Consumer Reports, an American nonprofit magazine that studies the consumer properties of goods in the United States, released a list of the most reliable five-year-old sedans that are commonly found in the market. Many of these vehicles were either officially imported to Russia or arrived through gray-market channels, reflecting how global supply intersects with local demand.
Toyota Corolla
The top ranking belonged to the Toyota Corolla, a compact sedan whose 11th generation reached its final year in 2017. In Russia, the model came with a 7-inch infotainment display, a cluster display, and dual-zone climate control. Buyers could choose from three engines: 1.3, 1.6, or 1.8 liters.
Despite its modest size, the Corolla offers a surprisingly roomy cabin and ample rear legroom. The hybrid variant stands out for fuel economy, with driver surveys indicating an average consumption around 7.6 l/100 km. In Russia, 2017 Corollas were priced from about 1 million rubles for the standard version, while right-hand-drive used examples typically ranged between 700 and 800 thousand rubles. Classified-site reviews highlight low fuel costs, reliable engines, comfort, and overall practicality in resale. Critics note limited sound insulation and lower-quality audio. Some owners also remarked that Turkish assembly can struggle in harsh winter conditions.
Mazda6
The 2017 restyled Mazda 6 hit the market with two petrol options in Russia, 2.0 (150 hp) and 2.5 (192 hp), both paired with automatic transmissions. A notable feature of this generation is an intelligent system that reduces engine speed when turning the wheel to improve front-axle loading and tire grip on the road.
CR highlighted the Mazda 6 for driving pleasure, aesthetics, and efficient fuel use at about 7.8 l/100 km. Used prices for Mazda 6s hover around 1.3 million rubles.
Owners praise the five-year-old model for low fuel consumption and high-quality upholstery, along with increased ground clearance. Some complaints include a creaking armrest, insufficient lumbar support, and subpar sound insulation.
Toyota Camry
In Russia, the 2017 Camry lineup introduced new features, including a 10-inch touchscreen with Android compatibility and the first model in the region to ship with pre-installed Yandex services. The range-topping version featured a 3.5-liter engine producing 249 horsepower.
Despite a general decline in sedan popularity, the Camry has remained a steady seller due to its spaciousness, quiet ride, comfort, and reliability. The sedan’s average fuel consumption stands around 8.4 l/100 km. Russia-market used Camrys start at roughly 1.4 million rubles. Five-year-old owners praise the engine, interior trim, comfort, and reliability, yet many note limited ground clearance, aging audio, and higher maintenance costs.
Honda Accord
By 2015, Honda reduced its footprint in Russia and pulled several models, including the Accord, from official sale. Nonetheless, several Accord variants continued to be imported, including Japan-sourced right-hand-drive units. The dominant local offerings are hybrids around 143 or 212 horsepower with CVTs, and a 250-horsepower automatic version is also available. The average fuel consumption is about 8.4 l/100 km.
CR described the Accord as practical, dependable, economical, and even having sporty potential in certain configurations. In the second-hand market, a five-year-old Accord typically costs around 1.7 million rubles. Russian owners cite strong dynamics, stylish looks, confident handling, engine reliability, and winter performance, while noting that road conditions sometimes limit overall practicality.
Volkswagen Passat
The Passat B8 stands out as the sole non-Japanese member of the top five. Built on the MQB platform, it shares underpinnings with several Volkswagen Group models like the Skoda Superb and the Audi A3. In higher trim levels, a 180-horsepower engine accelerates to 100 km/h in under eight seconds, with a digital dashboard, three-zone climate control, and parking sensors as options.
CR remarks that the Passat offers generous rear seating and trunk space. Its 1.8-liter turbo engine delivers efficiency for a mid-size sedan, averaging around 7.8 l/100 km. In the Russian market, a Passat from the B8 generation is typically priced from 1 to 3 million rubles. Some owners report a lower seating position and higher interior noise, but many praise the roomy cabin, smooth suspension, strong torque, and ample trunk space.
Subaru Legacy
The fifth-generation Legacy left the Russian market in 2015 but returned later in the sixth generation. The model offered a 2.5-liter engine with 175 horsepower paired to a CVT, and it remained the only all-wheel-drive sedan in CR’s ranking.
CR lauded the Subaru for a comfortable ride and confident handling, noting it was the most affordable all-wheel-drive mid-size sedan available. Average fuel consumption hovered around 8.7 l/100 km. The current five-year-old Legacy is rare on sale, with some orders fulfilled through regional dealers at roughly 1.3 million rubles.
Owners of the later-generation Legacy report issues such as sound insulation weaknesses, vibrations over bumps, and cheaper interior plastics. The EyeSight driver-assistance system’s reliability is also a common point of concern. Yet the car’s symmetrical all-wheel drive offers balanced torque distribution and quick throttle response, which many drivers value highly.
Toyota Avalon
The Avalon rounds out the top five five-year-old sedans in the CR assessment, though it is not officially sold in Russia. Since 1994, Avalon has largely served the North American market as Toyota’s flagship front-wheel-drive sedan, stretching close to five metres in length and spanning five generations. The 2022 model year marked the last for Avalon as Toyota shifted focus to SUVs and electrified vehicles.
CR notes that Avalon can compete with premium models on many fronts, including comfort and refinement, with an average fuel consumption around 8.4 l/100 km. In Russia, Avalon listings are scarce, with prices starting near 2.1 million rubles. The sedan’s powertrain features a 3.5-liter engine delivering about 268 horsepower, plus a suite of active safety systems, memory seats, multi-zone climate control, and other luxury touches.
As part of the study, CR combined their own testing with feedback from around 300,000 owners who evaluated the vehicles on seven criteria: reliability, economy, driving experience, comfort, cost, appearance, and ease of media-system control. They also asked owners whether they would buy the same car again, providing a broad view of owner sentiment. (CR attribution)