What sedan should I buy?
Looking for a reliable, affordable sedan for highway commute: After putting 215,000 miles on my 2016 Sentra, I’m in the market for a new (or lightly used) sedan.
I drive about 80 miles round trip, 5 days a week, almost entirely on the highway. At this point, I really don’t care about technology, luxury, performance, or looks. I just want something that is:
Reliable
Great on gas
Affordable to maintain
Easy and inexpensive to repair
Comfortable enough for a long daily commute
$28,000 or less
I’m not interested in hybrids. Since most of my driving is highway, I don’t think the MPG advantage is worth the added complexity/cost for my situation. Plus, most of the hybrids I’ve looked at are outside my budget. The other problem is CVTs. I really dislike them, but it seems like almost every affordable sedan now comes with one.
Cars I’ve considered:
New 2026 Hyundai Elantra SE: I test drove one and was actually impressed. It was very smooth and comfortable, but I’m unsure about long-term reliability and maintenance costs.
Used 2025 Mazda3: Probably my favorite option mechanically because it has a traditional automatic. However, it wasn’t as smooth as the Elantra, the back seat is pretty cramped, and insurance is surprisingly expensive.
Used 2025 Honda Civic Sport: I test drove one and liked how it drove. It was smooth, but there was quite a bit of road noise. It also seems pretty expensive, especially for a used car that's only a year old.
Toyota Corolla: I’ve considered these too, but they seem relatively expensive for what you get, and insurance quotes have also been higher than I expected.
So, what am I missing?
Are there any other sedans I should consider that fit a $28,000 or less budget, get good highway MPG, and have a reputation for being reliable and inexpensive to maintain?
I’d appreciate hearing from people who actually own these cars or have put significant mileage on them. What has your experience been with reliability, maintenance, insurance, highway comfort, and MPG?
It’s sad that automakers stopped caring about making simple, affordable, entry level sedans. I don’t need a bunch of technology. I just want something I can drive for another 200,000 miles without constantly worrying about it.
What would you buy?