Although many buyers search the used-car market for “bargains,” the real currency is reliability, and it matters even more when newer technologies like electrification are involved. Hybrids have a quarter-century under their belts, even with new-to-the-scene companies, because they have benefited from the trial-and-error of their contemporaries. So, buyers shopping for used hybrids aren’t chasing novelty or bragging rights—they’re trying to lock in lower operating costs and not inherit expensive problems.
Depreciation is the key to unlocking used car purchase savings, but it doesn’t work the same way on vehicle components and repair work. Those things only get more expensive as the years tick away, and the savvy used buyer knows that saving a few thousand here is not really a savings if that money will be spent down the road. Battery longevity, proven software, and a track record of low failure rates and infrequent shop visits define smart used hybrid buys, and these examples have the goods.
The models in this list have been extensively researched to ensure the most accurate information possible as of the time of publishing. Models are listed in ascending order from least to most reliable.
2022 BMW 540i
Reliability Score: 88/100
The BMW 5 Series is widely regarded as one of the top sports sedans in the world, and the 2022 BMW 540i rightfully sits near the top of its luxury midsize class as a performance-oriented sedan that blends straight-six (mild hybrid) punch with premium comfort and technology. In JD Power’s 2022 owner survey, the 5 Series returned solid ratings, particularly in Quality & Reliability and Driving Experience, true to its reputation as a solidly-built, quietly confident, refined midsize luxury sedan.
BMW 5 Series Reliability
Kelley Blue Book places the fair purchase price for the 2022 BMW 540i (which is available in both RWD and xDrive AWD) in the $33,000–$38,000 range, depending on mileage, condition, and equipment. RepairPal classifies the broader 5 Series reliability as about average for a luxury sedan, giving it 2.5 stars out of five, and placing the BMW brand 30th among all car brands. CarEdge notes that the 540i is expensive to maintain and repair, about 50 percent more than the average luxury car, and gives it a 41.7 percent chance of incurring a major repair over 10 years of ownership.
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $798 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $14,525 (CarEdge)
- 2022 Recalls: 2
- Worst Years To Buy Used: 2004–2010
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2009 Toyota Prius
Reliability Score: 89/100
The 2009 Toyota Prius was part of the second generation that helped solidify hybrid acceptance about a decade after the Prius got the hybrid ball rolling. Over the years, it has built a reputation for solid owner loyalty and strong quality scores; JD Power’s consumer ratings consistently show overall scores in the high-80s. With decades of real-world data reflecting fewer defects and malfunctions than many contemporaries, the Prius embodies durability and longevity, and builds confidence among buyers seeking dependable used hybrids.
Toyota Prius Reliability
It may not be the sexiest example of the quirky notchback, but the 2009 Toyota Prius has the ownership and data backing to position it among the best used hybrid buys on today’s market. Currently valued in the $5,000 range, the 2009 Prius is a high-ranking member of the midsize class, earning four out of five stars from RepairPal for its reliability record. Further, CarEdge gives it an 11.4 percent chance of incurring a major repair over 10 years of ownership—testament to its solid hybrid evolution.
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $410 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $4,360 (CarEdge)
- 2009 Recalls: 6
- Worst Years To Buy Used: 2010–2011
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2015 Lexus GS 450h
Reliability Score: 89/100
The 2015 Lexus GS 450h is one of the used-car market’s best-kept secrets, landing in the U.S. as a refined hybrid variant of a midsize luxury sedan (bordering on full-size stature) with a long track record of strong owner loyalty and quality. It consistently rates high in JD Power’s consumer surveys, and the 2015 scores reflect owners’ trust in Lexus’s reputation for durable powertrains and solid long-term ownership experience.
Lexus GS Reliability
With a KBB fair purchase price of $23,300, the 2015 Lexus GS 450h represents one of the industry’s best values, especially when coupled with KBB’s consumer rating of 4.8/5 for reliability. The hybrid GS has limited data, so RepairPal defers to the general Lexus brand rating of four stars, which places the brand seventh among 32 brands. CarEdge also reflects the data limitations by referring to Lexus as a whole, slotting the brand at less than average costs, and a lower than average chance of major repairs.
