Best and worst used cars

Savvy car buyers know that the best way to get the most vehicle for their money is to buy a used car. With the average new car losing 47 percent of its value in the first three years, buying used is an affordable way to get the safety and comfort features you want at a far better price.

The Best of the best list guides you to the 2002 to 2011 models that scored well in our road tests when new and have been consistently reliable over time. Each has achieved multiple years of above-average used-car verdicts (available to subscribers), indicating that owners have had relatively few problems. (Note: we will update this report with new data covering 2003-2012 models in February 2013.)

Models built by Toyota and Honda dominate the list once again, and many of the best used vehicles are from Asian manufacturers. But high-quality vehicles are available from domestic and European automakers as well.

The Worst of the worst list shows models that have had multiple years of below-average reliability in our survey. It is dominated by vehicles from domestic and European manufacturers, primarily General Motors, which had 8 of the 24 models listed.

Our reliability data are derived from our Annual Auto Survey, which generated responses from subscribers on 1.3 million vehicles.

We also list reliable cars by price range (available to subscribers), so that you can easily see what's available for your budget.

Our Used cars to avoid list (available to subscribers) highlights specific models and the years that they had below-average reliability.

What are the top used cars for the price? Here we highlight the best sedan and SUV or wagon in four price ranges. Each model performed well in our testing when new and has an above-average used-car reliability verdict for the years shown. All come with standard electronic stability control (ESC) during the model years listed.

Sedan

Hyundai Sonata (4-cyl.) 2006

The Sonata's 2006 redesign gave it refinement and standard curtain air bags. In our tests, the 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine returned a respectable 23 mpg overall. The Sonata's standard safety gear makes this car a bargain and a great choice for teen drivers.

Wagon

Scion xB 2004-05

The first-generation xB is an extremely roomy and practical small wagon. The low floor and high roof give it near-minivan levels of access. Visibility is very good, and the nimble handling makes it a fine choice on the highway and in the city. We got 30 mpg overall with an automatic transmission.

$10,000-$15,000

Sedan

Infiniti G35 2004-05

The G35 has a strong V6 engine and a smooth automatic transmission, and it got 20 mpg overall in our tests. It provides agile handling, and its ESC keeps it in check at its limits. The ride is well controlled, and the cabin is quiet. It came with rear- or all-wheel drive.

 SUV

Toyota Highlander 2004-05

This quiet, comfortable, and refined car-based SUV was available in either front- or all-wheel drive and sold with four- and six-cylinder engines. The V6 got 19 mpg overall in our tests.The interior is roomy, and the controls are easy to use. A third-row seat and curtain air bags
were optional.

$15,000-$20,000

Sedan

Acura TL 2006-07

The TL offers a near ideal blend of comfort, convenience, and sportiness. This front-wheel-drive sedan has a firm but compliant ride, and its powerful 270-hp V6 returned 23 mpg overall. Reliability has been outstanding, and curtain air bags are standard.

 SUV

Toyota RAV4 2008-10

The RAV4's 2006 redesign gave it a roomier interior, an available third-row seat, and an optional V6 engine. Its nimble handling, good fuel economy, and versatile, easy-to-access cabin helped make it one of our top-rated small SUVs. The V6 engine gets a very good mpg overall, and the four-cylinder gets 23.

$20,000-$25,000

Sedan

Infiniti M35 2006-07

This generation of the M35 provides a good blend of sportiness and luxury. Its strong V6 returned good overall gas mileage: 19 mpg with rear-wheel drive and 18 mpg with the optional AWD. The Infiniti has a comfortable and luxurious interior, and offers a full complement of safety gear.

SUV

Acura MDX 2006

The MDX is a well-rounded, family-friendly SUV with standard AWD. It has a strong and refined V6 powertrain that gets 17 mpg overall, a firm but pleasant ride, a well-appointed cabin, comfortable front seats, and a third-row seat. Curtain air bags are standard.

These models, listed alphabetically, have multiple years of much-worse-than-average reliability among 2002 to 2011 models.

These 2002 to 2011 models have records of below-average reliability and are listed alphabetically by make and model.

