Whereas President Donald Trump’s technique to make America nice once more continues to make the lives of America’s non-billionaires tougher and fewer reasonably priced, Shopper Reviews simply launched a listing of the highest 10 sub-$20,000 used vehicles. The fashions on this checklist aren’t essentially essentially the most thrilling, flashiest, or quickest automobiles on sale, however all of them carry out effectively in Shopper Reviews’ rigorous checks, and maybe most significantly, in long-term reliability. With worsening inflation and impending new automotive tariffs set to skyrocket the value of most new vehicles beginning April 2, it is a tricky time to be a mean American shopper.
In case you aren’t wealthy and also you’re on the lookout for a new-to-you automotive that’s possible to offer secure, comfy, and trouble-free possession for years to return, you may wish to hold the vehicles on this checklist on the high of yours. To be able to compile this checklist, a number of elements had been thought of together with crash prevention, crash security, predicted long-term reliability, resale worth, and effectivity. Shopper Reviews says:
“The technique we make use of for choosing used vehicles emphasizes worth inside a worth vary, and it implies that the highlighted fashions might not have been the highest-scoring fashions when examined new. As an alternative, they’re typically good vehicles that depreciated greater than others, making them extra engaging as used vehicles than they had been when new…. On the similar worth, rivals are sometimes years older—probably from a earlier era. In different phrases, to purchase a direct rival on the similar mannequin 12 months and mileage, you would need to pay hundreds of {dollars} extra.”
These are the ten sub-$20,000 used vehicles that Shopper Reviews recommends, together with a few of our ideas on every choice.
Finest automotive underneath $10,000: 2016 Mazda 6
The Mazda 6 is the one automotive on this checklist that is prone to be under $15,000. It is an important selection for anybody on the lookout for reasonably priced, secure, sensible, and environment friendly motoring, and it additionally occurs to be one of many extra fun-to-drive vehicles within the mid-size sedan section. It is even obtainable with a real six-speed handbook transmission.
Your complete 2014-2021 era of the Mazda 6 is really useful right here, however the 2016 Mazda 6 presents essentially the most underneath the $10,000 mark. Its street check scores and reliability rankings are above common, and proprietor satisfaction is common in Shopper Reviews findings.
Prime sedan underneath $15,000: 2019 Toyota Corolla
You knew it will be right here, the ever present Toyota Corolla. Its legendary reliability is known for a motive; like each Corolla that got here earlier than it, it takes a licking and retains on ticking. It is actually not essentially the most thrilling automotive ever produced, however it’s going to ship years of reasonably priced, dependable, environment friendly, and secure motoring for anybody pragmatic sufficient to purchase one.
Toyota included its security suite, Toyota Security Sense P, as normal on all Corollas beginning in 2017, so from that 12 months on all Corollas included fascinating security options together with normal automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection and lane-keep help. Everytime you’re discussing clever used automotive purchases, the Corolla needs to be on the checklist.
Finest SUV underneath $15,000: 2018 Mazda CX-5
Now that we obtained the prerequisite boring-to-drive-but-great-to-own Corolla out of the best way, you too can discover Mazda’s good-looking and fun-to-drive compact crossover, the CX-5, at a comparable worth. The CX-5 was redesigned for 2017, and 2018 introduced fascinating security options like normal blind spot warning, low-speed automated emergency braking, and rear cross-traffic warning programs.
In greater trim ranges, the CX-5 is kind of luxurious, and it supplied a turbocharged engine on some fashions after 2019. The CX-5 scored above common in its street check and reliability testing, so it is an important selection for anybody who desires an reasonably priced, dependable, and considerably fun-to-drive crossover.
Finest Hybrid Underneath $20,000: 2019 Toyota Camry Hybrid
Alongside the Corolla, the Camry will not be essentially the most thrilling selection, however it’s a very clever one, and its hybrid fashions provide spectacular reliability and outrageous gas effectivity, round 45 miles per gallon in accordance with owner-reported mileage, although Shopper Reviews’ Camry Hybrid obtained 52 mpg. It scores effectively above common in its street check scores, reliability, and proprietor satisfaction rankings.
