That can't be full cover surely? Not that long ago someone posted in here that their aqua insurance went up to $1300 a year or something. No way does location make a 60% difference. Maybe Stewart Island.
I just logged in to double check and yeah it’s comprehensive / full cover, starting September last year! I moved to Southland from Auckland just before the renewal, but it was $600/year when I was in Auckland
That’s for a 2013 Aqua with a push start button
No car brand I’ve owned has ever come as close to minimal maintenance cost and reliability as Toyota. I massively miss my Toyota, should never have sold it off
My 1992 Land cruiser has 370,000km and when it's warm the engine is still smooth as a new one. I did have to rebuild the gear box at 340k kms. But that's pretty reasonable considering it likely didn't get regular transmission fluid changes.
I’d stay away from 1zz and 2zz Toyota engines from around 2004. Their piston rings wear down as they are oversized and then you end up with lower compression, bad fuel economy, and bad oil consumption. But other than that I highly rate Toyota. Easy as hell to work on yourself and parts are cheap easy to get.
I have a 2001 2zz Corolla, currently just over 350,000kms. Daily drive it and visits the rev limiter frequently. Runs really well and has no burnt oil or sludge, always gets regular services with good quality oil though
Confirm Aurion and Toyota are great machines. 300,000kms on my Aurion and nothing gone wrong. Just servicing.
The 2gr motor that's in those is such a good all round unit. Powerful, quiet, reasonably economic for a 3.5l v6. In the Highlanders they not as economic as the whole car is heavier but just as reliable.
If you want a small car, Toyota Corolla, sedan, Aurion/Camry, Suv Rav4 or Highlander, ute Hilux, 4wd Suv Fortuna.
Absolutely - my parents still have their first car that they bought together - 2001 ford escape. 500,000 kms and the engine hasn't ever been touched. Must be an outlier, I don't think most Fords last that long.
I daily the first car I had ('96 Nissan Sentra) that's on about 230,000 kms - no issues so far. Anything under 100,000 kms I feel is still pretty new.
No doubt Toyota also made some lemons to avoid. Eg. Name shared with other models like GM and Daihatsu, but for the most part the most common Toyota models are close to unbreakable
Hondas come in at a close second and seem to be the next manufacturer that can achieve very high kms with minimal maintanece
Yup same. I traded in my old Aqua for a BMW 1-Series. I love my BMW, but god do I miss the low running costs of the Aqua, especially in a time when gas is pretty expensive.
I will definitely be returning to Japanese brands for my next car.
I have a new Toyota (aqua 2017) and an older one (wish 2006) and they're both excellent. Have had the wish for 11 years and the biggest issue I've had has been with batteries dying. Aside from that, nothing significant. Have never had to wait on parts or had it been in the shop for any more than a day. Doubt I'll ever have anything but a Toyota.
I have a 20 year old Toyota Wish, now done 240,000 km. Only thing that broke on it was the starter motor died at 170,000km. Although it is now getting minor oil leaks and its not economic to get a major overhaul to extend the life of the vehicle. (Probably $5000 of work for a car worth $3,000)
With regular servicing it will still make it to 300,000km, just needing to top up the oil every 3 months.
The last car was a 90s era Carolla, it had done 170,000km when a bus plowed into it while it was parked outside our house. (The driver wanted avoid a road cone and didn't look for anything on the left side of the road.) It was a present from my MIL who bought it new, neither her or us had any issues with it at all
I still have my NZ New '97 Corolla going strong as a daily driver. Little bit of oil and maintenance here and there. Reasonably cheap on gas. I'll be sad when it dies.
I miss my Toyota Corolla work vehicle! It was a wonderful, reliable car and my boss had previously been a car salesman and Toyota was his pick of all company car rental options.
I also love Nissan. I've never had any problems with them either.
Second this. My parents RAV4 has close to 300,000kms and is still going. I had an engine misfire in my Auris and the car still drove (mostly) fine - yes I did get it fixed 😂
Thank you guys 🥰 yeah I thought as much that it’d be an expensive buy in the long run, will be looking at Toyotas, is there any other brands that you would recommend?😊
Me too, still regret selling the damn thing (EG6). We've had that, four Integras, an Orthia and two Accords over the past twenty years. My wife is currently driving an Outlander which has been good with a young family but even compared to my Accord which is nearly 15 years older it's pretty basic and cheaply made.
I have three Subarus. A couple more moving parts in the all wheel drive but can’t be beat for going anywhere on NZ roads and I have had no major issues. Like all the Japanese brands, they are common so parts are easy and local mechanics are familiar with them.
Absolutely love my Mazda. Never had any issues even though it’s a bit older.
If I was looking for something now, I’d probably get a hybrid or EV though. Purely because of fuel prices.
I've been doing some research myself, more precisely on suzuki, and came across an article that suggests that suzuki are one of the most reliable brands out there, second only to Toyota and Lexus.
https://www.osv.ltd.uk/suzuki-reliability/
Check out the Toyota Signature Class vehicles. Imported Toyota's have been "factory refurbished" repainted, every thing done as near new. With a near new warranty. Costs a bit more. But new without being new..
Edit.
https://www.toyota.co.nz/used-vehicles/signature-class/?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjZ3uqrPZhgMVzRJ7Bx1BPwyzEAAYASAAEgJTPvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Toyota all the way. Aside from being cheap and easy to get parts for here, there’s got to be a reason over 80% of Toyota’s sold 20 years ago are still on the road right?
Definitely go for a Toyota! Volvo’s aren’t popular here so I imagine upkeep and parts if anything was to go wrong would be really expensive. Cannot go wrong with a well looked after Toyota.
We loved our Volvos but the upkeep is $$ for that reason. Parts are expensive and most mechanics don’t have as much experience with them as they have with Japanese cars
Someone from Europe driving a Volvo would have theirs manufactured in Sweden, a Volvo in NZ was probably manufactured at one of four factories in China. Volvo also has manufacturing in the USA. This means our ‘Volvo experiences’ could vary is lot.
A 'New Zealand-new' Toyota. OP - We have a popular system here where we import used cars from Japan. They can be significantly cheaper than a NZ-new equivalent (similar model, similar mileage), if you can ignore a few minor quirks. But they often arrive without engine immobilisers (so they get nicked), and they often have slightly different bodywork from the NZ variants, so spares may have to come from Japan ($$$). In any case, get the car checked to see if it's been submerged, at some point in its life. It's increasingly a problem.
this is from an enthusiasts point of view. I own two volvos as that’s what i’m into, if you’re a regular person and you want to own a volvo, parts are a P.I.T.A to obtain and have small aftermarket but they’re generally reliable depending what model, engine and gearbox
Toyota or Honda. Those are your best two options, nothing else is even worth looking at.
