About
A 2003 Tacoma and a 2015 Tacoma share a name. They do not share a frame, an engine family, or a failure mode. We rate generations, not nameplates, because that distinction is the whole point.
No dealer money. Ratings stay independent.
We have no financial relationship with any dealer, manufacturer, or car-buying service. No lead fees. No referral commissions. No sponsored placements. No paid score adjustments. Ever.
When a vehicle has a known frame rust problem, the score says so. When a generation's transmission fails at 80,000 miles, we document it. A score that goes up because someone paid us is not a score worth reading.
Our Modernize section has affiliate links for accessories like head units and backup cameras, clearly disclosed on every page. Those links never touch the vehicle ratings. The wall is structural: scoring is formula-driven from raw data, and the formulas have no knowledge of what we link to anywhere else on the site.
The site runs on Google AdSense, affiliate commissions from the Modernize section, and reader support. None of that influences scores or which vehicles get covered.
How scoring works
Each vehicle gets five sub-scores from 0 to 10. The composite (0–100) is a weighted sum of those five, rounded to the nearest whole number. Weights vary by segment because a commuter car and a truck are not competing on the same criteria.
For the editorial view of what each sub-score actually measures and what tags like “Good first car” and “Hidden gem” mean, read what makes a good used car and the dedicated good used first car guide.
Composite formula: composite = round(rel×wR + cost×wC + safe×wS + prac×wP + rep×wRep)
Sub-scores pull from RepairPal reliability data, NHTSA and IIHS safety ratings, EPA fuel economy figures, TireRack parts pricing, and generation-specific technical research including TSBs, complaint databases, and owner forums.
Score weights by segment
Weights sum to 10. The composite score equals the sum of (sub-score × weight) across all five categories.
Commuter / Sedan
Sports / Performance
SUV
Truck / Commercial
Off-road
Luxury
What each sub-score measures
Reliability
Five inputs combine to produce a score from 3.0 to 10.0. RepairPal rating (0–5 stars) carries 30% of the weight. Unscheduled visit frequency and severe repair probability each carry 25%. The chance of reaching 250,000 miles carries 15%. Annual repair cost relative to the fleet carries 5%. We normalize each input against fixed anchors derived from the observed fleet range (e.g., RepairPal 2.0 = lowest observed, 4.5 = highest, annual cost $286 = cheapest, $1,286 = most expensive), then map the weighted composite to the final scale. Scores round to the nearest 0.5.
norm_rating = clamp((repairpal_rating − 2.0) ÷ 2.5, 0, 1)
norm_visits = clamp(1 − (unscheduled_visits − 0.2) ÷ 0.9, 0, 1)
norm_severe = clamp(1 − (severe_pct − 5) ÷ 15, 0, 1)
norm_250k = clamp((chance_250k_pct − 20) ÷ 50, 0, 1)
norm_cost = clamp(1 − (annual_cost − 286) ÷ 1000, 0, 1)
composite = norm_rating×0.30 + norm_visits×0.25 + norm_severe×0.25 + norm_250k×0.15 + norm_cost×0.05
score = round((3.0 + composite × 7.0) × 2) ÷ 2True Annual Cost
Maintenance, tires, oil, and insurance. We exclude fuel because fuel cost depends on how you drive, not the car. We average two driver profiles: a 25-year-old male and a 40-year-old female, both with clean records and full coverage. The result maps linearly: $1,500 per year or less earns 10.0, and $6,000 per year or more earns 1.0.
avg_cost = (total_25m_annual + total_40f_annual) ÷ 2
score = round(clamp(10 − (avg_cost − 1500) ÷ 4500 × 9, 1, 10), 1)Safety
NHTSA overall stars and IIHS rating map to a fixed score via a lookup table. Electronic stability control standard earns a 0.5 bonus at the 5-star plus IIHS Good combination only. Generations with documented severe frame rust receive a hard cap of 6.0 regardless of crash test results.