It additionally presents the identical normal security tools because the Corolla, with automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise management, and lane departure warning with lane-keep help, and sure, normal Apple CarPlay was launched for 2019.
Finest small SUV underneath $20,000: 2021 Kia Sportage
Kia up to date the Sportage within the 2020 mannequin 12 months, bringing improved reliability, refreshed styling in and out, and normal security options together with automated emergency braking and lane-keep help. It scores above common within the street check, effectively above common in reliability, however under common in proprietor satisfaction surveys. This can be a case of a mannequin that may not have been high of its class when new, however nonetheless presents an important package deal for a lower cost than its rivals resulting from depreciation.
Because you did not purchase it new, you do not have to shoulder the brunt of that inflation, so you may get a more recent mannequin with fascinating options for much less cash than a comparable RAV4 or CR-V.
Finest Hybrid SUV underneath $20,000: 2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, just like the Camry Hybrid and Corolla, is a straightforward automobile to suggest to patrons on the lookout for dependable and environment friendly transportation, so long as pleasure is not on the wishlist. The RAV4 obtained a hybrid powertrain possibility in its 2016 replace, however Shopper Reviews highlights 2017 and 2018 mannequin years as those to search for because of a bump in reliability reviews from its surveys and extra options.
2017 and 2018 RAV4 Hybrids earned above common scores in street checks, effectively above common reliability rankings, and common proprietor satisfaction.
Finest three-row SUV underneath $20,000: 2020 Mazda CX-9
One other Mazda made the checklist, which suggests one other win for many who discover pleasure within the act of driving. The CX-9 will not be the largest three-row SUV within the section, but it surely obtained above-average scores within the street check, reliability, and proprietor satisfaction rankings. Mazda sellers can retrofit CX-9s with Apple CarPlay, and the 2020 mannequin 12 months is really useful as a result of it obtained a refresh that introduced normal pedestrian detection for the automated emergency braking system.
2021 fashions obtained a brand new infotainment system, however its reliability predictions dropped under common. A used CX-9 presents loads of automotive for the cash, and it is a fun-to-drive automotive at that.
Finest luxurious SUV underneath $20,000: 2017 Lexus NX
In case you’re actually involved about trying fancy regardless of being on a decent price range, the Lexus NX presents one of the best mixture of reasonably priced, dependable, and secure motoring, for those who discover one with the suitable choices. CR recommends discovering a mannequin with the non-obligatory blind-spot detection system since some drivers discover the NX’s outward visibility to be subpar.
Whereas it’s a Lexus, it is based mostly on the Toyota RAV4 and would not provide occupants the identical ranges of isolation and coddling as different Lexus fashions, but it surely’s nonetheless a sensible choice. 2018 fashions might push over the $20,000 mark, however they embody normal automated emergency braking which is a vital function. It scored above common in its street check, effectively above common in reliability, and common in proprietor satisfaction.
Finest pickup truck underneath $20,000: 2015 Toyota Tacoma
In case you want a sub-$20,000 pickup truck that will not go away you stranded or hemorrhaging cash on restore prices, the 2015 Tacoma is the truck for you. It ain’t good – it obtained common street check scores and proprietor satisfaction scores – however it’s dependable with an above common predicted reliability rating.
It is a 10-year-old truck now, but it surely holds its resale worth for a motive, and although it was the ultimate 12 months of this bodystyle, the replace did not drastically change a lot.
Finest sports activities automotive underneath $20,000: 2020 Mazda MX-5 Miata
The fourth and remaining Mazda on this checklist is essentially the most enjoyable to drive, the legendary Miata. In case you’re vertically gifted like me it won’t be match for you (actually,) however for those who’re nearer to common top and also you desire a enjoyable, dependable, and satisfying-to-own sports activities automotive, get a Miata.
It obtained a giant energy bump in 2019, so search for 2019-or-newer vehicles, and if the one you discover would not have CarPlay, it may be retrofitted by a Mazda supplier. It earns above common reliability and street check scores, and scores effectively above common in proprietor satisfaction, plus house owners say it could possibly simply return over 30 mpg.