12 Easiest Cars to Work On [Easy for Beginners] • Road Sumo

Car mechanics and technicians know what car models are easy to work on. If you also want to tinker with a car, it helps if you choose one that isn’t too difficult. So, what are the easiest cars to work on?

Based on their engine design, body design, and essential features, the cars that are the easiest to work on are the following:

Toyota Corolla
Jeep Wrangler
Honda Accord
Subaru BRZ
Chevrolet Cruze
Nissan Altima
Subaru Outback
Honda Civic
Toyota Tacoma
Hyundai Genesis Coupe
Honda CR-V
Ford Crown Victoria

Read on to learn more about the easiest cars that you can work on, why they are easy to work on, and other details about them that you will need to know in making your buying decision.

12 Easiest Cars to Work On

There are many cars with simple mechanisms that were very easy to maintain and repair in the past. To repair and replace a broken part, a mechanic used only a few tools such as the wrench and other simple tools. They can make a car rerun easily.

That has changed immensely with the merging of computerized electronics with car manufacturing. Modern cars are so advanced that car mechanics have transformed themselves into car technicians to make cars run again.

Meaning, they don’t just have to know how to repair simple car parts but can diagnose and recommend the necessary car repairs with computer tech aid. Car repair is no longer as simple as it was many decades ago.

Even then, some car models are easier to maintain and repair than others. Thankfully, car buyers have latched on to this idea. It appears that the most sought-after cars in the market today are those which are the easiest cars to work on for beginners.

So, if you do not think twice about fixing your car and getting down and dirty, you need to know which modern cars are straightforward to maintain and repair. Fortunately, there are several of them. I just picked out the vehicles that are the easiest to repair and maintain.

1. Toyota Corolla

The Toyota Corolla is one of the easiest cars to work on. It needs fewer repairs. Its overall design did not change that much through the years. Of course, its latest versions are equipped with modern tech. At times, this tech may seem to work as a barrier in its upkeep and repair.

However, its spare parts are easily available and are relatively cheap. It is so mainstream learning its mechanisms are relatively easy. Therefore, the Corolla is straightforward to repair and maintain. Its engine and engine parts are also easily accessible, making it easy for mechanics and car technicians to do the necessary repairs.

One thing that makes the Corolla easy to work on is that it does not use a timing belt. Instead, it has a timing chain making its maintenance pretty straightforward. The Toyota Corolla has a reputation for being long-lasting. The body of this car will fall apart before its engine does.

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2. Jeep Wrangler

The overall shape and design of the Jeep Wrangler did not change that much over the years. Its engine has been updated, but its classic body design remained the same. This vehicle is also straightforward to maintain. With easily accessible spare parts, it is also straightforward to repair.

The drivetrain and suspension of this vehicle are superb. They are built pretty straightforward, making them very easy to fix if something bad happens to them. This vehicle is built with parts that work like a puzzle. The puzzle is composed of only four pieces, so you can easily complete the puzzle.

Its engine compartment is wide, with every component easily laid out. So if you need to look at something, repair it, or replace it, it is straightforward. For an off-roader, this is good because you can easily repair it even if you are out on the boondocks.

3. Honda Accord

The Honda Accord is one of the mass-produced cars of Honda. It is primarily designed for families. Being produced on a large scale and still heavily promoted today, huge Accords are running the streets.

That means its spare parts are easily accessible. Therefore, repair and maintenance are usually not a problem. If you are willing to get down and dirty, this is your car. This car was so designed so that nearly everything in it is straightforward to access. There should be no problem if a certain part is broken and you need to replace it.

4. Subaru BRZ

Another car that ranks at the top of the easiest cars to work on is the Subaru BRZ. Subaru has sold many units of this model, most of which are still running on the streets. That means there are many spare parts of this car available in the market to support them.

Additionally, the overall design of this car is relatively simple. You can modify it easily as well. Some people jokingly refer to this car as ‘Toyotabaru’ perhaps because its upkeep and repair are easy, just like Toyota cars.

The engine bay setup makes it easy to access the engine, although the spark plugs are hard to reach. However, it is still relatively easy to do repair and maintenance on the engine bay. For one, most of the bolts in the engine can be interchanged.

Also, the timing belt and the chains are very accessible. These are the engine parts that often need checking and repair.

5. Chevrolet Cruze

The automaker’s latest updates to the Chevrolet Cruze made the car easier to maintain and repair. They made all the commonly used items more accessible to the driver and the owner. In short, improved accessibility.