Audi A3 '06, '11; A4 (4-cyl.) '02-05, '09; A5/S5 '10; A6 (3.0T) '10; A6 (V6) '04; Q5 (V6) '09-11; Q7 '07, '11; S4 '11; TT '08

BMW 135i '08; 325i (AWD) '02-05; 325i (RWD) '02-03, '05; 330i (RWD) '02; 335i (AWD) '08-09; 335i (RWD) '07-10; 5 Series (6-cyl., nonturbo) '03, '06, '09, '11; 5 Series (V8) '02-03, '08, '11; 5 Series (V10) '08; 535i '08-11; 7 Series '06-08; X5 (6-cyl.) '02-05, '07-09, '11; X5 (V8) '08; X5 35d '10; Z4 '04

Buick Century '02; Enclave (AWD) '08-09, '11; Enclave (FWD) '08-09; LaCrosse (AWD) '10; LaCrosse (FWD) '08, '11; Lucerne '11; Rainier '06; Regal '11; Rendezvous '02-03, '06; Terraza '05

Cadillac CTS (V6, AWD) '08-09; CTS (V6, RWD) '05, '09; CTS Coupe '11; DeVille '02-04; DTS '06; Escalade '05, '07-09; Seville '02-03; SRX (V6) '04-08, '10; SRX (V8) '04; STS '05-09

Chevrolet Astro '02-03, '05; Avalanche '04-08; Aveo '05, '08-09; Blazer '02-04; Camaro '11; Cavalier '05; Cobalt '06-08, '10; Colorado '05, '07, '11; Corvette '02, '09; Cruze '11; Equinox '05-08; Express '02; HHR '06-08; Impala ‘02, '04-08, '11; Malibu (4-cyl.) '05; Malibu (V6) '02, '07-08, '11; Monte Carlo '02; S-10 Pickup '02; Silverado 1500 (V6, 2WD) '06-07; Silverado 1500 (V8, 2WD) '08-09; Silverado 1500 (V8, 4WD) '04-06, '09, '11; Silverado 2500 '03, '05, '11; Silverado 2500 (turbodiesel) '06, '11; Suburban '04-05, '07-09, '11; Tahoe '07-08; Tahoe Hybrid '08; TrailBlazer (6-cyl.) '05-09; TrailBlazer (V8) '04, '06-08; Traverse '09; Uplander; '05-08; Venture '02-05

Chrysler 300M '04; Concorde '04; Pacifica '04, '07-08; PT Cruiser (nonturbo) '02-08, '10; PT Cruiser (turbo) '03-06; Sebring Convertible '04-06, '08; Sebring Sedan '02-05, '07; Town & Country '02-09, '11; Voyager '02-03

Dodge Avenger '08; Caliber '07; Caravan '02-07; Charger '07; Dakota (4WD) '02, '04-08; Durango '02; Grand Caravan '02-09, '11; Intrepid '02, '04; Journey '09-11; Magnum '06; Neon '03; Nitro '07; Ram 1500 (2WD) '02; Ram 1500 (4WD) '02-03, '06, '10-11; Ram 2500 '03; Ram 2500 (turbodiesel) '06-10; Stratus Sedan '02-05

Ford Crown Victoria '10; Edge '11; Escape (4-cyl., AWD) '09; Escape (V6, AWD) '09-10; Escape (V6, FWD) '09; Expedition '07; Explorer (V6, 2WD) '02, '04, '06-07, '11; Explorer (V6, 4WD) '02-04, '06, '11; Explorer (V8) '02-04, '06-08; Explorer Sport Trac '07; F-250 '10-11; F-250 (turbodiesel) '04-09; Fiesta '11; Flex '09; Flex (EcoBoost) '10-11; Focus '02, '12; Freestar '04-05; Ranger (4WD) '08; Taurus (AWD) '08, '10; Taurus SHO '10; Thunderbird '02-03, '05; Transit Connect '10; Windstar '02-03

GMC Acadia (AWD) '07-09; Acadia (FWD) '07-10; Canyon '05, '07, '11; Envoy (6-cyl.) '05-09; Envoy (V8) '04, '06-08; S-15 Sonoma '02; Safari '02-03, '05; Savana '02; Sierra 1500 (V6, 2WD) '06-07; Sierra 1500 (V8, 2WD) '08-09; Sierra 1500 (V8, 4WD) '04-06, '09, '11; Sierra 2500 '03, '05, '11; Sierra 2500 (turbodiesel) '06, '11; Yukon '07-08; Yukon Hybrid '08; Yukon XL '04-05, '07-09, '11

