What makes a 2023 car a strong choice for your situation

The best car for you depends on what you actually drive, how long you plan to keep it, and what breaks your budget. A 2023 model that holds its value well might be a Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla if you drive 12,000 miles a year and want low repair costs. If you tow a trailer or haul cargo regularly, a different truck or SUV makes sense even if it costs more upfront. If you drive mostly city streets and park on the street, a smaller sedan or hatchback saves money on gas and insurance.

This guide walks you through the real factors that separate a car you'll regret from one you won't: what independent testing shows about reliability, what the actual purchase and ownership costs look like, and how much money you'll get back when you sell or trade it in. You'll also learn where to find this information yourself so you can compare any two models side by side.

Key Takeaways

  • Reliability ratings from Consumer Reports and J.D. Power are based on actual owner repairs, not manufacturer claims, and vary significantly by model and trim level.
  • Total cost of ownership includes purchase price, insurance, fuel, maintenance, and repairs over the years you own the car, not just the sticker price.
  • Resale value depends on the brand's reputation, mileage, condition, and market demand, and you can check historical data on Kelley Blue Book or NADA Guides before you buy.
  • Safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) test real crash scenarios and vary by model.
  • Fuel economy estimates from the EPA are based on standardized tests and rarely match real-world driving, especially in city traffic or cold weather.

How to read reliability ratings and what they actually mean

Reliability ratings tell you how often owners report repairs, not whether a car will break down tomorrow. Consumer Reports surveys hundreds of thousands of owners each year and publishes repair history by model and year. A car rated "Average" means owners report repairs at about the national average rate. "Above Average" means fewer repairs. "Below Average" means more.

J.D. Power publishes similar data but focuses on problems in the first three years of ownership. Both sources break down which specific systems fail most often — transmission, engine, electrical, suspension — so you can see whether a model tends to have one expensive problem or many small ones. A car with one known transmission issue might be riskier than one with scattered minor repairs.

Reliability can shift dramatically between model years and trim levels. A 2023 Honda Accord might have a strong reliability record while a 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid has a shorter track record because fewer people own it. Check the specific year and engine type you're considering, not just the model name.

Calculating the real cost of owning a car for five years

The purchase price is only the beginning. Insurance, fuel, maintenance, and repairs add up fast. A car that costs $5,000 less upfront but costs $2,000 more per year to insure and repair will cost you more money over five years.

Start with the purchase price you'd actually pay — not the sticker price, but what similar cars sell for in your area. Check local listings on Autotrader or Cars.com to see what dealers are asking and what private sellers are getting. Then add insurance: call your insurance company and ask for a quote on the specific model and year. Insurance varies by age, driving record, and location, but some cars cost significantly more to insure because they're expensive to repair or are stolen frequently.

Fuel cost depends on EPA estimates and your actual driving. The EPA publishes city, highway, and combined fuel economy for every model. Multiply your annual miles by the combined estimate, divide by the MPG, and multiply by your local gas price. Maintenance costs vary by brand — Toyota and Honda typically cost less to maintain than luxury brands — and you can find average costs on Edmunds or YourMechanic. Budget for oil changes, tire rotation, brake pads, and filters over five years.

Repairs are harder to predict, but reliability ratings give you a starting point. A car rated "Below Average" for reliability might cost $1,500 more in repairs over five years than one rated "Above Average." Add all these numbers together and you have a real comparison.

Understanding resale value and depreciation

A car loses value the moment you drive it off the lot, but some models hold their value much better than others. A Toyota Tacoma truck might retain 60 percent of its purchase price after five years, while a luxury sedan might retain 40 percent. That difference is real money in your pocket when you sell or trade it in.

Resale value depends on brand reputation, mileage, condition, and market demand. Toyota, Honda, and Lexus models typically hold value better than domestic brands or luxury brands that are expensive to repair. A car with 60,000 miles will be worth less than one with 40,000 miles, all else equal. A car with a clean title and no accidents will be worth more than one with a salvage title or accident history.

You can check historical resale values on Kelley Blue Book or NADA Guides. Search for the model, year, and trim level, enter the mileage you expect after five years, and the site will show you what similar cars are selling for. This is the number you'll actually get when you sell or trade in, not a theoretical value.

Safety ratings and what the tests measure

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) both crash-test new cars, but they test different things. NHTSA tests frontal crashes, side crashes, and rollover resistance. IIHS tests frontal crashes, side crashes, roof strength, and crashworthiness in a small overlap crash — the kind that happens when you hit another car at an angle.

Both organizations publish ratings online. NHTSA uses a five-star scale for each test. IIHS uses "Good," "Acceptable," "Marginal," and "Poor." A car that scores well on both tests is safer in more types of crashes. Some models score well on NHTSA tests but poorly on IIHS tests, or vice versa, so check both before you decide.

