Mazda has never come close to selling as many cars as Toyota, Honda, or Nissan, and the reasons why are a mystery. The brand’s products are stylish, well made, and usually more fun to drive than their competition. The Mazda6 is Mazda’s mid-size sedan and it usually flies under the radar in a class dominated by the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.

Mazda gave the model a mild interior and exterior facelift in 2018, and we found some low mileage examples available from that year within our price range. Meanwhile, models built in 2016 and 2017 can be found in excellent condition for less than $15,000. That’s a heck of a value when you consider the Mazda6’s spacious cabin, strong performance, and solid reputation for reliability.

Mazda

Mazda6

2018 Mazda6

Kia’s largest sedan is also its most expensive and most powerful. The K900 is about the size of Mercedes S-Class, and it’s nearly as luxurious. It’s a fantastic full-size luxury sedan, one that offers all the features, build quality and space you would expect from a car that costs over $50,000 new. Many are even V8-powered, so they pack plenty of performance as well, and even the V6 models aren’t exactly slow. But few people know the K900 exists, and that lack of awareness makes them incredible used car values. 

Kia has sold the K900 since 2015, and early models can be found for around $20,000. 2017 models cost a bit more because blind-spot monitoring, a rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-change assistance became standard that year. In 2019, Kia redesigned the sedan, making it even larger. Newer K900s remain a great used car value, but they cost well beyond our $20,000 budget.

2016 Kia K900

If you’re looking for an attractive, luxurious, and fun-to-drive mid-size sedan with a huge backseat, you should be shopping for a good clean Volkswagen Passat. Like the Mazda6, the Passat isn’t as popular as some other mid-size sedans, which keeps its prices low. But these are well-built cars, and in 2012 it was redesigned to great success, growing one of the largest interiors in its class and being named the 2012 Motor Trend Car of the Year.

Models built as recently as 2019 slip under our $20,000 budget, but the real buys are a bit older. Low-mileage examples from 2017 cost less than $15,000. These cars were also diesel engines, which is unique in this class. But before you purchase one with a diesel, Google “VW Diesel Scandal” and make sure you know what you’re getting into.

Volkswagen

2017 Volkswagen Passat

We’ve included the Subaru Legacy on this list for three reasons. One: Legacys are known for their durability and reliability. Two: They are comfortable and are often packed with features. Three: This is the only mid-size sedan with all-wheel drive as standard equipment. And if you live where it snows, you know that’s important. During our research, we found Legacys as new as 2018 with about 11,000 miles for less than $20,000.

Most have Subaru’s 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, which is reliable but not very powerful. However, for the same money, we also found a few 2016 and 2017 examples with the optional 3.6-liter six-cylinder, which is far quicker. Because these cars are all-wheel drive, many are driven on dirt or unmaintained roads in rural areas. So always check underneath for damage or signs of hard use.

Subaru

2017 Subaru Legacy

Mazda redesigned the compact Mazda3 last year. The new version looks great, and it has a sharp interior, but it doesn’t drive as well as its predecessor. This is because Mazda has given the new version a less sophisticated rear suspension and its ride quality has suffered, along with its legendary handling. The best Mazda3s were built from 2014 to 2018. And now they are great used car values.

You can buy an extremely clean 2018 Mazda3, either sedan or hatchback, for about $15,000. We even found one with the base Sport trim level for that price with just 5,300 miles on it. These aren’t very big cars, but they fit four comfortably (five in a pinch), they’re fuel-efficient, and they’re a blast to drive. It won’t take you long to notice that the hatchbacks demand a bit of a premium over the sedans, which are more common, but the price difference isn’t extreme.

2018 Mazda3

Remember Scion? It was sort of Toyota’s youth brand. It doesn’t exist anymore, but don’t let that scare you off. Since Scion was part of Toyota, any Toyota dealer will still service a Scion. The last year of Scion was 2016, the year it introduced a wonderful small sedan called the iA.

It was cute, comfortable, spacious for its size, and extremely fuel-efficient. It was also designed and built by Mazda for Scion and sold in other markets around the world as the Mazda2. Because of this, it’s really fun to drive like other Mazdas and it has a great, well-finished interior, while other Scions can feel a bit cheap inside. It’s such a great little package it’s still sold today as the Toyota Yaris, but the one-year-only Scion-badged version remains way off the radar. Few people even know they exist. That keeps them cheap. About $10,000 buys the best one on Earth.

