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Against a backdrop of global and economic uncertainty, many of us are searching for something we can rely on. Something such as a 'forever car' - all the motor you will ever want or need. It may have future classic potential. It may be simple and easy to maintain. It may promise to be as reliable as a Swiss watch. It may just make you feel better about life. Whatever it is or does, a forever car is one you can't ever see yourself parting with.

There has never been a better time to buy a forever car: according to the latest What Car? Reliability Survey, over the past seven years the percentage of cars up to five years old going wrong has fallen from 27% to 22%.

Of course, when they go wrong, modern cars can cost lots to put right. It's an argument for buying older and simpler - but then you risk missing out on all the latest comforts and conveniences that could make the years ahead more enjoyable.

Whatever you're looking for, though, you should find it here.

MAZDA MX-5 2015-

Forever rating 7/10

It's too impractical to be your main car, but as a second one for weekends a Mk4 MX-5 will keep you entertained for years. Check the condition of the rear hub assemblies and beware a failing gearbox on 157bhp 2.0-litre cars (it was improved on later, 181bhp versions). Prices start at £7500, which buys an early 1.5.

We found Mazda MX-5 2.0 Sport 184PS, 2019, 28,000 miles, £18,499

SUZUKI JIMNY COMMERCIAL 2018-25

Forever rating 8/10

When you're talking keepers, tough is good but simple and tough is even better. That, in a nutshell, is the commercial version of the Mk4 Suzuki Jimny. It was exempt from the stricter emissions regulations that forced Suzuki to end sales of the better-equipped, four-seat car version in 2020. It has less kit but is just as good off road (and just as bad on it) and, thanks to its unobstructed, 863-litre load area, more practical.

We found Suzuki Jimny Commercial 1.5 Allgrip SZ5, 2023, 24,000 miles, £21,495

AUDI Q5 2017-25

Forever rating 8/10

Here's one car that should look as fresh in 15 years' time as it does today, as in our road test of the Mk2 Q5 we wrote that the car displays "an obsession with technical precision that gives you body panels pressed with remarkable surface complexity and fitted with perfectly aligned creases".

The 2.0 TFSI petrol engine is our pick-and for the most comfortable experience, avoid trims with larger wheels and sports suspension.

We found Audi Q5 2.0 TFSI 45 Sport, 2021, 35,000 miles, £22,999

TOYOTA HILUX 2004-15

Forever rating 8/10

No, not the generation that Top Gear buried under a collapsed 23-storey tower block but the Mk7, which is more up to date but just as tough.

The cheaper 2.5-litre and more popular 3.0-litre four-cylinder diesels are both strong engines capable of more than 250,000 miles.

Check the one you're looking at hasn't been clocked and favour a dealer with experience of the model over one who has just landed their first.

We found Toyota Hilux 2.5D-4D, 2010, 63,000 miles, £10,000

MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS ESTATE 2016-23

Forever rating 10/10

Almost any generation of E-Class wagon (except the second, which rusts badly) would serve here, but we've plumped for the fifth because it has some useful tech without going overboard, some very efficient engines and class-leading load space.

Just watch out for clocked cars and, on post-2021 facelift hybrid models, troublesome electrics.

We found Mercedes-Benz E220d AMG Line Estate auto, 2018, 57,000 miles, £18,490

LAND ROVER DEFENDER 110 2007-16

Forever rating 10/10

Defenders have such a following that there will always be mechanics and parts suppliers able to keep them going.

We're focusing on late five-doors with Ford's Puma diesel engine, offered in two capacities: 2.2-litre and 2.4-litre. Both have their problems (leaky injector seals, stretched timing chain, EGR failures) but it's a rotting chassis and body you want to be wary of.

We found Land Rover Defender 110 2.2 TDCI County, 2013, 114,000 miles, £18,999

TOYOTA COROLLA 2019-

Forever rating 9/10

Decent driving manners, ease of use and excellent reliability characterise the current Corolla.

In addition, Toyota's Relax warranty provides renewable 12-month cover each time you have the car serviced at a Toyota dealer. The scheme applies to used Toyotas up to 10 years or 100,000 miles old.