Safety also depends on features like automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, and lane-keeping information. These systems are not required on all cars, and their effectiveness varies. Check whether the model you're considering includes these features as standard or as an option, and whether independent testing shows they actually work.

Fuel economy estimates versus real-world driving

The EPA publishes fuel economy estimates for every car, but real-world driving usually produces different numbers. The EPA test uses a standardized driving cycle in a lab, not actual streets. City driving in cold weather, highway driving at high speeds, and towing all reduce fuel economy compared to the EPA estimate.

The EPA publishes three numbers: city, highway, and combined. The combined number is a weighted average and is usually the most useful for budgeting. If you drive mostly highway at steady speeds, you might beat the EPA estimate. If you drive mostly city with frequent stops and starts, you'll probably fall short.

Hybrid and electric vehicles have larger gaps between EPA estimates and real-world driving because their efficiency depends heavily on driving style and climate. A hybrid that gets 50 MPG in the EPA test might get 40 MPG in actual city driving. Check owner forums and real-world reviews to see what people are actually reporting.

Where to find detailed information on specific models

Consumer Reports publishes reliability ratings, safety ratings, and owner satisfaction scores for most 2023 models. A subscription costs money, but many public libraries offer free access. J.D. Power publishes reliability and satisfaction data on their website for free. Edmunds publishes total cost of ownership estimates, which combine purchase price, insurance, fuel, maintenance, and depreciation into one number.

Kelley Blue Book and NADA Guides both show resale values and depreciation curves. Search for the model, year, and trim level, and you can see what similar cars sold for in the past month. This is more useful than a theoretical value because it's based on actual sales.

NHTSA and IIHS both publish crash test results on their websites. Search by model and year, and you'll see the specific scores for each test. Owner forums on Reddit and car-specific websites often have detailed discussions of common problems and long-term reliability.

Comparing two specific models side by side

Once you've narrowed your choices to two or three models, create a straightforward spreadsheet. List the purchase price you'd actually pay, insurance quote, annual fuel cost, average annual maintenance cost, estimated repair costs based on reliability ratings, and resale value after five years. Add these up and you have the total cost of ownership for each model.

Then list the safety ratings, fuel economy, and any features that matter to you — cargo space, towing capacity, ground clearance, or interior room. A car that costs $2,000 more over five years but has significantly better safety ratings or more usable space might still be the better choice for your situation.

Test drive each model on the roads you actually drive. Highway driving feels different from city driving, and a car that feels comfortable on the highway might feel cramped in city traffic. Pay attention to visibility, ease of parking, and how the controls feel. These subjective factors matter because you'll spend hundreds of hours in this car.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I buy a 2023 model or a used car from an earlier year?

A used car from 2021 or 2022 might cost $5,000 to $10,000 less than a new 2023 model, but it will have higher mileage and a shorter remaining warranty. A new car comes with a manufacturer warranty that covers repairs for three years or 36,000 miles. A used car might have only one year of warranty left. Compare the total cost of ownership, including the higher repair risk on the used car, before you decide.

What does "trim level" mean and does it affect reliability?

Trim level refers to the equipment package — a base model, mid-level, or luxury version of the same car. A Honda Civic LX has fewer features than a Honda Civic EX, but they share the same engine and chassis. Reliability can vary slightly by trim level because higher trims sometimes have more complex electronics, but the difference is usually small. Check reliability ratings for the specific trim level you're considering.

How much should I budget for maintenance on a new car?

Most new cars need an oil change every 5,000 to 10,000 miles, tire rotation every 5,000 to 7,000 miles, and air filter replacement every 15,000 to 30,000 miles. Budget $100 to $300 per year for routine maintenance on a typical sedan, more for larger vehicles or luxury brands. Major services like transmission fluid or coolant flushes come later and cost more, but they're less frequent.

Can I negotiate the price of a 2023 model at a dealership?

Yes, but less than you might on a used car. New car prices are set by the manufacturer, but dealers offer discounts, rebates, and incentives that vary by model, season, and location. Check what similar cars are selling for in your area on Autotrader or Cars.com, and use that number as your starting point. End-of-month and end-of-quarter sales are often slower, which gives you more negotiating power.

What's the difference between certified pre-owned and regular used cars?

A certified pre-owned (CPO) car has been inspected and reconditioned by the manufacturer or dealer, and comes with an extended warranty — usually two to three years. A regular used car is sold as-is with no warranty unless the dealer offers one. A CPO car costs more upfront but has lower repair risk. If you're buying a used car, CPO is worth considering if the price difference is less than $2,000 to $3,000.