Shopper Reviews’ Greatest Used Automotive Suggestions for July 2025

Is paying artificially inflated costs and going into debt essential to personal an acceptable car?

Will it’s important to accept used fashions with fewer security options and questionable reliability?

By no means. A brand new replace on used automobile buying demonstrates that Shopper Reviews automotive consultants are serving to buyers discover used-car choices that may save them as much as tens of hundreds of {dollars} whereas nonetheless permitting buyers to personal a secure car with fashionable security options and a confirmed monitor document of reliability―all by making use of an analogous degree of rigor and selectively as they do of their new car opinions.

Tariffs are Inflation on the Horizon

CR analysts notice that as a result of in the present day’s present buyers are involved about looming inflation and the uncertainty of tariffs and their impression on customers, shopping for a used car could make good financial sense for many households.

“With the traditionally excessive value of recent autos lately, increasingly more individuals are naturally seeking to the pre-owned market in quest of a greater discount,” says Alex Knizek, affiliate director of auto check improvement at Shopper Reviews. “However they should not need to sacrifice security, reliability, or gasoline financial system to remain inside their finances. That is why we now current Used Automotive High Picks and have expanded our used-car protection and insights.”

Shopper Reviews is well-known for its informative new automobile opinions, wherein it has highlighted distinctive automobiles, SUVs, and vans gleaned by means of in depth testing and buyer survey knowledge.

Of their evaluation of used autos CR automotive consultants think about the next elements:

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 reasonably than a model-year perspective.
3. The good thing about a era perspective is that it constantly reveals the fashions that turned extra trouble-free over a era’s multiyear span; the final two years of a era are typically one of the best.
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 bear 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 automobiles emphasizes worth inside a value vary, and it signifies that the highlighted fashions could not have been the highest-scoring fashions when examined new. As a substitute, they’re typically good automobiles that depreciated greater than others, making them extra enticing as used automobiles than they had been when new,” states the replace.

THE BEST CAR TOP PICKS BY CONSUMER REPORTS

SEDAN UNDER $10,000

2016 Mazda 6 (Technology 2014-2011)

Worth Vary: $8,550 – $11,325

Proprietor Reported MPG: 29 mpg

SEDAN UNDER $15,000

2019 Toyota Corolla (Technology 2014-2019)

Worth Vary: $12,925 – $16,230

Proprietor Reported MPG: 32 mpg

SUV UNDER $15,000

2018 Mazda CX-5 (Technology 2017-2025)

Worth Vary: $12,025 – $16,450

Proprietor Reported MPG: 26 mpg

HYBRID UNDER $20,000

2019 Toyota Camry Hybrid (Technology 2018-2024)

Worth Vary: $16,875 – $21,450

Proprietor Reported MPG: 45 mpg

SMALL SUV UNDER $20,000

2021 Kia Sportage (Technology 2017-2022)

Worth Vary: $14,925 – $19,475

Proprietor Reported MPG: 25 mpg

HYBRID SUV UNDER $20,000

2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (Technology 2016-2018)

Worth Vary: $15,800 – $20,650

Proprietor Reported MPG: 32 mpg

3-ROW SUV UNDER $20,000

2018 Mazda CX-9 (Technology 2016-2023)

Worth Vary: $12,175 – $17,300

Proprietor Reported MPG: 23 mpg

LUXURY SUV UNDER $20,000

2017 Lexus NX (Technology 2015-2021)

Worth Vary: $17,500 – $20,300

Proprietor Reported MPG: 25 mpg

PICKUP TRUCK UNDER $20,000

2015 Toyota Tacoma (Technology 2005-2015)

Worth Vary: $13,675 – $20,025

Proprietor Reported MPG: 19 mpg

SPORTS CAR UNDER $20,000

2020 Mazda MX-5 Miata (Technology 2016-2024)

Worth Vary: $15,350 – $21,475

Proprietor Reported MPG: 32 mpg

There’s Extra to Shopping for a Used Automotive Than Its Worth… It is What Occurs After

Though you could have the beneficial pre-purchase inspection earlier than shopping for that used mannequin and the vendor’s assurance that every part is on the up and up, there are vital issues that have to be taken care of afterward on this order:

1. Switch the title and registration — go to your native DMV instantly to make sure the automobile is legally in your title. Watch out for curbstoning scams.
2. Get insurance coverage protection — be sure you have applicable and reasonably priced insurance coverage protection in place earlier than you drive a lot additional.
3. Get a full mechanical inspection — this could uncover hidden points missed through the pre-purchase inspection and assist you to deal with them early earlier than they change into pricey.
4. Change all fluids and filters — together with engine oil, transmission fluid, coolant, brake fluid, air filters, and cabin filters. Do not assume they had been modified or modified appropriately.
5. Examine or exchange the timing belt or chain — if the automobile has a timing belt or timing chain and there isn’t any proof it was not too long ago modified, changing it might stop catastrophic engine injury.
6. Examine tires and brakes — be certain that they’re secure and never worn past their limits.
7. Replace upkeep information and begin a log — to maintain monitor of what is been performed and when, staying on prime of future automobile upkeep.

For added current Shopper Reviews suggestions, listed below are a number of on your consideration:

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

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