The 5 best long-lasting used cars: Consumer Reports

A used car past 100,000 miles has almost certainly outlived its factory warranty, so a model with a strong reliability record and low repair costs matters more than ever at that point. Buyers should keep their options simple too, since extra tech features and luxury badges tend to mean pricier repairs down the road.

Consumer Reports identified high-mileage picks across five vehicle categories based on reliability data and owner surveys, so shoppers can find a used car built to keep going.

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The 2016-2021 Toyota $TM Corolla starts at $13,775 and runs $17,275 for this generation, and Consumer Reports named it the top pick among high-mileage small cars. CR gave the Corolla a road test score of 71 and measured 32 mpg overall, backed by an excellent predicted reliability rating and a very good owner satisfaction score. Buyers considering this class also have solid alternatives in CR's data, including the 2020 Honda $HMC Fit, the 2021-2023 Kia Forte, the 2020-2021 Toyota Corolla Hybrid, and the 2017-2019 Toyota Prius and Prius Prime. That reliability record makes the Corolla a reasonable bet even well past the point when many warranties would have expired.

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The 2017-2019 Toyota $TM Camry starts at $14,550 and runs $19,050 for this generation, and Consumer Reports named it the top pick among high-mileage midsized and large cars. CR gave the Camry a road test score of 88 and measured 31 mpg overall, backed by a very good predicted reliability rating and a very good owner satisfaction score. Buyers considering this class also have solid alternatives in CR's data, including the 2016-2017 Honda $HMC Accord, the 2019-2020 Mazda6, the 2021 Nissan Altima, the 2017-2018 Toyota Avalon, and the 2017-2019 Toyota Camry Hybrid. That high road test score paired with strong reliability data makes this generation of Camry a dependable choice even at higher mileage.

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The 2016-2018 Lexus ES starts around $19,425 and runs to about $19,475 for this generation, and Consumer Reports named it the top pick among high-mileage luxury cars. CR gave the ES a road test score of 78 and measured 24 mpg overall, backed by a very good predicted reliability rating and an excellent owner satisfaction score. CR's data points to just one solid alternative in this class, the 2016-2017 Lexus ES Hybrid, reflecting how few luxury models hold up as well at high mileage. Buyers considering a used luxury sedan should note the ES stands out partly because it avoids the complexity and higher repair costs common to this class.

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The 2016-2018 Toyota $TM RAV4 starts at $14,575 and runs $19,800 for this generation, and Consumer Reports named it the top pick among high-mileage small SUVs. CR gave the RAV4 a road test score of 75 and measured 25 mpg overall, backed by a very good predicted reliability rating and a very good owner satisfaction score. Buyers considering this class have plenty of solid alternatives in CR's data, including the 2020 Buick Envision, the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox, the 2019 GMC Terrain, the 2017 and 2019 Honda $HMC CR-V, the 2019-2020 Honda HR-V, the 2016-2017 Lexus NX, the 2019-2020 Subaru Crosstrek, the 2016-2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, and the 2018 Volvo XC60. That long list of alternatives suggests small SUVs generally age well, with the RAV4 leading the group in CR's data.

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The 2016-2017 Toyota $TM Highlander starts at $13,925 and runs $19,625 for this generation, and Consumer Reports named it the top pick among high-mileage midsized SUVs. CR gave the Highlander a road test score of 82 and measured 22 mpg overall, backed by a very good predicted reliability rating and a very good owner satisfaction score. Buyers considering this class also have solid alternatives in CR's data, including the 2016 Toyota Highlander Hybrid and the 2020 Nissan Murano. That high road test score paired with dependable reliability data makes this generation of Highlander a sensible pick for a family that needs three rows without worrying about a high odometer reading.