Most Reliable Sedans for 2024
Reliability ratings for sedans are calculated based on analyzing over 312 million vehicles to assess each model's long term durability.
How reliable is the sedan I want to buy? This question is top-of-mind for sedan shoppers, but with limited unbiased and free resources available to consult, it can be difficult to answer. iSeeCars's objective and data-driven Reliability Rating, based on a rigorous analysis of over 312 million vehicles, addresses this lack of information by calculating each sedan model's useful lifespan and its ability to last 200,000 miles or more. The sedans on this page are organized by sedan segment and powertrain, allowing shoppers with any budget to find a reliable model.
The most reliable small and compact car is the Honda Civic (coupe) (9.1 reliability rating), with the Honda Accord being the most reliable midsize car (9.3 reliability rating). The Toyota Avalon ranks #1 for the most reliable large cars (9.8 reliability rating).
The most reliable hybrid car is the Toyota Prius (hatchback) (8.9 reliability rating), which is also the most reliable plug-in hybrid car (PHEV). The Tesla Model S ranks #1 for the most reliable electric cars (9.4 reliability rating).
Despite the market’s shift toward luxury SUVs, the luxury sedan, wagon, and coupe remain critical components of many luxury brands’ production lines. In fact, the distinction between luxury SUVs and luxury cars is blurred with some full-size four-door models offering sports-car-like shapes and performance with crossover-like cargo space and rear-seat room.
Regardless of size and exterior shape, every luxury car has to meet a minimum standard of premium features. These include a luxurious interior design, powerful engine options, advanced safety features, a smooth ride, and a high-tech infotainment system paired with a high-quality audio system, even on the base model. Optional all-wheel drive is another worthy feature for luxury car shoppers living in colder climates.
The best luxury cars also offer comprehensive warranty coverage (for at least five years), an uncompromised dealership experience, and relatively high fuel efficiency – despite their strong horsepower numbers and capable performance. The advanced powertrain technology in today’s luxury cars often combines smaller, four-cylinder engines with turbocharged induction, delivering rapid acceleration and impressive fuel economy. Turbo V6 engines provide even greater performance, but the larger engine design reduces MPG ratings.
If the pricing of the latest premium cars is a concern, consider shopping for older models. Many luxury brands offer Certified Pre-Owned programs, giving their used cars the same warranty coverage and peace of mind found with new cars.
Although luxury automakers are less often associated with long-term dependability than mainstream automakers, they should be held to the same, if not higher, standards, considering the added cost borne by all the luxury features. The iSeeCars Reliability Ratings can help focus shoppers’ searches and guide them to a long-lasting vehicle with their desired set of premium features.
How We Rank These Cars
The iSeeCars Reliability Rating indicates how dependable and long-lasting each vehicle is through a calculation of a vehicle's useful lifespan and its ability to last 200,000 miles or more.
Each vehicle is rated on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest Reliability Rating. Vehicles within a given category are sorted to show the most reliable ones first. If two cars have the same ratings, the tie is broken by the higher overall iSeeCars Quality Score. iSeeCars displays comprehensive Quality Scores along with the Reliability Ratings for each model because multiple factors should be taken into account when buyers are seeking the best overall vehicle. Two of these factors are safety and resale value, both of which are included in the iSeeCars Quality Score system.
The overall iSeeCars Quality Score combines analyses of these three factors: reliability, resale value, and safety. It is calculated based on the latest research and analysis by our data science team. The data analysis comes from over 312 million vehicles as reported in our Longest-Lasting Cars and 5-Year Depreciation Studies. These two factors are combined with NHTSA and/or IIHS Safety Ratings to determine a car's Quality Score.
Vehicles are scored in three categories:
Reliability
The reliability score represents an analysis of iSeeCars' proprietary research on the longest-lasting vehicles.
Value Retention
The value retention score is based on our data science team's statistical analysis and prediction of 5-year depreciation from MSRP to determine which cars hold their value best, using US Bureau of Labor Statistics data to adjust for inflation.
Safety
The safety score is calculated based on the last five years of crash test ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and incorporates the latest Top Safety Pick information from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
