27,564 | 13.7 | $2,006 | 0.48x |
| 2 | Toyota Corolla | $25,218 | 11.6 | $2,166 | 0.52x |
| 3 | Mazda Mazda3 (hatchback) | $31,849 | 14.1 | $2,260 | 0.54x |
| 4 | Honda Accord | $30,659 | 13.1 | $2,339 | 0.56x |
| 5 | Subaru Impreza (wagon) | $26,900 | 11.2 | $2,399 | 0.57x |
| 6 | Mitsubishi Outlander Sport | $28,250 | 11.8 | $2,400 | 0.57x |
| 7 | Honda CR-V | $36,009 | 15.0 | $2,401 | 0.57x |
| 8 | Toyota RAV4 | $35,258 | 14.6 | $2,411 | 0.57x |
| 9 | Kia Soul | $23,863 | 9.9 | $2,417 | 0.58x |
| 10 | Mazda Mazda3 (sedan) | $27,735 | 10.6 | $2,608 | 0.62x |
| 11 | Hyundai Elantra | $25,536 | 9.8 | $2,608 | 0.62x |
| 12 | Toyota Prius | $34,333 | 13.0 | $2,649 | 0.63x |
| 13 | Toyota Camry Hybrid | $35,471 | 13.2 | $2,683 | 0.64x |
| 14 | Nissan Sentra | $24,886 | 9.0 | $2,755 | 0.66x |
| 15 | Nissan Versa | $21,011 | 7.6 | $2,767 | 0.66x |
| Overall Average | $48,106 | 11.5 | $4,197 | -- | |
Most reliable new small SUVs for the money
With an average price of $3,198 per year of expected lifespan, the small SUV segment remains an affordable option for most consumers. The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport leads the segment, followed closely by the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4. All seven models in the rankings also happen to be some of the best-selling models on the market.| Best New Small SUVs for the Money | |||||
| Rank | Model | Average List Price | Expected Lifespan (Years) | Price per Year | Compared to Average |
| 1 | Mitsubishi Outlander Sport | $28,250 | 11.8 | $2,400 | 0.75x |
| 2 | Honda CR-V | $36,009 | 15.0 | $2,401 | 0.75x |
| 3 | Toyota RAV4 | $35,258 | 14.6 | $2,411 | 0.75x |
| 4 | Chevrolet TrailBlazer | $29,109 | 10.0 | $2,925 | 0.91x |
| 5 | Jeep Compass | $33,486 | 11.4 | $2,945 | 0.92x |
| 6 | Nissan Rogue | $35,865 | 11.4 | $3,152 | 0.99x |
| 7 | Kia Sportage | $33,950 | 10.7 | $3,177 | 0.99x |
| Small SUV Average | $36,704 | 11.5 | $3,198 | -- | |
Most reliable new midsize SUVs for the money
Midsize SUVs are another popular segment with U.S. consumers. Buyers can find everything from family-oriented three-row models like the top-ranked Toyota Highlander, to capable off-road models like the Jeep Wrangler and Toyota 4Runner. Lexus manages to make the list with the RX 350, RX 350h, and RX 500. These are more expensive luxury models, priced between $57,000 and $72,000, but they offer 15-plus-year lifespans, making them highly reliable SUVs for the money.| Best New Midsize SUVs for the Money | |||||
| Rank | Model | Average List Price | Expected Lifespan (Years) | Price per Year | Compared to Average |
| 1 | Toyota Highlander | $48,481 | 13.9 | $3,489 | 0.75x |
| 2 | Ford Edge | $42,590 | 12.1 | $3,533 | 0.76x |
| 3 | Toyota 4Runner | $52,056 | 14.6 | $3,557 | 0.77x |
| 4 | Toyota Highlander Hybrid | $52,565 | 13.9 | $3,773 | 0.81x |
| 5 | Lexus RX 350h | $60,857 | 15.7 | $3,865 | 0.83x |
| 6 | Lexus RX 350 | $57,838 | 14.9 | $3,892 | 0.84x |
| 7 | Jeep Wrangler | $56,252 | 14.4 | $3,894 | 0.84x |
| 8 | Nissan Murano | $45,205 | 11.6 | $3,912 | 0.84x |
| 9 | Honda Pilot | $49,817 | 12.1 | $4,131 | 0.89x |
| 10 | INFINITI QX60 | $61,286 | 14.7 | $4,173 | 0.90x |
| 11 | Nissan Pathfinder | $46,975 | 11.0 | $4,273 | 0.92x |
| 12 | Hyundai Santa Fe | $43,999 | 10.2 | $4,309 | 0.93x |
| 13 | Lexus RX 500h | $72,155 | 15.7 | $4,583 | 0.99x |
| Midsize SUV Average | $52,938 | 11.4 | $4,632 | -- | |
Most reliable new full-size SUVs for the money
