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2026 RankingsNHTSA recall & complaint data · Updated weekly

Best Used Sedans to Buy in 2026

11 sedans ranked by real-world reliability — recall counts, NHTSA complaints, and DBB's composite score. Prices shown for 3-year-old models.

🚙 SUVs🛻 Pickup Trucks🚗 Sedans👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Cars
#1 Used Sedan for 2026

2022 Subaru Impreza

Compact Sedan  ·  Estimated $12,500–$16,500  · 86/100 reliability  · 2 recalls · 29 MPG combined

Years to AvoidRun Decision →

All Sedans Rankings

1

2022 Subaru Impreza

⭐ Strong Buy
Compact Sedan
$12,500–$16,500est. market price
Reliability
86/100
2 recalls15 complaints★★★★★ NHTSA29 MPG~$2,075/yr fuel
Check Price →Years to avoid
2

2022 Mazda Mazda3

⭐ Strong Buy
Compact Sedan
$12,000–$16,000est. market price
Reliability
77/100
0 recalls31 complaints★★★★★ NHTSA
Check Price →Years to avoid
3

2022 Volkswagen Jetta

⭐ Strong Buy
Compact Sedan
$12,000–$16,000est. market price
Reliability
72/100
2 recalls71 complaints★★★★★ NHTSA35 MPG~$1,825/yr fuel
Check Price →Years to avoid
4

2022 Nissan Altima

⚠ Use Caution
Midsize Sedan
$13,000–$18,000est. market price
Reliability
52/100
0 recalls55 complaints★★★★★ NHTSA32 MPG~$1,950/yr fuel
Check Price →Years to avoid
5

2022 Toyota Corolla

⚠ Use Caution
Compact Sedan
$11,500–$15,500est. market price
Reliability
30/100
0 recalls129 complaints★★★★★ NHTSA33 MPG~$1,900/yr fuel
Check Price →Years to avoid
6

2022 Toyota Prius

⚠ Use Caution
Hybrid Sedan
$14,500–$19,500est. market price
Reliability
23/100
8 recalls31 complaints★★★★★ NHTSA52 MPG~$1,200/yr fuel
Check Price →Years to avoid
7

2022 Toyota Camry

⚠ Use Caution
Midsize Sedan
$14,000–$19,000est. market price
Reliability
6/100
2 recalls88 complaints★★★★★ NHTSA26 MPG~$2,400/yr fuel
Check Price →Years to avoid
8

2022 Hyundai Elantra

⚠ Use Caution
Compact Sedan
$11,000–$15,000est. market price
Reliability
5/100
14 recalls139 complaints★★★★★ NHTSA33 MPG~$1,900/yr fuel
Check Price →Years to avoid
9

2022 Honda Accord

⚠ Use Caution
Midsize Sedan
$14,000–$19,000est. market price
Reliability
0/100
44 recalls351 complaints★★★★★ NHTSA33 MPG~$1,900/yr fuel
Check Price →Years to avoid
10

2022 Honda Civic

⚠ Use Caution
Compact Sedan
$12,000–$16,000est. market price
Reliability
0/100
15 recalls1151 complaints★★★★★ NHTSA33 MPG~$1,825/yr fuel
Check Price →Years to avoid
11

2022 Hyundai Sonata

⚠ Use Caution
Midsize Sedan
$13,000–$18,000est. market price
Reliability
0/100
4 recalls142 complaints★★★★★ NHTSA31 MPG~$2,000/yr fuel
Check Price →Years to avoid

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most reliable used Sedan in 2026?▾

Based on NHTSA data, the 2022 Subaru Impreza is our top-ranked used Sedan for 2026, with a reliability score of 86/100 and 2 recalls on record. The 2022 Mazda Mazda3 and 2022 Volkswagen Jetta are also strong choices.

Why are all the years the same?▾

These rankings show the sweet-spot year for each model — typically 3 years old, where the car has absorbed the steepest depreciation but isn't yet into elevated maintenance costs. For year-by-year breakdowns, see each model's years-to-avoid page.

How are these rankings calculated?▾

Rankings use NHTSA recall counts and severity, owner complaint volumes, and crash test ratings — all from NHTSA bulk data dumps, refreshed weekly.