A New MR2 Is Coming But Toyota Might Not Build It This Time

The legendary Toyota MR2 is finally making a comeback just not in the way anyone expected. New reports suggest the iconic mid-engine sports car may return under a completely different badge. No Toyota logo, no traditional branding… but a fresh collaboration that could transform the MR2 into something entirely new. Here’s what we know so far and why enthusiasts are losing their minds.

Toyota Corolla

The Corolla is that boring kid in school who quietly becomes a millionaire later. It just doesn’t die. You see these things running around with 200,000, 250,000 miles like it’s nothing, and new ones are still pretty affordable at around $23,000 or so, which is kinda nuts for something this proven. It’s not exciting, sure, but if you just want a car that starts every morning and doesn’t whine, this is it, and the new data basically puts Toyota right at the top of the “longest‑lasting” charts again.

Toyota Sequoia

Now the Sequoia is like the Corolla’s gym‑rat cousin that also refuses to die. It’s one of those SUVs that the numbers say is way more likely than average to hit 250,000 miles, like several times more likely, which is insane when you remember it’s hauling a whole house worth of people and stuff. A new one is pricey, like around $60,000 plus, but you kinda pay for that long‑game reliability and the fact that it’ll probably still be around when your kids move out.

Honda CR‑V

The CR‑V is one of those “you recommend it to everyone” cars because it just works and the surveys keep backing that up. Honda as a brand scores high on reliability, again, with strong predicted scores and a big chunk of their lineup doing really well long‑term. A new CR‑V is hovering around $36,000 these days, and yeah, that stings a little, but when the thing is likely to stay out of the shop for most of its life, it kinda evens out.

Lexus RX

The RX is like the luxury version of “I don’t want problems, thanks.” Lexus is near the top of the reliability rankings, with scores roughly double some of the problem‑child brands, and the RX is usually one of the most solid models in their lineup. You’re looking at roughly $50,000 to $60,000 for a new RX, but it’s one of those crossovers you buy once and just keep throwing oil changes at instead of thousands in random repairs.

Subaru Forester

Subaru, funnily enough, has climbed right near the top of the latest reliability and dependability rankings as a brand, and the Forester is one of their stand‑out models. A new Forester sits around $30,000 to $32,000, and it’s that “forest dog, bikes, camping gear” kind of car that people flog for years in bad weather and still swear by. The latest data basically says Subaru’s consistency across shared components is helping these things age better than people expect.

Mazda CX‑5

Mazda’s kinda the underrated kid in the reliability conversation, but it keeps showing up surprisingly high in brand rankings and longevity charts. The CX‑5, at around $31,000 new, gives you that slightly premium feel without the “premium repair bills” drama a lot of European brands bring. And the data lately has Mazda sitting comfortably above average in both dependability and predicted reliability, which makes it a really nice sweet spot if you like driving.

Tesla Model 3

This one’s funny because Tesla pops up in the “lasts a long time” data but also gets roasted in other reports for build quality and issues. So, like, mixed vibes. The Model 3, around $40,000 give or take with current pricing, seems to have drivetrains and batteries that can go the distance, but you might be visiting service for software quirks or trim stuff more than you’d like. It’s kind of a “great long‑term core, annoying short‑term details” situation according to the numbers.

Mercedes‑Benz GLC

Alright, here’s where the “most likely to break down early” side kicks in. Brands like Mercedes‑Benz are near the bottom of some of the latest reliability rankings, with really low predicted scores and way more issues than the top Japanese brands. A GLC is around $50,000 to start and, yeah, it looks and feels fancy, but the data suggests you’re paying again later in the form of repairs and glitches, especially as the electronics age.

Jeep Wrangler

Jeep’s another one that shows up often on the “fun but not exactly bulletproof” lists, with lower‑than‑average predicted reliability scores as a brand. A Wrangler’s roughly $35,000 new, and while it’s awesome off‑road and has all the cool factor, the stats say you’re more likely to deal with issues sooner than with something like a Toyota or Honda. It’s like buying a puppy that you know will chew the furniture but you still bring it home anyway because vibes.

Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen as a brand has been hovering in the “not great” zone on some recent reliability charts, sitting closer to the least reliable side than the bulletproof crowd. A Tiguan will cost you around $31,000 new, and while it drives nicely and feels solid inside, the data says you might see more problems over time compared with the Japanese brands that dominate the “longest lasting” list. It’s one of those “drives German, ages… questionably” kinds of deals.

Rivian R1T

And then you’ve got Rivian, which is super cool and super new and also sitting way down in some of the latest reliability rankings as one of the least reliable brands right now. The R1T is like $70,000 or more, and yeah, it’s this amazing electric adventure truck, but the early data says owners are dealing with a lot more issues than the industry average, especially as the tech is still maturing. It’s kinda that “early adopter tax” situation awesome idea, but you’re the beta tester.