Consumer Reports Best Used Cars for Under $10,000

Looking for the Best Used Car Under $10K

If your search for a good used car with significant depreciation over the past 3-5 years has been fruitless, now may be the right time to look even further back for models at an even lower price that still include desirable amenities and safety features.

A recent Consumer Reports analysis of older used cars that date as far back as 10 years ago when they were in their prime, was recently released for shoppers looking for an affordable and dependable good car deal.

From their analysis, CR analysts created a new list of old cars with a focus on their performance when they were new and their reliability as they aged based on data from their Annual Auto Surveys of CR members. The benefit to mining data from past annual surveys is that it provides used car shoppers with information on which models have proven to be dependable and could be a good buy provided their maintenance and care were managed well.

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

Be forewarned however, as older vehicles 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.

That said, here is CR’s listing of the best used cars for under $10,000 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.

Related article: The Best and Worst Used Toyotas to Buy Recently Reviewed

BEST USED CARS FOR LESS THAN $10,000

1. 2014 Hyundai Elantra
Price Range: $8,200 - $9,525
Owner Reported MPG: 29 mpg
Engine: 148-hp, four-cylinder engine

2. 2013 Kia Soul
Price Range: $7,150 - $8,575
Owner Reported MPG: 26 mpg
Engine: 1.6-liter, 4-cylinder (138 hp) with a 2-liter, 4-cylinder (164 hp) option

3. 2013 Nissan Leaf
Price Range: $5,025 - $6,000
Owner Reported MPG: N/A
Engine: An all-electric car with limited driving range of only about 75 miles per charge and long recharge times.

4. 2013 Subaru Legacy
Price Range: $7,725 - $11,525
Owner Reported MPG: 25 mpg
Engine: 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 3.6-liter six-cylinder option

5. 2014 Nissan Murano
Price Range: $8,675 - $12,050
Owner Reported MPG: 20 mpg
Engine: 3.5-liter V6

And finally…

For additional articles about buying older used vehicles, here are two titled “Consumer Reports Most Reliable Used Truck Recommendations” and “Consumer Reports Reveals How to Find Hidden Problems in a Used Car Before Buying It.”

COMING UP NEXT: Consumer Reports Best New Car Deals

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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