Finest Used Vehicles 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 may anticipate to pay wherever from $70,000 to $100,000.

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

However is paying inflated costs and going into debt mandatory to be able to personal an acceptable car?

By no means. 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 secure car with trendy security options and a confirmed observe document of reliability.

Shopper Reviews Gives a New Choice Class

Shopper Reviews is well-known for its informative new automobile critiques, wherein it has highlighted distinctive automobiles, SUVs, and vehicles gleaned by in depth testing and buyer survey information.

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

With the traditionally excessive worth of recent autos today, an increasing number of 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 funds. That is why we created these Used Automotive High Picks and are increasing our used-car protection and insights.

Of their evaluation, CR automotive consultants take into account the next components:

1. Nice new automobiles do not at all times make nice used automobiles, particularly when factoring in depreciation and long-term reliability.
2. To determine good decisions, used automobiles had been chosen from a era perspective relatively than a model-year perspective.
3. The advantage of a era perspective is that it persistently 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 most effective.
4. Security options in new fashions present in used fashions are one other qualifying consideration.
5. Automotive worth is important, as some fashions depreciate greater than others, making them a discount as a used car in comparison with different used automobile fashions of the identical age.
6. Used automobile buyers should do not forget that every automobile is exclusive, has its historical past, and have to be inspected by an expert mechanic earlier than shopping for.

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

THE BEST CAR TOP PICKS BY CONSUMER REPORTS

Sedan Beneath $10,000

Mazda 6 2016

Worth Vary: $8,125 – $11,125

Proprietor Reported MPG: 29 mpg

Sedan Beneath $15,000

Toyota Corolla 2018

Worth Vary: $12,275 – $14,875

Proprietor Reported MPG: 33 mpg

SUV Beneath $15,000

Honda CR-V 2016

Worth Vary: $12,050 – $16,250

Proprietor Reported MPG: 27 mpg

Hybrid Beneath $20,000

Toyota Camry Hybrid 2019

Worth Vary: $16,600 – $20,500

Proprietor Reported MPG: 45 mpg

Small SUV Beneath $20,000

Kia Sportage 2021

Worth Vary: $14,925 – $19,375

Proprietor Reported MPG: 25 mpg

Hybrid SUV Beneath $20,000

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid 2018

Worth Vary: $15,400 – $19,875

Proprietor Reported MPG: 32 mpg

3-Row SUV Beneath $20,000

Mazda CX-9 2020

Worth Vary: $16,425 – $22,750

Proprietor Reported MPG: 24 mpg

Luxurious SUV Beneath $20,000

Lexus NX 2017

Worth Vary: $16,550 – $19,625

Proprietor Reported MPG: 25 mpg

Pickup Truck Beneath $20,000

Toyota Tacoma 2015

Worth Vary: $13,575 – $19,975

Proprietor Reported MPG: 19 mpg

Sports activities Automotive Beneath $20,000

Mazda MX-5 Miata 2019

Worth Vary: $13,675 – $19,500

Proprietor Reported MPG: 32 mpg

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

Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based mostly in Cincinnati who at the moment researches and works on restoring older autos with engine modifications for improved efficiency. He additionally experiences on trendy automobiles (together with EVs) with a concentrate on 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 Automotive Restore” for helpful day by day information and subjects associated to new and used automobiles and vehicles.

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