Scion

2016 Scion iA

The Toyota Camry has been one of the best-selling cars in America for decades, so there are millions and millions of them out there. Camrys are one of the country’s best used-car values because they are comfortable and roomy, and no car has a better reputation for reliability. Used examples in good condition can also be very affordable, but Camrys do hold their value, so the best examples usually cost more than the other mid-size sedans we’ve covered.

The sweet spot in the Camry market seems to be 2017 models. Toyota redesigned the sedan the following year, and 2018 and 2019 models are still costly. But the price for clean 2017 models is well below $20,000. Most have a four-cylinder engine, which is adequate, but the V6 models are out there and they’re far more fun to drive.

Toyota

Camry

2017 Toyota Camry

Like the Toyota Camry, its main rival, the Honda Accord has been one of America’s best-selling cars for decades. But the similarities don’t end there. The Accord is also family-friendly, spacious, and reliable. And it gets good fuel economy. But the Accord is more fun to drive than a Camry and, unlike the Toyota, it was offered both as a mid-size sedan or as a stylish two-door coupe. The Accord’s last redesign was also in 2018, so models built before then offer the best value.

Clean, well-maintained 2017 Accords with less than 25,000 miles are easily found online for less than $17,000, and cars with about 50,000 miles are an excellent value with asking prices right around $15,000. Coupes are even more affordable, and 2015 models with about 60,000 miles are huge value at around $12,500. Like the Camry, every Honda Accord is front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive was not available. Honda, however, did offer the Accord with a manual transmission, which is unusual in this class. And a V6-powered Accord with a six-speed manual is a blast to drive. They’re seriously quick.

Honda

Sonata

2017 Honda Accord

While we’ve focused our attention on mainstream-brand vehicles, we couldn’t resist the Infiniti Q50. During our research, we came across a gaggle of cheap 2016 and 2017 models for about $20,000. Infiniti is Nissan’s luxury brand and the Q50 is its entry-level sedan that competes with the BMW 3 Series.

It’s a luxury sports sedan with a beautifully finished interior, spacious backseat, and strong performance. The Q50 features soft leather upholstery, a sunroof, navigation, heated seats, and other luxuries expected in a car in this class. Most are rear-wheel drive, although all-wheel-drive was available, and the bulk of them are powered by a 3.0-liter V6 with about 300 hp. They’re quick and they handle well — and they look great inside and out, thanks to sleek lines and a feature-filled interior with two infotainment screens.

Infiniti

2016 Infiniti Q50

The front-wheel drive Hyundai Azera is considered a full-size sedan, larger than the more popular Sonata and aligned against cars like the Toyota Avalon and Chevy Impala. Although the Azera is attractive, luxurious and spacious, it has never sold in very big numbers. Despite its unusual name, large back seat, powerful V6 engine, and respectable fuel economy, it never pinged the radar of most buyers. 

Because of this, the Azera is no longer on sale in the U.S. Its most recent version was sold from 2012 to 2017, and the model's anonymity makes Azeras incredibly strong values for used car shoppers looking for a comfortable sedan with plenty of features on a tight budget. Low-mileage 2017 models cost under $20,000 and older examples are even more affordable. High-mileage examples cost less than $10,000.

Avalon

2017 Hyundai Azera

10 Used Cars That Are Great Values

Buying a used car should not mean you are settling for less than the best. In fact, the used car market is full of any number of good options – each offering an array of high-tech and luxury comfort features. To help with your search for a good used car at an affordable price, UsedCars.com has gone ahead and done a little research for you.

Best Used Cars

Acura

Alfa Romeo

Aston Martin

Audi

Bentley

Buick

Cadillac

Chevrolet

Chrysler

Dodge

Ferrari

FIAT

Ford

Genesis

Hyundai

INFINITI

Jaguar

Jeep

Karma

Lamborghini

Land Rover

Lexus

Lincoln

Lucid

Maserati

Maybach

McLaren

Mercedes-Benz

MINI

Mitsubishi

Nissan

Panoz

Polestar

Porsche

Rivian

Rolls-Royce

smart

Tesla

Volvo

Hatchbacks are a great option for those who want a little more flexibility when it comes cargo-carrying abilities. They make it possible to store large, bulky items that wouldn’t stand a chance of fitting in even the largest of trunks.

