Cars that last the longest
Are you after a car that’ll last you for many years and miles to come? Check out some of our suggestions for durable used cars
When you’re browsing car marketplaces such as BuyaCar for used cars, it’s definitely worth bearing in mind a car’s reliability before you commit to a purchase. After all, while you may be able to get a great deal on the car you’ve been after, but it will have all been for nought if the money you saved quickly goes towards a hefty repair bill and costly maintenance work.
A car’s durability isn’t set in stone, either, as it can be affected by a variety of factors. These range from the age of the car, to how well it’s been maintained and how often it’s been driven. Because of the differences in the way they develop and produce cars from one another, some car companies are also better associated with building durable cars than others.
Even for cars from brands with weaker reliability records, it’s still possible to keep the car going for many years and miles if it’s been kept in good working order. On average, the typical car on the road has a working life of around 14 years, and it’s not uncommon to find instances where cars are still going strong even with hundreds of thousands of miles under their belts.
To help you decide which used car to go for, we’ve picked out our suggestions of cars across a variety of sizes and price points that, if all goes well, have the potential to last a long while before they’re ready to be replaced.
1. Dacia Sandero
Our pick Dacia Sandero 0.9 TCe Comfort
Used deals from £6,499
Monthly finance from £130.70*
Cheap cars don’t usually have a reputation for being reliable, since the perception is they use less expensive parts and production methods to keep costs down. However, the Dacia Sandero in theory has the potential to buck that trend, due to its use of tried-and-tested parts.
Since Dacia is owned by Renault, many of the key components on Dacia models have been used before on other Renault models. For example, both the current Dacia Sandero and the previous model are closely related under the skin to their contemporary Renault Clio counterparts. In theory at least, this means the major parts on the Dacia Sandero have been already been tried and tested across a selection of Renault models, and any durability issues should have been ironed out by now.
2. Kia Ceed
Our pick Kia Ceed 1.6 CRDi GT-Line
Used deals Limited stock
In comparison with the cars it was making in the early 2000s, Kia’s more recent models are considerably better all-round cars. While those cheap and cheerful Kias admittedly had the edge with regards to affordability, their successors make up for it with their higher-quality interiors, better handling and stronger equipment levels. Because every Kia car since 2006 has been available from new with a seven-year warranty, quite a few of these earlier Kia cars still have some of their original manufacturer cover left, too.
Of these more recent used Kia cars you’ll find listed for sale on BuyaCar, a promising-on-paper candidate for reliability is the second-generation Kia Ceed family hatchback. On top of its decent reliability record, the car also has to its name an unblemished recall record – at the time of writing, there hasn’t been a single recall issued for the second-gen Kia Ceed.
3. Lexus RX
Our pick Lexus RX 450h Takumi
Used deals from £29,733
Monthly finance from £459.80*
When it comes to reliability, few car makers have as impressive a record as Lexus. Over the years, the Japanese carmaker has fostered a strong image as a builder of sturdily-assembled cars, which has been demonstrated by the repeated strong performances of the company in the annual Driver Power survey.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, a number of Lexus cars have also been praised for their durability by owners in the Driver Power survey, with one car that’s performed well for reliability over its time in production being the fourth-generation Lexus RX. Admittedly, the RX’s overall ratings did start to drop towards the end of its time on sale, though even then the more prominent reported faults with the car involved the interior trim rather than more major components – boding well for the Lexus RX’s longevity as a used buy.
4. Mercedes E-Class
Our pick Mercedes E220d AMG Line
Used deals Limited stock
If you’re after a classy and comfortable saloon, there are worse options out there than the Mercedes E-Class. With its focus on refinement and a supple ride, the E-Class saloon is a relaxing car to spend long journeys in, with the diesel versions in particular being very well suited to racking up the miles on motorways.
Being an upmarket car, repair bills can be a bit pricey on the Mercedes E-Class, though as Mercedes has been steadily improving its reliability record as of late, that should hopefully reduce the chances of being stung by hefty maintenance costs. It also isn’t unusual for examples of this plush Mercedes to have a hard-working life: Mercedes E-Class taxis are an almost ubiquitous sight in German cities, with many of these cream-coloured cabs racking up large mileages during their time in service.