The car design is very functional, which is somewhat rare in the industry. Its engine bay is well-organized, where every item that is often checked the most is obvious. It is effortless to identify the parts that need to be repaired or replaced. Every essential part is also accessible.

Furthermore, the parts of the car the often break down are widely available in the market. That’s why you can still see many Chevy Cruzes running around the streets in the US.

6. Nissan Altima

The engine of the Nissan Altima is robust and reliable. Many Altimas are still running the streets today because of the dependability of their engines. This car is easy to work on because instead of a timing belt, it uses a timing chain.

You don’t have to replace this chain as you would if the engine uses a timing belt unless it is really falling apart and broken. Should it fail, which is quite far in the future, you will be alerted by the noise. It is also accessible, as with the many parts of the engine.

However, there is one part that is quite difficult to replace. It is the headlight bulb. You may need to remove the bumper if you need to replace a busted headlight bulb. Even then, this car still ranks among the top cars that are easiest to work on.

7. Subaru Outback

The Subaru Outback encountered problems with its engine head gaskets. Since the carmaker resolved this issue, the Outback has performed well and is now among the top 10 in many lists of easy cars to work on. It is also one of the most reliable cars today.

This vehicle has an open engine layout where its cylinder configuration is horizontally opposed. It is the type of engine where the cylinders are not traveling vertically but horizontally from the ground.

This arrangement makes the engine very easy to examine and repair. Thus, any car tech that needs to check its operation can easily access most engine parts. Repairing and replacing broken parts are also very easy.

8. Honda Civic

The Honda Civic is one of the best-loved cars in the United States. Many Civics are running the streets of the country today. That means there is great technical support to this car model, even with its most recent upgrade. It is one of the easiest cars to work on for beginners.

The Civic is great in fuel economy. But one of its best offerings is its simplicity of maintenance and repair. The engine layout in a Civic is compact. It is also pretty straightforward, making it perform well on the road.

Starting in 2006, Honda removed parts of the Civic that have a replacement period. This move made this vehicle more dependable than before. Its upkeep also became easier. One of the changes made in this car was using a timing chain instead of a timing belt.

Timing chains usually have lifespans equal to the lifespans of car engines. This is another feature that makes the Honda Civic easier to work on.

9. Toyota Tacoma

The Toyota Tacoma is another Toyota vehicle model that delivers high performance. One of the reasons for this is the compact design of the engine. This engine design also makes it easy for owners and mechanics to check, repair or replace broken engine parts.

It is well-acknowledged that the Toyota Tacoma is a very functional truck. What needs to be known is that it is also one of the top vehicles that are easiest to work on. Tacomas are easy to repair and maintain. The average car owner won’t have much problem keeping this truck running.

Nothing is tricky about this truck’s design. Everything is visible and easily accessible. Many Tacomas are running in America’s streets, signifying that they are ably supported everywhere by car mechanics and technicians.

10. Hyundai Genesis Coupe

Another car that made it to our list is the Hyundai Genesis Coupe. This car offers ample space everywhere, including its engine bay. Thus, whenever repairs or regular maintenance is needed, the owner or the car mechanic can go about taking care of the car.

Nearly all the engine parts are obvious to the owner or mechanic. This is made possible by the design of the car. Even with modern car tech integration, the Hyundai Genesis Coupe still maintains the features that make it easy to maintain and repair.

11. Honda CR-V

Another Honda automobile has also made it to our list of the easiest cars to work on. This is the Honda CR-V, one of the most loved cars in the world. It is very dependable and very efficient, that’s why. This car also is very durable and experiences fewer problems than most cars in its class.

One thing that makes it easy to work on is its engine bay. The arrangement of the engine and its supportive parts is relatively simple and not in any way complex. Inspecting the engine parts and replacing them if necessary is not difficult.

All the important engine components are obvious and can be easily reached. Thus, this car is cheaper to repair and maintain.

12. Ford Crown Victoria

Last but not least on our list is the Ford Crown Victoria. There are many Victorias still running around (if you didn’t notice). Some of them are taxis and police cars. If they are still running, they must have plenty of spare parts support.

If only for that reason, they should be one of the very easy cars to work on – even if they are old and outdated. These cars offer the ultimate in parts replacement, making them easy to maintain and repair.

The Ford Crown Victoria was able to take the challenge posed by vehicles that are difficult to maintain and fix – and won.

Conclusion: Easy Cars to Work On

Whether you want to buy a brand new car or not, you should check if the car is easy to handle. And not easily fall for the marketing strategies of different brands.

The easiest cars to work on based on their body design, engine design, and salient features are the following: