The Best Deals on Used Small Cars
The cars featured here are recommended by Consumer Reports and are priced in the low teens - and even some below $10,000.
They made sure these cars have safety features like side air bags and stability control.
One bonus of buying used is that the original owner takes the initial depreciation hit.
It's smart to choose cars that scored well in Consumer Reports' tests, show good reliability, and do well in industry crash tests.
As always, before buying any used car, make sure you have a trusted mechanic give the vehicle a thorough inspection.
Here are the recommended small cars from the 2006-2008 model years.
Make & model |
Mileage |
Original Price |
Current Price |
Depreciation |
2006 Subaru Impreza 2.5 |
75,000 |
$19,095 |
$11,300 |
41% |
2006 Scion xB Release Series 3.0 FWD |
75,000 |
17,140 |
10,675 |
38% |
2006 Honda Civic DX |
75,000 |
15,560 |
9,750 |
37% |
2006 Toyota Corolla CE |
75,000 |
14,905 |
9,425 |
37% |
2007 Suzuki SX4 |
47,000 |
16,099 |
10,275 |
36% |
2006 Mazda3 s |
75,000 |
17,370 |
11,300 |
35% |
2007 Honda Civic Hybrid |
47,000 |
22,600 |
15,050 |
33% |
2006 Toyota Prius |
75,000 |
21,725 |
14,750 |
32% |
2008 Suzuki SX4 |
36,000 |
16,370 |
11,450 |
30% |
2007 Subaru Impreza 2.5 |
47,000 |
18,795 |
13,600 |
28% |
2007 Toyota Corolla LE |
47,000 |
16,315 |
11,800 |
28% |
2007 Mazda3 s hatchback |
47,000 |
18,630 |
13,825 |
26% |
2008 Honda Civic EX coupe |
36,000 |
20,710 |
16,325 |
21% |
2007 Toyota Corolla LE |
36,000 |
16,415 |
13,175 |
20% |
My Recommendation for Car Shoppers
TrueCar No-Haggle, CarsDirect, and Ryde Shopper are the quickest way to see the lowest car prices in your area. These sites show you no-haggle prices from dealers closest to you - and the deals are usually really good. This should be the first step you take when negotiating your car price. Follow this up with my checklist to make sure you squeeze out every last bit of savings.- Gregg Fidan

Each week, I'll keep you up-to-date on the latest car deals and news that might affect your purchase. This includes...
- Best Rebates, Incentives, and Lease Deals
- Latest Car Buying Scams and Tricks
- The Best & Worst Time to Buy a Car
- Which Cars You Should Avoid
About The Author

Latest Weekly Car Buying Tips
April 2021
- Top 100 Cheapest Lease Deals Apr 15, 2021
- Biggest Discounts on New Cars Apr 15, 2021
- Real Prices of Compact Cars Apr 15, 2021
- Largest Hidden Dealer Rebates Apr 15, 2021
- Best Bang for Your Buck Lease Deals Apr 08, 2021
- Best Electric, Hybrid Lease Deals Apr 08, 2021
- Best 0% Finance Deals March 2021 Apr 08, 2021
- Real Prices of New Compact SUVs Apr 08, 2021
- Top 100 Cheapest New Cars Apr 01, 2021
- Real Prices of Large SUVs Apr 01, 2021
- New Cars You Should Wait to Buy Apr 01, 2021
- Luxury Lease Deals Under $500/mo Apr 01, 2021
March 2021
- Best Car Deals by Category Mar 25, 2021
- Worst Cars to Lease Right Now Mar 25, 2021
- Which Cars Better to Lease or Buy Mar 25, 2021
- Real Prices of Midsize Cars Mar 25, 2021
- Best Car Deals Around the Country Mar 18, 2021
- Cars With the Largest Rebates Mar 18, 2021
- Price Comparison of Subcompact SUVs Mar 18, 2021
- Real Prices of Midsize SUVs Mar 11, 2021
- Real Prices of Pickup Trucks Mar 04, 2021
- Biggest Discounts on Leftover Models Mar 04, 2021
December 2020
- Best End of Year Car Deals Dec 31, 2020
- Real Prices of Midsize Luxury Cars Dec 24, 2020
- Real Prices of Small Luxury SUVs Dec 17, 2020