There are lots of hatchback options, from compact cars to hybrids to electric options. If the prices of new models are too high, then there are plenty of great used hatchbacks to choose from. Here are the 10 best used hatchbacks under $10,000.

10 Best Used Hatchbacks Under $10,000

There are lots of used sedans out there, which can make choosing the right one for you something of a challenge. This list of the best used sedans under $10,000 includes something for everyone.

Whether you’re looking for fuel efficiency, luxury, or a reliable family car, there’s a sedan on this list that’s perfect for you. The one thing they all have in common is that they're very budget-friendly. 

10 Best Used Sedans Under $10,000

To help you with your search for a used car that offers reliability, style, and safety, but at a price that you can afford, UsedCars.com has put together this list of the best used cars for under $10,000. Thanks to ever-rising standards in reliability, safety, and engineering, the average lifecycle for all cars continues to increase. This is great news for the used car buyer with a limited budget.  Here are our top 4 cars.

Best Used Cars Under $10,000

A minivan is a perfectly designed vehicle for a large family. With its small nose and low floor, it puts nearly all of its considerable footprint into a roomy passenger cabin. That means there’s three adult-friendly rows of seats along with a useful amount of cargo capacity. 

But most brand-new minivans cost $30,000 or more. When your budget is tighter, though, don’t despair. You can still find a used minivan for less than $10,000. For today’s article, we’ve rounded up the 10 best minivans under $10,000. We’ll discuss their pros and cons, and how far back in time you’ll likely need to go if you want a decent van at this low price. We’d also encourage you to prepare for some repair costs; minivans under $10,000 are cheap for a reason, and most either have less-savory reliability reputations or are older vehicles in worse condition and with high mileage.

Best Used Minivans Under $10,000

10 Best Used Convertibles

10 Best Used Cars for Off-Roading

10 Best Used Cars for New College Graduates

10 Best Used Cars for Parents

10 Best Used Cars for Teens

Gas-electric hybrids cut your fuel bill, but sometimes they’re a little expensive. Fortunately, you can save money with one of these 10 best used hybrids. 

10 Best Used Hybrids

Best Used Electric Cars Under $30,000

Best Used Electric Cars Under $40,000

Best Used Electric Cars to Buy in 2023

Best Used Cars With Blind Spot Warning

Best Used Cars With Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) Under $25,000

The Best Used Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles

10 Best Used Hybrids and EVs Under $30,000 

10 Best Luxury SUVs Under 40K

10 Best Used Sports Cars for Teens

10 Best Used Sports Cars Under $10,000

Most Affordable Used Cars with Panoramic Sunroofs

10 Best Used Cars with Panoramic Sunroofs

Best Used Electric Cars Under $20K

Top 10 Special Bargain Used Cars 

The original definition of a muscle car was simple: It was a comparatively inexpensive car with the biggest, baddest engine the manufacturer could shoehorn into the engine bay. Luxury features and bling were not part of the equation.
People think of muscle cars as a 1960s phenomenon, but in fact today’s used muscle cars are better than ever. To prove it, here are 10 late-model muscle machines you can buy on the pre-owned market.


Top 10 Used American Muscle Cars

To get more truck and more off-road capability for their money, many consumers are buying used pickups and SUVs equipped with special off-road packages right from the factory. It’s a great way to get special off-road-tuned suspensions, beefy tires, increased ground clearance, skid plates, and locking differentials for a fraction of the cost compared to what you’ll find at the new car dealers. From Chevys to Fords, Toyotas to Nissans, there are dozens serious off-road-ready and highly capable pickups and SUVs out there to choose from. Here are the 10 best used trucks for off-road.

10 Best Used Vehicles for Off-Road

If you’d love to get behind the wheel of a sporty car but think that they’re probably a waste of money, then one of our 10 affordable used sports cars should be right up your alley. There are two main reasons to buy a used car: to get into something you would otherwise be unable to afford or to let someone else pay for the depreciation that comes from driving a new car off the dealership lot. Of course, a used vehicle is a bit of an unknown, which means that you do have to assume some risk, especially if you are buying a car that’s coming out of warranty. But if that tradeoff seems worth it, then the next few pages are for you.

