Trawling the used car market for a reliable car can be a minefield of seemingly amazing-looking bargains that end up being dogs, or perhaps vehicles that look fit for the scrap heap but can end up tackling another few hundred thousand miles with ease. Opting for a Toyota has always been a safe bet, given the Japanese manufacturer's consistently impressive performance in reliability rankings.

This is illustrated by its luxury brand Lexus claiming victory in five of the past seven J.D. Power Dependability Studies, with Toyota not far behind. HotCars thus tracked down the 12 cheapest Toyotas to maintain ever to help you find the best cheap, used hero.

How we made our model selections: HotCars considered all Toyota models ever made to find the cheapest to maintain on a yearly basis. We used the trusted consumer site RepairPal to source all pricing information. The price listed is the expected average yearly maintenance cost of every model year combined for the particular model.

12 Solara: $397 Per Year

Toyota Solara Specs

(Source: RepairPal, Kelley Blue Book)

Kicking off the list is the Camry-based Solara coupe, which is expected to cost its owner around $397 per year to keep going. The Toyota Solara features the same range of engines and underpinnings as the Camry sedan, with the base 2.4-liter four-cylinder unit joining a 3.3-liter V6 in the line-up. The Solara represents an affordable and reliable mid-size coupe should the Camry's sedan body put you off.

11 Matrix: $396 Per Year

Toyota Matrix Specs

(Source: RepairPal, Kelley Blue Book)

Developed in partnership with General Motors' Pontiac division, the brand's Vibe being crowned its most reliable car by HotCars, the Matrix was derived from the long-standing Corolla. It was positioned as a sporty version of the model and was offered with a range of four-cylinder engines throughout its life. It was built between 2002 and 2014 before the manufacturer elected to focus solely on the Corolla in the US.

10 Camry: $388 Per Year

Toyota Camry Specs

(Source: RepairPal, Kelley Blue Book)

One of Toyota's longest-standing models, the trusty Camry only just squeaks into the top ten on this list. The mid-size sedan offers decent value as a modern-day commuter car, with latter versions available in a range of efficient four-cylinder engines. Its $388 yearly maintenance expectation is still a strong result, with later versions most commonly suffering from issues with the seat belt buckle switch.

9 Previa: $374 Per Year

Toyota Previa Specs

(Source: RepairPal, Kelley Blue Book)

The Previa MPV is next up, the family-friendly vehicle offered in the US between 1991 and 1997. It was unique in that the engine was installed in the middle of the car, like a performance vehicle. A range of four-cylinder powerplants were offered. It represented a practical offering for large families during the 1990s until it was replaced by the US-designed Sienna MPV in 1998.

8 Celica: $367 Per Year

Toyota Celica Specs

(Source: RepairPal, Kelley Blue Book)

The sleek Celica was Toyota's budget sporty offering below the Supra during the 1990s, though it outlived its bigger brother by making it to 2005. The two-door coupe came with a 1.8-liter four-pot that made 140 hp, though a turbocharged version of the unit was also available with 190 hp. While being arguably one of Toyota's most purposeful modern designs, it's also one of the cheapest to maintain at $367 a year.

7 Corolla: $362 Per Year

Toyota Corolla Specs

(Source: RepairPal, Kelley Blue Book)

The longest-standing model on this list, having begun production in 1962, the Corolla is one of Toyota's biggest success stories. The little car has crafted a reputation of being cheap and dependable transport for the masses, its $362 yearly maintenance cost illustrating this. A total of 12 generations have patrolled the streets, with later models following tradition and being offered with a range of four-cylinder engines.

6 T100: $355 Per Year

Toyota T100 Specs

(Source: RepairPal, Kelley Blue Book)

The T100 was a full-size pickup offered by Toyota above the traditional mid-size Pickup model. Available with a range of V6s and a single inline-four, it was the precursor to the popular Tundra nameplate. The durable truck managed to clamber its way into the top six with a strong $355 yearly maintenance outlay.

5 Echo: $336 Per Year

Toyota Echo Specs

(Source: RepairPal, Kelley Blue Book)

The short-lived Echo model was essentially a stretched version of the Yaris city car. Having been built on the same foundations, it also came with the same range of four-cylinder powerplants that ranged from 1.0 to 1.8 liters in displacement. It was eventually dropped in 2005 as Toyota elected to focus on the Yaris model instead.

4 Yaris: $333 Per Year

Toyota Yaris Specs

(Source: RepairPal, Kelley Blue Book)

The Yaris slots in just ahead of its larger sibling, the city car offered all over the world despite being culled from the US market in 2020 due to declining sales. A range of economy-focused four-cylinder engines were offered when it was on sale. Not many issues are reported with the little vehicle on RepairPal, with vibrations brought on by broken motor mounts being the most reported problem.

3 Cressida: $331 Per Year

Toyota Cressida Specs

(Source: RepairPal, Kelley Blue Book)

The Cressida is a rare sight on US roads, having been axed from the market way back in 1992. Placed above the Camry as a full-size sedan in Toyota's line-up, the Cressida came with a meaty 3.0-liter V6. While arguably being one of the brand's more forgotten models, its low $331 yearly maintenance costs get it on the podium in this ranking. It also makes a unique JDM project.

2 Tercel: $322 Per Year

Toyota Tercel Specs

(Source: RepairPal, Kelley Blue Book)

The fun-sized Tercel was the predecessor to the Yaris in the US market, having been produced between 1972 and 1998. Available in sedan and hatchback forms, it came with a range of four-cylinder engines like its successor. A 1.5-liter turbodiesel was also an option. Despite the Yaris being more modern, the Tercel bests it in terms of yearly maintenance costs at a bargain $322.

1 Paseo: $306 Per Year

Toyota Paseo Specs

(Source: RepairPal, Kelley Blue Book)

The most affordable Toyota to maintain ever made is the Paseo coupe, which is based on this ranking's runner-up ranking, the Tercel. It was positioned as a cheap entry-level sports model below the Celica. Its understated underpinnings may not give it the most sporting pretensions, though this works in the Paseo's favor from a durability standpoint.

It didn't feature as large a range of powerplants as the Tercel, being offered primarily with the 1.5-liter inline-four. Its simple design helps it to earn a tiny yearly maintenance cost of just $306. For any drivers after a cheap, used Toyota, look no further than the Paseo.