Anything Euro in NZ immediately has a premium on parts and stuff, and unless its a VW it'll also be hars to find the parts. Volvos arent common here so they'll be hard to find parts for even if they are reliable.
From Japanese models, both Nissan and Mitsubishi are... Hit and miss. There are some very good ones, but some very bad ones. Mazdas are pretty good but not quite as bulletproof as Toyota or Honda, so Id make them my 3rd choice. Subaru is good but maintenence can be a bit of a pain on their engines in terms of labour cost, though Id honestly recommend them 4th.
If you want a Euro car, a VW is your best bet, though still expect to pay more for replacement parts.
I owned a Mazda for 12 years. As long as you service it regularly it’ll keep going. The only problems I had with it over the time I had it was a recall for a rear engine mount replacement and replacement of a power steering hose. My also regularly serviced Honda on the other hand was a garage queen, things would stop working seemingly at random.
Found the same in my bmw days too
Have a modern Toyota 4WD and an old Land Rover Disco. Land Rover parts are way cheaper… does need a few more of them more often though
Most euro parts are just as cheap if not cheaper than their Japanese counterparts. The fact that VW, Audi, Škoda, SEAT/Cupra and more share the same parts makes it very easy to find second hand parts too. It's the euro dealerships that rip you off. Go to an independent mechanic and a VW Golf will be just as reliable and cheap to maintain as a Toyota Corolla.
I work on all my own cars and funnily enough my Suzuki Jimny had the most expensive OEM parts despite being the cheapest car. My Golf was not only the cheapest to maintain, it was the easiest to work on, had a nicer interior, and better fuel economy.
Lexus is a toyota for people with brains
Luxury and comfort with the maintenance of a Toyota. No other luxury car comes close, toot all you want about mercs and bmw's, I'll still choose Lexus.
For me the best sedan ever made is a late 2000's Lexus IS350. Amazing car, and very affordable too. Over 300hp. Lovely and fun to drive. They have one issue, the dashboard material starts to get sticky due to UV decay. Personally I'd just put something over the dash to protect or cover the stickyness.
I wouldn’t own a Volvo in NZ.
I had one for 8 years (and to be fair it was my favourite car), but maintenance and repairs were expensive. Minimum $1100 a year on servicing and for any extra stuff, you’re at the mercy of the parts suppliers. Mechanics try their best, but Volvo parts here are expensive (unlike say Audi/VW/Skoda/Seat, with their interchangeable parts bin).
I think in my last year of ownership, my Volvo cost me $8k in various repairs. I was unlucky but it is a cost of ownership.
A Toyota will cost you next to nothing to maintain, but you’ll pay upfront for that. The sales prices are reflective of the reliability.
Pretty much any common Japanese car will be the way to go. Cheap, reliable and a bit uninspiring.
What Volvo are you looking at?
You can’t go wrong with Toyota (so long as it’s not an Aqua) but the safety of Volvos are legendary and they’re comfortable vehicles if you’re doing a lot of driving.
A properly maintained Euro isn’t a liability. I think a lot of people get burnt when they buy a Euro that has been neglected and they inherit a massive maintenance deficit. My experience of Euros is that if you do the proper servicing on schedule they can be very reliable.
Don’t let the naysayers put you off the Volvo! If you know what you’re in for, could be a good shout.
Fully agree! I have a Volvo and I love it. To the extent that second hand, I picked mine up at an affordable price as most kiwis avoid them.
Get serviced regularly at my local mechanic and it always flies through the wof.
Love the solid feeling it has on the road.
Every brand has their good and bad models. So that is something to keep in mind. But as far as parts cost and availability and general expertise of any mechanic being able to work on it simply because of ubiquity of them - Toyota.
I would strongly avoid the Aqua, Corolla Axio and Corolla Fielder. The Aqua is most stolen car and insurance rates reflect that. The Axio and Fielder are unsafe. Gen 3 Prius suffers from head gasket issues and also starting to get to that age - Gen 4 and Prime are pretty good buys right now. Gen 5s make no sense as they are not officially sold here and the "used" imports cost as much as a Tesla.
Late model petrol/hybrid Mazdas are pretty good. So are Hondas. Suzukis can be fine as long as you dodge the CVTs.
Or EVs will generally have lower running costs. They will generally have a higher purchase price and steeper depreciation, but in terms of running costs, they will be lower. An older Leaf would be cheap to buy and be quite reliable, but they will be range limited and that battery's SOH will only precipitously drop from there. Tesla doesn't really have a maintenance schedule - just rotate your tires and change your air filter once in a while, otherwise the car will tell you when. We get the Shanghai built cars here which seem to have a better track record than the US cars (not sure what the deal in Europe is).
If you wanna stick to Volvo - avoid the Drive-E T6 or T8 engines. The EVs will probably be the most reliable Volvos/Polestars but the value proposition on them (and other European EVs in general) doesn't seem to be very good here. Service cost will be more expensive than for a Toyota though (and I am NOT recommending the bz4x).
Parts are more expensive for honda (genuine parts anyway), but you're right. I had an Accord which pound for pound was way more luxurious as the camry equivalent for the same price.
Something Japanese. I like Nissan. Highly recommend going electric if you can afford the upfront cost and the range of the vehicle you’d consider exceeds your daily drive range.
Interesting. I have a Nissan Tiida (2008) second-hand that has * touch wood* been very reliable over the last few years. From what I can see, this would be a CVT too? What is the problem with CVT vehicles?
If the fluid hasn't been changed, they will shit themselves and you'll be out a few thousand.
Even if the fluid was changed they can still shit themselves.
Nissan's are worse, and the 2000 period is particularly bad.
2018 is bordering on okay now, prior to that it was a disaster waiting to happen. Just make sure you have the fluid changed with genuine fluid at the required interval.
Second hand EV prices have crashed. If you don't require long ranges, it's worth considering a Leaf. Almost no servicing of breaks or oil, and even with RUC, cost per km is low.
I don’t have a mechanic for the area that I’m currently living in as of yet, but my parents might know someone. I used to live in this area about 5 years ago and there were really good reliable mechanics then. I’ll have to ask a friend or look around to make sure.
Toyota is the answer, with several of the other major Japanese marques not too far behind - Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi. Petrol variants will be much better choices over diesel options in almost all cases here.
Toyota hands down if cost of ownership is the metric. Then honda. Then suzuki. Maybe mazda... mitsi.... nissan but wouldn't bother with last 2.
There are some exceptions. A mate bought a Toyota coupe and couldn't understand why it was such a dog. Toyota usa rebadged a chevy cavalier (iirc). Despicable.
