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

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 anticipate to pay wherever from $70,000 to $100,000.

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

However is paying inflated costs and going into debt mandatory as a way to personal an appropriate automobile?

In no way. CR automotive consultants are serving to customers discover used-car choices that may save tens of 1000’s of {dollars} whereas nonetheless permitting customers to personal a secure automobile with fashionable security options and a confirmed monitor file of reliability.

Client Stories Provides a New Choice Class

Client Stories is well-known for its informative new automotive evaluations, through which it has highlighted distinctive vehicles, SUVs, and vehicles gleaned by intensive testing and buyer survey information.

Nevertheless, their automotive analysts are making use of related choice rigor to used vehicles, SUVs, and truck fashions and have simply launched their up to date “10 Used Automotive Picks” suggestions.

With the traditionally excessive value of latest autos lately, increasingly individuals are naturally trying to pre-owned market in quest of a greater cut price,” says Alex Knizek, supervisor of automotive testing and insights for Client Stories. “However they should not should sacrifice security, reliability, or gas financial 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 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 determine sensible decisions, used vehicles had been chosen from a era perspective somewhat than a model-year perspective.
3. The advantage of 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 typically the perfect.
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 cut price as a used automobile 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 knowledgeable mechanic earlier than shopping for.

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

THE BEST CAR TOP PICKS BY CONSUMER REPORTS

Sedan Below $10,000

Mazda 6 2016

Worth Vary: $8,125 – $11,125

Proprietor Reported MPG: 29 mpg

Sedan Below $15,000

Toyota Corolla 2018

Worth Vary: $12,275 – $14,875

Proprietor Reported MPG: 33 mpg

SUV Below $15,000

Honda CR-V 2016

Worth Vary: $12,050 – $16,250

Proprietor Reported MPG: 27 mpg

Hybrid Below $20,000

Toyota Camry Hybrid 2019

Worth Vary: $16,600 – $20,500

Proprietor Reported MPG: 45 mpg

Small SUV Below $20,000

Kia Sportage 2021

Worth Vary: $14,925 – $19,375

Proprietor Reported MPG: 25 mpg

Hybrid SUV Below $20,000

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid 2018

Worth Vary: $15,400 – $19,875

Proprietor Reported MPG: 32 mpg

3-Row SUV Below $20,000

Mazda CX-9 2020

Worth Vary: $16,425 – $22,750

Proprietor Reported MPG: 24 mpg

Luxurious SUV Below $20,000

Lexus NX 2017

Worth Vary: $16,550 – $19,625

Proprietor Reported MPG: 25 mpg

Pickup Truck Below $20,000

Toyota Tacoma 2015

Worth Vary: $13,575 – $19,975

Proprietor Reported MPG: 19 mpg

Sports activities Automotive Below $20,000

Mazda MX-5 Miata 2019

Worth Vary: $13,675 – $19,500

Proprietor Reported MPG: 32 mpg

Associated article: Client Stories’ Dependable Used Sports activities Automotive Suggestions for Below $25,000

Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter primarily based in Cincinnati who at present researches and works on restoring older autos with engine modifications for improved efficiency. He additionally experiences on fashionable vehicles (together with EVs) with a concentrate on 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 every day information and subjects associated to new and used vehicles and vehicles.

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