Considering that brands like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi have all been around for over a century, you would expect they would have figured out how to make the automobile bulletproof and unkillable by now. Yet, we all know that isn’t the case because German cars, especially of the luxury variety, are notoriously more expensive to upkeep when compared to their Asian or American counterparts. Thus, although modern German cars may not be the most reliable out there, there are still some models that offer higher durability standards than others.

You see, we understand the appeal of the German automobile, and, in many ways, they offer refinement and performance their rivals cannot. Yet, just like everything, this performance comes at a cost and this cost weighs significantly on your wallet. Is it worth it? If you have the coin, hell yes it is! Yet, even then, we want to keep unnecessary repairs and roadside breakdowns to a minimum (although inevitable). Thus, join us as we break down ten very reliable German cars on the used market worth scooping up on a deal in 2025.

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10

2012 Mercedes-Benz C300/C350 (W204)

KBB Fair Purchase Price: $7,831

Our first well-built German car on the list is the facelifted W204 generation (2008-2015) 2012 Mercedes C350 sedan.

2012 Mercedes-Benz C350 Performance Specifications

The W204 generation C350 model is the quintessential Mercedes C-Class and its naturally aspirated V-6 engine remains one of the brand’s strongest engine platforms. The 3.5-liter V-6 is nowhere as complex and expensive to maintain as the mild-hybrid turbocharged engines in modern Mercedes models, all while providing impressive and smooth performance that never feels inadequate for the compact sedan.

C300 models offer significantly less power (228 horsepower), but the power output still feels acceptable for a luxury cruiser and the V-6 is pleasant to rev out. For less than $10,000, a well-maintained W204 C300/350 can provide years of service with relatively low upkeep costs compared to the equivalent BMW 3-Series of its era.

9

2015 Mini Cooper S

KBB Fair Purchase Price: $8,249

Is MINI a German brand? For all intentions and purposes, yes, it is. Yet, it was not until 2014 that the German-owned British brand finally debuted its most reliable engine platform to date, the 2.0-liter turbocharged B48 inline-four, in the F56 Mini Cooper S model.

2015 Mini Cooper S Performance Specifications

If you are going to buy any modern MINI model, make sure it offers the 2.0-liter turbocharged B48 inline-four. The B48 is a significant improvement from the previous generation in terms of durability and design, with the primary difference being the closed-deck construction of the block. The B48 turbo-four is by no means perfect, but it is the most reliable turbocharged engine in any MINI model to date and is a steal at under $10,000 on the 2015 Cooper S.

8

2015 Volkswagen GTI

KBB Fair Purchase Price: $9,375

If there was anything you could call a near-perfect German hot hatch, it would be the Mk7 Volkswagen GTI (2015-2021).

2015 Volkswagen GTI Performance Specifications

Although the 2025 hot hatch market is a shadow of its former self, the 2015 Volkswagen GTI remains a clear example of past greatness with its seamless blend of practicality and performance. The 2.0-liter turbocharged EA888 inline-four is the most developed turbocharged inline-four of all time and has been in production since 2008. Although the EA888 has its known quirks, for under $10,000 this Mk7 GTI platform offers incredible value without having to shell out crazy money.

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7

2016 Porsche Cayman

KBB Fair Purchase Price: $35,653

Volkswagen doesn’t feel premium enough for you? Let us introduce the 2016 Porsche Cayman, the last model year of the 981 generation (2012-2016).

2016 Porsche Cayman Performance Specifications

You may be inclined to believe you need at least a Cayman S to have fun, ideally, it would be a GTS, and the real dream is a race-ready GT4 model. We are here to say you don’t need any of that. The base model Cayman not only provides stunning performance and quality but also top-tier reliability, where 275 horsepower is a walk in the park for this overbuilt 2.7-liter naturally aspirated flat-six. The newer turbocharged 718 generation Cayman/Boxster has also proven to be very reliable, but upkeep costs have increased significantly compared to the relatively simple naturally-aspirated platforms.

6

2016 BMW 340i

KBB Fair Purchase Price: $13,117

What is the cheapest way into the driver’s seat of a 3.0-liter turbocharged B58 inline-six-powered vehicle? That would be the facelift (LCI) F30 generation 2016 BMW 340i.

