The Best Used Cars for Simply Getting Around
It’s expensive to buy and own a car — the American Automobile Association (AAA) pegs the cost of owning a vehicle at a whopping $8,469 a year, or more than $700 a month. But most of us need one to get around; in much of America, it’s just a fact of life.
Still, that doesn’t mean we need an expensive car. While AAA takes into account everything from car insurance and tires to gas and parking, the lion’s share of that annual expense comes from the depreciation of the vehicle (your car payment) and loan interest.
Buying a basic, reliable automobile — or better yet, a used version of the same — is a great way to meet your transportation needs while making a big dent in that yearly expense. After all, why pour so much money into something that, unlike a home or your retirement savings, is all but guaranteed to be a losing investment?
The Simple Dollar’s Best Used Cars for Getting From Point A to Point B: Updated for 2018
With that in mind, we’ve compiled our updated 2018 list of the best used cars for simply getting around. We placed a premium on reliability and fuel efficiency — you want to get where you’re going cheaply and without problems. We also considered safety ratings, but disregarded data related to design and performance. Finally, we divided each car’s raw score by its price to get a sense of which models will offer you the most reliable miles per buck.
We’ve focused only on 2014 and 2015 models. This is for two reasons:
- First, there’s enough data to judge their reliability (in the form of JD Power & Associates’ 2018 Vehicle Dependability Study) and compare apples to apples, so to speak.
- Second, buying a three- to four-year-old vehicle often makes the most sense financially — you won’t suffer the steep depreciation hit you experience with a new car, but the vehicle probably has many good years (and miles) ahead of it. In fact, some things may still be covered under warranty.
Dependability ratings are based on studies performed by JD Powers and Associates; prices are based on Kelley Blue Book’s fair purchase price for a base model with common options such as air conditioning and power windows. (Jump down for a full explanation of our methodology here.)
Best Used Cars Under $10,000
Because our rankings are weighted to reward reliability and fuel efficiency, the 2015 Nissan LEAF, Nissan’s plug-in electric vehicle (PEV), took top honors among all the other cars on this list — at any price. And that’s even after we included the anticipated $5,500 cost of a replacement battery, typically required after about eight years or 100,000 miles. That said, a fully electric plug-in certainly isn’t for everyone.
The LEAF shines for those who need a cheap, reliable way to go back and forth to work each day or run errands around town. You’ll never have to pay for gas again — nor for oil changes or a lot of other car maintenance costs you’ve come to expect. It could be the ideal commuter or second car.
But with a limited range of just 84 miles, it’s unlikely to replace the family sedan for road trips or weekend getaways — at least, not until electric charging stations grow more commonplace. (It’s also worth noting that federal tax credits don’t apply to the purchase of a used electric vehicle, according to Edmunds — and those same incentives can make buying a brand-new LEAF surprisingly cheap.)
2015 Nissan LEAF
Overall score: 243.4
- Dependability: 10 (out of 10)
- MPG: 126 city/101 hwy
- Safety: 4 (out of 5)
- Raw score: 36.7
2015 Chevrolet Cruze
Overall score: 238.1
- Dependability: 9
- MPG: 26 city/38 hwy
- Safety: 5
- Raw score: 20.6
With great gas mileage, safety, and dependability — plus a rock-bottom price — the 2015 Chevy Cruze is our top pick for a conventional used car, by a long shot.
2015 Kia Rio
Overall score: 218.9
- Dependability: 10
- MPG: 27 city/37 hwy
- Safety: 4
- Raw score: 20.4
2014 Nissan Sentra
Overall score: 187.9
- Dependability: 9
- MPG: 30 city/39 hwy
- Safety: 4
- Raw score: 19.9
Best Used Cars Under $15,000
Not surprisingly, this is the big sweet spot for a reliable, no-frills ride. If you’re looking for a dependable, fuel-efficient way to get from Point A to Point B — with just enough room for a couple of kids and groceries — you shouldn’t have to pay more than $15,000.
Compact Japanese and Korean cars dominate this genre, with some notable exceptions: If the Chevy Cruze is too small for your lifestyle, your best bet for a cheap, reliable ride among American-made cars might be the 2015 Chevy Malibu or the 2015 Chevy Trax. For those who crave more elbow room or luggage space, the Malibu is one of the larger cars on this list, while the Trax is a compact crossover SUV — and both boast surprising fuel efficiency for their size.
2015 Kia Forte
Overall score: 188.3
- Dependability: 9
- MPG: 26 city/39 hwy
- Safety: 5
- Raw score: 20.5
2014 Hyundai Elantra
Overall score: 174.4
- Dependability: 9
- MPG: 28 city/38 hwy
- Safety: 5
- Raw score: 20.6
2015 Chevrolet Malibu
Overall score: 165.6
- Dependability: 10
- MPG: 25 city/36 hwy
- Safety: 5
- Raw score: 21.1
2014 Honda Civic Hybrid
Overall score: 158.8
- Dependability: 10
- MPG: 44 city/47 hwy
- Safety: 4
- Raw score: 23.1
2014 Honda Civic
Overall score: 172.1
- Dependability: 10
- MPG: 30 city/39 hwy
- Safety: 4
- Raw score: 20.9
2015 Chevrolet Trax
Overall score: 169.0
- Dependability: 9
- MPG: 26 city/34 hwy
- Safety: 5
- Raw score: 20.0
2014 Toyota Corolla
Overall score: 168.9
- Dependability: 9
- MPG: 27 city/36 hwy
- Safety: 5
- Raw score: 20.3
2015 Buick Verano
Overall score: 168.4
- Dependability: 10
- MPG: 21 city/32 hwy
- Safety: 5
- Raw score: 20.3
2015 Hyundai Sonata
Overall score: 167.5
- Dependability: 10
- MPG: 25 city/37 hwy
- Safety: 5
- Raw score: 21.2
2014 Toyota Prius
Overall score: 157.5
- Dependability: 10
- MPG: 51 city/48 hwy
- Safety: 4
- Raw score: 23.9
2015 Honda Civic Hybrid
Overall score: 155.3
- Dependability: 9
- MPG: 44 city/47 hwy
- Safety: 4
- Raw score: 22.1
2014 Toyota Camry
Overall score: 152.7
- Dependability: 10
- MPG: 25 city/35 hwy
- Safety: 5
- Raw score: 21
Best Used Cars Under $20,000
When you get above $15,000, we’re no longer talking about just getting from A to B. Most of these vehicles offer something just a bit more — whether it’s more cargo or passenger space for large families, or even just some extra oomph. But they still rank among the most reliable and affordable 2014 and 2015 models.
2015 Toyota Prius
Overall score: 154
- Dependability: 10
- MPG: 51 city/48 hwy
- Safety: 4
- Raw score: 23.9
2015 Honda Accord Hybrid
Overall score: 135.7
- Dependability: 9
- MPG: 50 city/45 hwy
- Safety: 4
- Raw score: 23.5
2014 Honda Accord Hybrid
Overall score: 127.5
- Dependability: 9
- MPG: 50 city/45 hwy
- Safety: 4
- Raw score: 23.5
2015 Buick Lacrosse
Overall score: 117.9
- Dependability: 10
- MPG: 25 city/36 hwy
- Safety: 5
- Raw score: 21.1
2014 Toyota Avalon
Overall score: 111.3
- Dependability: 10
- MPG: 21 city/31 hwy
- Safety: 5
- Raw score: 20.2
Methodology
Dependability scores are out of a possible 10, from JD Power & Associates 2018 and 2017 Vehicle Dependability Studies, in which car owners were asked to rate and report problems with their 2015 and 2014 vehicles over the past three years across four categories: Overall Dependability, Powertrain, Body and Interior, and Features and Accessories. For our purposes, cars had to score a 9 or 10 to be considered.
Miles per gallon (MPG) scores were calculated by adding EPA city and highway fuel-efficiency estimates and dividing by 10. (So a car with 25 city/35 highway MPG would score a 6.0.)
Safety scores refer to the National Highway & Transportation Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) overall safety ratings, where 5 is the best rating.
Raw score reflects each car’s total points in the above categories.
Prices shown are the “Fair Purchase Price” according to Kelley Blue Book — or what you should expect to pay, after some negotiating, at a used car dealership — in the Boston area in September 2018.
To get each car’s Overall score, we divided its raw score by the fair purchase price, then multiplied that by the number of useful miles remaining (assuming an average lifespan of 150,000 miles). That amounted to 100,000 miles for 2015 models and 85,000 miles for 2014 vehicles.
Figures reflect the base model (e.g., for the Honda Civic, we looked at the LX model). Prices assume a car is in good condition or better, with roughly 50,000 miles on it, and includes such common comforts as air conditioning and power steering, but not other extras like sunroofs.
That said, if you’re really just looking for a reliable engine attached to some wheels, you can often save about a thousand dollars or more by buying a bare-bones model without A/C, cruise control, or power locks and windows. But take it from someone who lived without power steering for six years: It’s well worth the price!
Tips for Buying a Used Car
Even an inexpensive car is one of the bigger purchases you’ll ever make. It’s also one that, like a mattress or couch, is likely to have a major impact on your day-to-day life because of how often you use it.
That means it’s critical to invest some time researching your purchase.
Start with sites like, Cars.com, and Kelley’s Blue Book, which offer invaluable treasure troves of data and expert reviews, and allow you to compare the specs of multiple models side by side. Consumer Reports also offers in-depth, authoritative reviews of thousands of cars; if you don’t have a subscription, you can often find back issues at your local library.
