Whereas President Donald Trump’s technique to make America nice once more continues to make the lives of America’s non-billionaires more durable and fewer reasonably priced, Client Reviews simply launched an inventory of the highest 10 sub-$20,000 used automobiles. The fashions on this listing aren’t essentially probably the most thrilling, flashiest, or quickest autos on sale, however all of them carry out nicely in Client Reviews’ rigorous assessments, and maybe most significantly, in long-term reliability. With worsening inflation and impending new automobile tariffs set to skyrocket the value of most new automobiles beginning April 2, it is a tricky time to be a median American client.
In the event you aren’t wealthy and also you’re searching for a new-to-you automobile that’s probably to supply secure, snug, and trouble-free possession for years to return, you would possibly wish to hold the automobiles on this listing on the high of yours. So as to compile this listing, a number of components have been thought of together with crash prevention, crash security, predicted long-term reliability, resale worth, and effectivity. Client Reviews says:
“The technique we make use of for choosing used automobiles emphasizes worth inside a worth vary, and it implies that the highlighted fashions could not have been the highest-scoring fashions when examined new. As a substitute, they’re usually good automobiles that depreciated greater than others, making them extra enticing as used automobiles than they have been when new…. On the identical worth, rivals are sometimes years older—probably from a earlier technology. In different phrases, to purchase a direct rival on the identical mannequin 12 months and mileage, you would need to pay hundreds of {dollars} extra.”
These are the ten sub-$20,000 used automobiles that Client Reviews recommends, together with a few of our ideas on every choice.
Greatest automobile below $10,000: 2016 Mazda 6
The Mazda 6 is the one automobile on this listing that is prone to be beneath $15,000. It is a fantastic selection for anybody searching for reasonably priced, secure, sensible, and environment friendly motoring, and it additionally occurs to be one of many extra fun-to-drive automobiles within the mid-size sedan section. It is even obtainable with a real six-speed handbook transmission.
All the 2014-2021 technology of the Mazda 6 is beneficial right here, however the 2016 Mazda 6 presents probably the most below the $10,000 mark. Its street check scores and reliability rankings are above common, and proprietor satisfaction is common in Client Reviews findings.
High sedan below $15,000: 2019 Toyota Corolla
You knew it might be right here, the ever present Toyota Corolla. Its legendary reliability is famous for a motive; like each Corolla that got here earlier than it, it takes a licking and retains on ticking. It is actually not probably the most thrilling automobile ever produced, however it should 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 computerized emergency braking with pedestrian detection and lane-keep help. Everytime you’re discussing clever used automobile purchases, the Corolla must be on the listing.
Greatest SUV below $15,000: 2018 Mazda CX-5
Now that we bought the prerequisite boring-to-drive-but-great-to-own Corolla out of the way in which, it’s also possible to 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 computerized emergency braking, and rear cross-traffic warning techniques.
In increased trim ranges, the CX-5 is sort 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 a fantastic selection for anybody who desires an reasonably priced, dependable, and considerably fun-to-drive crossover.
Greatest Hybrid Beneath $20,000: 2019 Toyota Camry Hybrid
Alongside the Corolla, the Camry will not be probably the most thrilling selection, however it’s a very clever one, and its hybrid fashions supply spectacular reliability and outrageous gas effectivity, round 45 miles per gallon in response to owner-reported mileage, although Client Reviews’ Camry Hybrid bought 52 mpg. It scores nicely above common in its street check scores, reliability, and proprietor satisfaction rankings.
It additionally presents the identical normal security gear because the Corolla, with computerized 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.
Greatest small SUV below $20,000: 2021 Kia Sportage
Kia up to date the Sportage within the 2020 mannequin 12 months, bringing improved reliability, refreshed styling inside and outside, and normal security options together with computerized emergency braking and lane-keep help. It scores above common within the street check, nicely above common in reliability, however beneath 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 a fantastic package deal for a cheaper price than its opponents as a consequence of 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 moderen mannequin with fascinating options for much less cash than a comparable RAV4 or CR-V.
Greatest Hybrid SUV below $20,000: 2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, just like the Camry Hybrid and Corolla, is a simple car to advocate to consumers searching 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 Client Reviews highlights 2017 and 2018 mannequin years as those to search for because of a bump in reliability studies from its surveys and extra options.
2017 and 2018 RAV4 Hybrids earned above common scores in street assessments, nicely above common reliability rankings, and common proprietor satisfaction.
Greatest three-row SUV below $20,000: 2020 Mazda CX-9
One other Mazda made the listing, which implies one other win for individuals who discover pleasure within the act of driving. The CX-9 is just not the largest three-row SUV within the section, nevertheless it 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 beneficial as a result of it obtained a refresh that introduced normal pedestrian detection for the automated emergency braking system.
2021 fashions bought a brand new infotainment system, however its reliability predictions dropped beneath common. A used CX-9 presents loads of automobile for the cash, and it is a fun-to-drive automobile at that.
Greatest luxurious SUV below $20,000: 2017 Lexus NX
In the event you’re actually involved about wanting fancy regardless of being on a decent price range, the Lexus NX presents the very best mixture of reasonably priced, dependable, and secure motoring, in case you discover one with the correct choices. CR recommends discovering a mannequin with the non-compulsory blind-spot detection system since some drivers discover the NX’s outward visibility to be subpar.
Whereas it’s a Lexus, it is primarily based on the Toyota RAV4 and would not supply occupants the identical ranges of isolation and coddling as different Lexus fashions, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a sensible choice. 2018 fashions could push over the $20,000 mark, however they embrace normal computerized emergency braking which is a crucial function. It scored above common in its street check, nicely above common in reliability, and common in proprietor satisfaction.
Greatest pickup truck below $20,000: 2015 Toyota Tacoma
In the event you want a sub-$20,000 pickup truck that will not depart 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, nevertheless it 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.
Greatest sports activities automobile below $20,000: 2020 Mazda MX-5 Miata
The fourth and last Mazda on this listing is probably the most enjoyable to drive, the legendary Miata. In the event you’re vertically gifted like me it won’t be an excellent match for you (actually,) however in case you’re nearer to common top and also you desire a enjoyable, dependable, and satisfying-to-own sports activities automobile, get a Miata.
It bought a giant energy bump in 2019, so search for 2019-or-newer automobiles, and if the one you discover would not have CarPlay, it may be retrofitted by a Mazda vendor. It earns above common reliability and street check scores, and scores nicely above common in proprietor satisfaction, plus homeowners say it may simply return over 30 mpg.