I'm a Mechanic: 5 Affordable Family Cars That Don't Break Down as Much
Learn More:
For You:
If you need a highly reliable family vehicle that won't break the bank, start with these models recommended by mechanics and auto repair experts.
Toyota RAV4
New Models Start At: $30,645 (Kelley Blue Book)
Toyota and its luxury brand Lexus rank second and third among the most reliable car manufacturers, according to the 2025 Consumer Reports study. For decades, Toyota's top priority has remained dependability.
'The RAV4 is highly reliable, especially in model years 2019-2023 which had simpler electronic systems,' explained Marc Skirvin, cofounder of Cash Auto Salvage. 'Parts are readily available, and servicing is cheap, with independent mechanics being able to work on these vehicles without expensive diagnostic tools.'
I Bought a Hybrid Car:
Honda CR-V
New Models Start At: $31,495
One of the prime competitors of the RAV4 as a compact SUV is Honda's CR-V.
Skirvin especially likes model years 2017-2022 for reliability. 'Our salvage operations yield a high reliability on Honda CR-V models, where less than 5% end up having engine or transmission issues,' he said. 'When CR-Vs show up in our yard, they're usually the result of collision or flood damage, not mechanical issues we find with other brands.'
Honda Odyssey
New Models Start At: $43,670
Looking for a minivan with three rows of seats? The Honda Odyssey remains a perennial favorite among mechanics.
Alan Gelfand, mechanic and owner of German Car Depot, raved about the Odyssey's spacious interior and reliability. 'The Variable Cylinder Management system in the 3.5-liter V6 engine provides high fuel efficiency without compromising on reliability standards,' he explained. 'The sliding door tracks of this vehicle and its belt-driven accessories have proven to be long-lasting and avoid sudden trips to the repair shop.'
Toyota Sienna
New Models Start At: $40,635
Landing on Kelley Blue Book's list of Best Family Cars, the Sienna offers another great option for a three-seat minivan. It doesn't hurt that the starting price clocks in $3,000 lower than the Odyssey.
'The Sienna offers a hybrid model which provides excellent fuel efficiency alongside the typical Toyota durability standards,' added Gelfand. 'The e-CVT transmission features a sealed design that requires no maintenance because it does not leak.'
The minimal height step entrance helps families hop in, and the foldable flat seats simplify hauling both sports equipment and bulky furniture.
Hyundai Palisade
New Models Start At: $38,695
Prefer a three-row SUV rather than a minivan? Try the Hyundai Palisade. It, too, scored a slot on Kelley Blue Book's list of Best Family Cars.
'The Palisade has gained a reputation for reliability based on its dependable first-year performance and long warranty,' noted Andrew Franks, cofounder of accident management service Claimsline. 'It has a highly equipped interior with advanced technology and safety features.'
More From GOBankingRates
Mark Cuban Warns of 'Red Rural Recession' -- 4 States That Could Get Hit Hard
6 Big Shakeups Coming to Social Security in 2025
These Cars May Seem Expensive, but They Rarely Need Repairs
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: I'm a Mechanic: 5 Affordable Family Cars That Don't Break Down as Much
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Tesla, Inc. (TSLA)'s 'A Cult Stock,' Says Jim Cramer
We recently published . Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer recently discussed. Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) continues to face a horrible time on the stock market in 2025. The firm's shares have lost 16.7% year-to-date and fell by 8.2% after its latest earnings report, which missed analyst revenue and earnings estimates. The results were so bad that even Cramer, who believes that Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA)'s potential is in emerging technologies such as robotics, was forced to do somewhat of a turnaround: '[on revenue, vehicle sold, carbon credit all down] Okay, so you listen to the conference call, and they made it so that those don't matter. All that matters is self drive, autonomous. I'm not kidding. Robotaxi, uh, Austin, California. And then there's some lines, which says, where he's saying, and David you'll get a kick out of this I'm sure, he's talking about like in a few years like everyone's gonna be in this. The robotaxi's like going great. I mean, it's not doing anything. This was a call that was a fatuous call. David, I left out Turkey, number one. Netherlands and Austria. I knew that Austrian market, that was it. 'It's a cult stock. . . This was not the kind of conference call that I expected. I did not expect an immediate pivot to robots and the self driving and the robotaxi. While we acknowledge the potential of TSLA as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the . READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Bloomberg
22 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
Toyota's Internal Inertia Stifles Digital Transformation Effort
Inside Toyota Motor Corp., a group of employees are worried about the company's future in an era when a car's software matters just as much as its sheet metal. The world's biggest automaker is known for churning out reliable cars like clockwork, but it's been struggling to keep up with Elon Musk's Tesla Inc., China's BYD Co. and other frontrunners in the industry's shift toward electric vehicles with sophisticated software.
Fox News
22 minutes ago
- Fox News
NASCAR driver Aric Almirola blasts Austin Hill over 'intentional' crash: 'That was violent'
NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers Austin Hill and Aric Almirola got into a nasty wreck during the Pennzoil 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday afternoon. Hill and Almirola were coming around a turn with 10 laps to go in the race. Almirola got into the back of Hill and sent him sliding up the track. Almirola tried to go around him, but Hill came down and sent Almirola spinning to the wall. Almirola hit the wall hard while Hill spun in the grass before coming back up the track and making contact with the wall as well. Hill was hit with a five-lap penalty because of the controversial hit. He told his team over the radio that it hadn't been intentional. Almirola disagreed. "It was definitely intentional," Almirola told the CW after being released from the infield care center, via "He blocked me three times. I finally got him loose in (Turn) 3. He had damage on the nose, so he was really slow in the corners. It was time to go. I mean, we're coming to nine to go, and the leaders are starting to put a gap on us, so it's time to go." Almirola was uninjured, but he said the crash reminded him of a 2017 wreck in which he had broken his back. "That was violent, to be totally honest," he added. "That's one of the hardest hits I've taken in my NASCAR career. The impact felt very similar to when I broke my back. I'd be very interested to see the black-box data from that crash, but it was vicious, and that's just uncalled for." Hill told his team he couldn't hang onto the car as he was getting loose. Team owner Richard Childress defended Hill and doesn't think he should be suspended over it. "(NASCAR) didn't do a damn thing to (Austin Cindric). He wrecked (Ty Dillon) and admitted to it, drove him in the right rear, and wrecked him at COTA," Childress said, via Motorsports Wire. "It's who you are. We're a blue-collar team. They give us trouble all the time." Connor Zilisch picked up the victory.
