Top 10 Reliable Mid-Sized Cars

Midsize cars are some of the most sought-after vehicles on the market. Whether you’re dropping the kids off to school in a used Kia Optima or taking a road trip in a pre-owned Honda Accord, midsize cars offer comfort, safety, fuel economy, and more.

How Is Reliability Rated?

Reliability ratings are essentially meant to reveal how well a vehicle holds up over time. There are a number of factors that are considered to determine if a car is considered reliable or not. Most often, reliability scores are based on how often a vehicle needs to be repaired and what the average annual repairs costs are for a particular car.

Real-world data on repair orders around the country is easy to gather and analyze. Of course, the other element that plays into reliability comes from customers themselves. Consumer Reports, for example, sends out various questionnaires to drivers in order to gather the actual opinions of real vehicle owners.

Reliability Scores Aren’t Perfect

While gathering repair data and customer feedback is a critical way to predict a vehicle’s reliability, it’s not a perfect method. These kinds of scores are extremely helpful when you’re starting your initial shopping phase. It’s best to use these scores as a guide as opposed to a holy text. It’s always important that shoppers do their own research when comparing auto brands and models.

Some brands, like Kia, Honda, Toyota, etc., have a strong reputation for building dependable vehicles. Don’t feel like you have to give up a great deal on a car you love without looking into those reliability scores. For example, a critic might not like a particular used Kia Optima’s infotainment center controls. Since consumer feedback is so subjective, sometimes it makes more sense to just look at the hard data.

The Cost Of Ownership

One of the more reliable ways to consider how reliable a vehicle is depends on how it impacts your wallet. A car that constantly needs repairs and maintenance will cost more year after year and thus is less reliable. The cost of ownership considers the severity of repairs a car needs, the cost of those repairs, and the average annual cost for unscheduled repairs. Keep in mind this doesn’t consider regularly scheduled maintenance tasks, as these are necessary for all vehicles.

The Top Ten Most Reliable Cars

Based on the cost of ownership and general customer feedback, here are the top ten most reliable mid-size cars and their average costs that you can pick up today:

• Toyota Camry: $388
• Honda Accord: $400 annually
• Toyota Prius: $408
• Chevrolet Malibu: $448
• Mitsubishi Galant: $448
• Hyundai Sonata: $458
• Kia Optima: $471
• Mazda 6: $481
• Subaru Legacy: $563
• Ford Fusion: $581

The average cost for a mid-size car is $526, which means there are plenty of options that beat the average. A used Kia Optima, for example, is well under the average. Of course, you’ll want to do your own research, schedule test drives, read reviews, and more to ensure you get the most reliable ride for your needs.