10 Affordable Used Sports Cars

It’s summertime. The weather has improved, and when you’re driving you hanker for the open-top experience of a convertible. But when you think about for a bit, you might realize that buying a convertible is a big commitment — maybe bigger than you’d like. Well, just because you are turning your back on a convertible purchase doesn’t mean that you can’t gaze upward and see the sky over your head and/or feel the wind tickle your temples. The answer to your quest is a car with a panoramic roof. Such a roof will allow you to peer upward to see the heavens, and it will likely open up so that outside air can come breezin’ on in. Though they differ in their details, the typical panoramic roof is like a moonroof on steroids. It is bigger and it might feature more than one clear or tinted panel, one or more of which might open. If you’re in the market for a used car right now, why not look for one with a panoramic roof? Here are the 10 best suggestions.

10 Best Used Vehicles With Panoramic Roofs

Sharing the family car seems like a great idea when your teenager gets a driver’s license. That idea works out only until you all need to be in a different place at the same time. Too many drivers and not enough cars isn’t convenient, so often the best decision is to buy your teenager a car of their own. Teenagers don't need a fancy sports car. They just need something safe and reliable that can do the job of getting them around town and maybe see them off to college. Here are 10 safe used cars for teenage drivers who need a car of their own.

10 Safe Used Cars for Teenage Drivers

When they’re shopping, many people pay a lot of attention to the price of the cars they consider. It’s hard not to take that into consideration because most of us have to figure out how we can wedge a car payment into our monthly budget. So the price often is a key factor in deciding to choose one model versus another.
But there’s more to the cost of owning a car than its initial price. You will also have state and local fees, insurance, maintenance, and repairs to pay for. If you finance the car, you’ll have the loan cost (interest) to consider as well. A big cost that many people never even think about is depreciation: the car’s loss in value over time. All of these factors go into a car's cost of ownership, and cost of ownership is — all in — what you really pay for your car. Determining the cost of ownership for used cars is more difficult than for new cars because each used car is unique in the number of miles it has been driven and how it has been taken care of. But one thing is certain — smaller cars have the lowest cost of ownership. For this list, we looked most closely at 2016 model year vehicles, but the recommendations hold true for approximately 2014 to 2019. Here are the 10 used cars that cost the least to own.


10 Used Cars That Cost the Least to Own

Any car expert worthy of the label will tell you the best new cars make the best used cars. And the best used cars are durable, reliable, practical, fun-to-drive, and attractive, because no one wants to drive an ugly car. But some used cars are better than others, and some are great values. To help you narrow down your search, we’ve selected 10 of the best used cars that are great values — focusing on mainstream-brand sedans costing no more than $20,000.

We conceived this list of the 10 used cars that cost the least to maintain after doing extensive research on the subject with well-regarded sources. The used cars we describe are 2016 models (four to five years old), but in general, the information applies to cars two to three years older and two to three years newer. Here are the 10 used cars that cost the least to maintain.

10 Used Cars That Cost the Least to Maintain

The average transaction price of a new car just keeps increasing. Even the global pandemic couldn’t stop the continued escalation of vehicle prices. Today’s new cars are well-built and are excellent values, but if you’d like to save yourself some money — or treat yourself to a luxury model you might not be able to afford new — a great alternative is a certified pre-owned car. Vehicles that have been certified by their manufacturers are relatively new, low-mileage cars that are extensively examined by trained technicians. In addition, they are backed by warranties that most often include lengthy powertrain coverage and might also include perks like roadside assistance. Here are the top values in CPO cars that you can buy for under $25,000.

10 Best CPO Cars Under $25,000

The great thing about buying a used car is that the lower prices of used cars versus new cars open up more possibilities. Where your budget might restrict you to a compact sedan from a mass-market brand if you purchased the car new, it might permit you to purchase a larger car from a luxury brand if you are willing to purchase a used model. Of course, buying a used car has its difficulties. Foremost among them is the fact you often buy a used car “as is.” That means you have very little recourse or protection if something goes haywire. The answer is buying a certified pre-owned (CPO) car. That enables you to take advantage of the rapid depreciation most cars experience during their first years while giving you a warranty from the manufacturer if something goes wrong. To demonstrate the logic of this approach to car-buying, we have gathered 10 cars from luxury brands that are available for less than $40,000.

10 Best CPO Cars Under $40,000

Today’s cars are the safest the auto industry has ever produced. Generally speaking, they provide superior protection should you be involved in a collision, and the latest models are also packed with sophisticated accident avoidance systems and driver aids that help you avoid an accident in the first place. To help you narrow down your search, we’ve created this list of 10 used cars under $25,000 with standard and optional accident avoidance systems and excellent crash test scores. Since most are just two to three years old, they can be found with low mileage and be purchased through a manufacturer’s certified pre-owned program.