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $678 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $7,110 (CarEdge)
- 2015 Recalls: 0
- Worst Years To Buy Used: 2006–2007
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2019 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid
Reliability Score: 89/100
The Lincoln MKZ holds a significant role in the U.S. market as one of the first near-luxury vehicles to attempt to take on the compact German sports sedans at their own game, and the 2019 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid combined that luxury moxie with the improved fuel efficiency the Germans couldn’t match. In JD Power’s 2019 owner survey, the MKZ ranked among the better-rated compact premium cars, with comparatively few defects or malfunctions reported by owners.
Lincoln MKZ Reliability
The Lincoln MKZ is another used-car gem, having attained peak engineering and design stature by the time Lincoln decided to abandon the passenger car market. The 2019 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid sports a fair price tag in the $15,500–$17,500 range, according to KBB, and a RepairPal three-star rating, out of five, ranking it 20th out of 31 luxury midsize cars. Because it is no longer an active market participant, CarEdge defaults to the Lincoln average, which puts maintenance and repair costs marginally higher than the luxury car average.
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $831 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $12,416 (CarEdge)
- 2019 Recalls: 0
- Worst Years To Buy Used: 2013–2016
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2019 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
Reliability Score: 89/100
The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid entered the U.S. market as part of the midsize sedan’s sixth generation in 2011, to take on established Japanese models like the Honda Accord Hybrid and Toyota Camry Hybrid (the three are today the only remaining mainstream midsize hybrid sedans), and after initially struggling with quality, it has grown into one of the more reliable hybrids on the market. In JD Power surveys, the 2019 Hyundai Sonata reflects a combination of comfort, competence, and positive reliability perception.
Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Reliability
Kelley Blue Book lists the fair purchase price for a 2019 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid at $12,000–$15,400, depending on trim, mileage, and condition. RepairPal data places the Sonata third among the 24 midsize cars, awarding it four stars out of five for its modest average annual repair/maintenance bills and frequency of repairs. CarEdge data shows the car is 12 percent more expensive to maintain than its competitors, with an 18.3 percent chance of major repairs over 10 years, which is slightly higher than average.
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $458 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $6,444 (CarEdge)
- 2019 Recalls: 0
- Worst Years To Buy Used: 2011–2013
2019 Buick LaCrosse With eAssist
Reliability Score: 90/100
One of the forgotten hybrids, the 2019 Buick LaCrosse featured General Motors’ mild hybrid eAssist system that would gain fame for its efficiency improvements in the corporation’s larger trucks. Not as well recognized as it was in Chevrolet’s Malibu mid-sized sedan, the eAssist system contributed to LaCrosse’s perception among owners (topping the 90th percentile in JD Power’s Quality & Reliability ratings) for its body integrity, interior comfort, and serene ride.
Buick LaCrosse Reliability
Listing today in the $15,000–$20,000 range, the eAssisted 2019 Buick LaCrosse exhibits above-average reliability ratings from multiple sources. RepairPal gives it four out of five stars for its annual repair costs and frequency, which aligns with the midsize segment average, though service costs in the premium segment tend to skew higher. CarEdge doesn’t track maintenance costs for models no longer in service, so it defaults to the Buick record, which indicates 10-year costs about nine percent higher than competitors’ and a 26 percent chance of major repairs.
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $569 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $8,993 (CarEdge)
- 2019 Recalls: 2
- Worst Year To Buy Used: 2012
2025 Porsche 911 GTS T-Hybrid
Reliability Score: 91/100
It’s probably not a surprise that the Porsche 911 Carrera is a reliable offering, not that its owners are loyal to the model and thoroughly happy with the car. What may come as a surprise here is that the Porsche 911 was never a hybrid, but it was in 2025, in the GTS trim level. The strong perceived quality reflects Porsche’s engineering depth, even for the thoroughly new Porsche 911 GTS T-Hybrid that marks the marque’s first hybrid take on the rear-engine layout. Power surveys also highlight owners’ satisfaction with the company’s dealer network.
The electric turbocharger isn’t dependent on exhaust gas pressure. Instead, it is mostly based on your throttle input. Combined with the electric motor filling in the gaps of the 3.6-liter electrically turbocharged flat-six, there’s an instantaneous response that’s near EV-like.