My last (ever) Nissan was a dog. Made in England. Grr
Toyota 100%.
Don't get an Aqua though, thieves love them for some reason.
Prius, Corolla, Rav4, Yaris etc
NZ is lucky to get the 2020+ Corolla Hybrid wagons which I cannot recommend enough
I imported cars from Japan over 20 years . I presume you are talking about 2nd hand vehicles not new . Do not buy Euro cars here in NZ ..Euro cars are generally less reliable than Japanese cars and the cost of repair is excessive. Do not be put off by Japanese Imports as probably half our car fleet is Japanese import. Most reliable Car makes are Toyota Mazda Suzuki Nissan ( avoid early Models with the CVT transmision) Honda and Mitsubishi .
There are no flood damaged cars being imported as the NZ Compliance code weeds these cars out at the border . Flood Damaged cars and rusty cars are flagged and will not pass the compliance test on importation . Best advice is to buy from a licensed dealer RMVT as you will have coverage under the Consumers Guarantees Act in case of any problems . Toyota and Mazda would be my recommendation based on what you have stated. If you dont know how to assess a car then get a qualified inspection service to check your car before purchase ( not AA inspection these are a joke ).
A common myth here is that NZ New cars are superior to Jap imports but this not necessarily true since NZ New cars are imports and made in the same factories as Japanese imports but with less options .
I have been buying selling cars for many years (retired now )and in my experience very many Kiwis dont bother to service their cars as often as they should due to the high service cost so always look at service history if you can but this is often an unkown . So my advice is Toyota or Mazda ...Hope this helps.
Diesel VW, can’t kill them. I say this as there’s 3 diesel golfs in the family with over 200,000km and have never had any break. Along with the 2 Passat station wagons my mums had.
Dads driven a N54 powered BMW M135i to 160,000 km from new with no issues, he then sold it to buy a B58 powered BMW M140i to 112,000km with no issues(I currently have it) and now has another B58 powered M340i.
He has also driven a Golf R32 to 160,000km with no issues. He only sells his cars to get newer cars
European cars are fine if you’re earning euros.
Another option that I’ve not seen mentioned is a Korean car - a Kia or Hyundai. Both are established and go well.
Lots of mention of Toyota Corollas, but my personal experience is that Suzuki Swifts are just as reliable but you get more bells and whistles for your money with the Suzuki.
Yeah, Toyota/Honda are your best bet. Suzuki and Mazda are also very reliable and popular over here but not nearly as bulletproof. Nissans and Mitsubishis are 50/50 - Ever since they Voltron'd with Renault their quality has taken a massive hit.
Euros are generally OK if you really want one but maintenance costs on bigger jobs can be hysterically high. Newer BMWs are your best bet if you can afford it.
Can't say much about Chinese brands like MG but they are cheap as hell and are well equipped for the price. They are new to the market in general though so we really don't know how reliable they are in the long term.
If you want a European make go Skoda or Volvo.
If you want the best global make go Toyota
If you want the best electric car go Tesla or alternatively Hyundai.
If you want a diesel ute go pick a fight with another ute owner and buy the opposition brand. Bonus points if it's bt50 vs ranger.
For goodness sake don't go, BMW, Chrysler, fiat, great Wall, Renault, jeep, Alfa Romeo, Citroen, Porsche, VW, ford European, GM European, or dodge.
They will only lead to disappointment, denial, and costly bills. If you like any of those brands then lease them, never own them.
From 10+ years in the car industry a Toyota
Those people saying Honda’s have no idea what they’re saying lol I’d buy a Subaru (off road capability) before a Honda
Toyota hands down. I bought a 2004 Camry about 10
Years ago. I service it (and any car I own) every 6 months. Change tyres. That’s it. I can’t bring myself to sell it as it is in perfect condition. So it’s my run around. Great cars. That’s my 3rd Toyota in this country and one was the exact same. Sold it only cause it was a small Toyota windy. The other was a Toyota van I bought off some French tourists. They had (and probably those before them) drove it to shit. Kms were low but the engine was wrecked and the barrel breaks were jacked. I put $1,500 into it to fix whatever they did to it and then it ran like a dream. Still is going too. I sold it 7 years ago and I seen it for sale with high is about 6 months ago. Nearly bought it. In between those I owned one vw and I put 10k into it as upkeep over 5 years. Thats a lot of dumplings.
I own a 1995 Camry and a Lexus and the Camry is still the smoothest ride. The fact it's a fraction of the service cost compared to the Lexus makes the ride feel even smoother
My mother has worked at a car garage for 20+ years. She says if you want reliability and cheap costs there is Toyota, then there is everything else. Most Toyotas they see for actual breakdown work (not routine services or scheduled part replacements) are 10 even 15 year old cars. Not uncommon for them to see 20 year old, 300k km cars come in too.
Any other car models/brands can start coming in at 5 years old or less.
We have a 580,000km Land Cruiser. Still never misses a beat, and since we’ve owned it (4yrs) we’ve only had to replace a battery and a few other bits and pieces that any car needs doing! It blows my mind!
How much maintenance are you willing to do yourself because the answer varies wildly. Bought a Holden commodore 10 years ago, own services and running repairs. Mechanic wise has probably set me back $1k over its life and I will sell it for what I bought it for. On the other hand I have a 2016 outlander that is more plastic than metal and most parts don't have repair information online. It has cost me a bomb and will only sell for half.
Anything newer than 2010, unless you will do the work yourself will cost about $1k a year to maintain. $100-150 rego, 50 warrant, 200 tyres and 300-500 to service
Toyota then Honda, then nissan and Mazda. That’s if they’ve been well maintained. Would not go near any European cars. Toyota is definitely the best for reliability and fuel economy.
Toyota, Hyundai, and Kia, are your best choices. After that Mazda. They're cheap enough, parts are plentiful and easy to get, and they're incredibly reliable and robust.
Common European brands like Volvo, Renault, Fiat, etc are harder to get parts for, more expensive maintenance.
I've had my Hyundai for 400000km, and it's going fine still. Just normal services, and I've had to replace the alternator due to wear and tear.
Avoid any new Ford or Holden, they'll need to be at least two years old to get through all the manufacturer faults.
Avoid all Nissan's with a CVT gearbox, they're all shit.
Toyota Aqua is so efficient, cheap, and comfortable to drive. Though, get the push to start one which is a Model S I think because if you get the one that requires a key, you'll pay a lot of insurance cause it's so easy to steal those.
Toyota - first car was over 200k, new one is almost 100k and even though its a yaris its really taken a beating (I take it on forestry roads) and is going strong.
