Greatest Used Automobiles: Shopper Reviews’ Prime Picks for June 2025

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

Will you need to accept used fashions with fewer security options and questionable reliability?

In no way. A new replace on used automotive procuring demonstrates that Shopper Reviews automotive specialists are serving to consumers discover used-car choices that may save them as much as tens of hundreds of {dollars} whereas nonetheless permitting consumers to personal a protected automobile with fashionable security options and a confirmed monitor report of reliability―all by making use of the same stage of rigor and selectively as they do with new automobile evaluations.

Tariffs are Altering Automotive Buying At this time

CR analysts word that as a result of at this time’s present consumers are involved about looming inflation and the uncertainty of tariffs and their influence on shoppers, shopping for a used automobile could make good financial sense for many households.

“With the traditionally excessive worth of recent autos today, an increasing number of individuals are naturally trying to the pre-owned market searching for a greater cut price,” says Alex Knizek, affiliate director of auto take a look at improvement at Shopper Reviews. “However they should not must sacrifice security, reliability, or gasoline economic system to remain inside their finances. That is why we now current Used Automotive Prime Picks and have expanded our used-car protection and insights.”

Shopper Reviews is well-known for its informative new automotive evaluations, during which it has highlighted distinctive vehicles, SUVs, and vans gleaned by means of in depth testing and buyer survey information.

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

1. Nice new vehicles do not all the time make nice used vehicles, particularly when factoring in depreciation and long-term reliability.
2. To establish sensible selections, used vehicles had been chosen from a era perspective fairly than a model-year perspective.
3. The good thing about a generational perspective is that it persistently reveals the fashions that turn out to be extra trouble-free over a era’s multi-year span; the final two years of a era are usually the most effective.
4. Security options in new fashions, which are sometimes present in used fashions, are one other qualifying consideration.
5. Automotive worth is important, as some fashions depreciate greater than others, making them a cut price as a used automobile in comparison with different used automotive fashions of the identical age.
6. Used automotive consumers ought to keep in mind that every automotive is exclusive, has its historical past, and have to be inspected by an expert mechanic earlier than buy.

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

THE BEST USED CAR TOP PICKS BY CONSUMER REPORTS

Sedan Underneath $10,000

2016 Mazda 6 (Era 2014-2011)

Worth Vary: $8,550 – $11,550

Proprietor Reported MPG: 29 mpg

Sedan Underneath $15,000

2019 Toyota Corolla (Era 2014-2019)

Worth Vary: $13,325 – $16,600

Proprietor Reported MPG: 32 mpg

SUV Underneath $15,000

2018 Mazda CX-5 (Era 2017-2025)

Worth Vary: $12,850 – $16,025

Proprietor Reported MPG: 26 mpg

Hybrid Underneath $20,000

2019 Toyota Camry Hybrid (Era 2018-2024)

Worth Vary: $16,400 – $20,800

Proprietor Reported MPG: 45 mpg

Small SUV Underneath $20,000

2021 Kia Sportage (Era 2017-2022)

Worth Vary: $15,450 – $20,150

Proprietor Reported MPG: 25 mpg

Hybrid SUV Underneath $20,000

2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (Era 2016-2018)

Worth Vary: $16,150 – $21,000

Proprietor Reported MPG: 32 mpg

3-Row SUV Underneath $20,000

2018 Mazda CX-9 (Era 2016-2023)

Worth Vary: $12,625 – $17,600

Proprietor Reported MPG: 23 mpg

Luxurious SUV Underneath $20,000

2017 Lexus NX (Era 2015-2021)

Worth Vary: $17,500 – $20,300

Proprietor Reported MPG: 25 mpg

Pickup Truck Underneath $20,000

2015 Toyota Tacoma (Era 2005-2015)

Worth Vary: $14,025 – $20,425

Proprietor Reported MPG: 19 mpg

Sports activities Automotive Underneath $20,000

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

Worth Vary: $15,525 – $21,725

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 really helpful 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 7 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 automotive is legally in your identify. Watch out for curbstoning scams.
2. Get insurance coverage protection―Ensure 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 will uncover hidden points missed through the pre-purchase inspection and enable you handle them early earlier than they turn out to be expensive.
4. Change all fluids and filters―Engine oil, transmission fluid, coolant, brake fluid, air filters, and cabin filters. Do not assume they had been modified or modified appropriately.
5. Test or substitute the timing belt or chain―If the automotive has a timing belt or timing chain and there is not any proof it was modified just lately, changing it may stop catastrophic engine harm.
6. Test tires and brakes —Be certain that they’re protected and never worn previous their limits.
7. Replace upkeep data and begin a log―Preserve monitor of what is been carried out and when to keep on high of future automotive upkeep.

Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter primarily based in Cincinnati who presently researches and works on restoring older autos with engine modifications for improved efficiency. He additionally reviews on fashionable vehicles (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 Automotive Restore” for helpful day by day information and subjects associated to new and used vehicles and vans.

Picture Supply: Deposit Photographs