We found Toyota Corolla 1.8 VVT-i Hybrid Icon Tech CVT, 2022, 33,000 miles, £15,299

PORSCHE 911 2004-12

Forever rating 10/10

For a long time, the first liquid-cooled 911 (the 996) was a bargain, but word spread and prices have risen, so we've chosen its successor (the 997), which is better value.

A 2009 refresh brought direct injection and the excellent PDK automatic gearbox.

Problems can include cracked coil packs and coolant leaks, but a network of specialist workshops and enthusiast owners should save the day.

We found Porsche 911 3.6 Carrera PDK, 2011, 58,000 miles, £38,500

BMW 3 SERIES 2019-

Forever rating 9/10

Most generations of 3 Series have forever car potential, but we've chosen the current G20 model, because its sporty driving manners, intelligent tech and a roomy cabin will ensure you never grow tired of it and because used ones look surprisingly good value.

Reliability is excellent, and if dealer servicing looks pricey, a service plan will soften the blow.

We found BMW 330e 12kWh SE, 2020, 42,000 miles, £16,200

NISSAN LEAF 2018-24

Forever rating 6/10

We've seen enough 15-year-old Mk1 Leafs, some that have done more than 100,000 miles, to think a late Mk2 will have the legs to see you through the next 15 and beyond.

EV batteries don't degrade as fast as was feared, but choosing a 62kWh pack over the regular 40kWh one is a good insurance.

Insist on a battery health test and check the condition of the brakes and for EV-rated tyres.

We found Nissan Leaf e+ 62kWh Tekna, 2020, 16,000 miles, £11,690

VOLVO XC60 2008-17

Forever rating 9/10

Examine an old XC60 and be reminded how hewn from rock it (and indeed other cars of its era) feels.

There are lots of engines to choose from, but we like the lusty five-cylinder 2.4-litre D5 diesel.

These XC60s are easy on consumables, so don't expect to be shelling out frequently.

We found Volvo XC60 2.4 D5 SE Lux AWD auto, 2014, 60,000 miles, £12,950

TOYOTA RAV4 PHEV 2019-25

Forever rating 9/10

Toyota has had more than 30 years to perfect the RAV4. Today's model is one of the most reliable cars on sale, decent to drive, well equipped and, in plug-in hybrid form, economical.

It's not pretty so you're unlikely to give it a last look as you head for the shops but at least you can be sure it'll start when you come back.

We found Toyota RAV4 2.5 VVT-i Plug-in Hybrid 4WD Design CVT, 2019, 45,000 miles, £19,999

HYUNDAI i10 2020-

Forever rating 7/10

This generation of i10 topped the latest What Car? Reliability Survey, but does that make it a forever car? As a second car most certainly.

For a happy long-term relationship, you need the 1.0-litre turbo engine. It's available in top-spec N Line trim only, but that gets you loads of grown-up features, ranging from parking sensors and 16in alloys to heated seats and wireless phone charging.

We found Hyundai 1.0 T-GDI N Line, 2023, 17,000 miles

ALFA ROMEO GIULIA 2016-

Forever rating 9/10

Forever trouble? In fact, according to owners surveyed by What Car?, the Giulia is the most reliable executive car on the market today.

Not that it's without its problems: owners have reported issues with the bodywork, interior trim and electrics and, some of them, long waits having their cars fixed.

Reasons not to have this pretty, rear-driven, sharp-handling Alfa in your life? Don't think so.

We found Alfa Romeo Giulia 2.0T Veloce, 2021, 36,000 miles, £23,995

BMW 4 SERIES COUPE 2021-

Forever rating 9/10

Many sports cars rule themselves out as forever cars on grounds of poor practicality. Not so the 4 Series Coupé: it's a roomy car with a boot that will accommodate a set of golf clubs.

If you find the ride a little stiff, buy one with the optional adaptive suspension. There's a wide range of engines but, with an eye on running costs, our vote goes to the 181bhp 2.0-litre petrol.