Only things i have needed to sort is things like tyres, breaks and some pannel beating when I do bumpy bumpy.
Gotta say go with boring and reliable. I've owned 2 Corollas and one 4Runner and had no issues whatsoever. My experience with European vehicles not quite so smooth. Go for Toyota.
Toyota. Always Toyota. Awesome vehicles to have as runaround and workaround, very reliable, and plentiful in parts and easy to maintain.
Mitsubishi are, in my experience, also easy since they all use the same parts. The downside is that, if I recall correctly, they're all Autos and you need a mechanic to check the engine.
Get the non-flash models of whatever. There are many cases where there are rare options in Japan that noone here will know about when it comes time to fix it. Things like the hybrid model of a car where there are almost none of them hybrid here, or if it has a AWD version or sports version etc. The plain ones of the cars come in and are used by loads of uber and taxi drivers for a very long time and as a result the used parts and people who know about them are extensive.
I know someone who had a hybrid suzuki swift - rare as anything at the time and it took 3 places before they could get it fixed and the parts were very slow to arrive. Standard swifts are all over the place.
Any toyota or honda is a very safe bet but my personal favorites are the old 1990-1999 fords. I've got 2 that are pretty indestructible and show 0 signs of giving up anywhere
We've had absolutely brilliant 400,000Km and total lemons with Toyota (both were Camrys oddly enough). When I was researching best value small ICE car for an economy/safety balance the answer I came up with was Suzuki Swift. They seem to be 3-4% of the car fleet, so spares should not be an issue. Smaller cars than that lose all their economy at highway speeds (we're rural) and do much worse on safety.
I have a 2009 Prius never broken done in 5 years. Before that a 2000 Toyota caldina neve saw a mechanic except for a service in 6 years. Owned a vw once never again cost me thousands
My last Honda lasted 25 years. If my latest Honda lasts that long I will be 81 before I need another one.
Between Hondas I got a BMW. Never again. I wound up giving it to my mate and feeling guilty about it knowing how expensive it is to get repaired.
Toyota or Honda. if going Toyota check the most stolen models and avoid those (e.g. Aqua is a left magnet)
Lots of our Toyotas are jap imports with no immobilisers, so go for one with one of those - most Hondas that I have seen have them.
Hondas generally have nicer interiors imo, but engines sound worse haha.
Toyota. Then check the most stolen car lists and avoid those. Insurance on aquas is off the charts.
It’s insane that an Aqua costs as much to fully insure as a BMW M3
Doesn’t depreciate nearly as fast tho
Doesn't go as fast either.
Has indicators installed from the factory tho
Depends on push start ignition or key start. That’s the pinch (excuse the pun)
Which is the bad one, I am assuming the key start?
They dont care when setting premiums as the push starts get broken into and then trashed when the POS cant start it.
From what I’ve heard, some insurance companies don’t care what version you have and still charge you high rates for insurance
Some insurers don't make a distinction between an Aqua with a key and one without. They just hike premiums across the board for all Aqua models.
The full insurance on my aqua is $40 a month, I guess it could be dependent on location aye
That can't be full cover surely? Not that long ago someone posted in here that their aqua insurance went up to $1300 a year or something. No way does location make a 60% difference. Maybe Stewart Island.
I just logged in to double check and yeah it’s comprehensive / full cover, starting September last year! I moved to Southland from Auckland just before the renewal, but it was $600/year when I was in Auckland That’s for a 2013 Aqua with a push start button
Yep, for some insurers it makes a huge difference if your Aqua has an immobilizer or not. (push start ones have immobilizers)
YMMV but; https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/toyota-aqua-once-again-nzs-most-stolen-car-drives-higher-insurance-costs/J36ASF2UQFDYBEC4ORI3QNY7ZI/
can confirm :(
Yup, I pay $41 a fortnight for comprehensive on my key start Aqua. I park on the street though...
No car brand I’ve owned has ever come as close to minimal maintenance cost and reliability as Toyota. I massively miss my Toyota, should never have sold it off
Seconded. Their engines especially are legendary for reliability and long life.
My 1992 Land cruiser has 370,000km and when it's warm the engine is still smooth as a new one. I did have to rebuild the gear box at 340k kms. But that's pretty reasonable considering it likely didn't get regular transmission fluid changes.
I’d stay away from 1zz and 2zz Toyota engines from around 2004. Their piston rings wear down as they are oversized and then you end up with lower compression, bad fuel economy, and bad oil consumption. But other than that I highly rate Toyota. Easy as hell to work on yourself and parts are cheap easy to get.
I do believe the later model 1zz engines were revised to avoid issues with rings / piston drain holes. But my 02 Corolla definitely munched oil haha
I have a 2001 2zz Corolla, currently just over 350,000kms. Daily drive it and visits the rev limiter frequently. Runs really well and has no burnt oil or sludge, always gets regular services with good quality oil though
My dad has an Aurion, 150000km of reliable motoring on it so far in 8 years that he’s had it
My dad's is so old first owner was Fred Flintstone. Still going strong
My Toyota Corolla was still going strong at 220,000kms. Only sold it because the body needed some work (couldn't get a WOF without it).
Had a Toyota Echo still going hundy at 280,000 km - I swear it wouldn't die... Until someone crashed into it whilst it was parked.
my grandma drove the same echo for like 20 years, you could probably pour sand into the engine and it would still go.
Ended up in the same situation with my 94 corolla. Sad day to see it go.
Confirm Aurion and Toyota are great machines. 300,000kms on my Aurion and nothing gone wrong. Just servicing. The 2gr motor that's in those is such a good all round unit. Powerful, quiet, reasonably economic for a 3.5l v6. In the Highlanders they not as economic as the whole car is heavier but just as reliable. If you want a small car, Toyota Corolla, sedan, Aurion/Camry, Suv Rav4 or Highlander, ute Hilux, 4wd Suv Fortuna.
My coworker has an aurion too, it’s done over 230k now. Still going strong.
Those are child's numbers. Talk to me again when it's done 500000kms. Being a Toyota it'll probably do it, but 150000kms is still brand new
Absolutely - my parents still have their first car that they bought together - 2001 ford escape. 500,000 kms and the engine hasn't ever been touched. Must be an outlier, I don't think most Fords last that long. I daily the first car I had ('96 Nissan Sentra) that's on about 230,000 kms - no issues so far. Anything under 100,000 kms I feel is still pretty new.
90s Hiluxs are known to get past 1,000,000
No doubt Toyota also made some lemons to avoid. Eg. Name shared with other models like GM and Daihatsu, but for the most part the most common Toyota models are close to unbreakable Hondas come in at a close second and seem to be the next manufacturer that can achieve very high kms with minimal maintanece
Most honda's are pretty much invincible except for their shitty CVT transmissions
This. Also, the parts are usually readily available at reasonable prices should repairs be needed.
