When you buy a new car, lemon laws and manufacturer warranties generally protect you from a lot of headaches and potential reliability issues. Unfortunately, a lot of people can’t afford to spend $50,000 on a new car , which often means taking a risk on a used one that’s outside its warranty. What initially seems like a great deal can quickly turn into a maintenance nightmare.
If you’re shopping for a new-to-you car, truck or SUV, our friends at Consumer Reports recently published a list of the 24 best used cars that you should be able to find for less than $20,000. Not all owners treat their cars the same, so you should definitely still get a pre-purchase inspection before buying, regardless of what kind of used car you’re looking for, but these are the best ones to start with. All Electric Mini Van
And spoiler alert: There are a lot of Japanese cars on this list.
Sadly, Honda killed off the Fit, but you should be able to find a 2020 model for less than $20,000 and may even find some in the $16,000 range.
The Mazda3 is a seriously underappreciated compact car that’s stylish and fun to drive. A 2021 model may even be found in the low $16,000s.
The Corolla may not be the most exciting compact car, but it’ll be reliable. A 2017 model should be less than $15,000. If you want the hybrid, you can probably get a 2021 for under $20,000.
You can’t get a brand-new Prius in this range, but a 2018 Prius will likely be less than $20,000. Meanwhile, the plug-in-hybrid version with a little more than 20 miles of electric range shouldn’t carry much of a premium, and the larger Prius V can probably be had for less than $15,000 if you go for a 2016 model.
As far as midsize family sedans go, the Honda Accord has traditionally been one of the more fun-to-drive choices compared to its competitors. You may have a hard time finding a 2017 Accord for less than $15,000, but it shouldn’t be a problem finding one for less than $18,000.
If you want a big, comfortable sedan without paying a luxury premium, consider the Toyota Avalon. You should be able to find a 2017 Avalon for less than $20,000. If you’re willing to go slightly older, you can even afford the more fuel-efficient Avalon Hybrid.
It won’t be exciting, but it’s hard to go wrong buying the best Camry your budget allows. A 2017 model may even be less than $15,000, and even the more fuel-efficient Camry Hybrid of a similar age should be less than $20,000.
If you want a Honda Accord with more luxury features and optional all-wheel drive, the Acura TLX is the answer. It’s not a true sport sedan, but it’s still enjoyable to drive, and you should be able to find a 2016 TLX for less than $18,000.
If you don’t care about sportiness, the Lexus ES takes everything that people love about the Camry and does it better. You can probably find a 2015 model for around $15,000, and while the hybrid version is more expensive, you should still be able to find one of a similar age for less than $20,000.
If you do care about sportiness, then consider the Lexus GS. It’ll be more expensive than the Lexus ES, but it’s also a lot more fun to drive. Expect to pay at least $17,000 for a 2015 model.
Consumer Reports doesn’t recommend many sports cars under $20,000, but it does recommend the Miata. As does Jalopnik, for the record, at least as long as you fit. A 2016 or 2017 Miata should be in the $15,000-ish range.
There’s no beating a minivan for family-hauling duty, and on the used market, the one to get is the Toyota Sienna. If you’re lucky, you may even be able to find a 2016 model for less than $15,000, but you should be able to safely buy one with a $20,000 budget.
If you like the Honda CR-V but wish it had an upgraded interior, look no further than the Acura RDX. It got a refresh for 2016, and you’ll probably be able to find one for less than $18,000.
The Envision isn’t exactly sporty, but it’s got a nice interior and will be pretty comfortable. Reliability is also reportedly better than you might expect from a used Buick. You may be able to find a 2017 for less than $15,000, but shouldn’t have to spend more than $17,000.
There’s a reason the Honda CR-V is so popular – it’s just a great all-around daily driver. If you go for a 2016 model, you should be able to get one for less than $18,000.
The Honda HR-V may not be quick, but it offers a lot of what made the Fit so great in a higher-riding package. As long as you’re OK with its small size, a 2017 could be had for less than $17,000.
The Kia Sportage is a solid CR-V alternative and also happens to be the only Korean car to make the list. While you should be able to find a 2020 Sportage for less than $20,000, if you’re lucky, you might even be able to find one for less than $17,000.
If you can get past the frustrating infotainment system, the Lexus NX is a luxurious upgrade over the Toyota RAV4. It’s even somewhat sporty, something that can’t be said about the RAV4. Go for a 2015 model, and you can find one for less than $20,000.
Like the Honda CR-V, the RAV4 has become essentially ubiquitous thanks to its practicality and reliability. You should be able to find the refreshed 2016 version for less than $18,000, but the hybrid version can be found for less than $20,000, too.
No one will ever confuse the Lexus RX with a sports car, but if you want an incredibly comfortable, reliable, well-built luxury crossover, it may be the SUV for you. Demand is strong for used RXs, so you’ll probably have to head back to 2014 or 2015 to find one under $20,000, but it’ll likely still be in better condition than many newer alternatives.
If you’re looking for a three-row crossover that’s actually still fun to drive, then the Mazda CX-9 is what you’re looking for. It looks great, makes plenty of power and has a surprisingly nice interior. A 2018 CX-9 should be available for less than $20,000, and you may even be able to find one that’s closer to $15,000.
The Highlander was redesigned for 2014, and it makes a solid minivan alternative. It’s certainly not going to be as sporty as the CX-9, but the Highlander is still spacious and practical. Odds are, you won’t be able to find anything newer than a 2016 model for less than $20,000, but it will still be reliable.
You can find trucks that offer more features, a better ride and a nicer interior, but the Toyota Tacoma nails one thing almost perfectly — reliability. Because of that, they hold their value well, and you’ll likely have to go back to 2015 or so to find one for less than $20,000.
Cheap Used Car The Tundra is big truck with a spacious interior. Like the Tacoma, other competitors are better in a lot of ways, but the Tundra’s reliability is its biggest asset, which keeps used prices high. Still, you should be able to find a 2014 Tundra for less than $20,000.