We found BMW 420i M Sport Coupé, 2021, 41,000 miles, £23,390

BMW M340i TOURING 2023-

Forever rating 9/10

The M3 Touring is more desirable but the more discreet and comfier M340i will be easier to live with. On a practical level, with the rear seats in place there's 500 litres of load space or enough for a few suitcases. Folded down (they split 40/20/40), there's as much as 1500 litres.

The M340i Touring isn't cheap to buy and won't be cheap to own, but Q-cars don't come much quicker or more useful.

We found BMW M340i xDrive Touring, 2024, 33,000 miles, £44,500

KIA STINGER GT S 2017-23

Forever rating 8/10

As a performance saloon the Stinger GT S was good, but as a first effort from the Korean manufacturer it was astonishing. It was even sold with a seven-year warranty a statement of faith in a model that was never going to be just pottering to the shops.

Regular Stingers had 242bhp 2.0-litre petrol and 197bhp 2.2 diesel fours, but the 361bhp 3.3-litre V6 of the GT S is the forever candidate.

We found Kia Stinger 3.3 T-GDI GT S, 2017, 53,000 miles, £21,999

AUDI TT COUPE 2014-24

Forever rating 9/10

The original TT was on sale from 1998 to 2006, and around 4000 examples are still in circulation. The figure can partly be explained by the fact that it's a modern classic and so worth preserving, but it's also extremely well built.

So too are its successors, in particular the Mk3, which has topped the What Car? Reliability Survey in the past. The 227bhp 2.0 TFSI petrol engine has long legs and Sport trim brings smaller wheels and more forgiving suspension.

We found Audi TT 2.0 TFSI Sport Coupé, 2015, 37,000 miles, £14,995

MINI COOPER 2014-24

Forever rating 8/10

A well-maintained Mini is one of the most reliable small used cars you can buy, as your reporter knows from long experience of a 2019 Cooper in the family. This car, which has now done more than 40,000 miles and is serviced by our local Mini dealer, continues to perform faultlessly, despite having Sport suspension so extremely stiff that it would have reduced a lesser car to its component parts.

Its owner is so pleased they've vowed to keep it-forever.

We found Mini Cooper 1.5 3dr, 2017, 32,000 miles, £7990

TOYOTA LAND CRUISER 2010-23

Forever rating 10/10

Plenty of 20-year-old Land Cruisers are still chugging around with more than 150,000 miles under their wheels, so we're confident this is one car that will go on forever. Its drivetrains may have been improved, but fundamentally it's the same simple but effective device it always was.

Be sure you can live with the heavy side-opening tailgate, high boot floor and roly-poly ride.

We found Toyota Land Cruiser 2.8D Active 4WD 5dr auto, 2022, 34,995

LAND ROVER DEFENDER 2020-

Forever rating 9/10

To say the current Defender is the most reliable model in JLR's range may not sound like much, but the truth is it's barely less reliable than the BMW X5 and considerably more reliable than the Volvo XC90. Meanwhile, each month brings more Defenders to the market that have done more than 100,000 miles.

Of course, often it's time and not mileage that deals the mortal blow, but we reckon a Defender could be your lawful wedded motor for as long as ye both shall live a happy marriage, given its multitude of talents, whether on or off road.

We found Land Rover Defender D250 MHEV S, 2022, 42,000 miles, £42,960

MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS 1985-95

Forever rating 8/10

If you doubt that any 30-year-old car has another 30 years left in it, check out a W124 E-Class, whose build quality will astonish you.

We recently met a chap with a 1990 E280; he bought it at 125,000 miles three years ago and has done 25,000 more. "It's been as reliable as my wife's Toyota Yaris Cross and is as comfy as I imagine it was when it left the factory," he said.

We found Mercedes-Benz E200 auto, 1994, 147,000 miles £7950

RANGE ROVER 2001-12

Forever rating 5/10

The Mk3 Range Rover is well regarded by enthusiasts and with good reason, being closest to the brand ideal of a luxury car with genuine go-anywhere capability.

