10 JAPANESE CARS KNOWN FOR THEIR BULLETPROOF ENGINES

It's safe to call the Japanese sedan the most reliable vehicle segment. The world's best-selling car is the Toyota Corolla, a Japanese sedan. If you are curious about the most consistent luxury vehicle of the past decade, you guessed it: the Lexus ES sedan.

There have been so many dead reliable Japanese sedans over the last couple of decades that it's easy to lose count. Thus, we did our best to include what we believe are only the top dogs of the pack, the absolute standouts in elite competition. In this list, we will feature almost every Japanese brand from Acura to Mazda, with a good mix of models that offer strengths in sport, comfort, and luxury without sacrificing reliability. Without further ado, let's dive in!

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturers and other authoritative sources. The models below have been ranked from newest to oldest.

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2025 Toyota Camry

MSRP: $28,700

Toyota officially decided to go all-in with their well-known Camry and, for the first time, this mid-sized sedan is hybrid only for 2025 and beyond.

2025 Toyota Camry Performance Specifications

Engine

2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid

Horsepower

225 hp

232 hp

Torque

N/A

Transmission

e-CVT

Drivetrain

FWD

AWD

Fuel Economy (Combined)

51 MPG (LE), 47 MPG (SE, XLE, XSE)

50 MPG (LE), 46 MPG (SE, XLE), 44 MPG (XSE)

Driving Range

663 miles (LE), 611 miles (SE, XLE, XSE)

650 miles (LE), 598 miles (SE, XLE), 572 miles (XSE)

Base MSRP

$28,700

The 2.5-liter A25 inline-four platform powering the 2025 Camry is the current standard for the majority of Lexus and Toyota's hybrid fleet and right now it's the most reliable hybrid platform available. This platform is set to define this entire generation of Toyota's powertrains, and they are more committed to hybrid tech than ever before. With 663 miles of range on a single tank, you understand why Toyota is putting serious infrastructure behind this new generation of fuel-efficient platforms.

2024 Subaru Outback

MSRP: $28,895

SUV? No need for that. The 2024 Subaru Outback does everything its SUV counterparts can all while retaining the last of the lineage of the wagon.

2025 Subaru Outback Powertrain Specs

Engine 2.5-liter flat 4-cylinder 2.4-liter turbocharged flat 4-cylinder
Transmission CVT CVT
Horsepower 182 hp 260 hp
Torque 176 lb-ft 277 lb-ft
Efficiency 26/33 mpg 23/30 mpg
Towing Capacity 2,700 lbs 3,500 lbs

Regarding Subaru boxer engines, the 2.5-liter FB25D inline-four variant found in the Outback is as reliable as this platform has ever been. We also appreciate the fact that the turbo variant is also offered for those who need a bit more pep in the step. If you are going to get a Subaru, it's hard to compete with the flexible package that the Outback offers.

2024 Mazda3

MSRP: $24,170

Next on our list is the sleekly-styled fourth-generation 2024 Mazda3 sedan (2019-present).

2024 Mazda 3 Performance Specifications

Engine 2.5-Liter Naturally Aspirated Inline-Four 2.5-Liter Turbocharged Inline-Four
Transmission 6-Speed Manual or 6-Speed Automatic 6-Speed Automatic
Horsepower 191 HP 250 HP
Torque 186 LB-FT 320 LB-FT
Driveline FWD or AWD AWD
0-60 MPH 6.1 Seconds 5.6 Seconds
Top Speed 134 MPH 134 MPH

The ultra-practical Mazda3 has never looked better or been more capable than it is right now in the current generation. The 2.5-liter Skyactiv-G inline-four found in the base model Mazda3 has seen continued refinement since its debut in the Mazda6 back in 2013. Over a decade later Mazda has sorted the majority of the kinks and the 2.5-liter inline-four is their most reliable platform to date with a turbocharged variant boosting performance on top trim models.

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2022 Toyota Prius Prime

MSRP: $29,865

The second generation of the Toyota Prius Prime (now known as the Plug-in Hybrid) may not be as "sexy" as the sleeker third generation, but its consistency and reliability are still exceptional.

2022 Toyota Prius Prime Specifications

Engine 1.8-liter four-cylinder series-parallel hybrid
Drivetrain Front engine, FWD
Horsepower 121 hp
Torque N/A
Transmission e-CVT
EPA Combined MPG 54 MPG
EPA Combined MPGe 133 MPGe
EPA EV Range 25 miles
Average Used Price $28,445

If low upkeep cost, reliability, and fuel economy are must-haves, you will find few vehicles that can compete with the 2022 Toyota Prius Prime. Its 1.8-liter inline four hybrid engine has seen over a decade's worth of development and the 2022 model is the ultimate variant of this platform. The Prius Prime is so reliable, most of the time it doesn't even need its gas engine thanks to 25 miles of EV range. The 2022 Prius Prime provides a level of flexibility and sheer utility that is hard to beat when compared to even other ultra-fuel-efficient models.

2016 Acura TLX

MSRP: $31,695 (in 2015)

Moving back almost a decade, we find one of the most consistent Acura models of all time, the first generation of the four-door TLX.

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2016 Acura TLX Performance Specifications

Engine 3.5-liter V-6
Transmission 6-speed automatic
Horsepower 290 horsepower
Torque 267 lb.ft
Driveline AWD or FWD
0-60 MPH 6.2 seconds (AWD)
Top Speed 155 mph

The 3.5-liter J35 V-6 remains a hallmark of Honda's engineering efforts and the Y6 variant found in the 2016 Acura TLX was utilized across various larger Honda vehicles up until 2022.

