I'm not interested in initial quality awards. I want to know which cars have the best track record for staying reliable over a decade or more. Cars with best track record for long-term ownership without major repairs. What models consistently show up in high-mileage listings and owner testimonials as being trouble-free over the long haul?
For cars with best track record over 10+ years, the Toyota Land Cruiser is legendary. They regularly go 300k+ miles with proper care. The Lexus LS430 from the early 2000s is another one that just keeps going. These are vehicles where the engineering was overbuilt from the start, not designed to minimum specifications.
The Honda Civic and Accord have incredible track records. Go on any used car site and you'll find 15-20 year old examples with 250k+ miles still running. They're not exciting but they're durable. The Toyota Corolla is in the same category. These are cars designed for global markets where reliability is more important than features.
What's interesting about cars with best track record is that they often have mediocre resale value initially because they're common and not exciting. But at 10+ years, the ones that are still running become valuable precisely because they've proven their durability. A 15-year-old Camry with 200k miles that still runs perfectly has value because it's a known quantity.