5. Skoda Kodiaq
Our pick Skoda Kodiaq 2.0 TDI SportLine DSG
Used deals from £20,895
Monthly finance from £360.43*
As a roomy and versatile family SUV, the Skoda Kodiaq ticks a lot of boxes. Equipment levels are good across the board, and the combination of a roomy interior and a comfy ride makes the Kodiaq relaxing to drive on long road trips. Opt for one of the seven-seater models, and the Kodiaq has good passenger ferrying credentials, too, even though the two back seats are a bit snug for adults.
Reliability appears to also be a strong point on the Skoda Kodiaq, as the car has regularly been a very strong performer in our sister magazine Auto Express’ annual Driver Power owner satisfaction survey. Any major issues with the Skoda Kodiaq’s major parts also should have been found and remedied by now, as Skoda shares core components such as gearboxes and engines with car companies like Volkswagen, Audi and Seat.
6. Subaru Outback
Our pick Subaru Outback 2.5i SE Premium
Used deals Limited stock
Japanese car makers have historically been associated with dependability and reliability, though Subaru suggests in its case that reputation is also reflected in official data. Back in 2018, Subaru boldly claimed 97% of all the cars it had sold in Europe in the previous 10 years were still on the road.
As a result, cars such as the Subaru Outback appeal if you’re after a practical car with the potential to withstand whatever family life can throw at it. The Outback appeals if your driving plans involve a bit of off-roading: the car’s always-active four-wheel-drive system means there’s good traction on slippery surfaces, and the raised ride height over most other estate cars of this size means there’s decent ground clearance over rutted terrain, too.
7. SsangYong Tivoli
Our pick SsangYong Tivoli 1.6D Ultimate
Used deals Limited stock
While a long warranty doesn’t guarantee a car won’t develop a major fault or break down, it does show a sign of confidence in a car’s overall durability. Plus, long and comprehensive manufacturer cover gives you that extra peace of mind knowing that, if something does go wrong, you won’t need to pay for the repair costs to have the issue fixed.
If warranty cover were all that determined a car’s long-term reliability, then SsangYong cars would be amongst the most durable on the market. Since 2018, every SsangYong has been sold from new with cover that lasts up to seven years or 150,000 miles (whichever comes soonest). This makes cars such as the SsangYong Tivoli worth considering for drivers who do lots of long journeys every year, since even models with a few years and miles under their belts should still have some of the original warranty left.
8. Toyota Yaris
Our pick Toyota Yaris 1.5 Hybrid Excel
Used deals from £9,355
Monthly finance from £248.40*
Toyota has long had a reputation for building reliable and durable cars, which has been borne out in our sister title Auto Express’ annual Driver Power owner satisfaction survey. Over the years, the Toyota brand and many of the company’s cars have performed strongly, with reliability being one of the areas Toyota owners say they were impressed with. As a result, if you’re after a dependable used supermini, a Toyota Yaris is definitely worth considering.
As standard, the Toyota Yaris came with a five-year warranty, though if the car has its annual service carried out at an authorised Toyota centre you can increase the warranty cover up to 10 years, which could prove handy if you plan on keeping the car for a while. Note that newer models only come with three years' cover as standard, though the option to extend this to 10 years with an annual service remains. For the hybrid version of the Toyota Yaris, you can also benefit from up to 15 years of cover for the hybrid powertrain’s battery pack, though as with the main warranty you’ll need to have the car checked over once every 12 months at an authorised Toyota garage.
*Representative PCP finance - Ford Fiesta:
48 monthly payments of £192
Deposit: £0
Mileage limit: 8,000 per year
Optional final payment to buy car: £2,923
Total amount payable to buy car: £11,926
Total cost of credit: £2,426
Amount borrowed: £9,500
APR: 9.9%
BuyaCar is a credit broker, not a lender. Our rates start from 6.9% APR. The rate you are offered will depend on your individual circumstances.