Most reliable used cars with more than 60,000 miles
If you're on a tight budget, you might be tempted by higher-mileage cars that look like a bargain next to their less-used contemporaries.
A car's mileage has a big influence on its second-hand value. In fact, if you're thinking of buying a 2015 Ford Fiesta 1.25 petrol, it could make a difference of £1000; the average price for a car with 15,000 miles is £6500, whereas it's £5500 for those that have done 60,000 miles.
You need to choose carefully, though. If you pick a car that has had one careful owner or been on a corporate fleet and has a full service history, you shouldn't be landed with any nasty surprise bills. That said, it's worth checking that no expensive work, such as cambelt replacement, is due soon, because this will eat into any savings you've made on the purchase price.
It's also really important to pick a dependable model from a brand with a strong reliability record, and that's where the What Car? Reliability Survey can help. Below we've used data on more than 18,000 cars to round up the 10 most reliable choices when the vehicle in question has covered more than 60,000 miles. Plus, we reveal the three worst performers that are best avoided.
10. Toyota RAV4 2006-2013
What Car? Reliability Rating 81.9%
Just under 29% of RAV4 owners reported a fault, with the brakes and suspension the most common areas of concern. Other problems centred on the engine electrics and the exhaust and fuel systems. Most cars were fixed in a day or less, and repair bills ranged from free to £750.
Read our full review of the used Toyota RAV4
Find out the Reliability Ratings for all small SUVs
9. Toyota Avensis 2009-2015
What Car? Reliability Rating 82.3%
Although 19% of Avensis owners reported a fault on their car, the most common were evenly split between bodywork and gearbox issues. Three quarters of cars were still driveable, but repair bills ranged from £51 to £1000.
Read our full review of the used Toyota Avensis
Find out the Reliability Ratings for all family cars
8. Kia Cee'd 2007-2012
What Car? Reliability Rating 83.6%
Just over 22% of Cee'd owners reported a fault with their car, with the gearbox/clutch the biggest cause of concern. Half were rendered undriveable, and although a third of them were fixed under warranty, some owners were landed with repair bills of up to £500.
Read our full review of the used Kia Cee'd
Find out the Reliability Ratings for all family cars
7. Honda Civic petrol 2006-2012
What Car? Reliability Rating 83.7%
Petrol Civics fared worse than the diesels, with 24% suffering a fault. Again, the battery was the most commonly cited issue, but this time followed by suspension. More than 50% of the cars we were told about couldn't be driven, and although some were fixed for free, a small number of owners had to pay more than £1500.
Read our full review of the used Honda Civic
Find out the Reliability Ratings for all family cars
6. Skoda Octavia diesel 2004-2013
What Car? Reliability Rating 85.3%
Although 25% of diesel Octavias had a problem, the most common area of concern was the bodywork, followed by the engine and suspension. The majority of cars could still be driven, but most owners were faced with repair bills, some of up to £750.
Read our full review of the used Skoda Octavia
Find out the Reliability Ratings for all family cars
Next: the rest of the top 10 >
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