Greatest Used Automobiles and Our High Picks for March 2025, says Client Studies

New automotive costs are nonetheless prohibitively excessive for many automotive customers as costs proceed to hover across the $48,000 to $50,000 (on common) mark. And if you would like a brand new truck, you’ll be able to count on to pay wherever from $70,000 to $100,000.

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

However is paying inflated costs and going into debt mandatory in an effort to personal an appropriate car?

Under no circumstances. CR automotive specialists are serving to customers discover used-car choices that may save tens of 1000’s of {dollars} whereas nonetheless permitting customers to personal a protected car with trendy security options and a confirmed observe document of reliability.

Client Studies Presents a New Choice Class

Client Studies is well-known for its informative new automotive evaluations, wherein it has highlighted distinctive automobiles, SUVs, and vehicles gleaned via intensive testing and buyer survey knowledge.

Nevertheless, 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 Automobile Picks” suggestions.

With the traditionally excessive worth of latest autos lately, increasingly more persons are naturally seeking to pre-owned market seeking a greater cut price,” says Alex Knizek, supervisor of automotive testing and insights for Client Studies. “However they should not should sacrifice security, reliability, or gasoline economic 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 specialists contemplate 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 establish sensible selections, used automobiles have been chosen from a era perspective quite than a model-year perspective.
3. The good thing about 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 important, as some fashions depreciate greater than others, making them a cut price as a used car in comparison with different used automotive fashions of the identical age.
6. Used automotive customers should keep in mind that every automotive 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 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 engaging as used automobiles than they have been when new.

THE BEST CAR TOP PICKS BY CONSUMER REPORTS

Sedan Underneath $10,000

Mazda 6 2016

Worth Vary: $8,125 – $11,125

Proprietor Reported MPG: 29 mpg

Sedan Underneath $15,000

Toyota Corolla 2018

Worth Vary: $12,275 – $14,875

Proprietor Reported MPG: 33 mpg

SUV Underneath $15,000

Honda CR-V 2016

Worth Vary: $12,050 – $16,250

Proprietor Reported MPG: 27 mpg

Hybrid Underneath $20,000

Toyota Camry Hybrid 2019

Worth Vary: $16,600 – $20,500

Proprietor Reported MPG: 45 mpg

Small SUV Underneath $20,000

Kia Sportage 2021

Worth Vary: $14,925 – $19,375

Proprietor Reported MPG: 25 mpg

Hybrid SUV Underneath $20,000

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid 2018

Worth Vary: $15,400 – $19,875

Proprietor Reported MPG: 32 mpg

3-Row SUV Underneath $20,000

Mazda CX-9 2020

Worth Vary: $16,425 – $22,750

Proprietor Reported MPG: 24 mpg

Luxurious SUV Underneath $20,000

Lexus NX 2017

Worth Vary: $16,550 – $19,625

Proprietor Reported MPG: 25 mpg

Pickup Truck Underneath $20,000

Toyota Tacoma 2015

Worth Vary: $13,575 – $19,975

Proprietor Reported MPG: 19 mpg

Sports activities Automobile Underneath $20,000

Mazda MX-5 Miata 2019

Worth Vary: $13,675 – $19,500

Proprietor Reported MPG: 32 mpg

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

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

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