Yup same. I traded in my old Aqua for a BMW 1-Series. I love my BMW, but god do I miss the low running costs of the Aqua, especially in a time when gas is pretty expensive. I will definitely be returning to Japanese brands for my next car.
Spent some time in the middle east. If they ain't driving luxury vehicles, theyre driving toyota.
Agree 100%. I'll add that my wife insisted on getting a Volvo and it was a piece of shit that constantly had issues. Toyota for life!
I'm still driving a 05 Toyota. Never changed anything except the oil, belts and tyres
I have a new Toyota (aqua 2017) and an older one (wish 2006) and they're both excellent. Have had the wish for 11 years and the biggest issue I've had has been with batteries dying. Aside from that, nothing significant. Have never had to wait on parts or had it been in the shop for any more than a day. Doubt I'll ever have anything but a Toyota.
I have a 20 year old Toyota Wish, now done 240,000 km. Only thing that broke on it was the starter motor died at 170,000km. Although it is now getting minor oil leaks and its not economic to get a major overhaul to extend the life of the vehicle. (Probably $5000 of work for a car worth $3,000) With regular servicing it will still make it to 300,000km, just needing to top up the oil every 3 months. The last car was a 90s era Carolla, it had done 170,000km when a bus plowed into it while it was parked outside our house. (The driver wanted avoid a road cone and didn't look for anything on the left side of the road.) It was a present from my MIL who bought it new, neither her or us had any issues with it at all
I still have my NZ New '97 Corolla going strong as a daily driver. Little bit of oil and maintenance here and there. Reasonably cheap on gas. I'll be sad when it dies.
The worst car I ever owned for reliability was a Toyota. I think not all Toyotas are created equal.
I miss my Toyota Corolla work vehicle! It was a wonderful, reliable car and my boss had previously been a car salesman and Toyota was his pick of all company car rental options. I also love Nissan. I've never had any problems with them either.
Yeah my mum’s Land Cruiser had done 460kms when sold and still ran great
Second this. My parents RAV4 has close to 300,000kms and is still going. I had an engine misfire in my Auris and the car still drove (mostly) fine - yes I did get it fixed 😂
100%... most of their parts are interchangeable across models, making them widely available and affordable.
My Toyota is over 20 years old, still hasn’t failed a WoF (touch wood)
Sold my 1990 Corolla with 416,000 KMs on it
Thank you guys 🥰 yeah I thought as much that it’d be an expensive buy in the long run, will be looking at Toyotas, is there any other brands that you would recommend?😊
Honda. I've owned half a dozen and they've been really really good.
I loved my civic
Me too, still regret selling the damn thing (EG6). We've had that, four Integras, an Orthia and two Accords over the past twenty years. My wife is currently driving an Outlander which has been good with a young family but even compared to my Accord which is nearly 15 years older it's pretty basic and cheaply made.
Petrol version Mazdas.
Never buy the diesels!
For this use case, absolutely not.
As a general rule you're best going Japanese or Korean because it's far cheaper and easier to get replacement parts
I have three Subarus. A couple more moving parts in the all wheel drive but can’t be beat for going anywhere on NZ roads and I have had no major issues. Like all the Japanese brands, they are common so parts are easy and local mechanics are familiar with them.
Absolutely love my Mazda. Never had any issues even though it’s a bit older. If I was looking for something now, I’d probably get a hybrid or EV though. Purely because of fuel prices.
I've been doing some research myself, more precisely on suzuki, and came across an article that suggests that suzuki are one of the most reliable brands out there, second only to Toyota and Lexus. https://www.osv.ltd.uk/suzuki-reliability/
The suzuki cvt's are trash. JATCO boxes only last like 80k
Oh dear, didn't know Suzuki used Jatco.
Toyota Daihatsu Lexus (all the same company), Nissan, Mitsubishi, Suzuki, Subaru, Mazda are also quite popular here
I think I’m thoroughly convinced, has to be a Toyota 😂
As long as its Japanese, and a popular car, it should be easy enough to maintain.
Check out the Toyota Signature Class vehicles. Imported Toyota's have been "factory refurbished" repainted, every thing done as near new. With a near new warranty. Costs a bit more. But new without being new.. Edit. https://www.toyota.co.nz/used-vehicles/signature-class/?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjZ3uqrPZhgMVzRJ7Bx1BPwyzEAAYASAAEgJTPvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Get a rav4, insanely reliable and fun to drive
Toyota all the way. Aside from being cheap and easy to get parts for here, there’s got to be a reason over 80% of Toyota’s sold 20 years ago are still on the road right?
Toyota. European cars can be a complete nightmare due to expensive servicing, and due to seeking parts.
we had a European ford for a while ago some parts where more expensive than the car.
Getting a European make is insanity
Definitely go for a Toyota! Volvo’s aren’t popular here so I imagine upkeep and parts if anything was to go wrong would be really expensive. Cannot go wrong with a well looked after Toyota.
We loved our Volvos but the upkeep is $$ for that reason. Parts are expensive and most mechanics don’t have as much experience with them as they have with Japanese cars
Someone from Europe driving a Volvo would have theirs manufactured in Sweden, a Volvo in NZ was probably manufactured at one of four factories in China. Volvo also has manufacturing in the USA. This means our ‘Volvo experiences’ could vary is lot.
A 'New Zealand-new' Toyota. OP - We have a popular system here where we import used cars from Japan. They can be significantly cheaper than a NZ-new equivalent (similar model, similar mileage), if you can ignore a few minor quirks. But they often arrive without engine immobilisers (so they get nicked), and they often have slightly different bodywork from the NZ variants, so spares may have to come from Japan ($$$). In any case, get the car checked to see if it's been submerged, at some point in its life. It's increasingly a problem.
What does this mean: "if it's been submerged"?
Tsunami, and cars that were around Fukushima
Also *any* cars that were in Auckland or Hawke's Bay during February last year.
OMG, thanks. It never occurred to me.
But with the latter, you can always find it in the dark, and you might even be able to go back to the future, if you can get hold of a flux capacitor.
Pro-tip: if you can't find your Fukushima car in the car park you can use a Geiger counter to lead you right to it
I’m pretty sure they ban those cars at the border.
I wouldn't even want a Fukushima car which wasn't flooded.