10 Used Cars Under $25,000 With Accident Avoidance Systems

Buying a car for your teen driver typically involves a balancing act. On one side of the ledger, you want to choose a vehicle that is as safe as possible. On the other side, you have that old adversary called cost.
If cost were no object, choices would be far easier, but most of us face budgetary constraints every day, and it is no different when the time comes to obtain a vehicle for our teen drivers. Certainly, the purchase price of the vehicle is one constraint, but another very important variable is the cost of insurance. Over time, insurance costs will constitute a significant outlay. And that is why we decided to compile this list of the 10 most affordable vehicles to insure for your teen.

10 Most Affordable Vehicles to Insure for Your Teen

It's a lot of fun to get a new car. Obtaining a brand new, pristine amalgam of shiny steel, crystalline glass, and jet-black rubber is good for the ego. Of course, having some money in the bank can be a lot of fun, too. It might not be as exciting as the visceral thrill of a new car, but it can certainly be satisfying. And if you're looking for that kind of quiet satisfaction, you have come to the right place. Financial experts are nearly unanimous on the idea that to maximize the effectiveness of your transportation dollar, you should buy a used car and then keep it for as long as you possibly can. Why is the right used car a financial boon? First, a used car will be much expensive to buy than a new car of a similar size. Second, a used car that is several years old will typically lose its value at a lower rate than a new car. Yes, you might have to forego the ego stroke of getting a brand-new car, but you can bask in the knowledge you are creating a better financial future. To assemble this list that identifies the 10 best high-mileage used cars, we examined cars that are about five years old and chose the most reliable. We believe these are the cars most likely to comfortably exceed 100,000 miles.

Best High-Mileage Used Cars

There are cars you buy for fun, cars you buy to boost your ego, and cars you buy for a particular task — like commuting, for instance. The auto industry knows this, and it has created more than 350 models designed to cater to your every whim. Then there are cars you buy because you want and need transportation.

Impressing the people across the street becomes far less important than having an inexpensive vehicle that will get you back and forth to your job every day. And that is where reliable 10-year old cars come in. Compared with a new vehicle and even compared to a late-model used vehicle, 10-year-old cars are cheap. But unless you like standing by the side of the road waiting for the tow truck to arrive, you want something more than just the average 10-year-old car. You want one of the most reliable 10 year-old-cars on the market. Here are our well-researched and well-considered picks.

Most Reliable 10-Year-Old Cars

Yes, we live in an SUV era, but there is something extremely useful about a good hatchback. The typical hatchback is economical to purchase, costs little to operate and insure, and can haul a surprising amount of stuff. Additionally, hatchbacks are typically more fun to drive than the typical small SUV, which tends to have a higher center of gravity and be skewed completely in favor of hauling people and stuff instead of hauling down canyon roads. Because hatchbacks are relatively inexpensive to purchase new, they are even better values as used cars. One sweet spot revolves around models that are just a few years old. Many of them are of the same generation as the 2021 model, which means they typically have similar levels of safety equipment and creature comforts — but someone else has paid for their first few years of depreciation. Here are 10 good used hatchbacks that should provide you with excellent service for years to come.

10 Good Used Hatchbacks

10 Best Used Pickup Trucks

10 Best Used Small Trucks

Trucks have become the new everyday vehicle for millions of people because modern pickups deliver a unique mix of ultimate utility and comfort that few other vehicles can. Automakers have responded by adding more luxury, better tech, and a load of clever options that make trucks more useful, desirable, and expensive. Buying used can save you thousands of dollars over new, and certified pre-owned (CPO) is even better.
Vehicle manufacturers must authorize dealers before they can certify vehicles. The process involves a rigorous inspection, and only vehicles within a certain age and mileage range qualify. While CPO vehicles can be a little more expensive than other used models, they typically come with long manufacturer warranties that cover a large portion of vehicle systems. That peace of mind is worth the extra cost, and you'll typically end up with a much nicer vehicle overall, as CPOs are held to a higher standard.
Which certified pre-owned pickup truck is right for you? There are so many great choices that it's hard to go wrong. We've gathered a list of our favorite recent model-year CPO trucks. Let's get started. 