– Issac Atienza, TopSpeed Journalist
Porsche 911 Reliability
Pricing has changed little from the introductory MSRP for the 911 GTS T-Hybrid, given that it’s only a year old, so you’re looking at about $166,000 for the ingenious 2025 Porsche 911 T-Hybrid coupe and $180,000 for the Cabriolet. RepairPal rates the 911’s reliability as average, giving it just two stars out of five, and ranking it near the bottom of the 31-model luxury field. That said, there’s more to the 911 than simply a luxury model (some will say it doesn’t even belong in the conversation). CarEdge confirms that 911 maintenance costs are stratospheric, nearing $1,500 per year.
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $1,072 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $10,760 (CarEdge)
- 2025 Recalls: 0
- Worst Year To Buy Used: 2009–2012
2021 Toyota Avalon Hybrid
Reliability Score: 92/100
It’s not a coincidence that the top three most reliable used hybrid cars are all based on the same platform, since the Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD) is about as perfect a hybrid system as you’ll find anywhere in the industry. The Toyota Avalon Hybrid would still be a top model today, had it not been replaced by the equally impressive Toyota Crown in 2023. Before it went out, though, it knocked the reliability ball out of the park, recognized for its durable engineering, library-like noise levels, and remarkable fuel efficiency.
Toyota Avalon Reliability
In the used market in 2026, the 2021 Toyota Avalon Hybrid is priced in the $24,000–$28,000 range, according to KBB, making it one of the best bargains in the premium large-car segment, depending on trim and condition. RepairPal gives Avalon a four-star rating, reflecting its manageable ownership costs and ranking it third among full-size sedans. CarEdge defaults to the Toyota maintenance cost data, which would put the Avalon in good standing against its premium full-size contemporaries.
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $463 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $5,470 (CarEdge)
- 2021 Recalls: 1
- Worst Years To Buy Used: 2013–2014
2014 Toyota Camry Hybrid
Reliability Score: 92/100
Hybrids don’t come much more reliable than the Toyota Camry Hybrid, so much so that it has now become the default hybrid model. One of the better buys in the U.S. used-car market, the 2014 Toyota Camry Hybrid matches its larger Avalon sibling in JD Power’s owner-survey ratings, reflecting unwavering owner loyalty and a lineage of dependability and peace-of-mind family transportation. Across reliability analysts, the Camry Hybrid remains the yardstick against which hybrid sedans are measured.
Toyota Camry Hybrid Reliability
The only downfall to buying a used Toyota Camry Hybrid is that its depreciation is glacially slow, and the 2014 Toyota Camry Hybrid today carries a KBB fair purchase price in the $11,000s, after a decade+ on the roads. Still, that makes it a total bargain given its reliability record. RepairPal gives it a four-star rating and ranks it third in class, and CarEdge gauges its repair and maintenance record 21 percent better than its contemporaries, with a 12 percent chance of major repairs over 10 years (4.4 percent better than average).
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $387 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $4,581 (CarEdge)
- 2014 Recalls: 3
- Worst Year To Buy Used: 2007
2017 Lexus ES 300h
Reliability Score: 96/100
As good as the Camry Hybrid is, one of its siblings is better. The Lexus ES consistently ranks high in JD Power’s annual owner surveys, and the 2017 Lexus ES 300h flirted with perfection, on the strength of very few defects and above-average attention to detail at the service bay. Over the generations, the ES 300h consistently delivers exemplary cabin comfort and serenity, quality body integrity, and superb powertrain refinement and efficiency.
Lexus ES 300h Reliability
Today listing for $18,550, the 2017 Lexus ES 300h reflects the demand for affordable luxury and remarkable engineering, making it the most reliable sedan (luxury or otherwise) on the used market. RepairPal gives it 4.5 stars (one of the few used offerings to be graded as such), reflecting a reputation for low cost and frequency of repairs. CarEdge lists its yearly outlay for repairs and maintenance a whopping 39 percent below that of its rivals, reflecting not so much its low costs, but just how infrequently it visits the shop—just a 15.6 percent chance of its needing major repairs over 10 years.
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $681 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $5,952 (CarEdge)
- 2017 Recalls: 0
- Worst Year To Buy Used: 2013
Sources: J.D. Power, CarEdge, RepairPal