Suggestions on cheapest reliable cars

Toyota Avensis

Circa 2010 Clio are very reliable, capable cars. Rad subframes corrode but not a big job, other than that they are really bombproof little cars.

How about an i30 1.6D?

My son picked one up, I was surprised with its quality and seems pretty bulletproof (I know I've just jinxed it)?

Civic 1.8 probably one of the most reliable cars for that money.

Renault megane or fluence 1.5 dci cheap, economical and you couldn't care less if it gets a scratch.

Can confirm insurance is a bit expensive on the 1.8 Civic.

What are you talking about? I own a 2014 fluence same engine with megane did not have any major problem with it, and It will save you money and time going to petrol station (specially with ridiculous fuel prices at present) as its very economical, full tank covers 1000km range.

By drive it right do you mean switch off the engine and let it coast? Very few if any average petrol cars will have an actual range of 1000km per tank in reality no matter what way you drive them. If you can get 1000km range from a petrol car then chances are you will get even more range from a diesel car otherwise they would not exist.

But the OP probably doesn't need something with a very long range as they don't mention it in their original post. The problem is that in today's used car market 2k-3k doesn't get you much especially smallish and Japanese unless you go back to something made in the mid 2000 and then you run into issues with insurance companies telling you they won't cover it because of it's age.

You really have to look outside the box to balance purchase price versus value. Decent cars with a reputation for being reliable like Corolla, Civic, Yaris, etc command a hefty price unless you go older. I wouldn't discount the likes of Renault either, they make some pretty decent cars these days and are probably just as reliable as any other European brand. They have a bit of a bad reputation from the 2000s when they were not reliable that has still bit of a stigma attached as well as the usual old pub talk. But that helps keep prices more realistic in the current inflated used car market. A Clio is definitely worth looking at, they tend to be cheaper than the equivalent Yaris because they are a Renault but they are actually a very good car and don't give a lot of problems.

If you want something Japanese then look at something that's not on everyone's radar, like a Mitsubishi Lancer. They are an old school Japanese design and most people tend to over look them.

Maybe something like this: