Best Used Cars Under $15,000 Recommended by Consumer Reports

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Based on years of test data and thousands of survey responses, here are Consumer Reports’ best used cars under $15,000 picks they would recommend for their own friends and family members.

The Benefits of Finding a Good Used Car

According to a recent Consumer Reports newsletter, “Used cars are always a good value because a prior owner has taken the depreciation hit, making their loss your gain. And even though the average value of used cars through the fall of 2023 was $26,803, there are plenty of vehicles on the market that are reliable and safe for half of that amount.”

To help consumers find a good used car, CR analysts recently dug through years of accumulated data and came with this list of vehicles that performed well when new; and, consistently demonstrated better than average reliability over the years in models ranging from 2014 to 2023.

Furthermore, with budget buyers in mind, CR analysts narrowed the list to those recommended models that can be had today between $10,000 and $15,000.

The models below (listed alphabetically by segment) are the ones we’d recommend to our friends and family. Each has standard electronic stability control, an important safety feature. Some were also available with active safety features such as forward collision warning (FCW), automatic emergency braking (AEB), blind spot warning (BSW), and/or rear cross traffic warning (RCTW) as optional or standard equipment when they were new,” stated CR automotive experts in today’s newsletter.

BEST USED CARS UNDER $15,000

That said, here is a summary of their recent listing of the best used cars for under $15,000 with reported mileage specs, price range, and model years with each recommended pick.

SMALL CARS

Ford C-Max 2016

Price Range:  $9,100 - $11,775

Owner reported MPG:  41 mpg

Recommended model years: 2015-2016

 

Honda Fit 2017

Price Range:  $12,050 - $15,600

Owner reported MPG:  36 mpg

Recommended model years: 2016-2018

 

Mazda 3 2016

Price Range:  $9,950 - $13,525

Owner reported MPG:  32 mpg

Recommended model years: 2016-2017

 

Toyota Corolla 2015

Price Range:  $10,000 - $12,175

Owner reported MPG:  32 mpg

Recommended model years:2014-2017

 

Toyota Prius 2015

Price Range:  $12,675 - $14,025

Owner reported MPG:  45 mpg

Recommended model years:2014-2015

 

Toyota Prius V 2014

Price Range:  $11,175

Owner reported MPG:  41 mpg

Recommended model years:2014-2015

 

MIDSIZED & LARGE CARS

Honda Accord 2016

Price Range:  $12,925 - $16,825

Owner reported MPG:  30 mpg

Recommended model years:2015-2016 / Honda Accord Hybrid 2014-2015

 

Mazda 6 2017

Price Range:  $11,700 - $16,025

Owner reported MPG:  30 mpg

Recommended model years:2015-2017

 

Toyota Avalon 2015

Price Range: $13,000-$14,925

Owner reported MPG:  25 mpg

Recommended model years:2014-2015

 

Toyota Camry 2016

Price Range:  $13,075 - $16,050

Owner reported MPG:  28 mpg

Recommended model years: 2014-2016 / Toyota Camry Hybrid 2014-2015

 

LUXURY CARS

Acura TLX 2015

Price Range:  $13,025 - $15,875

Owner reported MPG:  26 mpg

Recommended model years: 2015

 

Lexus ES 2014

Price Range:  $13,675 - $13,775

Owner reported MPG:  25 mpg

Recommended model years: 2014

 

WAGONS & MINIVANS

Toyota Venza 2014

Price Range:  $10,050 - $13,950

Owner reported MPG:  22 mpg

Recommended model years: 2014-2015

 

SMALL SUVS

BMW X3 2016

Price Range:  $10,225 - $13,850

Owner reported MPG:  24 mpg

Recommended model years: 2016

 

Honda CR-V 2015

Price Range:  $12,275 - $16,475

Owner reported MPG:  27 mpg

Recommended model years: 2014-2015

 

Mazda CX-5 2016

Price Range:  $11,950 - $13,525

Owner reported MPG:  26 mpg

Recommended model years: 2016

 

Toyota RAV4 2015

Price Range:  $13,250 - $15,700

Owner reported MPG:  25 mpg

Recommended model years: 2014-2015

For additional articles about some Consumer Reports budget saving car recommendations, here are a few for your consideration:

Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on  “Zen and the Art of DIY Car Repair” website, the Zen Mechanic blog and on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites  and Facebook for daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.

COMING UP NEXT: Consumer Reports Best Car Tires of 2024

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