The most reliable used cars for the money are not necessarily the cheapest models sitting on a dealer’s lot. A low purchase price does little good if the vehicle has reached the end of its useful life or begins demanding expensive repairs.
A new study from iSeeCars attempts to account for both sides of that equation. The automotive research firm compared the average used price of each vehicle with its predicted remaining lifespan.
The results identify several affordable cars and SUVs that could still have many years of driving ahead of them.
Honda Fit leads 5-year-old used cars
The discontinued Honda Fit earned the top position among 5-year-old used vehicles. It had an average list price of $18,445 and a predicted remaining lifespan of 10.9 years.
That works out to $1,693 for each expected year of remaining life, nearly half the overall average of $3,310.
The Kia Rio 5-Door finished second at $1,979 per remaining year, followed by the Honda Civic at $2,070. The Buick Encore was the highest-ranking SUV and placed fourth overall.
Here are the 10 most reliable 5-year-old used cars for the money:
| Rank | Model | Average price | Remaining lifespan | Price per remaining year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Honda Fit | $18,445 | 10.9 years | $1,693 |
| 2 | Kia Rio 5-Door | $12,977 | 6.6 years | $1,979 |
| 3 | Honda Civic | $19,958 | 9.6 years | $2,070 |
| 4 | Buick Encore | $16,030 | 7.7 years | $2,084 |
| 5 | Mazda3 Hatchback | $20,042 | 9.6 years | $2,091 |
| 6 | Mitsubishi Outlander Sport | $15,028 | 7.1 years | $2,104 |
| 7 | Hyundai Elantra | $14,312 | 6.6 years | $2,162 |
| 8 | Lexus IS 300 | $28,213 | 13.0 years | $2,173 |
| 9 | Volkswagen Jetta | $16,608 | 7.6 years | $2,198 |
| 10 | Toyota Corolla | $17,104 | 7.7 years | $2,211 |
The Lexus IS 300 is an interesting addition. Its $28,213 average price is considerably higher than most of the other vehicles in the top 10, but its predicted 13-year remaining lifespan is the longest of any vehicle on the list.
The Toyota Prius, Toyota Camry Hybrid, Nissan Rogue, Jeep Compass and Honda CR-V also finished among the 24 vehicles offering better-than-average value.
Nissan Leaf tops the 10-year-old rankings
The Nissan Leaf led the rankings among 10-year-old vehicles, becoming the first electric vehicle to take the top position in the study.
With an average list price of only $5,675 and an expected remaining lifespan of 5.1 years, the Leaf costs approximately $1,108 for each predicted year of remaining life.
That is less than half the 10-year-old vehicle average of $2,415 per remaining year.
However, shoppers should look beyond the Leaf’s appealing price. Battery condition, remaining driving range and local charging needs should all be evaluated before buying an older electric vehicle.
The second-place Honda Fit costs more at $11,492, but it also offers a much longer predicted remaining lifespan of 8.6 years.
Here are the 10 most reliable 10-year-old used cars for the money:
| Rank | Model | Average price | Remaining lifespan | Price per remaining year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nissan Leaf | $5,675 | 5.1 years | $1,108 |
| 2 | Honda Fit | $11,492 | 8.6 years | $1,341 |
| 3 | Lincoln MKZ | $11,148 | 7.2 years | $1,542 |
| 4 | Volkswagen Jetta | $9,086 | 5.9 years | $1,546 |
| 5 | Nissan Versa | $7,403 | 4.7 years | $1,575 |
| 6 | Hyundai Elantra | $8,919 | 5.7 years | $1,577 |
| 7 | Honda Civic | $12,528 | 7.7 years | $1,617 |
| 8 | Tesla Model S | $16,874 | 10.3 years | $1,642 |
| 9 | Jeep Compass | $9,303 | 5.6 years | $1,647 |
| 10 | Hyundai Accent | $7,661 | 4.7 years | $1,647 |
The Tesla Model S stands out for its predicted remaining lifespan of 10.3 years. It costs almost three times as much as the Nissan Leaf, but the study predicts it could remain on the road for more than twice as long.
