Finest Used Automobiles and Our High Picks for March 2025, says Shopper Stories

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

Associated article: Shopper Stories Reveals Their High Decide Automobiles of 2025, Together with Two Ford Pickup Vehicles

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

In no way. CR automotive consultants are serving to customers discover used-car choices that may save tens of hundreds of {dollars} whereas nonetheless permitting customers to personal a secure car with trendy security options and a confirmed observe report of reliability.

Shopper Stories Presents a New Choice Class

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

Nevertheless, their automotive analysts are making use of comparable 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 value of recent autos today, increasingly more individuals are naturally trying to pre-owned market searching for a greater discount,” says Alex Knizek, supervisor of automotive testing and insights for Shopper Stories. “However they should not must sacrifice security, reliability, or gasoline economic system to remain inside their finances. 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 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 technology perspective somewhat than a model-year perspective.
3. The good thing about a technology perspective is that it persistently reveals the fashions that turned extra trouble-free over a technology’s multiyear span; the final two years of a technology 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 customers 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 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 usually 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 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 Stories’ Dependable Used Sports activities Automotive Suggestions for Beneath $25,000

Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based mostly in Cincinnati who presently 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. 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 vans.

Picture Supply: Deposit Photographs