Most Reliable Small Cars Owners Refuse To Give Up

Small cars like hatchbacks, coupes, and compact sedans may not be the most popular segments in the U.S. market in 2026, but they do offer something some larger vehicles like SUVs and trucks don’t: generally low prices and long-term ownership ease. Less weight means less stress on components, smaller engines are needed to reach good speeds, and both factors combined generally mean good fuel economy.

According to the American International Automobile Dealers Association (AIADA), the average length of time that we keep cars in America is approximately 13 years, and while some people go through them quicker than that, there are some small cars that owners don’t want to get rid of. Thanks to high rates of reliability, low ownership costs, still usable builds, and city-friendly dimensions, we can see why.

2017 Volkswagen Golf

J.D. Power Reliability Rating: 80/100 | Average Used Price Range: $10,650 – $12,100

The 2017 Volkswagen Golf is available today for used prices between $10,650 for the base-model TSI S and $12,100 for the top-tier TSI SEL. While depreciation rates aren’t the best in the segment, the ’17 Golf had original prices ranging from $22,000 to $29,000; how it is viewed in terms of dependability more than makes up for it.

Owners on Kelley Blue Book rate it 4.4 out of 5 for reliability, with 83% of owners saying they’d recommend one, and iSeeCars says that the average lifespan of a VW Golf is 153,592 miles. They also say that it has an 8.4% chance of making it to 200,000 miles.

There is one engine option for the standard Golf lineup: a 170-horsepower/184-pound-foot turbo-four. One engine option is also available for the 2017 Golf GTI, and one for the 2017 Golf R. They have the following engine specifications.

Bear in mind that the more powerful GTI and R models will likely need more maintenance due to their higher output. However, we can see why people keep hold of these Golf hatchbacks; they can carry up to 52.7 cubic feet and only measure in at 167.5 inches by 70.8 inches.

2015 Chevrolet Sonic

J.D. Power Reliability Rating: 81/100 | Average Used Price Range: $5,025 – $7,675

According to J.D. Power, the 2015 Chevrolet Sonic has an overall rating of 78 out of 100, which includes a very good reliability rating of 81 out of 100. Prices are low today, and iSeeCars says a Sonic should last to 115,769 miles and has a reliability rating of 6.7 out of 10.

While this may not be the most stellar rating we have seen, owners seem to swear by it. On Kelley Blue Book, the 2015 Sonic is rated 4.1 out of 5 for reliability, with 73% of owners (out of 277 reviews) recommending one. The smallest model, the hatchback, is available as the LS, the LT, the LTZ, and the RS.

The trim you opt for determines which engine you get. There is a choice of two: a naturally aspirated inline-four and a turbo-four. They have the following engine specifications.

Neither engine option results in huge speed (0–60 mph times have been clocked between 8.1 and 8.7 seconds), but FuelEconomy.gov says that the least fuel-efficient model can achieve 28 combined mpg (24 mpg city/34 mpg highway), while the turbocharged model with the manual box can achieve up to 32 combined mpg. So, there is a good payoff for the lack of speed.

2017 Mazda 3

J.D. Power Reliability Rating: 82/100 | Average Used Price Range: $10,650 – $13,300

The Mazda 3 is currently one of the most overlooked compact sedans on the U.S. market, and while the 2017 Mazda 3 may be a little more dated in comparison, you still get a good deal of quiet luxury, low average used prices, and an impressive reliability record.

iSeeCars rates the 2017 Mazda 3 7.7 out of 10, and says that the average lifespan is just shy of 139,000 miles. They also say that it has a better probability of reaching 200,000 miles than the 2017 Golf on our list, at 11%. Owners also like it; owner ratings on Kelley Blue Book are 4.5 out of 5 overall, 4.6 out of 5 for reliability, and an 88% recommendation rating.

There are two engine options for the ’17 Mazda 3; both are naturally aspirated inline-fours. They have the following specifications.

You get a 7-inch Mazda CONNECT touchscreen as standard, Bluetooth connectivity, an available nine-speaker Bose audio rig, available perforated leather seats in the top trim, and a respectable 13.2 cubic feet maximum cargo capacity.

