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Top Used Cars Under $20,000
March 6, 2014
If you're in the market for a used car, chances are you're looking for a vehicle that's less than $20,000. The good news is there's lots of great options. Consumer Reports recently did much of the legwork for you, releasing a list of what they consider the best used vehicles for under $20,000, based on reliability and testing track records.
Below is a look at the various options and years, which also includes information on whether or not electronic stability control (ESC) was optional or standard for certain years.
Subcompact & Compact Cars
| Vehicle | Under $10,000 | $10,000-$15,000 | $15,000-$20,000 | ESC Optional From | ESC Standard From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Focus Sedan | 05-06, '08-09 | 10-11 | - | 09 | 10 |
| Honda Civic Sedan | 04-07 | 08-11 | 12-13 | 09 | 12 |
| Honda Fit | 07-08 | 09-13 | - | 09 | 11 |
| Hyundai Accent | 09 | 13 | - | - | 12 |
| Hyundai Elantra Sedan | 07-09 | - | 12-13 | 08 | 11 |
| Kia Forte | - | 12-13 | - | - | all |
| Kia Soul | - | 10-11 | 13 | - | all |
| Mazda3 | 08 | 09-12 | - | 07 | 11 |
| Mazda3 (Skyactiv 2.0-liter) | - | 12 | 13 | - | all |
| Nissan Leaf | - | - | 11-12 | - | all |
| Pontiac Vibe | 04-08 | 09-10 | - | 05 | 09 |
| Scion tC | 05-06 | - | - | - | 11 |
| Scion xB | 04-06 | 09-11 | 12 | - | all |
| Scion xD | - | 08-10 | - | 08 | 10 |
| Subaru Impreza (sedan, non-turbo) | - | 10 | 11/13/14 | 08 | 09 |
| Subaru Impreza (wagon, non-turbo) | 05 | 08, '10 | 11-13 | 08 | 09 |
| Suzuki SX4 | 08 | - | - | 07 | 12 |
| Toyota Corolla | 04-08 | 10-12 | 13 | 05 | 10 |
| Toyota Matrix | 04-07 | 08, '10 | - | 05 | 10 |
| Toyota Prius | 04-07 | 08-10 | 11-12 | 04 | 10 |
| Toyota Yaris Hatchback | 07-10 | - | - | - | 10 |
| Volkswagen Golf | - | - | 11-12 | 04 | 10 |
| Volkswagen Jetta Sedan (5-cyl.) | 08 | 09-10 | - | 04 | 09 |
| Volkswagen Rabbit | 07 | 09 | - | 07 | 09 |
Midsized & Large Cars
| Vehicle | Under $10,000 | $10,000-$15,000 | $15,000-$20,000 | ESC Optional From | ESC Standard From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acura RL | 04 | 05-06 | 07-08 | - | all |
| Acura TL | 04 | 05-07 | 08 | - | all |
| Acura TSX (4-cyl.) | 04-05 | 06-08 | 10 | - | all |
| Audi A6 (V6) | - | 06 | 08 | - | all |
| BMW 328i Sedan | - | - | 09 | - | all |
| Cadillac CTS (RWD) | - | - | 09 | 04 | 08 |
| Ford Fusion (4-cyl.) | 08 | 09 | 12 | 09 | 10 |
| Ford Fusion (V6, FWD) | 06-08 | 09 | 12 | 09 | 10 |
| Ford Fusion Hybrid | - | - | 10-11 | - | all |
| Honda Accord (4-cyl.) | 04-05 | 06-09 | 10-12 | - | 08 |
| Honda Accord Sedan (V6) | 04 | 05-07 | - | - | 06 |
| Hyundai Azera | 06 | 07 | - | - | all |
| Hyundai Sonata (4-cyl.) | 07-08 | 09 | - | - | 06 |
| Hyundai Sonata (V6) | 04, '07 | 09 | - | - | 06 |
| Infiniti G Sedan | 04 | 06-07 | 08 | - | all |
| Infiniti M (V6) | - | - | 06-08 | - | all |
| Lexus ES | - | 04-06 | 07-08 | 04 | 07 |
| Lexus GS | - | 04 | 06-07 | - | all |
| Lexus IS Sedan | - | 04-05 | 06, '08 | 04 | 06 |
| Lexus LS | - | - | 04-05 | - | all |
| Lincoln MKZ (V6) | - | 08 | 09-10 | - | 09 |
| Mazda6 | 08 | 09 | 11-12 | 05 | 09 |