Also consider just how old of a car you’re willing to buy. A newer car will cost more to insure each month, while an older one may rack up more repair and maintenance costs each year. At around 60,000 miles, most warranties start to phase out, and some cars may require expensive bits of maintenance — a new timing belt, for instance — between 60,000 and 100,000 miles.
Once you’ve narrowed down a few models you like, search the inventory at nearby dealerships, and/or online classifieds such as Craigslist if you’re comfortable buying from a private seller. Here are a few more tips when it comes time to buy a used car:
Line up financing ahead of time (or better yet, pay cash).
If you can secure an auto loan from your own bank or credit union, take that to the dealership. It’s one more bargaining chip in your favor — you won’t be reliant on their loan department, and they may even try to beat that interest rate to win your business. If you can pay in cash, you’ll be a more attractive buyer – and you won’t have the burden of a car payment for the next few years.
- Related: Best Auto Loans
Don’t be afraid to walk away.
Whether you’re buying from a dealership or a private seller, this is your primary bargaining chip. If you have a car that still functions, you’re in no immediate rush to buy, and you’re free to look elsewhere for a better deal. If you’re unhappy with the seller’s terms, walk away.
Don’t let the salesperson change the numbers.
Print out your research from or Kelley Blue Book, and walk into the dealership armed with a fair purchase price for your vehicle of choice. Show them your research and make it clear that that’s what you’re willing to pay. They may try to steer the dialog away from the actual purchase price, focusing instead on monthly payments (and 72-month or even 84-month loans).
Don’t let them: This is just a smokescreen to disguise the true cost of the car.
Take it for a test drive.
While we’ve become conditioned to buy things online sight-unseen, a used car is a different animal. Make sure you test drive a car in various situations before buying it — to make sure it feels right to you, and to uncover any potential problems. For example, if it starts shaking at higher speeds, you’ll want to take it to a mechanic to see how serious the issue is.
Get a vehicle history report.
Obtaining a CarFax or similar report is an easy, fairly cheap way to check a car’s title and accident history using its vehicle identification number (VIN). A car that’s been in a serious accident could have hidden problems, and you don’t want to pay for them.
Shop in daylight.
Between work and kids, it can be tough to squeeze in a daytime trip to the dealership — especially if your current car goes kaput and you can’t wait until the weekend. But try to shop in daylight whenever possible.
We bought our last used car late in the evening, after work — we needed wheels, pronto — and we failed to notice a number of minor dents and scratches on the exterior. We were even mildly surprised by the color when we finally saw it in the light of day — and you don’t want to be surprised by a used car!
Give the car a thorough inspection, and/or take it to a trusted mechanic.
Kelley’s Blue Book offers some helpful advice on conducting a thorough self-inspection of any used car you’re considering; for instance, look for uneven tire wear or cracks on the engine block.
However, it you’re still unsure, you can take the car to a mechanic you trust for an inspection. It’s well worth the money to learn whether the car has any obvious mechanical flaws — and how much you can expect to pay for repairs if so. Even if the problem isn’t a deal-breaker, you still may be able to use that information to negotiate a better price.
Don’t Automatically Rule Out a New Car
Finally, it’s worth noting that buying a used car is generally your best value, but don’t just assume that’s the case — do some research.
For one thing, the sharp, first-year depreciation of new cars that you always hear about — how they lose up to 30% of their value as soon as you drive off the lot — is against the MSRP, or the retail sticker price. Hopefully you know by now that no one pays sticker price for a new car, so that figure can be a bit inflated. (Edmunds estimates that most new cars lose about 19% of their value vs. the actual purchase price in the first year. Granted, that’s still a terrible deal, but it’s not quite so bad as we often hear.)
Plus, with brands that hold their value better than others — such as Toyota or Honda — the “used” discount isn’t as pronounced, so it can make sense to compare new prices as well. This is especially true during major promotional periods such as Labor Day or Presidents Day sales, when dealers may be under pressure to meet a sales quota.
For instance, Kelley Blue Book’s fair purchase price for a 2015 Honda Civic LX sedan is $13,073; the fair-market price of a new 2018 model, meanwhile, is $17,928, even before any current incentives. So by buying used in this case, you’re only getting a 27% discount — and giving up the bulk of your warranty plus four years and 50,000 miles of wear and tear on the vehicle to get it. Consider whether that trade-off is worth the savings.
More by Jon Gorey:
- Rethinking These Eight ‘Normal’ Behaviors Can Save You $100,000 or More
- Two-Sided Coin: Should You Always Buy a New Car?
- Six Ways to Hack the 52-Week Money Challenge
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Wednesday, September 05, 2018
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