Chevrolet has an impressive track record when it comes to the reliability of its cars, and recent entries to its smaller car lines are great examples of that.
Very few all-American automakers have the same legacy as Chevrolet when it comes to producing budget-friendly, dependable cars. Of course, some model years for specific nameplates that don’t exactly contribute to that, but there’s no shortage of reliable Chevrolets to choose from, particularly in recent years. While larger models such as the Tahoe, Suburban, and Silverado are great vehicles in their own right, the brand’s smaller vehicles have positioned Chevrolet to compete with the very best international competition.
As the market demands have evolved drastically throughout the 2010s, moving into the 2020s, Chevrolet’s lineup of these smaller cars has dwindled. The SUV segment is now responsible for keeping the automaker competitive in compact segments, many of which offer standout reliability themselves. However, the cars that recently met their fate due to the said SUVs, there’s also plenty of choice on the used market if you still want the bow-tie badge in a more condensed package. Here’s a look at 13 of the most reliable small Chevrolets you can buy new and used, ranging from hybrid hatchbacks to all-practical compact SUVs. 2025 Chevrolet Malibu
For the 2025 model year, the Malibu is the only sedan that Chevrolet sells new. When it comes to the cars on sale overall, the Corvette sits next to the Malibu among the ever-growing fleet of trucks and SUVs, but the latter is the only of its kind from the American manufacturer. However, Chevrolet has discontinued the Malibu, becoming another affordable car to make way for the electric vehicles of the future. While it’s certainly a shame to lose one of the last-remaining all-American sedans, the latest 2025 model remains a solid choice within the segment, holding its own against some of the most popular cars on the road.
Starting at $25,800 with a $1,195 destination charge on top for the base LS trim, the 2025 Malibu isn’t quite the cheapest model on sale from Chevrolet, but it still comes in at a price point below key rivals such as the Honda Accord. Under the hood of the new Malibu is a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 163 hp and 183 lb-ft of torque, which is also good for 31 mpg combined. Alongside keeping fuel costs down, J.D. Power also reports a reliability score of 84/100. Combined with a yearly maintenance cost of $532, the outgoing Malibu is certainly worthy of consideration if you’re in the market for an all-around budget-friendly mid-sized sedan.2019 Chevrolet Cruze
The Malibu may be the most recent car to leave the lineup, but Chevrolet has axed quite a few of its cars in recent years to meet the market’s demand for crossovers and SUVs. In 2011, Chevrolet introduced the compact Cruze to the U.S. market, which, while initially successful with this segment being a favorite at the time, didn’t fall in line with the brand’s vision that’s currently coming to life. Production for the Cruze ceased in 2019, putting Chevrolet’s venture into the compact sedan segment to an end.
The most recent Cruze may not feel quite as modern as some of the latest models from Chevrolet, particularly inside the cabin with its fairly small 7-inch center touchscreen and simple styling. KBB reports an average used price of a mere $8,256 for the base trim, only having to spend an average of $13,552 for the loaded, higher-spec Premier trim.
Under the hood, the 2019 models standard turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine produces a decent 153 hp, alongside a 33 mpg combined rating if you go for the nine-speed automatic transmission. A 1.6-liter diesel engine was also available, which boosted the rating to 37 mpg. Reliability also shouldn’t be a problem, with a great score of 87/100 from J.D. Power, topped off by a below-average repair cost of $545 per year, as per RepairPal.2021 Chevrolet Spark
While the Cruze didn’t make it into the 2020s, Chevrolet continued production of an even smaller nameplate, the subcompact Spark for a few more years. The Spark ticked almost every box for an urban daily driver, being small enough to maneuver in tight spaces, but that did come at the cost of interior space. Unsurprisingly, the Spark was subsequently discontinued in favor of crossover SUVs after sales started to decline. The Chevrolet Spark was produced up until 2022, but going back just one year gives us solid data for reliability at a lower price, for essentially the same car.
Another area where the Spark falls short on paper is outright performance, but as it’s such a small car, the 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing just 98 hp and 94 lb-ft of torque is enough to shift it through the streets. Chevrolet made up for the lower output through efficiency, with the 2021 Spark receiving a 33 mpg combined rating from the EPA.
You can pick up one of these tiny cars for an average price of $10,116 on average for the best trim according to KBB, and $11,026 for the ACTIV trim that gets a uniquely styled front fascia. Reliability data for the most recent model is limited from outlets such as J.D. Power, but the 2021 model gets an outstanding score of 88/100, coupled with a $434 annual repair cost per RepairPal.2025 Chevrolet Trax
General Motors is no stranger to undercutting its competition with Chevrolet’s low price points, and the Trax SUV comes in as the most affordable model currently on offer from the Detroit-based automaker. Introduced as a 2015 model for the first time, the Trax entered its second generation in 2024 and remains largely unchanged for 2025, becoming a larger, more practical compact SUV that aims to keep the costs down on all fronts.