2016 BMW F30 340i Performance Specifications

The immediate success of the B58 inline-six in 2016 was nothing short of a game-changer for BMW, and they have been reaping the benefits ever since. The N-Series turbocharged engines (2006-2015) that came before the B-Series were plagued by several key issues (as this was BMW’s first turbocharged inline-six platform) that the B-Series platform addressed. As far as value for your dollar with reliability in mind, few current engine platforms are as robust as the B58 inline-six, despite the fact it is not a perfect engine and the F30 is also not a perfect 3-Series.

5

2018 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe

KBB Fair Purchase Price: $79,351

BMW also feels too cheap for your taste? We understand. The 991.2 generation 2018 Porsche 911 Carrera will solve a lot of your problems (but, not all of them).

2018 Porsche 911 Carrera Performance Specifications

Is any 991.2 Porsche 911 model cheap to own or maintain? No. There is no 911 model, of any generation, that could be defined as “cheap” when it comes time to replace a part, regardless of what that part might be. Yet, as far as absolute quality is concerned, few German vehicles rival the 991.2 Porsche 911. The 2018 model year received a 92/100 J.D. Power score, the highest rating of any Porsche model, ever. The 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged engine is so under-stressed in the base model Carrera, that it’s almost comical to know how underrated this platform is in stock form and this fact pays dividends towards its long-term durability.

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4

2018 Mercedes E 300 Sedan

KBB Fair Purchase Price: $21,407

The Mercedes E-Class remains one of the finest German vehicles you could ever purchase and the W213 generation (2017-2023) offers impressive value for its price point.

2018 Mercedes-Benz E 300 Performance Specifications

The 2018 Mercedes E-Class was the last year of the non-hybridized Mercedes models, as in 2019, mild-hybrid technology was integrated across the Mercedes line-up. While this new hybrid tech saw significant efficiency improvements, the added cost was in increased complexity, upkeep cost, and long-term reliability. Thus, it could be thought that 2018 was a turning point for Mercedes as, even in 2025, mild-hybrid technology is still an unproven advancement with more questions than answers considering longevity.

3

2019 Audi A4

KBB Fair Purchase Price: $21,407

Next on our list is the fifth generation of the Audi A4 Sedan (2017-2024), powered by the 2.0-liter turbocharged EA888 inline-four.

2019 Audi A4 Performance Specifications

The 2018 Audi A4 has aged gracefully, and it’s hard to complain about any specific detail about this compact sedan other than the cost of parts. The Audi A4 Sedan can be considered a Volkswagen GTI wearing a nice suit and tie and that unfortunately means that when something breaks, it usually hurts more than it should. Despite this, the Evo 3 variant of the EA888 engine found in the 2018 A4 managed an impressive 5/5 Reliability Verdict from Consumer Reports, only joined by the updated 2023 A4 model.

2

2022 BMW M340i

KBB Fair Purchase Price: $41,572

The seventh generation (2019-2023) of the 3-Series Sedan carries over the B-Series engines that refined BMW’s standards for durability.

2022 BMW 3-Series Performance Specifications

The facelift (LCI) model of the G20 3-Series debuted in 2022, and the B58 inline-six also saw some minor revisions for the first time since 2018. Despite this, the largest notable change to the 3-Series was the new BMW Curved Display becoming standard across the sedan’s line-up. This upgrade ushered in a new era of BMW interior tech and quality levels that make the facelift G20 generation a worthy successor to the F30 generation.

When comparing the two gas-powered models, the fuel efficiency of the turbocharged inline-six M340i is more impressive than the turbo-four 330i, especially considering their performance gap. If it were up to us, the M340i is the obvious pick among the two.

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1

2023 Audi A5

KBB Fair Purchase Price: $32,518

2021-2022 was a significant year for Audi in terms of introducing updated and new technology to their product line, including their mild-hybrid system and the Evo 4 variant of the EA888 staple turbo-four.

2023 Audi A5 Performance Specifications

The Evo 4 update of the EA888 makes this battle-tested engine the most developed turbo inline-four of any automaker in 2025. Although Audi’s mild hybrid system is still too young to understand its long-term durability, the Evo 4 EA888 is without a doubt the most robust turbo-four engine Volkswagen has ever produced. We will have to see if those two factors balance themselves out in terms of longevity, but as it stands, the 2022 and 2023 Audi A5 both received 5/5 Reliability Verdicts from Consumer Reports, the best of their generation.