Honda Civic Si '10; Odyssey '11

Hummer H3 '06

Hyundai Accent '02; Elantra '02; Entourage '07-08; Santa Fe (4-cyl.) '11; Santa Fe (V6) '10-11; Sonata (4-cyl.) '05; Veracruz '08

Infiniti G Convertible '10

Jaguar S-Type '03; XF '09-10; XJ '11; X-Type '02

Jeep Commander '06, '08; Compass '07; Grand Cherokee (6-cyl., V6) '02-06; Grand Cherokee (V8) '02-05, '08, '10; Liberty '02, '06-07, '10; Patriot '07-08; Wrangler (2-door) '06, '08, '10; Wrangler (4-door) '07-10

Kia Forte '11; Optima '04; Sedona '02-11; Sorento (V6) '03-06, '08, '11

Land Rover LR3 '06

Lexus GS '10

Lincoln Aviator '03-05; LS '03-04; MKS '09; MKT '10; MKX '11; MKZ (FWD) '11; Navigator '03, '06

Mazda 626 '02; B-Series (4WD) '08; CX-7 '07; MPV '03; RX-8 '04-05; Tribute (4-cyl., AWD) '09; Tribute (V6, AWD) '09-10; Tribute (V6, FWD) '09; Mazda5 '06-07, '09

Mercedes-Benz C-Class (AWD) '11; E-Class (AWD) '09-10; E-Class (RWD) '06; GL-Class '07-09, '11; M-Class (V6) '02, '06-07, '09; R-Class '06; S-Class '04, '06-07, '09; SL '05

Mercury Grand Marquis '10; Mariner (4-cyl., AWD) '09; Mariner (V6, AWD) '09-10; Mariner (V6, FWD) '09; Monterey '04-05; Mountaineer (V6, 2WD) '02, '04, '06-07; Mountaineer (V6, 4WD) '02-04, '06; Mountaineer (V8) '02-04, '06-08; Sable (AWD) '08; Villager '04-08

Mini Cooper Clubman S '08-10; Convertible '05-06, '09; Hatchback '04-06; Hatchback S '03, '05-09

Nissan 370Z '09-10; Armada '04; Frontier (2WD) '05; Frontier (4WD) '05, '11; Maxima '06; Pathfinder '05-06, '10; Quest '04-08; Titan '04-06, '08; Xterra '05-06

Oldsmobile Alero '02; Silhouette '02-04

Pontiac Bonneville '02, '05; G6 Coupe & Convertible '06-07; G6 Sedan '06; G8 '09; Grand Am '02-03; Grand Prix '02-03; Montana '02-04; Montana SV6 '05; Solstice '07; Sunfire '05; Torrent '06-08

Porsche 911 '06; Cayenne '11; Cayman '07

Saab 9-3 '03, '10; 9-5 '02-03, '05

Saturn Astra '08; Aura '07; Outlook '07-09; Relay '05-07; Sky '07; Vue (4-cyl.) '08; Vue (V6) '02, '07-08

Smart ForTwo '08

Subaru Impreza WRX/STi '08; Legacy (4-cyl.) '02; Legacy (turbo) '05-06; Outback (turbo) '05-06

Toyota Sequoia '11; Sienna (AWD) '07, '11; Tacoma (V6) '11

Volkswagen CC '11; Eos '07-08, '10; GTI (4-cyl.) '07, '09; Jetta Sedan (4-cyl.) '02, '05; Jetta Sedan (5-cyl.) '06; Jetta Sedan (turbo) '02-03; Jetta Sedan (TDI) '02, '11; New Beetle Convertible '04-07; New Beetle Hatchback '02-03, '06; Passat (4-cyl.) '03-07, '10; Passat (TDI) '05; Passat (V6) '02-04, '06-07; Routan '09-10; Touareg '04

Volvo C30 '11; C70 '04; S40 '02; V40 '02; XC90 (6-cyl.) '04-05, '10