Discussions in enthusiast communities often involve some compromise. They want a car that's cheap, but fast; luxurious, but reliable; fun, but practical... you get it. There is a curse to being interested in cool cars because they have to do far more than just simple transportation.But maybe you don't need your car to do any of those superficial enthusiast tasks. You don't need something fast, ridiculously luxurious, or particularly fun to drive. You want something that will get you from here to there with no issues, for a really good price. That's exactly why we've decided to compile a list of ten extremely cheap and reliable Japanese cars that will do their job without fuss or drama and get you where you need to go for cheap.As well as being some of the world's most reliable cars, all of the cars on this list are cheaper than $15,000 on the used market in excellent condition today, and a few will have the bonus of also being fun.Advertised reliability scores and maintenance costs are sourced from credible outlets like KBB, J.D. Power, and RepairPal. Factory engine output specifications are sourced directly from each car's respective manufacturer. Additionally, any high-mileage examples have been sourced from real-world owners on forums like Reddit, among other sites. Average used values are sourced from Classic.com and the CarGurus Pricing Index. 2009 Honda Fit Reliability Score: 83/100 Honda Specs The Honda Fit is like that kid from school who was a straight-A student, a first-team all-American football player, and a nice guy all at the same time. He did everything well, and you just couldn't hate the guy. The Honda Fit may have been a bit small for football, but that's besides the point. The Honda Fit does it all – amazing practicality and cargo room for its size, great fuel economy, a dash of fun, and a bunch of quirky features and hidden surprises.Its little 1.5-liter four-banger wasn't much, but it was more than enough for regular city and highway driving. Additionally, it offers a choice between a five-speed automatic and manual transmission. There's also the Sport trim Honda Fit that, when coupled with a manual, can be a serious backroad hero. Regardless, the Fit will embody whichever role you need it in. Reliability RepairPal Annual Maintenance Costs: $362 Highest Mileage Recorded: 500,000 (MX-5Miata.net) J.D. Power Reliability Score: 83/100 KBB Consumer Reliability Rating: 4.8/5 2009 Honda Civic Reliability Score: 83/100 Honda Specs (Base) The Honda Civic's four-cylinder VTEC motors are possibly the most reliable engines of all time. For 2009, the base engine was a 1.8-liter unit that pumped out 140 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque. Again, it wasn't setting anyone's hair on fire, but these engines were overbuilt and understressed, meaning that this motor wouldn't even break a sweat under full load and maximum rpm.If you were feeling sporty, you could opt for the Civic Si, which came with a bigger 2.0-liter VTEC four-pot making 197 horses and 139 pound-feet. But no matter which one you got, the Civic came with a manual or automatic transmission option (both five-speeds). You probably know someone who has an eighth-generation Civic like this with 200,000+ miles, and it's no wonder... these things are unkillable. Reliability RepairPal Annual Maintenance Costs: $368 Highest Mileage Recorded: 613,000 (Reddit) J.D. Power Reliability Score: 83/100 KBB Consumer Reliability Rating: 4.7/5 2010 Mazda Mazda3 Reliability Score: 83/100 Mazda Specs (Base) Other than the Miata, the Mazda3 is this Japanese brand's longest-running modern nameplate. It debuted in 2003 and has evolved over the years from base models to Mazdaspeed variants, to what is now one of the best cheap cars on the market. But in 2010, the Mazda3 was arguably at its most reliable.The standard 2.0-liter inline-four was a simple DOHC motor connected to a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission, offered in either sedan or hatchback body styles. It's nothing truly special, but journalists loved the hatchback Sport models for their perfect mix of engagement and daily drivability. This is surely one that you can have a bit of fun with if you want to. Reliability RepairPal Annual Maintenance Costs: $433 Highest Mileage Recorded: 571,000 (Reddit) J.D. Power Reliability Score: 83/100 KBB Consumer Reliability Rating: 4.8/5 2008 Mazda MX-5 Miata Reliability Score: 86/100 Mazda Specs At the beginning, we mentioned that there might be a few cars that deliver more fun than others, and the 2008 Miata is the epitome of that sentiment. For 30+ years, the Miata has been one of the best driver's cars in the world while maintaining bulletproof reliability. It's light, has incredible chassis dynamics, and comes with a manual transmission as standard.The 2008 Miata, our featured car, is probably the best of them all. They aren't as desirable as first or second-gen Miatas, and that's kept prices down on the second-hand market. The 166-horsepower 2.0-liter is a subtle engine, though it is more than enough for a car this size, and will deliver the fuel economy you'd expect. There's also a huge number of these cars floating around, meaning you can likely have the pick of the litter, depending on your preferred specs. Reliability RepairPal Annual Maintenance Costs: $429 Highest Mileage Recorded: 493,000 (Reddit) J.D. Power Reliability Score: 86/100 KBB Consumer Reliability Rating: 4.8/5 2009 Toyota Yaris Reliability Score: 86/100 Toyota Specs The Toyota Yaris is the most affordable car on this list. Its small stature and tiny powerplant put it in a different class compared to the bigger Civics and Corollas of the world, but if you need reliable transportation, the Yaris is a great