Most reliable 15 year old used hatchbacks

What is a reliable used car?

We consider a reliable car to be the one that, as rarely as necessary, requires unplanned (emergency) repairs and that unexpectedly does not stay on the roadside. It should be understood that every car has parts and consumables that need to be replaced regularly, such as brake pads, tires, oils and other fluids, battery, wiper blades etc.

How to improve used car reliability?

Of course, the reliability of a used car is greatly influenced by how well and thoughtfully the manufacturer has been able to design it and by the quality of its components. But just as important is the attitude of the car owner towards his car. In the case of a used car, though, the reliability of the car will also depend on how carefully it has been handled by previous owners and you cannot influence it. However, by following these tips you can ensure the highest possible reliability of your car:

1. Perform regular car maintenance at scheduled intervals
   For almost every car, the manufacturer has defined service intervals - a list of jobs to be performed after a certain time or mileage. Most of this tasks involves inspection and preventive maintenance of various vehicle parts. However, there are also parts or assemblies that need to be replaced after a certain time, otherwise the consequences can be very sad, such as not replacing the engine timing belt timely, in case of it's rupture the car's engine could require serious overhaul or even replacement, which will cost tens of times more than changing a timing belt. Service intervals can usually be found in your vehicle manual. If your vehicle does not have one - try to find it on the internet or consult a qualified car service center.
2. Prevent defects in a timely manner
   Cars are a complex set of mechanisms that work closely with each other. A minor damage to one car node can negatively affect several other units and result in a much more expensive car repair. For example, almost any damaged suspension component (shock absorber, wheel bearing, ball bearing etc.) significantly increases the load on the other suspension components and wear of these parts. Therefore, if your car starts to make any suspicious noise, changes its behavior on the road, there are changes in instrument readings or other nuances - contact a qualified car service, diagnose and repair the damage if needed! The "turn the louder music out of the noises" approach does not pay off, as early or late (even before sale) car will need to be repaired anyway.
3. Use quality spare parts and competent car mechanics
   Nowadays, most cars have a wide range of non-original spare parts, which are much cheaper and more affordable than original spare parts. Some non-original spare parts are of the same quality or even better quality than the original ones. Others (usually the cheapest) only look like the originals, but their materials and workmanship are very poor. It should be understood that the cost of repairing each car unit consists of parts and labor, and the amount and labor of the unit is independent of the cost of the part. Correspondingly, choosing a low quality part that costs half as much as a quality part, but paying the same amount of work, you end up saving a few tens of percent. However, the life of a low-quality part will probably be several times shorter, so you will overpay for the next repair. That is why it is important to find a knowledgeable and honest car mechanic who will advise you on which parts to choose.
4. Use the car for its intended purpose Each car model has its own basic purpose of use, such as urban travel, freight transport, driving on poor quality roads, and so on. When using a car for other purpose, such as regularly transporting hundreds of kilograms of construction material in a small city car, or using a crossover (i.e. a "parquet jeep") on serious off-road, the following repairs must be taken into account and the car's reliability will be significantly reduced.