Best Used SUVs, Sedans, and Small Cars According to Consumer Reports Latest Complete Guide

A Bonanza Listing of a Wide Range of Recommended Used Vehicles

A recent Consumer Reports analysis of older used cars that date as far back as 10 years ago up to 2022 was recently released for shoppers looking for an affordable and dependable good car deal.

“We’ve created this guide to help you find the small cars, sedans, and SUVs that are most likely to fulfill your needs without breaking down and soaking you with repair bills,” stated CR analysts.

From their analysis, CR analysts created this latest list of both older and newer model used cars with a focus on their performance and their reliability as they aged based on data from their Annual Auto Surveys of CR members.

Related article: Mechanic Talks Candidly About the Best Used Car You Should Not Buy

Be forewarned however, with some of the older models listed you will have to make some concessions when it comes to road noise and comfort. Especially for trips that are longer than a few hours, let alone a road trip that can become more arduous than fun in these old cars. However, some of the more recent models listed should still provide the riding experience you are looking for.

That said, here is CR’s listing of the best used SUVs, sedans and small cars ranging in price from just under $10,000 up to $40,000 that you can buy right now. For a more detailed breakdown on each vehicle, please visit the CR website. Note that while access to some information requires a CR membership, the potential savings make it negligible in comparison when looking for the latest information to aid your car buying research.

UNDER $10,000 PRICE TAG

Small Cars

Recommended models: the 2013 and 2015 Nissan leaf

Other good choices include:
• 2013 Lia Soul
• 2014 Hyundai Elantra

Midsized Cars
Recommended models: 2013 Subaru Legacy

Midsized SUV
Recommended models: 2014 Nissan Murano

$10,000-$15,000 PRICE TAG

Small Cars

Recommended models: 2013-2015 Toyota Prius and the 2014-2016 Ford C-Max

Other good choices include:
• 2013, 2016 Honda Fit
• 2014-2016 Mazda3
• 2016 Nissan Leaf
• 2013-2016 Toyota Corolla
• 2013 Toyota Prius
• 2013 Toyota Prius V

Midsized and Large Cars

Recommended models: 2013-2014Honda Accord and the 2013-2014Toyota Camry Hybrid

Other good choices include:
• 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid
• 2014-2016 Mazda6
• 2015 Subaru Legacy
• 2013 Toyota Avalon
• 2013-2014 Toyota Camry

Luxury Cars

Recommended model: 2014-2015 Lincoln MKZ

Another Good Choice: 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Wagons and Minivans

Recommended model: 2013-2014 Toyota Venza
Another Good Choice: 2013-2014 Toyota Sienna

Small SUVs

Recommended models: 2014-2016 Mazda CX-5 and the 2013 Toyota RAV4

Other good choices include:
• 2012 Honda CR-V
• 2013 Acura RDX

Pickup Trucks

Recommended model: 2013Toyota Tacoma

$15,000-$20,000 PRICE TAG

Small Cars

Recommended model: 2014-2016 Toyota Prius V

Other good choices include:
• 2017-19 Honda Fit
• 2017-2018 Mazda3
• 2018 Nissan Leaf
• 2017-2019 Toyota Corolla
• 2014-2015 Toyota Prius
• 2016 Toyota Prius C

Midsized and Large Cars

Recommended model: 2017-2018 Mazda6

Other good choices include:
• 2015-2017 Honda Accord
• 2015 Honda Accord Hybrid
• 2016-2017 Subaru Legacy
• 2014-2016 Toyota Avalon
• 2013-2014 Toyota Avalon Hybrid
• 2015-2017 Toyota Camry
• 2015-2016 Toyota Camry Hybrid

Luxury Cars

Recommended model: 2015-2016 Acura TLX and 2013-2015 Lexus ES

Other good choices include:
• 2016-2017 BMW 3 Series
• 2013-2015 Lexus ES Hybrid
• 2013 Lexus GS
• 2017 Lincoln MKZ
• 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Sports Cars/Convertibles

Recommended models: 2014 Audi A5 and 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Wagons and Minivans

Recommended model: 2015-2016 Toyota Sienna

Another Good Choice: 2015 Toyota Venza

Small SUVs

Recommended models: 2016 Audi Q3 and 2017-2018 Honda HR-V

Other good choices include:
• 2014 Acura RDX
• 2017 Buick Envision
• 2015-2016 Honda CR-V
• 2017 Mazda CX-5
• 2014-2016 Toyota RAV4

Midsized and Large SUVs

Recommended model: 2013-2015 Toyota Highlander

Other good choices include:
• 2013-2014 Lexus RX
• 2016-2017 Nissan Murano
• 2013 Toyota Highlander

Pickup Trucks

Recommended model: 2014-2015 Toyota Tacoma
Another Good Choice: 2013-2014 Toyota Tundra

$20,000-$25,000 Price Tag

Small Cars

Recommended model: 2020 Mazda3 and 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid

Other good choices include:
• 2019-2020 Nissan Leaf
• 2020-2021 Toyota Corolla
• 2016-2018 Toyota Prius
• 2017 Toyota Prius Prime
• 2017 Toyota Prius V

Midsized and Large Cars

Recommended model: 2015-2016 Toyota Avalon Hybrid

Other good choices include:
• 2017-2018 Honda Accord Hybrid
• 2019 Subaru Legacy
• 2017-2018 Toyota Avalon
• 2018-2019 Toyota Camry
• 2017-2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid

Luxury Cars

• 2015-2016 Acura TLX
• 2018 BMW 3 Series
• 2016 Lexus ES
• 2016 Lexus ES Hybrid
• 2015 Lexus GS
• 2018 Lincoln MKZ
• 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Sports Cars/Convertibles

Recommended models: 2019-2021 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Wagons and Minivans

Recommended model: 2017-2018 Toyota Sienna

Small SUVs

Recommended models: 2018-2020 Subaru Crosstrek

Other good choices include:
• 2016-2018 Acura RDX
• 2018 Audi Q3
• 2019 Buick Envision
• 2017, 2019 Honda CR-V
• 2019-2020 Honda HR-V
• 2015-2016 Lexus NX
• 2018-2020 Mazda CX-5
• 2017-2018 Toyota RAV4
• 2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

Midsized and Large SUVs

Recommended model: 2013 Lexus RX Hybrid and 2013-2015 Toyota 4Runner

Other good choices include:
• 2015 Lexus RX
• 2018-2019 Nissan Murano
• 2016-2017 Toyota Highlander

Pickup Trucks

Recommended model: 2016-2017 Toyota Tacoma
and 2015 Toyota Tundra

$25,000-$30,000 Price Tag

Small Cars

Recommended model: 2019-2021 Toyota Prius

Other good choices include:
• 2022 Toyota Corolla
• 2021-2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid
• 2018-2019 Toyota Prius Prime

Midsized and Large Cars

Recommended model: 2020 Toyota Camry

Other good choices include:
• 2020-2021 Honda Accord
• 2019 Honda Accord Hybrid
• 2021 Subaru Legacy
• 2019 Toyota Avalon
• 2017-2018 Toyota Avalon Hybrid
• 2019 Toyota Camry Hybrid

Luxury Cars

Recommended model: 2017-2018 Lexus ES and 2017-2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Other good choices include:
• 2019 Acura TLX
• 2017 Lexus ES Hybrid
• 2016 Lexus GS
• 2020 Lincoln MKZ

Small SUVs

Recommended models: 2020-2021 Honda CR-V, 2017-2018 Lexus NX, and 2017-2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

Other good choices include:
• 2020 Buick Envision
• 2021-2022 Honda HR-V
• 2019 Lincoln MKC
• 2022 Mazda CX-5
• 2021-2022 Subaru Crosstrek
• 2019 Toyota RAV4

Midsized and Large SUVs

Recommended model: 2015 Lexus GX

Other good choices include:
2019 Honda Passport
2016 Lexus RX
2015 Lexus RX Hybrid
2021 Nissan Murano
2016-2017 Toyota 4Runner
2018-2019 Toyota Highlander
2015-2017 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Pickup Trucks

Recommended model: 2017-2018 Toyota Tundra

Another Good Choice: 2019-2021 Toyota Tacoma

$30,000-$40,000 Price Tag

Small Cars

Recommended model: 2020-2022 Toyota Prius Prime

Another Good Choice: 2022 Toyota Prius

Midsized and Large Cars

Recommended model: 2020-2021 Toyota Avalon

Other good choices include:
• 2020-2021 Honda Accord Hybrid
• 2019-2021 Toyota Avalon Hybrid
• 2022 Toyota Camry
• 2021-2022 Toyota Camry

Luxury Cars

Recommended model: 2020-2021 BMW 3 Series

Other good choices include:
• 2019-2020 Lexus ES
• 2019 Lexus ES Hybrid
• 2019 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Sports Cars/Convertibles

Recommended models: 2019, 2021 Audi A5

Wagons and Minivans

Recommended models: 2020 Toyota Sienna and 2021 Toyota Venza

Small SUVs

Recommended modes: 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair

Other good choices include:
• 2019 Acura RDX
• 2020 Audi Q3
• 2021 Buick Envision
• 2019-2021 Lexus NX
• 2019-2020 Lexus NX Hybrid
• 2022 Toyota RAV4
• 2019, 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

Midsized and Large SUVs

Recommended models: 2020-2022 Honda Passport and 2020-2022 Toyota Highlander

Other good choices include:
2016-2017 Lexus GX
2017-2019 Lexus RX
2016-2017 Lexus RX Hybrid
2018-2019, 2021 Toyota 4Runner
2020-2022 Toyota Highlander
2018-2019 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Pickup Trucks

Recommended model: 2022 Toyota Tacoma and 2019-2021 Toyota Tundra

Timothy Boyer is a Torque News automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites for daily new and used vehicle news.

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