Shopper Stories’ Greatest Used Automobile Suggestions for July 2025

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

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

Under no circumstances. A brand new replace on used automotive purchasing demonstrates that Shopper Stories 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 protected automobile with fashionable security options and a confirmed monitor document of reliability―all by making use of the same degree of rigor and selectively as they do of their new automobile critiques.

Tariffs are Inflation on the Horizon

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

“With the traditionally excessive value of latest autos as of late, increasingly more individuals are naturally trying to the pre-owned market searching for a greater cut price,” says Alex Knizek, affiliate director of auto take a look at growth at Shopper Stories. “However they should not need to sacrifice security, reliability, or gasoline economic system to remain inside their finances. That is why we now current Used Automobile High Picks and have expanded our used-car protection and insights.”

Shopper Stories is well-known for its informative new automotive critiques, through which it has highlighted distinctive automobiles, SUVs, and vans gleaned via in depth testing and buyer survey information.

Of their evaluation of used automobiles CR automotive consultants contemplate the next elements:

1. Nice new automobiles do not all the time make nice used automobiles, particularly when factoring in depreciation and long-term reliability.
2. To determine sensible decisions, used automobiles had been chosen from a era perspective quite than a model-year perspective.
3. The advantage of a era perspective is that it constantly reveals the fashions that turned extra trouble-free over a era’s multiyear span; the final two years of a era are usually the most effective.
4. Security options in new fashions present in used fashions are one other qualifying consideration.
5. Automobile worth is crucial, 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 buyers should bear 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 automobiles 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 a substitute, they’re usually good automobiles that depreciated greater than others, making them extra enticing as used automobiles than they had been when new,” states the replace.

THE BEST CAR TOP PICKS BY CONSUMER REPORTS

SEDAN UNDER $10,000

2016 Mazda 6 (Technology 2014-2011)

Worth Vary: $8,550 – $11,325

Proprietor Reported MPG: 29 mpg

SEDAN UNDER $15,000

2019 Toyota Corolla (Technology 2014-2019)

Worth Vary: $12,925 – $16,230

Proprietor Reported MPG: 32 mpg

SUV UNDER $15,000

2018 Mazda CX-5 (Technology 2017-2025)

Worth Vary: $12,025 – $16,450

Proprietor Reported MPG: 26 mpg

HYBRID UNDER $20,000

2019 Toyota Camry Hybrid (Technology 2018-2024)

Worth Vary: $16,875 – $21,450

Proprietor Reported MPG: 45 mpg

SMALL SUV UNDER $20,000

2021 Kia Sportage (Technology 2017-2022)

Worth Vary: $14,925 – $19,475

Proprietor Reported MPG: 25 mpg

HYBRID SUV UNDER $20,000

2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (Technology 2016-2018)

Worth Vary: $15,800 – $20,650

Proprietor Reported MPG: 32 mpg

3-ROW SUV UNDER $20,000

2018 Mazda CX-9 (Technology 2016-2023)

Worth Vary: $12,175 – $17,300

Proprietor Reported MPG: 23 mpg

LUXURY SUV UNDER $20,000

2017 Lexus NX (Technology 2015-2021)

Worth Vary: $17,500 – $20,300

Proprietor Reported MPG: 25 mpg

PICKUP TRUCK UNDER $20,000

2015 Toyota Tacoma (Technology 2005-2015)

Worth Vary: $13,675 – $20,025

Proprietor Reported MPG: 19 mpg

SPORTS CAR UNDER $20,000

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

Worth Vary: $15,350 – $21,475

Proprietor Reported MPG: 32 mpg

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

Though you will have the really helpful 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 essential 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 automotive is legally in your title. Watch out for curbstoning scams.
2. Get insurance coverage protection — be sure to have acceptable and reasonably priced 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 enable you to deal with them early earlier than they develop into 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 had been modified or modified appropriately.
5. Verify or substitute the timing belt or chain — if the automotive has a timing belt or timing chain and there is not any proof it was just lately modified, changing it could possibly stop catastrophic engine injury.
6. Verify tires and brakes — ensure they’re protected and never worn past their limits.
7. Replace upkeep information and begin a log — to maintain monitor of what is been executed and when, staying on high of future automotive upkeep.

For extra latest Shopper Stories suggestions, listed here are just a few on your consideration:

Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter primarily based in Cincinnati who presently researches and works on restoring older automobiles with engine modifications for improved efficiency. He additionally experiences on fashionable automobiles (together with EVs) with a give attention to 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 Automobile Restore” for helpful day by day information and subjects associated to new and used automobiles and vans.

Picture Supply: Deposit Photographs