Looking for a used car? Consumer Reports names these as the most reliable brands

With the average cost of a new car in Canada sitting at around $68,000, according to Autotrader.ca, how do you pick the right used vehicle that won't end up costing more in the years to come?

With the average cost of a new car in Canada sitting at around $68,000, according to Autotrader.ca, how do you pick the right used vehicle that won't end up costing more in the years to come? According to a new used-vehicle brand survey, Lexus and Toyota are the top two most reliable automakers.

Consumer Reports has an annual survey ranking the best new cars and for the first time it's now looking at the best value of used vehicles between five and ten years old. 

"Our survey focused on vehicles from the 2014 to 2019 model year, essentially five to 10-year-old vehicles, looking at data from 150,000 vehicles collected in our survey," said Jeff Bartlett with Consumer Reports (CR).

The survey found that drivers can still get a very dependable used vehicle, even if it costs much less.

Krystine Amerman told CTV News Toronto she was in the market for a bigger car for her growing family and decided to research used cars.

"I was really looking for a fair price. I was specifically looking for brands that were known to be durable, have great safety qualifications, and something that was fuel efficient," Amerman said.

According to Autotrader.ca, most Canadians pay $40,000 for a used car. So, for buyers like Amerman, it's crucial to make a choice that will last for years.