choice. We've landed on the 2009 Yaris, which came standard with a 1.5-liter inline-four producing a meager 106 horsepower and 103 pound-feet of torque.Transmission options included a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic, and body styles ranged from a four-door sedan to either a three or five-door hatchback. These little 1.5-liter motors are well-known for their durability and ease of maintenance, being extremely simple in design. And now, this Yaris has an incredibly affordable average used value of $6,040. Reliability RepairPal Annual Maintenance Costs: $299 Highest Mileage Recorded: 900,000 (Reddit) J.D. Power Reliability Score: 86/100 KBB Consumer Reliability Rating: 4.9/5 2015 Toyota Prius Reliability Score: 88/100 Via: Toyota Specs (Base) The Prius has been the butt of countless jokes over its 25-year production run, but you can't deny the robustness of these egg-shaped econoboxes. They have routinely hit extremely high mileage and continue to sell like hotcakes around the world. Our pick, the 2015 Prius, came with a 1.8-liter Inline-4 hybrid powertrain capable of 134 horsepower and 105 pound-feet of torque.There isn't much fun to be had here with its CVT transmission, but it makes up for that in fuel economy and reliability. In the city, where efficiency is much lower, the Prius still delivers 51 mpg, and with a stellar 88 out of 100 from J.D. Power's reliability rankings, it's a no-brainer if you want trustworthy wheels. Currently, average used values sit around $12,351 for a 2015 model. Reliability RepairPal Annual Maintenance Costs: $421 Highest Mileage Recorded: 500,000 (Facebook) J.D. Power Reliability Score: 88/100 KBB Consumer Reliability Rating: 4.8/5 2007 Toyota Corolla Reliability Score: 88/100 Toyota Specs The Toyota Corolla is another one of those names that always pops up in the reliable transportation conversation. Any gearhead whose friend asks them what car to buy will often say "Toyota Corolla" out of natural reflex because it is simply one of the greatest cars ever built. It's also the most sold car in history, with over 50 million units produced in its lifetime.We've chosen the 2007 model, which offers a standard 1.8-liter four-banger making a decent 126 horsepower and 122 pound-feet of torque. Customers back then could option their Corolla with either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic, and considering how many are still on the road, you'll have no trouble finding the perfect one. Reliability RepairPal Annual Maintenance Costs: $247 Highest Mileage Recorded: 611,000 (CowboyStateDaily) J.D. Power Reliability Score: 88/100 KBB Consumer Reliability Rating: 4.8/5 2014 Toyota Camry Reliability Score: 92/100 CarBuzz Specs (Base) The new Toyota Camry is so good that it's becoming more like a miniature Lexus than a Toyota. But if we go back a decade or so, we can see where that foundation of quality came from. The 2014 Camry, with its standard 178-horsepower 2.5-liter inline-four, is a classic case of Toyota's robust engineering.J.D. Power gave the 2014 model an amazing 92 out of 100 for reliability, and no one is refuting that conclusion. KBB's consumer reviews also rave about this sedan, giving it an average reliability score of 4.7 out of 5. If you are partial to more power, you can also find this Camry with the optional 268-horsepower 3.5-liter V6, which is also an incredibly reliable engine. Reliability RepairPal Annual Maintenance Costs: $387 Highest Mileage Recorded: 348,000 (TopSpeed) J.D. Power Reliability Score: 92/100 KBB Consumer Reliability Rating: 4.7/5 Acura Integra (3rd-Generation) Reliability Score: N/A Acura Specs (Base) Like the Miata, the third-generation Acura Integra mixes in a healthy dose of enjoyment alongside its incredible reliability. This was the last generation before taking a 20+ year hiatus, and then coming back into Acura's lineup for the 2023 model year. And while we're sure the long-term reliability of the recent Integra is going to be fantastic, the third-gen has proven itself time and time again over several decades.In base form, the Integra featured a 1.8-liter Inline-four pumping out 140 horsepower and 124 pound-feet of torque, and could be mated to a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. These particular Integras are known for their balance and world-class steering feel that still hasn't been topped by most modern performance cars. J.D. Power doesn't have an official rating due to the car's age, but there is plenty of data to prove its dependability. Reliability RepairPal Annual Maintenance Costs: $341 Highest Mileage Recorded: 330,000 (Reddit) J.D. Power Reliability Score: N/A KBB Consumer Reliability Rating: 4.8/5 Lexus LS400 Reliability Score: N/A Bring A Trailer Specs It may not have official ratings from modern institutions, but if there were a "most" reliable car of all time, the Lexus LS400 fits that bill. This nameplate launched the Lexus brand in 1989 and beat Mercedes at its own game when it came to build quality, comfort, price, and reliability. The heart of this full-size luxury sedan was the legendary 1UZ-FE V8; a 4.0-liter, all-aluminum engine that pushed out between 250 and 260 horsepower and 260 and 270 pound-feet of torque depending on year.These cars are known to reach 500,000 miles with ease. We've found Reddit users with cars at 700,000+ and even higher. But the most famous example is Matt Farah's "Million Mile Lexus." He bought it with nearly 900,000 miles on the clock and drove it to the one million mark whilst allowing countless journalists to abuse it. These things just don't die. Reliability RepairPal Annual Maintenance Costs: $435 Highest Mileage Recorded: 1,000,000+ J.D. Power Reliability Score: N/A KBB Consumer Reliability Rating: 4.8/5