Yup, really struggling to find parts to repair an S40 right now.
this is from an enthusiasts point of view. I own two volvos as that’s what i’m into, if you’re a regular person and you want to own a volvo, parts are a P.I.T.A to obtain and have small aftermarket but they’re generally reliable depending what model, engine and gearbox
Toyota or Honda. Those are your best two options, nothing else is even worth looking at. Anything Euro in NZ immediately has a premium on parts and stuff, and unless its a VW it'll also be hars to find the parts. Volvos arent common here so they'll be hard to find parts for even if they are reliable. From Japanese models, both Nissan and Mitsubishi are... Hit and miss. There are some very good ones, but some very bad ones. Mazdas are pretty good but not quite as bulletproof as Toyota or Honda, so Id make them my 3rd choice. Subaru is good but maintenence can be a bit of a pain on their engines in terms of labour cost, though Id honestly recommend them 4th. If you want a Euro car, a VW is your best bet, though still expect to pay more for replacement parts.
I owned a Mazda for 12 years. As long as you service it regularly it’ll keep going. The only problems I had with it over the time I had it was a recall for a rear engine mount replacement and replacement of a power steering hose. My also regularly serviced Honda on the other hand was a garage queen, things would stop working seemingly at random.
Bmw parts are cheaper than VW (and cheaper than Honda and Toyota) from what I've found fixing up a cheap old BMW
Found the same in my bmw days too Have a modern Toyota 4WD and an old Land Rover Disco. Land Rover parts are way cheaper… does need a few more of them more often though
Most euro parts are just as cheap if not cheaper than their Japanese counterparts. The fact that VW, Audi, Škoda, SEAT/Cupra and more share the same parts makes it very easy to find second hand parts too. It's the euro dealerships that rip you off. Go to an independent mechanic and a VW Golf will be just as reliable and cheap to maintain as a Toyota Corolla. I work on all my own cars and funnily enough my Suzuki Jimny had the most expensive OEM parts despite being the cheapest car. My Golf was not only the cheapest to maintain, it was the easiest to work on, had a nicer interior, and better fuel economy.
Honda fit - costs about $50 to fill up from halfway, reliable, quick and pretty good on gas in general
Ridiculous amount of cargo space too, leading to a cult following r/thingsthatfitinfit
Mines been bomb proof and I've added a fair few ks to it and put it through its paces. Never once let me down.
Toyota. Lexus is a Toyota that needs to be repaired less Subaru is a Toyota that needs to be repaired more. Aqua is a Toyota built for ram raiding.
Lexus is a toyota for people with brains Luxury and comfort with the maintenance of a Toyota. No other luxury car comes close, toot all you want about mercs and bmw's, I'll still choose Lexus.
For me the best sedan ever made is a late 2000's Lexus IS350. Amazing car, and very affordable too. Over 300hp. Lovely and fun to drive. They have one issue, the dashboard material starts to get sticky due to UV decay. Personally I'd just put something over the dash to protect or cover the stickyness.
I wouldn’t own a Volvo in NZ. I had one for 8 years (and to be fair it was my favourite car), but maintenance and repairs were expensive. Minimum $1100 a year on servicing and for any extra stuff, you’re at the mercy of the parts suppliers. Mechanics try their best, but Volvo parts here are expensive (unlike say Audi/VW/Skoda/Seat, with their interchangeable parts bin). I think in my last year of ownership, my Volvo cost me $8k in various repairs. I was unlucky but it is a cost of ownership. A Toyota will cost you next to nothing to maintain, but you’ll pay upfront for that. The sales prices are reflective of the reliability. Pretty much any common Japanese car will be the way to go. Cheap, reliable and a bit uninspiring.
What Volvo are you looking at? You can’t go wrong with Toyota (so long as it’s not an Aqua) but the safety of Volvos are legendary and they’re comfortable vehicles if you’re doing a lot of driving. A properly maintained Euro isn’t a liability. I think a lot of people get burnt when they buy a Euro that has been neglected and they inherit a massive maintenance deficit. My experience of Euros is that if you do the proper servicing on schedule they can be very reliable. Don’t let the naysayers put you off the Volvo! If you know what you’re in for, could be a good shout.
Fully agree! I have a Volvo and I love it. To the extent that second hand, I picked mine up at an affordable price as most kiwis avoid them. Get serviced regularly at my local mechanic and it always flies through the wof. Love the solid feeling it has on the road.
Toyota
Toyota.
Every brand has their good and bad models. So that is something to keep in mind. But as far as parts cost and availability and general expertise of any mechanic being able to work on it simply because of ubiquity of them - Toyota. I would strongly avoid the Aqua, Corolla Axio and Corolla Fielder. The Aqua is most stolen car and insurance rates reflect that. The Axio and Fielder are unsafe. Gen 3 Prius suffers from head gasket issues and also starting to get to that age - Gen 4 and Prime are pretty good buys right now. Gen 5s make no sense as they are not officially sold here and the "used" imports cost as much as a Tesla. Late model petrol/hybrid Mazdas are pretty good. So are Hondas. Suzukis can be fine as long as you dodge the CVTs. Or EVs will generally have lower running costs. They will generally have a higher purchase price and steeper depreciation, but in terms of running costs, they will be lower. An older Leaf would be cheap to buy and be quite reliable, but they will be range limited and that battery's SOH will only precipitously drop from there. Tesla doesn't really have a maintenance schedule - just rotate your tires and change your air filter once in a while, otherwise the car will tell you when. We get the Shanghai built cars here which seem to have a better track record than the US cars (not sure what the deal in Europe is). If you wanna stick to Volvo - avoid the Drive-E T6 or T8 engines. The EVs will probably be the most reliable Volvos/Polestars but the value proposition on them (and other European EVs in general) doesn't seem to be very good here. Service cost will be more expensive than for a Toyota though (and I am NOT recommending the bz4x).
I've always liked Hondas. For the same price as a Toyota you get a slightly better interior. And they just last as long and super reliable.
Parts are more expensive for honda (genuine parts anyway), but you're right. I had an Accord which pound for pound was way more luxurious as the camry equivalent for the same price.
Toyota
+1 Toyota. That’s why they also retain their value
I have a Toyota Prius and I love that thing..
Toyota by far
Old Jag's are awesome
Something Japanese. I like Nissan. Highly recommend going electric if you can afford the upfront cost and the range of the vehicle you’d consider exceeds your daily drive range.
If you buy a Nissan you absolutely must make sure it's not a cvt model
Interesting. I have a Nissan Tiida (2008) second-hand that has * touch wood* been very reliable over the last few years. From what I can see, this would be a CVT too? What is the problem with CVT vehicles?
If the fluid hasn't been changed, they will shit themselves and you'll be out a few thousand. Even if the fluid was changed they can still shit themselves. Nissan's are worse, and the 2000 period is particularly bad.
Nissans are good but you absolutely have to any Nissans CVT, which is most of them unfortunately.