Repairability
Headlight replacement cost is the primary input. A $25 halogen bulb and a $1,200 sealed LED assembly represent real differences in who can own this car long-term. The DIY cost maps to a benchmark score, which we adjust for retail availability. Parts availability at non-dealer retailers earns the score its final value. We deduct one point for vehicles where most parts are dealer-only or have been discontinued.
DIY cost under $50 → 10
DIY cost $50–$199 → 8
DIY cost $200–$499 → 6
DIY cost $500–$999 → 4
DIY cost $1,000+ → 2
Not at retail stores → −2 (minimum 1)
Dealer-only or discontinued parts → −1How we score practicality
Practicality is not a gut feel. Every score comes from published manufacturer specifications using a documented formula. The inputs and anchors appear below. We do not compare scores across segments. We score a Miata against other sports cars, not against minivans.
Commuter / Sedan
Two inputs: trunk space (cu ft) and rear legroom (in). Cargo carries 60% of the weight, legroom 40%. The floor anchor is the Honda Civic 7th Gen (12.9 cu ft, 33.7 in rear legroom) which scores 7.9. The ceiling is the Honda Accord 10th Gen (16.7 cu ft, 40.4 in) which scores 9.5. All commuters land between those two points based on where their specs fall.
cargo_norm = clamp((trunk_cuft − 12.9) ÷ 3.8, 0, 1)
legroom_norm = clamp((rear_legroom_in − 33.7) ÷ 6.7, 0, 1)
score = 7.9 + (cargo_norm × 0.60 + legroom_norm × 0.40) × 1.6Sports / Performance: 2-seat cars
Two-seat sports cars have no rear seat, so rear legroom is irrelevant. Scored on cargo space only, on a compressed scale from 3.0 to 5.5. The floor is the Mazda MX-5 Miata NA (3.9 cu ft). Any car with 15 cu ft or more reaches the 5.5 ceiling. A buyer choosing a Miata knows what they are signing up for. The score confirms it.
cargo_norm = clamp((trunk_cuft − 3.9) ÷ 11.1, 0, 1)
score = 3.0 + cargo_norm × 2.5Sports / Performance: 5-seat sports sedans
Sports sedans (Kia Stinger, Chevrolet SS, Pontiac G8) seat five adults and have real trunk space. They use the same cargo and rear legroom formula as commuters, with the same anchors. A buyer comparing a Stinger to a Camry deserves to know the Stinger has more cargo. The sports segment weight for practicality is 0.5, the lowest of any segment, so this score has limited impact on the composite. It is shown because it is true.
cargo_norm = clamp((trunk_cuft − 12.9) ÷ 3.8, 0, 1)
legroom_norm = clamp((rear_legroom_in − 33.7) ÷ 6.7, 0, 1)
score = 7.9 + (cargo_norm × 0.60 + legroom_norm × 0.40) × 1.6SUV
Three inputs: seating capacity, maximum cargo volume, and fuel economy. Seating is the largest factor because a third row changes who can use the vehicle. The 6.0 base represents a standard 5-seat crossover. Minivans and large 3-row SUVs earn the highest scores because they are genuinely the most practical vehicles in the segment.
seat_bonus = 0 (5 seats) | 1.5 (7 seats) | 2.5 (8 seats) | 3.0 (9+ seats)
cargo_bonus = clamp((cargo_max_cuft − 55) ÷ 95 × 1.5, 0, 1.5)
mpg_bonus = clamp((mpg_combined − 13) ÷ 19 × 0.5, 0, 0.5)
score = round((6.0 + seat_bonus + cargo_bonus + mpg_bonus) × 2) ÷ 2Truck
Cab configuration is the primary input. A regular cab seats three people. A crew cab seats five and adds meaningful daily usability. Towing capacity adds up to 1.0 point for trucks with confirmed data. Fuel economy adjusts the score within a small window around the truck average of 17 mpg.
