The Best Used Cars Under $10,000
Consumer Reports has compiled their list of the best used cars for under $10,000. These vehicles have scored well in road tests, most have the latest safety equipment, and all have proven reliability.
All of the models listed are for the 2006 model year - this is a sweet spot because most of the depreciation has been absorbed by the original owner. All vehicles are assumed to have 75,000 miles, and the price is what you can expect to pay at a dealer.
To save even more, look for these cars through private party listings on Craigslist or Carsabi.
| Make & model | MSRP (new) | Dealer Price (avg) |
Drop in Price vs. MSRP |
| 2006 Ford Fusion | $17,145 | $8,625 | 50% |
| 2006 Mitsubishi Outlander | 20,099 | 9,000 | 55% |
| 2006 Pontiac Vibe | 16,430 | 9,050 | 45% |
| 2006 Toyota Corolla | 14,905 | 9,100 | 39% |
| 2006 Hyundai Tucson | 18,745 | 9,325 | 50% |
| 2006 Honda Civic |
15,360 | 9,325 | 39% |
| 2006 Kia Sportage | 18,395 | 9,475 | 48% |
| 2006 Mazda3 | 13,710 | 9,550 | 30% |
| 2006 Mercury Milan |
18,345 | 9,600 | 48% |
| 2006 Scion xB | 14,830 | 9,800 | 34% |
| 2006 Nissan Altima | 17,750 | 9,900 | 44% |
| 2006 Toyota Matrix | 16,060 | 9,900 | 38% |
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
Gregg Fidan is the founder of RealCarTips. After being ripped off on his first car purchase, he devoted several years to figuring out the best ways to avoid scams and negotiate
the best car deals. He has written hundreds of articles on the subject of car buying and taught thousands of car shoppers how to get the best deals.
Latest Weekly Car Buying Tips
November 2025
- Top 100 Cheapest Lease Deals Nov 13, 2025
- Biggest Discounts on New Cars November 2025 Nov 13, 2025
- New Cars with the Most Available Inventory Nov 13, 2025
- Real Prices of New Compact SUVs Nov 13, 2025
- Best 0% Finance Deals November 2025 Nov 06, 2025
- Best Bang for Your Buck Lease Deals Nov 06, 2025
- Best Electric, Hybrid Lease Deals Nov 06, 2025
- Real Prices of Large SUVs Nov 06, 2025
October 2025
- All SUV Lease Deals Compared October 2025 Oct 23, 2025
- Top 100 Cheapest New Cars Right Now Oct 23, 2025
- Price Comparison of Subcompact SUVs Oct 23, 2025
- Worst Cars to Lease Right Now Oct 16, 2025
- Best Car Deals Around the Country Oct 16, 2025
- Real Prices of Midsize SUVs Oct 16, 2025
- Real Prices of Pickup Trucks Oct 09, 2025
- Best Car Deals by Category Oct 02, 2025
- Real Prices of Compact Cars Oct 02, 2025
- Largest Hidden Dealer Rebates Oct 02, 2025