Large SUVs have an average new vehicle price of over $80,000 and an average per-year price of $7,888, making them one of the most expensive vehicle types in the U.S market. Within this segment the Buick Enclave has the lowest price per year at $5,555, while the Lexus LX 600 has the longest expected lifespan of 16.4 years.| Best New Large SUVs for the Money | |||||
| Rank | Model | Average List Price | Expected Lifespan (Years) | Price per Year | Compared to Average |
| 1 | Buick Enclave | $53,448 | 9.6 | $5,555 | 0.70x |
| 2 | Nissan Armada | $65,654 | 10.2 | $6,408 | 0.81x |
| 3 | Lexus LX 600 | $113,104 | 16.4 | $6,887 | 0.87x |
| 4 | Chevrolet Tahoe | $73,574 | 10.5 | $7,037 | 0.89x |
| 5 | GMC Yukon | $83,509 | 10.9 | $7,645 | 0.97x |
| Large SUV Average | $80,377 | 10.2 | $7,888 | -- | |
Most reliable new small cars for the money
The Honda Civic is the top-ranked most reliable car for the money, overall, due to its balance of affordable pricing and long lifespan. The Civic also leads the small car category, followed by the Toyota Corolla, Mazda Mazda3 (hatchback), Subaru Impreza (wagon), and Kia Soul.| Best New Small Passenger Cars for the Money | |||||
| Rank | Model | Average List Price | Expected Lifespan (Years) | Price per Year | Compared to Average |
| 1 | Honda Civic | $27,564 | 13.7 | $2,006 | 0.78x |
| 2 | Toyota Corolla | $25,218 | 11.6 | $2,166 | 0.84x |
| 3 | Mazda Mazda3 (hatchback) | $31,849 | 14.1 | $2,260 | 0.88x |
| 4 | Subaru Impreza (wagon) | $26,900 | 11.2 | $2,399 | 0.93x |
| 5 | Kia Soul | $23,863 | 9.9 | $2,417 | 0.94x |
| Small Passenger Car Average | $29,156 | 11.4 | $2,567 | -- | |
Most reliable new midsize cars for the money
Six midsize models offer better-than-average price per year of expected lifespan, with the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry hybrid leading the segment. The Chevy Malibu, Nissan Altima, and Subaru Legacy also deliver a better-than-average price per year within this segment, which has a relatively affordable price at $3,391 a year.| Best New Midsize Passenger Cars for the Money | |||||
| Rank | Model | Average List Price | Expected Lifespan (Years) | Price per Year | Compared to Average |
| 1 | Honda Accord | $30,659 | 13.1 | $2,339 | 0.69x |
| 2 | Toyota Camry Hybrid | $35,471 | 13.2 | $2,683 | 0.79x |
| 3 | Chevrolet Malibu | $27,991 | 9.2 | $3,037 | 0.90x |
| 4 | Nissan Altima | $30,947 | 9.9 | $3,136 | 0.92x |
| 5 | Subaru Legacy | $32,538 | 9.9 | $3,295 | 0.97x |
| Midsize Passenger Car Average | $35,514 | 10.5 | $3,391 | -- | |
Most reliable new midsize trucks for the money
Only two midsize trucks, the Toyota Tacoma and Honda Ridgeline, beat the segment average for price per year. All of the trucks on the most reliable new midsize list have a long expected lifespan, but competitive pricing across the category makes it tough for any one model to beat the segment average.| Best New Midsize Trucks for the Money | |||||
| Rank | Model | Average List Price | Expected Lifespan (Years) | Price per Year | Compared to Average |
| 1 | Toyota Tacoma | $46,228 | 15.9 | $2,915 | 0.94x |
| 2 | Honda Ridgeline | $45,265 | 14.8 | $3,063 | 0.99x |
| Midsize Truck Average | $44,895 | 14.5 | $3,099 | -- | |
| 3 | Nissan Frontier | $41,019 | 13.1 | $3,125 | 1.01x |
| 4 | Ford Ranger | $44,689 | 13.7 | $3,251 | 1.05x |
| 5 | GMC Canyon | $48,319 | 14.8 | $3,265 | 1.05x |
| 6 | Chevrolet Colorado | $43,004 | 12.5 | $3,429 | 1.11x |
Most reliable new full-size trucks for the money
