Cars for Sale Under $25000

As the used market continues to stabilize, looking at cars for sale under $25,000 becomes increasingly appealing. This list has you covered.

Great Cars You Can Buy for 25K

As the used car market continues to show signs of stabilizing – and lower prices overall as we dive into here – looking past the shiny new dealership inventory is more appealing than it has been in a while. That’s why we’ve assembled this list of the best cars for sale under $25,000.

From exceedingly inexpensive subcompacts to station wagons and luxury sedans, there is a little something for everyone in this arena. For those who prefer sitting up higher, this list of the most reliable SUVs under $25,000 may be of interest. But before you start scheduling test drives, spend a few minutes with our Used Car Checklist to make sure you get the best deal possible.

Mazda 3 Hatchback

When the fourth generation Mazda 3 arrived in 2019, it ushered in a noticeably more elegant design and higher-end cabin treatment. This is in line with Mazda’s ongoing efforts to push their vehicles further upmarket. Though available in sedan form, the Mazda 3 hatchback has all the trademark handling characteristics of its four-door brethren that make the daily commute more interesting along with the practicality of more cargo space.

All-wheel drive is available and 2020 models come with adaptive cruise control, automated emergency braking, and lane keeping assist. The available manual transmission is an added bonus.

Kia Stinger

Given its premium pricing when new, there are not as many lightly used Stingers available for under $25,000 as say, a Camry, but there are still plenty of listings to browse here at CarsForSale.com. And it’s worth the extra effort, particularly for models powered by the twin-turbo V6 that sends 365 horsepower to the rear wheels with the option for all four. Leather upholstery, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen were all standard fare on 2019 Stingers. The liftback configuration makes hauling stuff a breeze and haul you will – the V6 Stinger can hit 60 mph in under five seconds from a standstill.

Subaru Outback

Sitting nearly nine inches off the ground with a cavernous station wagon cargo hold, Subaru’s Outback is the perfect family car for those not interested in driving SUVs. All-wheel drive is of course standard and the sixth-gen models that arrived in 2020 came with an 11.6-inch touchscreen on all but base trim as well as lineup-standard adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist. Available StarTex water-repellent upholstery encourages off-the-beaten path adventures and opting for the turbocharged motor fitted to XT models brings with it a useful towing capacity of 3,500 pounds.

Acura TLX

Given its luxury trappings, an Acura TLX is perhaps not the first vehicle that comes to mind during a search of cars for sale under $25,000. However, there are plenty available in this price bracket from the 2015-2020 generation. Models from 2019 come standard with Apple and Android smartphone integration while the 2020 model year added standard adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist. When fitted with the four-cylinder motor, a TLX is rated for 33 mpg in highway driving. Or you can step up to the 290-horse V6 that offers Acura’s renowned Super Handling AWD system and plenty of passing power.

Mitsubishi Mirage

At the other end of the spectrum from an Acura TLX is Mitsubishi’s Mirage. For those looking to keep the cash outlay minimal, here is your ride. Inexpensive, simple, and fuel-efficient are all hallmarks of the Mirage. On that latter note, this 3-cylinder powered hatchback is rated for 36 mpg around town and 43 on the highway.

There is a sedan of the Mitsubishi Mirage available, but in hatch form, the Mirage can swallow 47 cubic feet of your stuff with the rear seat folded. A Chevy Spark is rated for just 27 in that metric. Lightly used 2021 models, that still come in well under our $25,000 cap, come standard with automatic emergency braking, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.

Toyota Camry

When Toyota set out to drop the Camry’s reputation as the definition of bland back in 2018, they took a car with Toyota’s legendary reliability and turned it into a desirable sedan. Given its popularity, there are loads to choose from on the listings at CarsForSale.com but stick with 2020 models or newer as this was the year Android Auto was added as standard equipment to Apple CarPlay and Toyota’s Safety Sense suite of advanced driver aids. For extroverts, there is a TRD version with wings, big wheels, and a lowered stance. If you lean towards efficiency, there is also a hybrid Camry worth considering.

Hyundai Ioniq

Speaking of hybrids, the Hyundai Ioniq is not to be missed. Before Ioniq became associated with Hyundai’s EV sub-brand, it was a standalone compact liftback sedan offered with traditional hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or fully electric power. We would recommend the regular hybrid as it nixes the need to plug anything in and offers a whopping 59 mpg on the highway in Blue trim.

A 7-inch touchscreen with Apple and Android connectivity is standard on 2019 models with 2020 versions adding Forward Collision Warning with automatic emergency breaks, lane keep assist, automatic high beams, and driver attention warning to the list of standard equipment. Little wonder the Ioniq made our list of Best Hybrids Under $25,000.

Nissan Maxima

Nissan’s flagship Maxima sedan has long flown under the radar as a sharp-dressed full-size sports sedan without a huge price tag. 2018 brought a facelift to the eighth-gen Maxima and the following year added navigation, dual-zone automatic climate control, and an 8-inch infotainment interface across the lineup.

In the era of turbocharged four-cylinder engines, Nissan’s venerable 3.5L V6 that makes 300 horses in this application is a naturally aspirated breath of fresh air, with a sweet soundtrack. Add in the sport-tuned suspension found on SR models or semi-aniline leather in the Platinum to bring a touch of enjoyment to the daily commute.

Subaru WRX

Though the Subaru WRX may resemble the automaker’s Legacy sedan, it is in fact a lowered, spiced-up special with a standard 6-speed manual and summer tires. Subaru’s Symmetrical AWD combines with a 268-horse turbocharged boxer four to encourage your inner rally hero.

The Subaru WRX may be overkill for some with that big hood scoop and potential for having an oversized rear spoiler, but it is undoubtedly a blast to drive in all conditions, especially on models with the Performance package that includes sweet Recaro front buckets and red-painted Brembo brakes. Models from 2019 come with a 6.5-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard equipment.

Honda Civic

In the compact sedan segment, it’s hard to beat a Honda Civic for reliability and availability in the used car marketplace. Easily functioning as a small family car, the tenth-generation Civic received a mid-cycle refresh in 2019 that added Honda Sensing, the automaker’s bundle of driver aids to Sport models and above on the sedan as well as a 7-inch touchscreen.

Turbocharged and naturally aspirated motors with a CVT or manual transmission can be had along with hatchback and coupe body styles. Though not as readily available at this price point, the more aggressive Si model can be found for a bit more verve.