Greatest Used Automobiles and Our High Picks for March 2025, says Shopper Reviews

New automobile costs are nonetheless prohibitively excessive for many automobile buyers as costs proceed to hover across the $48,000 to $50,000 (on common) mark. And in order for you a brand new truck, you possibly can anticipate to pay anyplace from $70,000 to $100,000.

Associated article: Shopper Reviews Reveals Their High Choose Automobiles of 2025, Together with Two Ford Pickup Vans

However is paying inflated costs and going into debt essential with a view to personal an acceptable automobile?

In no way. CR automotive consultants are serving to buyers discover used-car choices that may save tens of 1000’s of {dollars} whereas nonetheless permitting buyers to personal a protected automobile with trendy security options and a confirmed observe file of reliability.

Shopper Reviews Provides a New Choice Class

Shopper Reviews is well-known for its informative new automobile opinions, by which it has highlighted distinctive vehicles, SUVs, and vehicles gleaned by means of intensive testing and buyer survey information.

Nevertheless, their automotive analysts are making use of related choice rigor to used vehicles, SUVs, and truck fashions and have simply launched their up to date “10 Used Automobile Picks” suggestions.

With the traditionally excessive worth of latest autos today, increasingly more individuals are naturally trying to pre-owned market looking for a greater discount,” says Alex Knizek, supervisor of automotive testing and insights for Shopper Reviews. “However they should not must sacrifice security, reliability, or gasoline financial system to remain inside their finances. That is why we created these Used Automobile High Picks and are increasing our used-car protection and insights.

Of their evaluation, CR automotive consultants contemplate the next elements:

1. Nice new vehicles do not at all times make nice used vehicles, particularly when factoring in depreciation and long-term reliability.
2. To establish sensible decisions, used vehicles had been chosen from a era perspective somewhat than a model-year perspective.
3. The advantage of a era perspective is that it constantly reveals the fashions that grew to become extra trouble-free over a era’s multiyear span; the final two years of a era are usually the very best.
4. Security options in new fashions present in used fashions are one other qualifying consideration.
5. Automobile worth is crucial, as some fashions depreciate greater than others, making them a discount as a used automobile in comparison with different used automobile fashions of the identical age.
6. Used automobile buyers should keep in mind that every automobile is exclusive, has its historical past, and have to be inspected by knowledgeable mechanic earlier than shopping for.

The technique we make use of for choosing used vehicles emphasizes worth inside a worth vary, and it signifies that the highlighted fashions might not have been the highest-scoring fashions when examined new. As a substitute, they’re usually good vehicles that depreciated greater than others, making them extra engaging as used vehicles than they had been when new.

THE BEST CAR TOP PICKS BY CONSUMER REPORTS

Sedan Underneath $10,000

Mazda 6 2016

Value Vary: $8,125 – $11,125

Proprietor Reported MPG: 29 mpg

Sedan Underneath $15,000

Toyota Corolla 2018

Value Vary: $12,275 – $14,875

Proprietor Reported MPG: 33 mpg

SUV Underneath $15,000

Honda CR-V 2016

Value Vary: $12,050 – $16,250

Proprietor Reported MPG: 27 mpg

Hybrid Underneath $20,000

Toyota Camry Hybrid 2019

Value Vary: $16,600 – $20,500

Proprietor Reported MPG: 45 mpg

Small SUV Underneath $20,000

Kia Sportage 2021

Value Vary: $14,925 – $19,375

Proprietor Reported MPG: 25 mpg

Hybrid SUV Underneath $20,000

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid 2018

Value Vary: $15,400 – $19,875

Proprietor Reported MPG: 32 mpg

3-Row SUV Underneath $20,000

Mazda CX-9 2020

Value Vary: $16,425 – $22,750

Proprietor Reported MPG: 24 mpg

Luxurious SUV Underneath $20,000

Lexus NX 2017

Value Vary: $16,550 – $19,625

Proprietor Reported MPG: 25 mpg

Pickup Truck Underneath $20,000

Toyota Tacoma 2015

Value Vary: $13,575 – $19,975

Proprietor Reported MPG: 19 mpg

Sports activities Automobile Underneath $20,000

Mazda MX-5 Miata 2019

Value Vary: $13,675 – $19,500

Proprietor Reported MPG: 32 mpg

Associated article: Shopper Reviews’ Dependable Used Sports activities Automobile Suggestions for Underneath $25,000

Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based mostly in Cincinnati who presently researches and works on restoring older autos with engine modifications for improved efficiency. He additionally stories on trendy vehicles (together with EVs) with a give attention to DIY mechanics, shopping for and utilizing instruments, and different associated topical automotive restore information. Observe Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites in addition to on Fb and his automotive weblog “Zen and the Artwork of DIY Automobile Restore” for helpful every day information and matters associated to new and used vehicles and vehicles.

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