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Among used cars there are the good and then there are the great. These are the used car all-stars we recommend most to family and friends.
“Which Used Car Should I Buy?”
You tell anyone you work in the automotive industry and their first question is usually, “which used car should I buy?” I’ve got two quite different answers. The first answer is, whatever floats your boat and you can reasonably afford. Even non-car people have their biases and preferences and those will invariably take precedence over even the best car-buying advice. But for those few unbiased, utilitarian-minded folks my answer is something like the list below, a sort of used car all-stars roster of the best, smartest buys on the road today.
What makes a good used car? Affordability is obviously a key factor but calculating actual value accounts for reliability, the cost and frequency of repairs and maintenance, comfort, and overall utility. With these criteria in mind, there are a few elite cars that have shown themselves to be far above average. It’s these that I rattle off when recommending used cars.
Honda Fit
The Honda Fit is the perfect car for those who buy cars based solely on their practicality. The Fit is the ultimate car-as-appliance. It’s cheap, even new, the Fit costs about $20,000 and a used one today will run you half that or often much less, even newer examples with moderate mileage. We recommend the second- or third-generation Fit (2009-13 model years and 2015-2020 model years, respectively). The second-generation Fit comes equipped with a 1.5L i-VTEC inline-four making a modest but adequate 118 horsepower. Fuel economy is an excellent 28/35 mpg for the automatic and 27/33 for the manual (yes, you can get it with a manual!). The Fit’s name is more than a little on the nose as it offers a surprising amount of rear seat room, enough for full-grown adults, and a ton of cargo space thanks to its hatchback design, up to 57.3 cu.-ft. The third-generation Fit keeps the same engine while improving power (130 horsepower) and fuel economy (33/41 for the automatic-equipped LE trim). Affordable, practical, and reliable, the Honda Fit ranks among the best used cars.
Toyota Corolla & Camry
The next two entries will bunch together compact and mid-size sedans. First up is Toyota’s Corolla and Camry. Reliability, especially for 5-plus-year-old Toyota’s, is among the best in the industry with these two sedans leading the way. Balancing cost and estimated remaining lifespan for a Toyota Corolla include its 10th and 11th generations, 2009-13 and 2014-18, respectively. The 10th-generation Corolla features either a 2.4L or 1.8L inline-four, with the 1.8L carried over to the 11th generation. Power is adequate and fuel economy good with the 2.4L achieving up to 30 mpg highway and the 1.8L with up to 35 mpg. The Corolla has earned its reputation as an excellent used car based on its high reliability and simple, yet serviceable design.
The same can be said of the mid-sized Toyota Camry, which features all the Corolla’s best qualities while offering more room and the option of a larger 3.5L V6 for more power (268 horsepower). We recommend searching for any used Camry between the 2007 and 2017 model years. The 2012-17 Camry adds a hybrid option with up to 40 city mpg, giving you the choice of high fuel economy or a sporty V6. That do-it-all nature makes the Camry among the best used car options. Prices on the used market range from around $7,000 to $15,000 for both the Corolla and Camry.
Honda Civic & Accord
Perennial rivals to the Corolla and Camry are Honda’s analogous Civic and Accord. The Honda Civic’s 9th and 10th generations (2011-17 and 2018-23 model years) are its best years. Like the Corolla, the Civic is a master of economy, both in price and spaciousness with its comfortable, functional interior. The 9th generation’s 1.8L inline four manages 28/39 mpg while the 10th gen’s 2.0L and 1.5L turbo get incrementally better with the latter engine capable of 32/42 mpg in the sedan version. A used Civic ranges in price from around $8,000 to $20,000.
The Honda Accord, their mid-size offering, is another perfect marriage of efficiency, reliability, and everyday comfort. Its best years as a used car span the eighth generation (2008-12 models) and the ninth generation (2013-17). Engines include a base inline four, a hybrid version thereof capable of up to 50 mpg highway, and a 3.5L V6 with 278 horsepower. The Accord offers one of the most spacious and fashion-forward cabins while sacrificing nothing to usability. Prices range from $7,500 on the low end to around $15,000 on the higher end.