Pre-facelift cars are prized for their strong BMW diesel engines and relative simplicity. They have problems, notably cooling issues, but are easier to fix and currently good value.

We found Range Rover 3.0 Td6 auto, 2004, 128,000 miles, £3295

SUBARU FORESTER 2012-18

Forever rating 8/10

Don't expect fireworks and flowers from the Mk4 Forester: it's simply a roomy, practical and reliable estate with the capacity for some light off-roading, thanks to permanent four-wheel drive and relatively high ground clearance.

In other respects it's outclassed by more conventional rivals, but for many people its unconventionality is its charm. It just works and should keep on doing so. Petrol versions are thirsty, so stick to diesel.

We found Subaru Forester 2.0D XC Premium 4WD, 2017, 65,000 miles, £12,695

VOLKSWAGEN CALIFORNIA 2005-15

Forever rating 10/10

Surprisingly satisfying to drive, considering its ability to double as your home when life throws its usual curveballs, this camper van will make you glad you chose it. Go for a T5 with the right extras to enjoy swivel seats that fold into a bed and upstairs, in the roof, space for an adult or a couple of kids to kip.

Ignore the basic 113bhp diesel engine and go for the 148bhp one, which is livelier but no less economical.

We found VW California 2.0 TDI Bluemotion Tech Beach, 2015, 82,500 miles, £29,900

LEXUS RX 2016-22

Forever rating 10/10

The RX is a luxury SUV that's also extremely reliable. There are no diesels in the range; instead, most versions are hybrids powered by a 256bhp 3.5-litre petrol V6 and a 67bhp electric motor. There's a cheaper 2.0-litre turbo petrol but it's rare and, in any case, is outclassed by the hybrid.

If you crave more space, a seven-seat version (the RX L) was launched in 2018.

We found Lexus RX 450h 3.5 V6 Luxury 4WD CVT, 2016, 45,000 miles, £19,995

CITROEN BERLINGO MULTISPACE 2008-18

Forever rating 7/10

Being based on a van, this MPV is a fairly crude and uncivilised device. By the same token, it's a practical vehicle that can adapt to whatever life throws at you. It has twin sliding doors and roof storage; and if you find one with removable back seats, you will be onto a winner load space-wise.

We found Citroën Berlingo Multispace 1.6 BlueHDi Feel, 2017, 23,000 miles, £9495

PORSCHE MACAN 2014-26

Forever rating 9/10

Few SUVs are as rounded as the Macan. Desirable, practical, beautifully built and genuinely sporty, it confounds most people's expectations of the breed.

Some owners have complained of oil leaks on V6 ones, prematurely corroded suspension springs and troublesome infotainment, but generally speaking it's a reliable car.

Buy one with a full Porsche or specialist history and it will see you through in style.

We found Porsche Macan 3.0 V6 S PDK, 2015, 39,000 miles, £19,995

VOLVO 700 SERIES ESTATE 1982-1992

Forever rating 7/10

Another old faithful in the mould of the Merc W124, the estate is what you want, and there are a few around at reasonable prices.

They were built to withstand Swedish winters, so bodies and interiors are tough, while engines will last 300,000 miles.

At this age, it's perishables such as wiring and rubber hoses you want to watch out for.

We found Volvo 740 2.0 GL Estate, 1988, 133,000 miles, £3500

FOREVER AND EVER

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 2013-20

Forever rating 10/10

Familiar, sturdy, reliable and classless, the Golf is our favourite forever car. The previous generation, the Mk7, is the best for the way it combines these virtues with first-class driving manners and modern technology featuring both a touchscreen and traditional physical controls.

A 2017 facelift brought more tech and even more efficient engines. On which subject, the 1.4 and 1.5 petrols are smooth, reasonably punchy and frugal. The 1.6 diesel is a little agricultural, but the 2.0 is a proper grown-up, capable of huge mileages.

The four-wheel-drive R will get you through storms and mudslides, but the hot GTI has the heritage and the performance to ensure you will feel good about it long into the future.

We found Volkswagen Golf 2.0 GTI 5dr, 2017, 41,000 miles, £18,795