Audio By Carbonatix
As of September 2025, the average used car transaction price is well over $25,000. And if you listen to the automakers, that old ride will be outdated within months. But what if you don’t need the latest bells and whistles? What if you just want a pair of reliable vehicles that will transport you and your family cheaply for years, or decades. Here’s my car buying advice for the perfect two‑car garage if you don’t actually give a hoot about cars.
Buy older, low-mileage cars for true value
If drivers copied most automotive journalists, we’d all be daily-driving a 20-year-old sports car. Probably a Miata. But that’s not what you actually need. You need reliable transportation at the lowest possible cost per mile.
Unless you have excellent credit or a big down payment and want something newer with a factory warranty, you’re better off buying a 10-year-old ride with low miles. Look for something that’s cheaper because it’s no longer fashionable, but still has plenty of life left.
If you live somewhere snowy, where rust eats cars alive, it may even be worth buying a southern car. Line up the sale with a used car lot that provides temp tags, fly down on a $200 budget airline, and make a weekend road trip out of driving it home. You could save thousands in rust repairs later.
First car: A third row crossover will be your family’s MVP
Why the Toyota Highlander Hybrid stands above the rest
You want space, longevity, and reliability. The Toyota Highlander Hybrid delivers all three. The Toyota Highlander Hybrid is the most durable vehicle that isn’t a big, full-frame truck or SUV. Period. According to iSeeCars, it has a 25.9% chance of hitting 250,000 miles—nearly triple the average.
In addition, 12.4% of Highlanders that are 15 years or older are still owned by their original buyers. That’s 2× the average for all vehicles. These crossovers are reliable and relatively fuel efficient. And they are large enough that families rarely outgrow them. So why ever get rid of your Highlander? The truth is, many buyers don’t.
How does a hybrid last so long? Because a bulletproof Toyota hybrid powertrain actually reduces wear on your standard engine and brakes. So you’re dodging major repair bills. The old-school naturally-aspirated V6 these crossovers had for years are some of the most durable engines around. And when you keep the same car for 15 years, your cost per mile gets embarrassingly low.
Want to know more? Use MotorBiscuits car buying tool to see all the used Toyota Highlanders near you.
The Grand Highlander versus the Lexus TX versus the Honda Pilot
Highlander not your speed? The Honda Pilot and Lexus TX are solid alternatives. The Pilot has a 17.5% chance of hitting 250,000 miles. And 10.4% of them stay with their first owner for 15+ years. And they cost a lot less on the used market. Not bad. And while the latest Highlanders have swapped to turbocharged I4 engines, the Pilot is hanging onto the naturally-aspirated V6 that translates to reliability well into ultra-high-mileage.
The Lexus TX is basically Toyota’s premium Grand Highlander, and the Grand Highlander is Toyota’s new super-sized version–which retains the V6/hybrid combo. It stretches out for more interior space—especially third-row legroom—but may cost more in fuel.
Any of these three will haul your kids, dogs, gear, and groceries. Properly maintained, any of these could stick around long enough to basically become a member of your family.
Ready to shop? Round up all the listings for:
Second car: The range-extended hybrid is the future of the commuter
Now for your second car: the commuter. Here’s where things get technical. But trust me. If you want the lowest running cost per mile, go electric. Many utility companies will subsidize a home charger installation so your “fuel” costs are a fraction of what they’d be at the pump. What’s more, EVs are proving more reliable and cheaper to maintain than traditional ICEs. A used Tesla Model 3 is a bargain right now. But if you’re nervous about range, or EV resale, there’s a middle path.
Range-extended EVs use a gas generator to top off their battery. That means they always drive like an electric—smooth, quiet, with tons of low-end torque—but they never leave you stranded. You can simply fill up the gas tank and roadtrip all day.
The BMW i3 is a pint-sized AWD
The BMW i3 REx is one of the only AWD options. ReCharged.com reviewed it on TikTok:
“This car only gets about 126 miles. The Rex means that there is a 1‑2 cycle engine that powers the motor when the battery runs out.”
So what if you need to drive further from him? “To utilize the range extender, you do have to put gas into this car… This car only takes 2.2 gallons.” With a full battery and a full tank, you can push it to about 200 miles. And of course you can just top off the tank again at any gas station. That’s right, this thing gets such good MPG, it has a tank smaller than your lawnmower.
It’s funky, compact, and surprisingly premium inside. Recharged.com explains that listing used BMW i3 REx hybrids always have their phone ringing off the hook and get sold within 24 hours. But it’s not a family road trip machine. It only has four seatbelts. Note that many BMW i3s don’t have the range extender, so you’ll want to look for the REx. They often resell for $20k, but I’ve seen them go as low as $10k. See the review video below:
See all the used BMW i3s near you.
The FWD Chevrolet Volt gains a seatbelt, loses some range
The other choice is the Chevrolet Volt. Not the fully electric “Bolt,” but its predecessor: the rang-extend Volt hybrid. This is a lift-back sedan, seats five (after the 2016 model year), and sticks with front-wheel drive. The first-gen has 35-38 miles of range. 2016 and later models got about 53 miles of all-electric range before the gas engine kicks in. So this is a decent choice if you have a bigger family, but live closer to work and don’t need AWD.
When NewDeal Pre-Owned Autos got a Chevy Volt in stock, it did a walk around on TikTok and had to admit that “priced at $5,988” the hybrid was absurdly “budget friendly.”
“So this vehicle is gonna be a hybrid, which means you can run it on gas or electric.” Charge it at home to commute cheaply, or fill up the tank for longer trips.
It’s the commuter workhorse. Less funky than the i3, but roomier. If you want simple, proven, and cheap to run, the Volt’s your pick. A final option is the Cadillac ELR, which is a premium coupe on the same chassis. Not exactly a family-sized car, but a unique and cool luxury vehicle. See the volt for yourself in the video below:
Check out used Chevrolet Volt listings.
A two-car garage that prioritizes value over flash
So there it is. One big reliable crossover for the family. One small EV for your commute. You’ll spend less, stress less, and drive longer. Bonus points if you buy used vehicles old enough to avoid depreciation but new enough to avoid headaches.
