Most Reliable Cars of 2012
A reliable car should be well-built, durable, low on maintenance cost and high on mileage. In many surveys conducted by automobile entities, it has been observed that cars from Honda and Toyota are the most reliable in all the above-mentioned aspects.
Dependable Cars This Season
Consumers first think of dependable brands when it comes to buying a new car. There are other car brands, such as Ford, Volvo, Volkswagen, etc., which do produce quite reliable machines as well. Here's a look at the reliable options.
Honda AccordFor years, the Honda Accord has been rated the best in terms of value for money, fuel economy and durability. A starting price of about $21,000 is affordable, whereas a mileage of 23 mpg in city and 34 mpg on highways means an efficient engine. This car also has been awarded for the best resale value and earned a rating of five stars in safety tests by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Toyota CamryThe Toyota Camry is not far behind when it comes to the matter of reliability. The Camry is the closest and toughest competitor to the Accord, considering the price range and fuel economy. The price for the base variant starts at about $22,000, which is less than the Accord. It gives a decent fuel economy of 22 mpg in city and 33 mpg on highways. You can even consider buying the Camry Hybrid model, which starts at about $27,000.
Ford FusionThe Ford is probably the best mid-sized car in the auto market. The base model, the FWD sedan with a 2.5-liter I4, costs about $21,000. The AWD sedan with a 3.5-liter V6 and the hybrid, which has a 3.0-liter gas/ethanol V6, costs about $28,500. The base model gives 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on highways.
Porsche BoxsterPorsche is a brand name that is associated with speed and heritage. One of the most reliable sports cars, a notoriously flaky breed, is the Boxster. The 2-door Roadster, which costs about $50,000, has a 2.7-liter six-cylinder engine, which churns out 265 horsepower. Being a Porsche, the engine is a straight-six and mounted in the back. The Roadster-S costs around $61,000. It has a 3.4-liter straight-six which dishes out 315 horsepower. The Roadster gives an astonishing mileage of 20 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highways.
Subaru LegacyThis is rated as one of the best cars for style, power and fuel economy, which gives it a high score in the reliability test. The Legacy has 9 models, ranging from $20,000 to $30,000 and driven by either a 2.5-liter I4 or a 3.6-liter I6. The best safety feature of the Subaru is its full-time Symmetrical All-wheel Drive system, which helps the car grip the road surface better in treacherous conditions. The base 2.5i variant is available for a price of around $20,000 and gives 19 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highways.
Honda CivicThe Civic is undoubtedly one of the best-selling Hondas in the US. Like the Accord, Honda has made this a thoroughly dependable, satisfying car. At a starting price of less than $16,000, it is cheap. In addition to a good price, you can expect a fuel efficiency of 26 mpg and 34 mpg in city and highways, respectively. Even the high-end variant, the Si Coupe, comes at a price of just $24,500. It is the best-selling passenger car in Canada, and third best in the overall car sales, behind the F-150 and the Dodge Ram pickups. It has also received excellent safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Buick LaCrosseThe Buick LaCrosse is believed to be in the top 10 most reliable cars. It is a mid-sized luxury sedan, with price starting at $30,000. A mileage of 25 mpg and 36 mpg on the highway is, by all means, admirable. The Buick is comfortable, luxurious and technologically adept; Buick's IntelliLink system provides smartphone accessibility.
Volkswagen GolfGerman cars are usually well-built and the new Golf shouldn't be an exception. At $18,500, the base model isn't exactly cheap, but the build quality and the excellent mileage of 23/33 should make up for it. The 2-door manual transmission base model has a 2.5-liter I5 engine producing a splendid 170 horsepower. The interior of the VW Golf is definitely the best among all these cars.
The reliability of a car largely depends on how it is driven. A supposedly reliable car, if not serviced and maintained as required, would not perform up to the standard. Remember: if you love your car, it will love you back!
