For the first time in its history, Consumer Reports is offering used car buyers its picks of the best makes and models.
The company, which traditionally offers only top recommendations for new cars, said the decision to create the new listing was made in recognition of the historically high prices for new cars and the fact that more and more people are opting for used cars these days.
“You shouldn’t have to sacrifice safety, reliability or fuel economy to stay within your budget,” said Alex Knizek, manager of automotive testing and insights at Consumer Reports. “That’s why we created these used car top picks and are expanding our used car coverage and insights.”
The magazine limited the selection to under $20,000 — and noted that a great new car may not necessarily be a great used car when you consider factors like depreciation and long-term reliability. It also warned people to have the car inspected before buying, even if they chose a model from Consumer Reports.
Lexus and Toyota topped the list, which included 26 different brands. Mazda came in third. Tesla, Dodge and Chrysler took the last spots.
“Brands like Lexus and Toyota have a long history of conservative redesigns, making incremental improvements across their entire product line rather than introducing many entirely new systems,” says Steven Elek, program manager for auto data analytics at Consumer Reports. “Our data consistently shows over time that new cars from these brands are reliable when they’re new and that they remain reliable as they age.”
This is how the picks turned out.
The best used car tips from Consumer Reports
Best small hybrid sedan under $20,000: Toyota Corolla Hybrid (2021)
Best small SUV under $20,000: 2021 KIA Sportage
Best Hybrid SUV Under $20,000: 2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
Best SUV with three rows of seats under $20,000: Mazda CX-9 (model year 2020)
Best Luxury SUV Under $20,000: Buick Envision (model year 2020)
Best pickup truck under $20,000: Toyota Tacoma (model year 2015)
Best sports car under $20,000: 2019 Mazda3
Best small sedan under $15,000: Hyundai Elantra (2019)
Best small SUV under $15,000: Honda HR-V (model year 2018)
Best small sedan under $10,000: Chevrolet Cruze (model year 2017)
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