Most Reliable Used Small Cars Under $15k for 2026
These are the most reliable used small cars under $15k , ranked by iSeeCars’ reliability rating which is based on a data-driven analysis of a vehicle's longevity.
The most reliable used small car under $15,000 is the 2018 Volkswagen Golf based on iSeeCars’ analysis of 12 million vehicles to assess their reliability. The 2018 Volkswagen Golf has an average used vehicle price of $14,495 and an iSeeCars reliability score of 9 out of 10. Behind the Golf is the 2016 Honda Civic with average used car price of $14,230 and a reliability rating of 7.7. The number 3 most reliable used small car under $15,000 is the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta at $14,453 which has a 7.6 rating and is priced on average at $14,453. For this analysis, iSeeCars looked at used small cars under $15k that are 1 to 10 years old to determine the latest model year vehicles that are within the price range of $10,000 to $15,000.
The most reliable used small car under $15,000 is the 2018 Volkswagen Golf based on iSeeCars’ analysis of 12 million vehicles to assess their reliability. The 2018 Volkswagen Golf has an average used vehicle price of $14,495 and an iSeeCars reliability score of 9 out of 10. Behind the Golf is the 2016 Honda Civic with average used car price of $14,230 and a reliability rating of 7.7. The number 3 most reliable used small car under $15,000 is the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta at $14,453 which has a 7.6 rating and is priced on average at $14,453. For this analysis, iSeeCars looked at used small cars under $15k that are 1 to 10 years old to determine the latest model year vehicles that are within the price range of $10,000 to $15,000.
1. 2018 Volkswagen Golf
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Reliability score
9.0
/ 10
- Average Used Car Price: 14494.734043
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
9.0
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.1
/ 10
-
Safety
8.0
/ 10
-
Reliability score
7.7
/ 10
- Average Used Car Price: 14229.623391
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.7
/ 10
-
Value Retention
9.1
/ 10
-
Safety
9.0
/ 10
-
Reliability score
7.6
/ 10
- Average Used Car Price: 14453.007411
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.6
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.3
/ 10
-
Safety
8.0
/ 10
-
Reliability score
7.5
/ 10
- Average Used Car Price: 14366.704857
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.5
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.1
/ 10
-
Safety
8.0
/ 10
-
Reliability score
7.4
/ 10
- Average Used Car Price: 14543.421275
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.4
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.8
/ 10
-
Safety
9.0
/ 10
6. 2022 Chevrolet Spark
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Reliability score
7.4
/ 10
- Average Used Car Price: 14009.407407
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.4
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.4
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
7. 2018 Subaru Impreza
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Reliability score
7.3
/ 10
- Average Used Car Price: 14038.069231
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.3
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.7
/ 10
-
Safety
8.0
/ 10
8. 2022 Kia Rio 5-Door
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Reliability score
7.3
/ 10
- Average Used Car Price: 14874.439655
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.3
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.5
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
9. 2020 Kia Forte
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Reliability score
7.2
/ 10
- Average Used Car Price: 14165.030946
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.2
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.4
/ 10
-
Safety
7.0
/ 10
-
Reliability score
7.1
/ 10
- Average Used Car Price: 14586.238095
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.1
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.4
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
-
Reliability score
7.1
/ 10
- Average Used Car Price: 14791.854545
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.1
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.4
/ 10
-
Safety
7.0
/ 10
12. 2023 Mitsubishi Mirage (hatchback)
-
Reliability score
7.1
/ 10
- Average Used Car Price: 14442.356275
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.1
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.3
/ 10
-
Safety
7.0
/ 10
-
Reliability score
7.0
/ 10
- Average Used Car Price: 13885.77899
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.0
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.2
/ 10
-
Safety
10
/ 10
14. 2019 Hyundai VELOSTER
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Reliability score
6.9
/ 10
- Average Used Car Price: 13750.001764
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
6.9
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.7
/ 10
-
Safety
8.0
/ 10
-
Reliability score
6.8
/ 10
- Average Used Car Price: 11459.109614
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
6.8
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.5
/ 10
-
Safety
8.0
/ 10
16. 2022 Kia Rio
-
Reliability score
6.7
/ 10
- Average Used Car Price: 14548.813124
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
6.7
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.6
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
-
Reliability score
6.7
/ 10
- Average Used Car Price: 13354.08198
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
6.7
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.4
/ 10
-
Safety
8.0
/ 10
18. 2021 Hyundai ACCENT
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Reliability score
6.6
/ 10
- Average Used Car Price: 13687.123574
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
6.6
/ 10
-
Value Retention
8.5
/ 10
-
Safety
7.0
/ 10
2023 Mitsubishi Mirage G4
-
Reliability score
Not Available
- Average Used Car Price: 14054.990354
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
Coming soon
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Value Retention
8.0
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
Related Rankings
How We Rank These Cars
The iSeeCars Reliability Rating indicates how dependable and long-lasting each vehicle is through a calculation of a vehicle's useful lifespan and its ability to last 200,000 miles or more.
Each vehicle is rated on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest Reliability Rating. Vehicles within a given category are sorted to show the most reliable ones first. If two cars have the same ratings, the tie is broken by the higher overall iSeeCars Quality Score. iSeeCars displays comprehensive Quality Scores along with the Reliability Ratings for each model because multiple factors should be taken into account when buyers are seeking the best overall vehicle. Two of these factors are safety and resale value, both of which are included in the iSeeCars Quality Score system.
The overall iSeeCars Quality Score combines analyses of these three factors: reliability, resale value, and safety. It is calculated based on the latest research and analysis by our data science team. The data analysis comes from over 312 million vehicles as reported in our Longest-Lasting Cars and 5-Year Depreciation Studies. These two factors are combined with NHTSA and/or IIHS Safety Ratings to determine a car's Quality Score.
Vehicles are scored in three categories:
Reliability
The reliability score represents an analysis of iSeeCars' proprietary research on the longest-lasting vehicles.
Value Retention
The value retention score is based on our data science team's statistical analysis and prediction of 5-year depreciation from MSRP to determine which cars hold their value best, using US Bureau of Labor Statistics data to adjust for inflation.
Safety
The safety score is calculated based on the last five years of crash test ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and incorporates the latest Top Safety Pick information from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).