It’s not easy to find a cheap car these days, let alone one that’s reliable for 10 years or more. But if you’re the type of driver who keeps a car until it has nothing left to give, these five cars have what it takes to keep you on the road for years to come.
1. Toyota Corolla: The forever king of cheap and reliable cars
As always, the Toyota Corolla sets the gauntlet for cheap and reliable cars. The compact Toyota has a simple and proven transmission, with the choice of a four-cylinder engine or a hybrid configuration. For this cheap car to last 10 years, we recommend the non-hybrid, although Toyota’s hybrid engines also have a great reputation for reliability.
Overall, the Corolla is built with high-quality materials and components designed to withstand the rigors of everyday use. Toyota also offers a comprehensive warranty for the Corolla, covering major components such as the engine and transmission for up to 5 years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first.
2. Mazda3: Recent improvements reduce unreliable reputation
We’ve talked about the Mazda3 before, and for good reason. The Mazda3 is built with high-quality materials and components that have been time-tested to withstand years of daily driving. It also has a solid and well-designed chassis, so it will be fun to drive every day. As a relatively cheap car, the Mazda3 should have no trouble lasting 10 years or more under average driving conditions.
In addition, the Mazda3 has consistently performed well in reliability surveys conducted by various entities, including Consumer Reports and JD Power. In fact, the 2023 Mazda3 was ranked in the top 10 in its class for reliability by RepairPal with a score of 4 out of 5.
3. Honda Civic: Generations of reliability continue
When it comes to reliability, it’s hard to beat the Honda Civic’s incredible reputation. And while things have changed since the bulletproof engines of the late 90s and early 00s, Honda reliability remains a strong point.
In fact, getting this cheap car to last 10 years should be as simple as keeping up with the oil changes. And with a starting price well under $25,000, it’s an affordable car to start with.
4. Hyundai Elantra: Cheap, comfortable and reliable for 10 years
The next two cheap cars on our list are not only reliable for 10 years, they are backed by the manufacturer. The Hyundai Elantra has a 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty, but we’re sure it won’t be used very often.
Despite the struggles of its early days, Hyundai has been producing high-quality cars for the past decade. Getting into an Elantra will set you back just a shade over $21,000 and offers both inexpensive repair costs and infrequent unscheduled repairs to boot. In other words, Hyundai has put its money where its mouth is, and this cheap Hyundai is almost guaranteed to last 10 years as a result.
5. Kia Forte: With factory support for a decade of driving
Similar to its Korean cousin, the Kia Forte also comes with a 10-year, 100,000-mile factory warranty. That’s a lot of peace of mind in a cheap car, and getting it to last 10 years shouldn’t require more than routine maintenance. A low incidence of serious problems and unscheduled repairs means the Forte has what it takes to stand the test of time and keep running.
Cheap and reliable, these cars are reliable for 10 years or more
In fact, there are no real surprises on this list. These cheap cars have been known to last 10 years or more and have built a reputation for doing so. The difference now is that these cars are also really good products beyond their reliability. This is something we can all appreciate.