2015 Honda Accord

MSRP: $22,905 (in 2015)

The next Japanese sedan on our list is a close counterpart of the 2016 Acura TLX, the ninth-generation 2015 Honda Accord.

2015 Honda Accord Performance Specifications

Honda Accord 2.4

Honda Accord 3.5

Honda Accord Hybrid

Engine

2.4-liter, NA I4

3.5-liter, NA V6

2.0-liter, NA I4 hybrid

Power

185 hp

278 hp

195 hp

Torque

181 lb-ft

252 lb-ft

122 lb-ft

Drivetrain

Front-engine, FWD

Front-engine, FWD

Front-engine, FWD

Transmission

6-speed manual, CVT

6-speed manual(coupe only), 6-speed automatic

CVT

Fuel economy (manual)

27 MPG combined (23 MPG city, 34 MPG highway)

21 MPG combined (18 MPG city, 28 MPG highway)

N/A

Fuel economy (automatic/CVT)

30 MPG combined (27 MPG city, 35 MPG highway)

25 MPG combined (21 MPG city, 34 MPG highway)

47 MPG combined (49 MPG city, 50 MPG highway)

Whether you are looking for low upkeep cost, performance, or fuel economy, the 2015 Honda Accord has a trim and model for you. Regardless of which you choose, you can expect top-level reliability for its era. The 2.4-liter inline-four may seem lackluster compared to the more expensive trims like the Hybrid variant, but its value and simplicity at its price point are unbeatable.

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2015 Lexus ES

MSRP: $38,640 (in 2015)

If you were to call the sixth and seventh generation of Lexus ES the most reliable luxury sedan ever, few would argue against it.

2015 Lexus ES Performance Specifications

Engine

3.5-liter V-6

Transmission

6-speed automatic

Horsepower

268 horsepower

Torque

248 lb.ft

Driveline

RWD

0-60 MPH

6.0 seconds

Top Speed

131 mph (limited)

The Lexus ES is smooth, refined, and never hurried, but always ready. Nothing embodies the character of the Lexus ES more than the 3.5-liter 2GR V-6 that served as its backbone for several generations. The 2GR V-6 is, simply put, one of the greatest engine platforms ever engineered, and this engine didn't feel at home anywhere more than in a Lexus ES. The hybrid variant is leagues more efficient, but as far as reliability and smoothness are concerned, the V-6-powered ES 350 defines its class with exceptional driving quality.

2014 Toyota Camry

MSRP: $22,425 (in 2014)

Our next Japanese sedan is the seventh generation of the Toyota Camry (2011-2017).

2014 Toyota Camry Performance Specifications

Engine

2.5-liter inline-four

Transmission

6-speed automatic

Horsepower

177 horsepower

Torque

173 lb.ft

Driveline

FWD

0-60 MPH

8.4 seconds

Top Speed

137 mph

This generation shared some similarities to the 2015 Lexus ES, but the 2015 ES is closer to a Toyota Avalon than a Camry of the same generation. The 2.5-liter inline-four that came as the Camry's base engine served as Toyota's primary mid-sized platform for almost a decade. If you want a bit more juice, the V-6 option provides all the power you could ever need in a Camry without sacrificing any reliability (the same V-6 as offered in the Lexus ES 350).

2011 Lexus LS 460

MSRP: $68,005 (in 2011)

The only V-8-powered vehicle on our list is the flagship Lexus LS 460 sedan from the 2011 model year.

2011 Lexus LS 460 Performance Specifications

Engine

4.6-liter V-8

Transmission

8-speed automatic

Horsepower

380 horsepower

Torque

367 lb.ft

Driveline

RWD

0-60 MPH

5.8 seconds

Top Speed

155 mph (limited)

The fourth generation of the Lexus LS (2007-2017) was a pivotal moment as it introduced Toyota's UR-family platform with the debut of the 4.6-liter 1UR V-8 powering the then-new LS 460. The UR V-8 platform would form the entire basis of Toyota's modern V-8 technology push and the UR remains in use in high-performance Lexus models to this day. It's crazy to think about how dead-reliable this platform is because it has been utilized for almost two decades and is still relevant and in circulation. If you are going to buy any V-8 for the sake of reliability, make sure it's a UZ or a UR.

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1990 Honda Accord

MSRP: $16,840 (in 1990)

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When discussing world-class reliability standards, the fourth-generation 1990 Honda Accord should be a central figure in the conversation.

1990 Honda Accord Performance Specifications

Engine

2.2-liter inline-four

Transmission

4-speed automatic or 5-speed manual

Horsepower

125 horsepower

Torque

137 lb.ft

Driveline

FWD

0-60 MPH

9.7 seconds

Top Speed

119 mph

How many other vehicles do you know that have made it to a million miles and beyond with only scheduled oil changes and routine maintenance? The 1990 Honda Accord goes to show that constant care and consideration for your vehicle is just as important as how well it is engineered. A lot of the time, the simpler, the better. Yet, even the most bulletproof platforms can still provide headaches if they are neglected and/or not maintained properly.

So reliability is a two-way street; just like any other good relationship, constant communication is required for success. If this old Honda can make it this far with the original engine and transmission, why could your more modern vehicle do the same with the same quality of attention and upkeep? We provided many solid options worth taking that far. We hope you can make every mile count!

2025-01-14T08:01:54Z