2012 Scion xB

J.D. Power Reliability Rating: 83/100 | Average Used Price Range: $6,875 – $6,900

Perhaps a small car that has been somewhat forgotten, but still a good one. The 2012 Scion xB has a very distinctive look about it; it is boxy and cute, and it can carry up to 69.9 cubic feet of stuff around. It is most things you could ask for from a city-friendly car.

RepairPal estimates that it will only cost you $386 a year for maintenance, while FuelEconomy.gov says that it will cost you $2,600 a year for gas. This does make it $2,000 more than it would cost to fill up the average modern vehicle over five years, but with low average used prices that don’t even top $7,000 and an iSeeCars life expectancy of 165,826 miles, costs can even out.

There is just one engine option for the 2012 Scion xB: a 2.4-liter inline-four. It has the following specifications.

While horsepower output isn’t huge, the xB benefits from being built by an arm of Toyota. So, you get a sensibly powered DOHC under the hood that, more importantly, if you want some fun in a small car, kicks out peak power at 6,000 rpm and peak torque at 4,000 rpm. While they are not exceptionally collectible, we can see the appeal of a small boxy car that has some Japanese Kei-car style about it and can last the miles.

2015 Honda Civic

J.D. Power Reliability Rating: 83/100 | Average Used Price Range: $8,425 – $14,250

Honda is viewed as one of the most bulletproof brands ever, and while some modern models have lagged, older models, like the 2015 Honda Civic, are still holding strong. iSeeCars says that the 2015 Civic has an average expected lifespan of 165,959 miles and a reliability rating of 7.7 out of 10.

Owners on Kelley Blue Book seem to agree with a very impressive 4.8 out of 5 awarded to it, and with 85% of owners saying they’d recommend it. RepairPal says that it will cost just $368 a year to maintain, and CarEdge estimates that, over five years, it will cost you just $1,786 for maintenance.

As we have found with so many Honda Civic models, the 2015 MY is built for a long life of everyday use. There are gas-engine and hybrid options available, both of which are impressively reliable, while a Natural Gas trim is also available, returning impressive fuel efficiency (31 MPGe) but carrying some reliability concerns.

The 2015 Civic and Civic Hybrid have the following powertrain specs.

On top of its reliability ratings, the ’15 Civic has a maximum cargo capacity of 12.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down, 42 inches of front legroom, and 36.2 inches of rear legroom.

2021 Kia Forte

J.D. Power Reliability Rating: 83/100 | Average Used Price Range: $12,450 – $15,850

Available as the FE, the LX, the GT-Line, the EX, and the GT, the 2021 Kia Forte combines nearly-new tech and style with a lot of dependable build quality. According to iSeeCars, the 2021 Forte has a reliability rating of 7.6 out of 10, and an 11.5% chance of reaching 200,000 miles. That may sound low, but that makes it just under 1.3 times more likely than the market average.

Owners on Kelley Blue Book rate the 2021 Forte 4 out of 5 for reliability, with 73% of owners saying they’d recommend it. That isn’t as high as some small cars on our list, but thanks to the 26.2 cubic feet of storage space and combined mpg ratings of between 28 and 35, it is easy to see why it remains highly regarded.

There are two engine options for the 2021 Kia Forte: one naturally aspirated inline-four for all the models leading up to the GT, and a turbo-four for the GT. They have the following specs.

Rest-to-60 times for the naturally-aspirated models range from 8.2 to 8.7 seconds, but if you opt for the turbocharged GT, those times drop to around 6.7 seconds. While this doesn’t make it the quickest sedan ever, it is more than adequate for reaching highway speeds and pulling ahead at the lights.​​​​​​​

2018 Hyundai Elantra

J.D. Power Reliability Rating: 84/100 | Average Used Price Range: $8,825 – $12,100

A used 2018 Hyundai Elantra offers more than just low prices and high reliability; you also get a relatively good list of available luxury features for the price. A 7-inch touchscreen is standard fare, as are 17-inch alloys, while higher trims come equipped with an 8-inch screen, an eight-speaker audio rig, Smart Cruise Control, and Automatic Emergency Braking.

The Elantra is a relatively overlooked small car compared to the Hondas and Toyotas on the market, but it really shouldn’t be. The 2018 sedan model gets a maximum cargo capacity of 14.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down, a maximum passenger volume of 110.2 cubic feet, and decent legroom in the front and rear, at 42.2 inches and 35.7 inches, respectively.