base = 7.0 (regular/extended cab, 3 seats) | 8.5 (crew cab, 5 seats)
tow_bonus = 0 (no data or under 3,000 lbs) | 0.5 (3,000–5,999) | 0.75 (6,000–9,999) | 1.0 (10,000+)
mpg_adj = clamp((mpg_combined − 17) ÷ 10, −0.5, 0.5)
score = round((base + tow_bonus + mpg_adj) × 2) ÷ 2Off-road
Off-road vehicles start from a 5.0 base and earn points from ground clearance, cargo capacity, and towing. Ground clearance is the primary input because it directly determines where the vehicle can go. The Toyota 4Runner leads this segment with the highest cargo volume and confirmed 5,000 lb tow. Wranglers score lower on cargo because their 31 cu ft maximum is genuinely small for a 4-door vehicle.
gc_bonus = 0 (under 8 in) | 0.5 (8–8.9 in) | 1.0 (9–9.9 in) | 1.5 (10+ in)
cargo_bonus = clamp((cargo_max_cuft − 28) ÷ 72 × 1.0, 0, 1.0)
tow_bonus = 0 (no data or under 3,000 lbs) | 0.5 (3,000–4,999) | 1.0 (5,000+)
score = round((5.0 + gc_bonus + cargo_bonus + tow_bonus) × 2) ÷ 2Luxury
Three inputs: seating capacity, maximum cargo volume, and fuel economy. The 6.0 base reflects that even a basic luxury sedan delivers a competent ownership experience. Full-size luxury SUVs with third-row seating and large cargo volumes earn the top of the range. Compact luxury sedans (BMW 3 Series, Audi A4) score in the 6.5 range because trunk space and seating are equivalent to a mid-grade commuter car.
seat_bonus = 0 (5 seats) | 1.0 (7 seats) | 2.0 (8+ seats)
cargo_bonus = clamp((cargo_max_cuft − 10) ÷ 80 × 1.5, 0, 1.5)
mpg_bonus = clamp((mpg_combined − 12) ÷ 18 × 0.5, 0, 0.5)
score = round((6.0 + seat_bonus + cargo_bonus + mpg_bonus) × 2) ÷ 2Body style and fold-flat bonus
The segment formulas above use cargo volume in cubic feet, which treats a sedan trunk and a hatchback as equal when the numbers match. They are not equal. A hatchback carries a bicycle. A sedan trunk does not. After the segment baseline, we apply a small body-style and fold-flat bonus, clamped between 1 and 10.
In commuter, sports, and luxury segments, hatchbacks and liftbacks earn 0.5 above the sedan baseline. Wagons earn 0.8 (hatch access plus extra cargo length). Coupes pay 0.3 (cramped rear seat, partial trunk). Convertibles pay 0.5 (rear seat is decorative, trunk is tiny). Flat-folding rear seats earn 0.3 in hatch or wagon bodies, 0.1 in sedans (limited use through the trunk pass-through).
SUVs are hatches by definition, so the body bonus does not apply. Instead, an SUV with a 3rd row that folds flat earns 0.5. A 3rd row that tumbles or removes earns 0.2. Trucks and minivans use their segment baseline only.
hatch / liftback → +0.5
wagon → +0.8
coupe → −0.3
convertible → −0.5
flat-fold rear (hatch / wagon) → +0.3
flat-fold rear (sedan) → +0.1
SUV: 3rd row folds flat → +0.5
SUV: 3rd row tumble / removable → +0.2
final = clamp(baseline + bonus, 1, 10)Where the data comes from
Reliability: RepairPal annual maintenance cost, visit frequency, and severity rates. iSeeCars 250,000-mile survival data.
Safety: NHTSA crash test stars and rollover percentages. IIHS small overlap, side, and overall ratings.
Ownership cost: EPA fuel economy figures. TireRack installed tire pricing. Bankrate and Insurify insurance estimates by driver profile.
Technical: NHTSA technical service bulletins. Factory service manuals. NHTSA complaint database. Generation-specific enthusiast forums for high-mileage failure patterns.
Each vehicle page links back to the specific sources used for that generation.
Errors and corrections
If a score looks wrong or you have better data, email [email protected]. We update scores when the data warrants it.