Shopper Reviews’ Finest Used Automobile Suggestions for July 2025

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

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

By no means. A brand new replace on used automobile purchasing demonstrates that Shopper Reviews automotive consultants are serving to buyers discover used-car choices that may save them as much as tens of 1000’s of {dollars} whereas nonetheless permitting buyers to personal a secure automobile with fashionable security options and a confirmed monitor file of reliability―all by making use of an analogous degree of rigor and selectively as they do of their new automobile opinions.

Tariffs are Inflation on the Horizon

CR analysts word that as a result of right now’s present buyers are involved about looming inflation and the uncertainty of tariffs and their affect on customers, shopping for a used automobile could make good financial sense for many households.

“With the traditionally excessive worth of recent autos as of late, increasingly more persons are naturally trying to the pre-owned market seeking a greater cut price,” says Alex Knizek, affiliate director of auto check growth at Shopper Reviews. “However they should not should sacrifice security, reliability, or gas financial system to remain inside their funds. That is why we now current Used Automobile Prime Picks and have expanded our used-car protection and insights.”

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

Of their evaluation of used autos CR automotive consultants contemplate the next components:

1. Nice new automobiles do not all the time make nice used automobiles, particularly when factoring in depreciation and long-term reliability.
2. To establish good decisions, used automobiles have been chosen from a technology perspective quite than a model-year perspective.
3. The good thing about a technology perspective is that it constantly reveals the fashions that grew to become extra trouble-free over a technology’s multiyear span; the final two years of a technology are usually the perfect.
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 automobile 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 worth vary, and it signifies that the highlighted fashions might not have been the highest-scoring fashions when examined new. As an alternative, they’re usually good automobiles that depreciated greater than others, making them extra enticing as used automobiles than they have been when new,” states the replace.

THE BEST CAR TOP PICKS BY CONSUMER REPORTS

SEDAN UNDER $10,000

2016 Mazda 6 (Technology 2014-2011)

Value Vary: $8,550 – $11,325

Proprietor Reported MPG: 29 mpg

SEDAN UNDER $15,000

2019 Toyota Corolla (Technology 2014-2019)

Value Vary: $12,925 – $16,230

Proprietor Reported MPG: 32 mpg

SUV UNDER $15,000

2018 Mazda CX-5 (Technology 2017-2025)

Value Vary: $12,025 – $16,450

Proprietor Reported MPG: 26 mpg

HYBRID UNDER $20,000

2019 Toyota Camry Hybrid (Technology 2018-2024)

Value Vary: $16,875 – $21,450

Proprietor Reported MPG: 45 mpg

SMALL SUV UNDER $20,000

2021 Kia Sportage (Technology 2017-2022)

Value Vary: $14,925 – $19,475

Proprietor Reported MPG: 25 mpg

HYBRID SUV UNDER $20,000

2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (Technology 2016-2018)

Value Vary: $15,800 – $20,650

Proprietor Reported MPG: 32 mpg

3-ROW SUV UNDER $20,000

2018 Mazda CX-9 (Technology 2016-2023)

Value Vary: $12,175 – $17,300

Proprietor Reported MPG: 23 mpg

LUXURY SUV UNDER $20,000

2017 Lexus NX (Technology 2015-2021)

Value Vary: $17,500 – $20,300

Proprietor Reported MPG: 25 mpg

PICKUP TRUCK UNDER $20,000

2015 Toyota Tacoma (Technology 2005-2015)

Value Vary: $13,675 – $20,025

Proprietor Reported MPG: 19 mpg

SPORTS CAR UNDER $20,000

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

Value Vary: $15,350 – $21,475

Proprietor Reported MPG: 32 mpg

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

Though you’ll have the really useful pre-purchase inspection earlier than shopping for that used mannequin and the vendor’s assurance that every little thing is on the up and up, there are vital issues that should 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 — ensure you have applicable and inexpensive insurance coverage protection in place earlier than you drive a lot additional.
3. Get a full mechanical inspection — this will uncover hidden points missed in the course of the pre-purchase inspection and allow you to deal with them early earlier than they grow to be 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 have been modified or modified accurately.
5. Test or exchange the timing belt or chain — if the automobile has a timing belt or timing chain and there is no proof it was lately modified, changing it might stop catastrophic engine injury.
6. Test tires and brakes — ensure 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 high of future automobile upkeep.

For extra latest Shopper Reviews suggestions, listed here are just a few to your consideration:

Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based mostly in Cincinnati who presently researches and works on restoring older autos with engine modifications for improved efficiency. He additionally reviews on fashionable 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 each day information and matters associated to new and used automobiles and vans.

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