The Honda Civic also performed well in both age groups. It ranked third among 5-year-old vehicles and seventh among 10-year-old vehicles.
These used SUVs offer the best value
The Buick Encore was the most reliable 5-year-old used SUV for the money. Its $16,030 average price and 7.7-year predicted remaining lifespan resulted in a cost of $2,084 per remaining year.
The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport ranked second, followed by the Mitsubishi Outlander, Nissan Rogue and Jeep Compass.
| Rank | 5-year-old SUV | Average price | Remaining lifespan | Price per remaining year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buick Encore | $16,030 | 7.7 years | $2,084 |
| 2 | Mitsubishi Outlander Sport | $15,028 | 7.1 years | $2,104 |
| 3 | Mitsubishi Outlander | $15,943 | 6.9 years | $2,314 |
| 4 | Nissan Rogue | $17,323 | 7.1 years | $2,446 |
| 5 | Jeep Compass | $17,609 | 7.1 years | $2,471 |
| 6 | Honda CR-V | $24,366 | 9.8 years | $2,489 |
| 7 | Ford Edge | $18,946 | 7.6 years | $2,502 |
| 8 | Toyota RAV4 | $24,472 | 9.7 years | $2,535 |
| 9 | Infiniti QX60 | $21,895 | 8.5 years | $2,587 |
| 10 | Kia Sportage | $16,920 | 6.5 years | $2,618 |
The Encore’s lower purchase price gives it the best cost-per-year result, but shoppers planning to keep their next SUV for as long as possible may want to look farther down the list.
The Honda CR-V has a predicted 9.8 years of remaining life, while the Toyota RAV4 is close behind at 9.7 years. Both cost more upfront, but they are predicted to last approximately two years longer than the Encore.
Among 10-year-old SUVs, the Jeep Compass ranked first at $1,647 per remaining year. It was followed by the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, Volvo XC60, Buick Encore and Mitsubishi Outlander.
Hybrids and EVs show long-term potential
Electrified vehicles appeared throughout the study, including several older models that now have enough history to judge their longevity.
The Toyota Prius was the best 5-year-old hybrid or electric vehicle for the money. Its $21,040 average price and predicted 8.9-year remaining lifespan produced a cost of $2,354 per remaining year.
The Toyota Camry Hybrid ranked second at $2,435, followed by the Ford Fusion Hybrid at $2,468.
The Tesla Model S offered the longest predicted remaining lifespan in this category at 12.8 years, but its $32,482 average price pushed its cost to $2,545 per remaining year.
Among 10-year-old electrified vehicles, the Nissan Leaf finished first, followed by the Tesla Model S, Ford Fusion Hybrid and Toyota Prius.
Those results suggest an older hybrid or EV should not automatically be dismissed as a short-lived used vehicle. Still, the study measures predicted vehicle lifespan rather than the condition or replacement cost of a specific battery pack. A pre-purchase inspection remains particularly important when shopping for an older electrified vehicle.
What used-car shoppers should know
iSeeCars analyzed the prices of more than 900,000 5- and 10-year-old used vehicles sold between July and December 2025.
The company combined that pricing information with odometer readings from nearly 400 million vehicles included in its Longest-Lasting Cars Study. It then divided each model’s average list price by its predicted remaining lifespan.
The average 5-year-old used vehicle in the study cost $24,377 and had 7.4 years of predicted life remaining. The average 10-year-old vehicle cost $14,195 and had 5.9 years remaining.
Low-volume vehicles and sports cars were excluded. A model also needed to deliver a lower cost per remaining year than its segment average to appear on a segment-specific list.
Still, these rankings should serve as a starting point rather than a guarantee. Maintenance history, accident damage, corrosion, mileage and how the previous owner treated the vehicle can matter as much as the name on the trunk. Some listed vehicles also have model years, engines or transmissions with known problems that should be researched separately.
Use the study to narrow the field. Then check the vehicle’s service records, research problems affecting that specific model year and pay for an independent pre-purchase inspection before signing the paperwork.y have remaining can make a major difference in what it actually costs to own.
