Buying a used car is a convenient choice compared to a new model. For a wise choice, Consumer Reports, an American non-profit organization committed to consumer protection, publishes an interesting report on most reliable cars of 2021which covers a wide range of segments, so that drivers can navigate the many options available.
Why choose used cars in 2021
Betting on a 2021 second-hand vehicle is worthwhile in various respects. First of all, the savings appear significant. Compared to an equivalent one from 2024, it is also capable of costing several thousand euros less. This also depends on the type: a luxury car tends to depreciate quickly, while a compact one tends to remain at approximately the same thresholds. In this regard, the Fiat Panda seems to have discovered the elixir of long life. The famous Lingotto small car, undisputed leader in the Italian sales charts since time immemorial, has resisted the passing of the years excellently.
2021 examples tend to be quite rich in terms of comfort and modern safety technologies. Ultimately, this is above all the reason behind the heavy increase in the price of low-cost options, such as the Dacia Sandero, which today costs at least around 13,000 euros fresh from the factory, compared to 7-8,000 yesterday. Finally, a 2021 car will tend to lose less value, the phenomenon being mostly limited to the first years of life.
Infotainment systems behind the board
Consumer Reports’ reliability study is based on annual surveys of its members. The results highlight a dominance of Asian brands, with Toyota and Lexus pulling the strings: 16 of the 36 positions occupied are from the Asian giant. 32 come from Asia, of which 8 from Honda and Acura, three from Hyundai and Kia, two from Subaru. Only three are of European origin: two BMWs and one Volvo. Among the full-size trucks, the only one recommended is the Tundra, in the last Model Year before the redesign.
Despite the general reliability of the vehicles considered, the infotainment systems have received a lot of criticism from owners. However, exceptions, such as Mazda Connect, achieved an excellent rating. Volkswagen had already highlighted that there are critical issues in the current solutions. The brand, directed by Herbert Diess, recently decided to move from digital-only to a hybrid. In fact, the emulation of Tesla’s maxi-displays has not fully convinced customers due to too much complexity, resulting in a greater likelihood of distractions.
Below, we offer the complete list of the most reliable cars of 2021 according to Consumer Reports. Recommended models are listed alphabetically and categorized by segment.
Compact: Honda Civic, Mazda 3, Toyota Corolla / Toyota Corolla Hybrid, Toyota Prius / Toyota Prius Prime
Medium-large size: Hyundai Sonata, Toyota Avalon, Toyota Camry
Luxury: Acura TLX, BMW 5 Series, Lexus ES
Sportive: Mazda MX-5
Small and compact SUVs: Acura RDX, BMW X3, Honda CR-V, Honda HR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Lexus NX, Lexus UX, Mazda CX-5, Subaru Crosstrek, Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV4, Volvo XC40
Large SUV: GMC Arcadia, Honda Passport, Honda Pilot, Lexus RX, Lincoln Nautilus, Toyota 4Runner, Toyota Highlander, Toyota Venza
Truck: Ford Ranger, Honda Ridgeline, Toyota Tacoma, Toyota Tundra