Lexus ES350
Lexus is Toyota’s luxury arm, and its vehicles therefore share almost identical underpinnings. That means most Lexus products share the same or better reliability records with their Toyota cousins. The Lexus ES 350 is the luxury version of the mid-size Camry. The ES has the distinction then of adding a swanky luxury interior, complete with walnut trim and plush leather seats, on top of the Camry’s already great chassis and powertrain. The fifth-generation ES350 (2007-12 models) is the sweet spot of affordability and quality for this model and runs a 3.5L V6 making 272 horsepower. For those willing to go the extra mile and spend a bit more, the 6th generation (2013-18 models) adds an optional hybrid, the 300h with 40/39 mpg. Prices range from $8,000 for older high-milage options to around $30,000 for newer examples.
Ford Crown Vic & Company
For old-school full-size sedans, there’s no better choice than the Ford Crown Victoria and its Panther platform cousins, the Mercury Marquis and Lincoln Town Car. The first generation is getting on in years, dating back to the early 1990s, but the second generation, spanning the 1998 through 2012 models, are still going strong. The Panther platform cars offer capacious interiors, sterling reliability, and robust 4.6L V8s known for racking up hundreds of thousands of miles. Another major plus, there were a ton of them, as they were the nation’s top police cruiser for over a decade. You can find used examples with reasonable mileage for around $5,000.
Lexus RX350
The Toyota RAV4 is an obvious include for a list of used car all-stars but why settle for a RAV4 when you can just get the Lexus version for around the same price? The Lexus RX350 is among the most reliable used cars ever built and offers identical levels of practicality to that of the RAV4 with the addition of a luxury-level interior. The third and fourth generations, spanning from the 2008-15 models and 2016 -2022 models, feature a 3.5L V6 or a hybrid version of the same V6 (the RX450h). Adaptive Variable Suspension and the fourth-gen’s laundry list of active safety features make the RX feel like the ultimate cheat code in used cars. Price ranges anywhere from $8,000 to $40,000 depending on mileage, age, and options.
Toyota Prius
If you’re shopping for a used car at a good price, chances are you’re a practically minded person. That makes you the target demographic for the Toyota Prius, the automotive paragon of practicality. Its hatch back design allows for a roomy interior and great cargo capacity, up to 50 cu.-ft. while its hybrid powertrain can net over 50 mpg. We recommend looking for fourth- or fifth-generation Prii (yes, that’s the correct pluralization) dating from 2010 through 2022. The 2019 model introduced the AWD-e version, adding (obviously) all-wheel drive and an even larger cargo area for up to 62.7 cubes. Yes, the Prius is quirky, but you can consider that either a benefit of defying convention or the price for insane, stress-free fuel efficiency. Used prices for the Toyota Prius range from $5,000 to $30,000.
Buick Encore
The subcompact crossover is the small car’s version of an SUV, and as charming as the Kia Soul is we recommend the Buick Encore (model years 2013 through 2022) as the best to buy used. The Encore manages to be both comfortable, with a cozy semi-luxury interior, and exceptionally reliable. The ride is pliant and forgiving and the infotainment system simple and intuitive to use. The 1.0L and 1.3L motors are a bit underpowered and provide only middle fuel economy at 23/32 mpg. However, the Encore’s main attraction is unparalleled ride quality for the segment and a lovely interior likewise unrivaled among competitors. You can find plenty of examples with decent mileage for around $5,000.
Ford Ranger & Toyota Tacoma
The full-size truck might loom large both in new and used forms, but the mid-size truck is right sized to perfectly balance utility and affordability. We recommend looking at both the Ford Ranger, 1998 through 2011 model years, and the Toyota Tacoma, models 2016 through 2023. The Ranger offers up to 3,200 lbs. in towing, an optional seven-foot bed, and a robust 4.0L V6 making 207 horsepower and 238 lb.-ft. of torque. Its track record of reliability and durability make it an unimpeachable choice for a used truck. The Toyota Tacoma of course boasts the company’s signature reliability along with great off-road chops and a powerful 3.5L V7 making 278 horsepower allowing the Taco to tow up to 6,800 lbs.
You can find Ford Rangers from a low of $4,000 to around $12,000 while the newer and larger Toyota Tacoma will run between $13,000 to $50,000.
Mazda Miata
No Carsforsale.com shopping list is quite complete without mentioning the Mazda Miata. Yes, there are cheap, decent used sports cars not named Miata, but for smiles per mile (and per dollar) they’re unmatched. You can find just about any of the four generations of the Miata worth buying used. Though light on power, the Miata’s light weight and nimble handling have made it a legend among driving enthusiasts. The Miata is also a tuner’s dream with a massive following and expansive aftermarket support. You can find good examples ranging from around $10,000 to $30,000.