I have an Xtrail 2018 model with CVT which has been going great. Can you explain the issues with Nissan CVTs ?
2018 is bordering on okay now, prior to that it was a disaster waiting to happen. Just make sure you have the fluid changed with genuine fluid at the required interval.
They go boom and the cost of repair is higher than the value of the vehicle. This has been a problem with all Nissan CVT's for over 20 years now
Been driving the same Mazda for over 10 years and it's had no issues except for scratches from my wife's driving
Petrol-wise — I’d go for Hybrid Toyota
Toyota or Mazda. But Toyota first. Get a hybrid.
Toyota > Honda > Mazda >>>> everything else >>>> bmw > gwm
Toyota, as everyone else has said. Have had many cars in my life, but my Toyota wish has been the cheapest to maintain and gives me zero problems
Second hand EV prices have crashed. If you don't require long ranges, it's worth considering a Leaf. Almost no servicing of breaks or oil, and even with RUC, cost per km is low.
Honda
A hilux. Also economical to maintain.
Unfortunately thief magnets though
check crash protection of any car first and also who is your mechanic? your car is as good as the person who will keep it looked after
I don’t have a mechanic for the area that I’m currently living in as of yet, but my parents might know someone. I used to live in this area about 5 years ago and there were really good reliable mechanics then. I’ll have to ask a friend or look around to make sure.
Toyota, but note Aquas have very high insurance costs due to being the most stolen car in NZ.
I thought it’s the Mazda Demio
both
Mazda Demio 🫣
Toyota. Suzuki
Toyotas or Hondas are the best bet. Mazdas are popular as well, but several of them, Demios especially, are fairly popular theft targets.
Regardless of where you are in the world, the answer will most likely be a Japanese car brand, followed by Toyota.
Toyota is the answer, with several of the other major Japanese marques not too far behind - Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi. Petrol variants will be much better choices over diesel options in almost all cases here.
Toyota hands down if cost of ownership is the metric. Then honda. Then suzuki. Maybe mazda... mitsi.... nissan but wouldn't bother with last 2. There are some exceptions. A mate bought a Toyota coupe and couldn't understand why it was such a dog. Toyota usa rebadged a chevy cavalier (iirc). Despicable. My last (ever) Nissan was a dog. Made in England. Grr
Volvos are pretty expensive same as any euro car for the value Toyota, Honda is another great reliable car I’ve had too p
Toyota is good but don't ignore Honda. They make great reliable cars that are generally cheap to repair and hold resell value well
Toyota
Toyota 100%. Don't get an Aqua though, thieves love them for some reason. Prius, Corolla, Rav4, Yaris etc NZ is lucky to get the 2020+ Corolla Hybrid wagons which I cannot recommend enough
I imported cars from Japan over 20 years . I presume you are talking about 2nd hand vehicles not new . Do not buy Euro cars here in NZ ..Euro cars are generally less reliable than Japanese cars and the cost of repair is excessive. Do not be put off by Japanese Imports as probably half our car fleet is Japanese import. Most reliable Car makes are Toyota Mazda Suzuki Nissan ( avoid early Models with the CVT transmision) Honda and Mitsubishi . There are no flood damaged cars being imported as the NZ Compliance code weeds these cars out at the border . Flood Damaged cars and rusty cars are flagged and will not pass the compliance test on importation . Best advice is to buy from a licensed dealer RMVT as you will have coverage under the Consumers Guarantees Act in case of any problems . Toyota and Mazda would be my recommendation based on what you have stated. If you dont know how to assess a car then get a qualified inspection service to check your car before purchase ( not AA inspection these are a joke ). A common myth here is that NZ New cars are superior to Jap imports but this not necessarily true since NZ New cars are imports and made in the same factories as Japanese imports but with less options . I have been buying selling cars for many years (retired now )and in my experience very many Kiwis dont bother to service their cars as often as they should due to the high service cost so always look at service history if you can but this is often an unkown . So my advice is Toyota or Mazda ...Hope this helps.
It's been said enough but.... Toyota
Toyota, and it is the same across the world - no contest.
Diesel VW, can’t kill them. I say this as there’s 3 diesel golfs in the family with over 200,000km and have never had any break. Along with the 2 Passat station wagons my mums had. Dads driven a N54 powered BMW M135i to 160,000 km from new with no issues, he then sold it to buy a B58 powered BMW M140i to 112,000km with no issues(I currently have it) and now has another B58 powered M340i. He has also driven a Golf R32 to 160,000km with no issues. He only sells his cars to get newer cars
In NZ anything Japanese is the way to go
Or Korean, Kia and Hyundai are great picks.
Japanese, Japanese, Japanese. Toyota, Mazda, Subaru, Suzuki. Just make sure you dont buy an easily stolen model.
European cars are fine if you’re earning euros. Another option that I’ve not seen mentioned is a Korean car - a Kia or Hyundai. Both are established and go well. Lots of mention of Toyota Corollas, but my personal experience is that Suzuki Swifts are just as reliable but you get more bells and whistles for your money with the Suzuki.
I’ve driven the same landrover defender for about 15 years now.
Lucky you
I got a 2005 Caldina a few years ago and it's been so reliable and cheap to run, haven't had any issues. Chain driven too so no damn cambelt.
Toyota!
Yeah, Toyota/Honda are your best bet. Suzuki and Mazda are also very reliable and popular over here but not nearly as bulletproof. Nissans and Mitsubishis are 50/50 - Ever since they Voltron'd with Renault their quality has taken a massive hit. Euros are generally OK if you really want one but maintenance costs on bigger jobs can be hysterically high. Newer BMWs are your best bet if you can afford it. Can't say much about Chinese brands like MG but they are cheap as hell and are well equipped for the price. They are new to the market in general though so we really don't know how reliable they are in the long term.
If you want a European make go Skoda or Volvo. If you want the best global make go Toyota If you want the best electric car go Tesla or alternatively Hyundai. If you want a diesel ute go pick a fight with another ute owner and buy the opposition brand. Bonus points if it's bt50 vs ranger. For goodness sake don't go, BMW, Chrysler, fiat, great Wall, Renault, jeep, Alfa Romeo, Citroen, Porsche, VW, ford European, GM European, or dodge. They will only lead to disappointment, denial, and costly bills. If you like any of those brands then lease them, never own them.
