Buying a new car is an exciting but sometimes overwhelming process. There are a ton of different factors to keep in mind:
- Does it have good gas mileage?
- Does it have advanced safety features?
- What packages does it come with?
- Are the reviews all positive?
- Does it look cool?
- Will it last for years to come?
- How hard is it going to be to fix when things break down?
That last one, in particular, can be something that might not seem obvious at first, but it’s definitely something buyers want to be aware of.
Any car you purchase is going to need fixing inevitably; parts naturally wear and tear over the years, even with proper care. And you don’t want to find yourself a few years down the road with your vehicle and suddenly have to pay an arm and a leg to have certain parts replaced.
Certain cars on the market are so popular and widely available that carmakers have streamlined the maintenance process and made parts easily available.
Shine Armor is all about making sure that you have the right vehicle for your needs, and to be honest, everyone needs a car that’s easy to take care of.
Whether you’re fixing your car yourself or bringing it into a shop, here are the easiest cars to work on. Read on to learn more in this article of shine armor blog!
Related car detailing products:
- Graphene Ceramic Spray
- Fortify Quick Coat
- Revive Car Scratch Remover
- Graphene Ceramic Nano Glass Coating
- Anti-Fog Hero
- Car Upholstery and Interior Cleaner
Coups and Sedans
The most common passenger vehicles on the roads are coupes and sedans, mid-sized cars with enough space to get you and your friends or family from A to B.
Toyota Corolla
One of the most commonly seen cars for the last few decades and possibly the easiest to work on is the Toyota Corolla.
And for a pretty good reason, they never seem to go away. New Corollas are all over, but it’s unsurprising to see a 20-year-old Toyota Corolla cruising around. That’s because these cars were designed to last, and they’ve lived up to it.
Toyota hasn’t changed the internal design much over the years. They add new safety features and technology of course, but the engine has stayed nearly the same, meaning that they don’t require new and unique parts for every new model.
Combined with the streamlined engine design, this means that most mechanics have easy access to what they would need to fix any issues that the Corolla had. If it ever had any.
Honda Civic
Competing for the most common and easiest to work on with the Toyota Corolla is the Honda Civic.
The Civic is so popular it would be a pretty safe bet to say that everyone knows someone who has driven one.
They’ve got consistently excellent fuel efficiency; the reliability rating is off the charts as they last for years if not decades and they’re extremely affordable for the dependency they bring.
This is all thanks to the straightforward design of the engine and internal systems. For example, the Civic uses a timing chain instead of a timing belt, which tends to last much longer.
Honda has even streamlined the engine construction to reduce parts more regularly replaced, meaning that maintenance on the Civic is a once-in-a-while occasion.
But when it does come up, it helps that the Civic is so simply designed with easily affordable and available parts. So when you do have to get a problem solved, the answer is almost always an easy one to get to.
Hatchbacks
Sometimes the sedan isn’t quite enough room for everything you have. Luckily there are plenty of easy to work on hatchbacks as well that provide ample room and minimal headaches when repairs come around.
Subaru Outback
Subaru generally has a reputation for making accessible and reliable vehicles. Whether you’re taking the family around town and need space or taking the gravel path up a mountain, the Subaru Outback is a dependable and affordable option.
Likewise, maintenance on the Outback will be similarly convenient. With the popularity of the brand, especially on the coasts, there is a ton of available parts for whatever problems arise.
As well, thanks to the horizontal design of the cylinder block, the Outback has an open engine structure under the hood. This means that most issues that may arise will be easily accessible and taken care of.
Jeep Wrangler
The Jeep Wrangler has been a fan favorite in the off-roading community for so many years because of its convenient engine design, body construction, and expansive list of interchangeable and replaceable parts.
Just about every piece of the Wrangler is designed to be updated or modified, which means that they’ve made it very easy to replace parts even if you don’t work at the auto shop.
Another benefit is being a part of the large Jeep community, which has collectively posted videos and articles about how to fix just about any issue that could possibly come up with your vehicle.
The combination of its easy design, collaborative community, and accessible parts makes the Jeep Wrangler a vehicle that just about anyone could fix.
If you’re a Jeep driver and enjoy your time in the mud, check out our Ultra Concentrated Car Soap for when you need to get your sweet ride looking squeaky clean after a long day of off-roading.
Honda CR-V
We could probably put a few more Hondas on this list, but we had to include the CR-V.
The dependable engine design that Honda puts into all of its vehicles, mixed with the spacious engine bay of the CR-V, specifically makes this car easy to pop open and examine when things start to break down.
Granted, the CR-V won’t actually break down on you very often, given its reliable track record. It’s one of the world’s most popular vehicles for a reason.
Trucks
Maybe the hatchback still isn’t enough for a driver like you. You need the strength, space, and attitude that comes with a truck. Don’t worry; there are plenty of dependable options.
Shop by category:
Chevy Silverado
Chevy pick-up trucks, in general, are high-demand vehicles, and the Silverado is one of their top trucks.
Aside from the smooth ride and high towing capacity, the Silverado is designed for reliability, having a relatively simpler engine construction than other models. This means fewer moving parts that mechanics are more than likely to be familiar with when you bring it into the shop.
The spacious design of the engine area provides a lot of room for working, meaning that you don’t need specialized tools to get in between the nooks and crannies. This makes the Silverado a car that even DIY-fixers can take care of.
Alongside the dedicated base of Silverado drivers who share experience and repair stories, the Chevy pick-up is a great truck for drivers looking for something that isn’t impossible to maintain.
Toyota Tacoma
The Toyota Tacoma is the perfect example of the phrase, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Toyota has barely changed the design of the engine or body since its conception back in the 1970s. Not that these trucks are outdated.
While they do add new technologies and features, Toyota has kept the Tacoma relatively simple over the last few decades with minor adjustments along the way.
This means that mechanics and amateur enthusiasts all around have had plenty of time to learn everything there is to know about Tacoma and be able to present it to you if you’re looking for information.
The highly dependable truck is considered one of the easiest vehicles to work on, not to mention one of the most versatile and reliable on the market today.
In Conclusion
Having a car or truck that’s easy to take care of is important to consider when you’re purchasing a new vehicle. In addition, you want something that’s going to be reliable for years to comes.
Some cars will be more dependable on others, and there are plenty of other factors to balance if and when you’re shopping for a new ride. But any one of these cars would be a great choice.
Looking at reliability and ease of maintenance, brands like Honda and Toyota particularly shine. There’s a reason you still see their twenty-year-old cars on the road.
At Shine Armor, we believe in investing in vehicles that will perform well and look good for years and make it easy to do so. That’s why we develop the most high-quality and easy-to-use cleaning products for you and your vehicle.
If your Honda Civic has been staying strong and driving you around for twenty years, it’s important to take care of it as well as it’s taken care of you. With cleaning products like our Armor Suds Graphene Shampoo that not only cleans but also protects the exterior of your car, we want to arm you with the best knowledge and products to keep your car as good as new inside and out.