The Toyota Tundra and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 managed to beat the full-size truck segment’s $5,095 average price per year of expected lifespan. All six models ranked offer more than 13 years of expected lifespan while costing around $4,000 or more per year.| Best New Full-size Trucks for the Money | |||||
| Rank | Model | Average List Price | Expected Lifespan (Years) | Price per Year | Compared to Average |
| 1 | Toyota Tundra | $61,794 | 15.6 | $3,966 | 0.78x |
| 2 | Nissan Titan | $58,080 | 13.1 | $4,447 | 0.87x |
| 3 | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | $57,872 | 12.5 | $4,637 | 0.91x |
| Full-Size Truck Average | $60,914 | 12.0 | $5,095 | -- | |
| 4 | GMC Sierra 1500 | $65,909 | 12.7 | $5,178 | 1.02x |
| 5 | Ford F-150 | $59,584 | 11.0 | $5,398 | 1.06x |
| 6 | Ram 1500 | $62,080 | 11.4 | $5,468 | 1.07x |
Most reliable new hybrids for the money
The Toyota Prius and Camry are the most reliable new hybrids for the money, with both beating the $2,928 segment average price-per-year while delivering high fuel efficiency and a 13-year expected lifespan. Toyota’s long history of producing hybrids has allowed it to dominate this high gas mileage segment.| Best New Hybrids for the Money | |||||
| Rank | Model | Average List Price | Expected Lifespan (Years) | Price per Year | Compared to Average |
| 1 | Toyota Prius | $34,333 | 13.0 | $2,649 | 0.90x |
| 2 | Toyota Camry Hybrid | $35,471 | 13.2 | $2,683 | 0.92x |
| Hybrid Vehicle Average | $38,775 | 13.2 | $2,928 | -- | |
| 3 | Toyota Highlander Hybrid | $52,565 | 13.9 | $3,773 | 1.29x |
| 4 | Lexus RX 350h | $60,857 | 15.7 | $3,865 | 1.32x |
| 5 | Hyundai Sonata Hybrid | $36,202 | 9.1 | $3,984 | 1.36x |
| 6 | Lexus RX 500h | $72,155 | 15.7 | $4,583 | 1.57x |
| 7 | Ford Escape Hybrid | $38,116 | 8.0 | $4,791 | 1.64x |
With the high prices and low incentives at dealerships many consumers feel no new car is a good value. But modern cars last longer than ever, and if you buy one of the top-ranked models above you can save money by combining a relatively low purchase price with a long lifespan.
The “cheapest cars” on the market can actually represent a great value if they have a proven track record of being reliable vehicles. Remember, new cars lose most of their value in the first five years. But the right one that’s kept and driven for the bulk of its lifespan, can deliver a low total cost of ownership and excellent long-term value. If your budget can’t manage a new car purchase, many of these new cars with high reliability ratings are also highly reliable used cars.
Methodology
iSeeCars analyzed the prices of over 3.8 million new cars sold in July - December 2024 and the odometer readings of over 368 million used cars from its Longest Lasting Cars Study. The average list price of each model was compared to its expected lifespan (in years) to calculate the list price per year. Low-volume vehicles, sports cars, and vehicles not in production as of the 2024 model year were excluded from further analysis.
About iSeeCars.com
iSeeCars.com is a data-driven car search and research company that helps shoppers find the best car deals by providing key insights and valuable resources, including the iSeeCars VIN Check report and Best Cars Rankings. iSeeCars has saved users over $439 million so far by applying big data analytics powered by over 25 billion (and growing) data points and using proprietary algorithms to objectively analyze, score and rank millions of new cars and used cars.