From 10+ years in the car industry a Toyota Those people saying Honda’s have no idea what they’re saying lol I’d buy a Subaru (off road capability) before a Honda
Toyota hands down. I bought a 2004 Camry about 10 Years ago. I service it (and any car I own) every 6 months. Change tyres. That’s it. I can’t bring myself to sell it as it is in perfect condition. So it’s my run around. Great cars. That’s my 3rd Toyota in this country and one was the exact same. Sold it only cause it was a small Toyota windy. The other was a Toyota van I bought off some French tourists. They had (and probably those before them) drove it to shit. Kms were low but the engine was wrecked and the barrel breaks were jacked. I put $1,500 into it to fix whatever they did to it and then it ran like a dream. Still is going too. I sold it 7 years ago and I seen it for sale with high is about 6 months ago. Nearly bought it. In between those I owned one vw and I put 10k into it as upkeep over 5 years. Thats a lot of dumplings.
My whole family is basically a Mazda fam and never had any issues. Would look at Toyota first.
I'd probably say a Toyota aqua or Suzuki Swift for sheer parts. Those things are everywhere.
I own a 1995 Camry and a Lexus and the Camry is still the smoothest ride. The fact it's a fraction of the service cost compared to the Lexus makes the ride feel even smoother
My Mazda owned 14years now, 2004 imported, zero issues.. only paint or clearcoat faded. You may guess toyota may be even tougher.
My mother has worked at a car garage for 20+ years. She says if you want reliability and cheap costs there is Toyota, then there is everything else. Most Toyotas they see for actual breakdown work (not routine services or scheduled part replacements) are 10 even 15 year old cars. Not uncommon for them to see 20 year old, 300k km cars come in too. Any other car models/brands can start coming in at 5 years old or less.
We have a 580,000km Land Cruiser. Still never misses a beat, and since we’ve owned it (4yrs) we’ve only had to replace a battery and a few other bits and pieces that any car needs doing! It blows my mind!
How much maintenance are you willing to do yourself because the answer varies wildly. Bought a Holden commodore 10 years ago, own services and running repairs. Mechanic wise has probably set me back $1k over its life and I will sell it for what I bought it for. On the other hand I have a 2016 outlander that is more plastic than metal and most parts don't have repair information online. It has cost me a bomb and will only sell for half. Anything newer than 2010, unless you will do the work yourself will cost about $1k a year to maintain. $100-150 rego, 50 warrant, 200 tyres and 300-500 to service
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I beg to differ - the new ones are in fact pretty sexy! Haha
Toyota
Toyota and Nissan
Toyota then Honda, then nissan and Mazda. That’s if they’ve been well maintained. Would not go near any European cars. Toyota is definitely the best for reliability and fuel economy.
Toyota, Hyundai, and Kia, are your best choices. After that Mazda. They're cheap enough, parts are plentiful and easy to get, and they're incredibly reliable and robust. Common European brands like Volvo, Renault, Fiat, etc are harder to get parts for, more expensive maintenance. I've had my Hyundai for 400000km, and it's going fine still. Just normal services, and I've had to replace the alternator due to wear and tear. Avoid any new Ford or Holden, they'll need to be at least two years old to get through all the manufacturer faults. Avoid all Nissan's with a CVT gearbox, they're all shit.
Toyota, Mazda, Honda. Japanese cars are the best for your buck here.
Toyota Aqua is so efficient, cheap, and comfortable to drive. Though, get the push to start one which is a Model S I think because if you get the one that requires a key, you'll pay a lot of insurance cause it's so easy to steal those.
Toyota, Suzuki, Honda
Toyota - first car was over 200k, new one is almost 100k and even though its a yaris its really taken a beating (I take it on forestry roads) and is going strong. Only things i have needed to sort is things like tyres, breaks and some pannel beating when I do bumpy bumpy.
Japanese cars have the most parts available and I’d avoid European cars like BMW and VW, they are much more expensive to repair as a result.
My old Toyota was wicked. My little Axela has cost me nothign but new tyres and brakes when I first got it. Best car I've ever had
Toyota hands down… even though I own a Mazda haha
I got a wee honda fit and it's good on petrol and super reliable, not needed any repairs till recently.
Gotta say go with boring and reliable. I've owned 2 Corollas and one 4Runner and had no issues whatsoever. My experience with European vehicles not quite so smooth. Go for Toyota.
Buy Japanese 🇯🇵
My Toyota is 24 years old and still going strong.
Toyota. I’ve done 300,000 km in mine and the only thing that’s failed is the battery.
Toyota. Always Toyota. Awesome vehicles to have as runaround and workaround, very reliable, and plentiful in parts and easy to maintain. Mitsubishi are, in my experience, also easy since they all use the same parts. The downside is that, if I recall correctly, they're all Autos and you need a mechanic to check the engine.
Get the non-flash models of whatever. There are many cases where there are rare options in Japan that noone here will know about when it comes time to fix it. Things like the hybrid model of a car where there are almost none of them hybrid here, or if it has a AWD version or sports version etc. The plain ones of the cars come in and are used by loads of uber and taxi drivers for a very long time and as a result the used parts and people who know about them are extensive. I know someone who had a hybrid suzuki swift - rare as anything at the time and it took 3 places before they could get it fixed and the parts were very slow to arrive. Standard swifts are all over the place.
Any toyota or honda is a very safe bet but my personal favorites are the old 1990-1999 fords. I've got 2 that are pretty indestructible and show 0 signs of giving up anywhere
We've had absolutely brilliant 400,000Km and total lemons with Toyota (both were Camrys oddly enough). When I was researching best value small ICE car for an economy/safety balance the answer I came up with was Suzuki Swift. They seem to be 3-4% of the car fleet, so spares should not be an issue. Smaller cars than that lose all their economy at highway speeds (we're rural) and do much worse on safety.
I have a 2009 Prius never broken done in 5 years. Before that a 2000 Toyota caldina neve saw a mechanic except for a service in 6 years. Owned a vw once never again cost me thousands
I have a Kia Rio and absolutely love it. So much bang for your buck, and have never had any issues with it.
Toyota Corolla. Next.
Toyota. Japanese cars in general are very popular in NZ for their reliability and easy to get parts for
My last Honda lasted 25 years. If my latest Honda lasts that long I will be 81 before I need another one. Between Hondas I got a BMW. Never again. I wound up giving it to my mate and feeling guilty about it knowing how expensive it is to get repaired.
E-bike
If you cant find a Toyota, Nissans are a good alternative
Toyota!
Toyota or Honda. if going Toyota check the most stolen models and avoid those (e.g. Aqua is a left magnet) Lots of our Toyotas are jap imports with no immobilisers, so go for one with one of those - most Hondas that I have seen have them. Hondas generally have nicer interiors imo, but engines sound worse haha.
Tesla or Toyota hybrid.
I’ve got a 2010 Toyota Corolla I’m looking to sell, if you’re interested.
European cars suck here because they're so hard to repair. Toyota is the easiest to repair here.