5 Ultra-Reliable Car Brands That Hit 250K Miles, Plus 5 to Avoid

Some car brands are built to go the distance well past 250,000 miles while others struggle even before that. Here are five brands mechanics trust for long-term durability, and five that often fail to deliver the same reliability over time.

Toyota

Oh, come on, Toyota had to be first. I mean, it’s almost a cliché at this point, but it’s true. Their whole thing is just… building appliances on wheels. Not exciting, but they just work. I had a Corolla once that I swear was indestructible. You change the oil, you put gas in it, and it just goes. And the resale value is nuts. A good used Camry or Corolla, you’re probably looking at, I dunno, $10,000 to $16,000? It’s the safe bet. The boring, brilliant, safe bet.

Honda

Right after Toyota, you’ve gotta say Honda. It’s like the other side of the same reliable coin. Their engines are just… jewel-like. They love to rev, they’re efficient, and they last forever if you take even halfway decent care of them. The Civic, the Accord… legends. I feel like every college kid has a beat-up Civic with 200k on it that still runs perfectly. A solid used Accord is maybe… $12,000 to $18,000? Such a good all-arounder.

Lexus

Okay, so this is just a fancy Toyota, right? But that’s the point! You get all that legendary Toyota reliability, but wrapped in absolute luxury. It’s quiet, the seats are amazing, and everything just feels… solid. My friend has an old LS 430 and it’s like a vault on wheels. So smooth. A used ES or RX from a few years back… uhm, maybe $20,000 to $30,000? It feels like a splurge, but it’s a smart splurge.

Subaru

Now Subaru… this one’s interesting. They’re kinda like the reliable choice for people who live somewhere with actual weather. The all-wheel-drive system is fantastic, and they have a real cult following. The Outback, the Forester… they just keep going. You do have to watch for head gasket issues on the older ones, but the newer models are much better. A used Outback with reasonable miles… hmm, maybe $17,000 to $25,000? Not the cheapest, but they hold their value so well.

Ford

Wait, Ford? For reliability? Yeah, I know, but hear me out specifically their trucks. The F-150, especially with the Coyote 5.0L V8, is a beast. It’s a workhorse, simple, overbuilt. America’s best-selling vehicle for a reason. The sedans… ehh, maybe not so much. But the trucks, they’re built for the long haul. A used one… prices are crazy, but maybe $25,000 to $40,000 for a decent one? It’s an investment that actually pays off.

Land Rover

Oh, Land Rover. They’re so beautiful, so luxurious, so capable… and so, so expensive to keep running. It’s like dating a supermodel with a bunch of… high-maintenance issues. The electronics, the air suspension… it’s a lot. A used Range Rover Sport might be $30,000, but the repair bills could easily be another $30,000. It’s a heart-over-head purchase, for sure.

Jaguar

Pretty much the same story as Land Rover. They’re part of the same family, after all. Gorgeous to look at, amazing to drive for the first year or two… and then the little gremlins start to appear. Electrical issues are the big one. You buy a used XF for $20,000 thinking you got a steal, and then the infotainment screen goes blank and it costs $4,000 to fix. It’s a gamble.

Fiat

Oh, Fiat. They make these cute, little, fun cars… that are not known for their long-term durability. The 500 is adorable, but it’s not something you buy as your only car if you plan on keeping it for a decade. They can be… temperamental. A used 500 might be $8,000, which seems cheap, but you might be spending a lot of that saved money on keeping it running.

Mini

And this one hurts, because Minis are so much fun. But once they’re out of warranty… yikes. Especially the older models with the Peugeot-derived engines. They’re packed with quirky features that are quirky until they break and cost a fortune to fix. A used Cooper S for $12,000 sounds awesome until you need a new turbo. It’s a weekend toy, not a daily driver for the long haul.

Chrysler

Chrysler, and really a lot of Stellantis brands (Dodge, Jeep, Ram)… they’re a mixed bag. Some of their trucks are okay, but their cars… the Chrysler 200, the Dodge Dart… they just didn’t have the same longevity as their Japanese or even Korean competitors. They feel a bit less polished, and the reliability ratings often reflect that. A used 300C might be tempting for $15,000, but it’s a bit of a roll of the dice.