Best cars for COE renewals

With Certificate of Entitlement (COE) premiums now at reasonably low levels of around $20,000 to $30,000, more motorists are choosing to extend the lifespan of their cars. In fact, the number of car-owners choosing to hold on to their cars once they turn 10 years old has increased each year from only 7.7% in 2013 to 31.5% in 2017. Afterall, if the car is still in good condition, it makes sense to do so, and you’ll lose much less in depreciation over the next few years as compared to a new car. Plus the savings you can make on car insurance as well.

But what are some of the more worthy cars that are deserving of having their lives extended? We take a look at some evergreen cars on the market that have aged well, and are well worth considering if you want something reliable and easy on your wallet.

Toyota Corolla Altis

Easily one of the most popular choices for the everyman, it’s not hard to see why many of these are still running around even after the ten year mark. Simply put, the Corolla Altis is the hallmark of reliability, with its simple engineering and sheer ease of use making it the favourite of many. Its reputation has been built up over many generations, to the point that ‘Toyota Corolla’ is now effectively a buzzword for bombproof dependability. At the end of the day, if you want a car that will run on and on without problems for years to come, there’s few better choices than the Toyota Corolla Altis. It's also one of the cheapest on the road when it comes to car insurance. Find out more about the Toyota Corolla Altis.

Toyota Vios

In much the same way as its bigger sibling, the Vios offers the same qualities as the Corolla, just wrapped up in a slightly smaller package. Another fine example of no-frills, no-fuss engineering, the Vios is a Thai-built compact sedan that is designed to last basically forever. If you travel to our neighbouring countries, you’ll see many Vios sedans serving as workhorses, either as an affordable family car, or as hardworking taxis that pile on miles of service. In Singapore, where there is better accessibility to high quality workshops, a Vios is virtually guaranteed to function for decades given the right maintenance. Find out more about the Toyota Vios.

Honda Civic

The Civic is a family sedan that offers the same kind of dependability as its rival, the Corolla Altis, but also mixes in some personality in its drive. It is the favourite choice for the family man who enjoys a bit of performance in his daily drive. There are many examples of Civics that have been extensively modified, and while that speaks volumes of its reliability, it would be a safer choice to go for an unmodified example. Find one of those, keep it well maintained, and the Civic will serve you well.

Toyota Wish

You’ll notice a trend by now, that many cars that seem to stick around for years tend to be Toyotas. This is not a coincidence. Toyota’s build quality is legendary, and if you want a car that will last forever, they are the brand to go for. The Wish is what you’ll get if you have a large family, and require seven seats to ferry them around. Like its siblings, the Wish is easy to drive, simple to maintain, and can offer you years of affordable family motoring with the right maintenance. Find out more about the Toyota Wish here.

Honda Stream

If you want something a bit different for the family though, here’s another evergreen seven-seater that’s well worth consideration. The Honda Stream is a good alternative to the Wish, offering almost the same qualities as its rival. There’s decent space for seven, and has pretty much the same Japanese-levels of build quality that ensures that it will last for a long time. The Stream is extremely popular with many, with its reputation for ease of use, dependability, and even offers a little bit of driving fun for the enthusiast.

Suzuki Swift

Probably the ideal car for the swinging single or young couple, the Suzuki Swift is a sweet little hatchback that is perfect for getting around town. If you don’t need a whole lot of space, the Swift offers Japanese reliability and fun manoeuvrability in an extremely affordable package. Like many of its contemporaries, the Swift’s appeal is in its simplicity. It is easy to maintain, and its compact size means that you won’t spend much on fuel too. Think of this as the starter pack to affordable evergreen motoring.

Honda Jazz

Like the Swift, the Honda Jazz is a compact hatchback that makes for a neat little city car. The Jazz does have a bit of a unique trump card though, in its clever ‘tall’ design that makes excellent use of its available space. Despite its tiny footprint, the Jazz is immensely versatile, for you can fold down the rear seats to accommodate large items. And as always, Honda’s reputation for reliability means that you only need to give it the most basic of maintenance to ensure the Jazz will last you for years to come.

Get a full comparison of the Toyota versus Honda here.

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