Three engine options are available for the 2018 Elantra: a naturally aspirated inline-four for the SE, SEL, SEL Value Edition, and Limited trims; a turbo-four for the Eco trim, and a more powerful turbo-four for the Sport trim. They have the following specifications.

The 2018 Elantra is rated 7.5 out of 10 for reliability on iSeeCars, and they say that it is only expected to receive 1.2 lifetime recalls, which is far below the average of 3.9 for the compact car segment.

2013 Honda Fit

J.D. Power Reliability Rating: 85/100 | Average Used Price Range: $9,000 – $9,325

With an overall rating of 4.6 out of 5 on Kelley Blue Book, a 4.8 out of 5 reliability rating, and a 90% owner recommendation rate, the 2013 Honda Fit is one of the highest rated small cars overall. You get a very impressive 57.3 cubic feet of storage space despite the small dimensions of 161.6 inches in length by 66.7 inches in width, while a combined mpg rating range of between 29 and 31 makes it a frugal little car to own.

There are just two trims of the 2013 Honda Fit: the base trim and the Sport, and with average used prices ranging from $9,000 and $9,325, it is a lot of bang for your buck in terms of low ownership costs.

FuelEconomy.gov says it will cost between $2,000 and $2,150 a year for gas, depending on whether you opt for the base trim or the Sport (with the Sport costing slightly more), and RepairPal says it costs just $390 a year to maintain. There is just one engine option, which has the following specifications.

Without major engine rebuilds, some owners have said they’ve put over 300,000 miles on the 2013 Fit, with good maintenance and a low-stress engine to thank.

2012 Toyota Yaris

J.D. Power Reliability Rating: 87/100 | Average Used Price Range: $5,375 – $7,575

The Toyota Yaris is unfortunately not sold as a new model in the U.S. anymore, and while we wish they’d bring it back, used examples like the 2012 Yaris show us what we are missing out on. Average used prices are low; you get a high J.D. Power reliability rating; combined mpg ratings range from 32 to 33, and you get a very suburban and city-friendly stature of 153.3 inches by 66.7 inches.

Despite this, you still get 40.6 inches of legroom up front, 33.3 inches of legroom in the back, and a maximum cargo capacity of 12.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded away. It is easy to see why it also gets an overall rating of 85 out of 100 on J.D. Power.​​​​​​​

There is only one engine choice for the used 2012 Yaris, and while the output is low and 0–60 times have been recorded in the 9-second range, the naturally aspirated 1NZ-FE inline-four under the hood is a sturdy, dependable unit. It has the following specifications.

iSeeCars says that the small 2012 Yaris has an average life expectancy of 140,200 miles and a reliability rating of 7.1 out of 10. However, well-maintained models have been known to hit over 200,000 miles with just simple maintenance and some careful ownership.

2013 Toyota Corolla

J.D. Power Reliability Rating: 89/100 | Average Used Price Range: $8,550 – $10,550

Toyota is synonymous with dependability, and the Toyota Corolla is synonymous with an easy, long life. J.D. Power rates the 2013 Corolla 89 out of 100 for reliability, while owners on Kelley Blue Book rate it 4.7 out of 5 for reliability, and a very impressive 85% of the 668 current reviewers would recommend it.

Despite its small dimensions of 180 inches by 69.4 inches, it still offers a maximum cargo capacity of 12.3 cubic feet and 60:40 split-folding seats, allowing longer items to be loaded through the trunk. On top of that, FuelEconomy.gov says that it can achieve 29 combined mpg (between 26 and 27 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway), and will cost you a relatively low $2,150 a year for gas.

There is just one engine option for the 2013 Toyota Corolla: a naturally aspirated inline-four paired with either a four-speed auto box or a five-speed manual. It has the following specs.

iSeeCars rates the ’13 Corolla 7.4 out of 10 for reliability and says that the average lifespan is 150,781 miles, while some Corolla models from this era have been known to routinely exceed 300,000 miles with simple maintenance and attention to consumables.​​​​​​​

Sources: J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, iSeeCars, CarEdge, AIADA, and FuelEconomy.gov.