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To help used-vehicle shoppers make more informed choices in terms of used car costs and reliability, the experts at the auto-repair data website CarMD.com  released their annual Vehicle Health Index that highlights the cars and SUVs by year, make, and model that are the least likely to suffer “check engine” light-related problems, and are the cheapest to fix should they occur.

The results are based upon repair data culled from over 14.4 million vehicles from the 1996 through 2019 model years, reported from Oct. 1, 2018 – Sept. 30, 2019. We’re featuring the top 10 vehicles in both categories below. Of note, two models – the Subaru Legacy sedan and Outback crossover SUV – appear on both lists.

Among brands, the site’s statisticians determined that Mercedes-Benz vehicles are the least likely, on average, to develop check engine problems, followed by Mitsubishi, Buick, Ram, and Ford. The brands with the lowest average check engine-related repair costs are Kia at $311 per fix, followed by Mazda ($332), Hyundai ($333), Chrysler ($337), and Dodge ($349).

Here are the 10 most reliable used vehicles that required the fewest check engine light-related trips to the repair shop, auto-parts store, or a new-car dealer’s service department over a 12-month period:

  1. 2017 Honda CR-V
  2. 2017 Subaru Outback
  3. 2016 Lexus NX
  4. 2017 Subaru Legacy
  5. 2017 Honda Civic
  6. 2017 Honda HR-V
  7. 2015 Lexus NX
  8. 2016 Subaru Forester
  9. 2015 Acura MDX
  10. 2015 Acura RDX

And these are the 10 models found to have the lowest average repair costs when the check engine light: stays on:

  1. 2017 Subaru Outback ($60)
  2. 2016 Toyota Prius ($67)
  3. 2017 Hyundai Tucson ($79)
  4. 2017 Kia Soul ($82)
  5. 2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class ($85)
  6. 2017 Toyota Prius ($85)
  7. 2017 Subaru Legacy ($86)
  8. 2015 Mercedes-Benz ML-Class ($100)
  9. 2016 Kia Forte ($107)

You can read CarMD.com’s full 2019 Vehicle Health Index, which further cites top models by category here. The website also provides free maintenance reports for specific years, makes and models that can reveal upcoming maintenance required, common check engine light problems, open recalls, and other relevant information.

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