| Mercedes-Benz C-Class (V6) | 04 | 07 | 08 | - | all |
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class (V6, RWD) | - | 05 | 07-08 | - | all |
| Mercury Milan (4-cyl.) | 08-09 | - | - | 09 | 10 |
| Mercury Milan (V6, FWD) | 06-08 | 09 | - | 09 | 10 |
| Mercury Milan Hybrid | - | - | 10-11 | - | all |
| Nissan Altima Hybrid | - | 08-09 | - | - | all |
| Nissan Altima Sedan (4-cyl.) | 06 | 09, '11-12 | - | - | 10 |
| Nissan Altima Sedan (V6) | - | 07 | 11 | 07 | 10 |
| Nissan Maxima | - | 08 | - | 04 | 09 |
| Subaru Legacy (4-cyl.) | - | 09-10 | 11-13 | 07 | 09 |
| Toyota Avalon (V6) | 04 | 05-08 | 09-10 | 04 | 09 |
| Toyota Camry (4-cyl.) | 04-06 | 07, '10 | 11-13 | 05 | 10 |
| Toyota Camry (V6) | 04-05 | 06-10 | 11 | 04 | 10 |
| Toyota Camry Hybrid | - | 07-09 | 10-11 | - | all |
| Volvo S60 | 04-05 | 07-08 | - | 04 | 07 |
Sports & Sport Cars/Convertibles
| Vehicle | Under $10,000 | $10,000-$15,000 | $15,000-$20,000 | ESC Optional From | ESC Standard From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW Z4 | - | 05 | 06-07 | - | all |
| Ford Mustang (V8) | - | 05-06 | 07-08 | - | 10 |
| Honda Civic Si | - | 06-08 | - | - | 07 |
| Honda S2000 | - | 04 | 05-07 | - | 06 |
| Lexus SC | - | - | 04 | - | all |
| Mazda MX-5 Miata | 04 | 06-08 | 09-10 | 06 | 12 |
| Nissan 350Z | - | 04 | 06 | 04 | 10 |
Wagons & Minivans
| Vehicle | Under $10,000 | $10,000-$15,000 | $15,000-$20,000 | ESC Optional From | ESC Standard From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Crosstour | - | - | 10-11 | - | all |
| Honda Odyssey | 04 | 06 | - | - | 05 |
| Mazda5 | - | - | 12-13 | - | 10 |
| Subaru Outback (4-cyl.) | - | - | 09-10 | 07 | 09 |
| Toyota Prius V | - | - | - | - | all |
| Toyota Sienna (FWD) | 04 | 05-06, '08 | 09 | 04 | 08 |
| Toyota Venza (V6) | - | - | - | - | all |
| Volvo XC70 (Cross Country) | 04 | - | 08 | 04 | 07 |
Small SUVs
| Vehicle | Under $10,000 | $10,000-$15,000 | $15,000-$20,000 | ESC Optional From | ESC Standard From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acura RDX | - | - | 07-08 | - | all |
| Ford Escape Hybrid | 05 | 09 | 10 | - | 09 |
| Honda CR-V | 04 | 05-08 | 09-11 | - | 05 |
| Hyundai Tucson | 06-07 | - | - | - | all |
| Kia Sportage | - | 07 | - | - | 05 |
| Mazda CX-5 | - | - | - | - | all |
| Mercury Mariner Hybrid | - | 09 | 10 | - | 09 |
| Mitsubishi Outlander | 07 | 08, '10 | 11-12 | - | 07 |
| Mitsubishi Outlander Sport | - | 11 | 12 | - | all |
| Nissan Juke | - | - | 12 | - | all |
| Nissan Rogue | - | 10 | 11-13 | - | all |
| Subaru Forester (non-turbo) | - | 08 | 09-10 | 07 | 09 |
| Toyota RAV4 (4-cyl.) | 04-05 | 06, '08 | 09-12 | - | all |
| Toyota RAV4 (V6) | - | 06, '08 | 09-11 | - | all |
Midsized & Large SUVs
| Vehicle | Under $10,000 | $10,000-$15,000 | $15,000-$20,000 | ESC Optional From | ESC Standard From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acura MDX | - | 04-06 | - | - | all |
| Ford Edge | - | 07 | 09 | - | all |
| Honda Pilot | 04-05 | 06-07 | 08 | 05 | 06 |
| Infiniti FX (V6) | - | 04-05 | 06 | - | all |
| Lexus GX | - | - | 04-05 | - | all |
| Lexus RX | - | 04-05 | 06-07 | - | all |
| Lexus RX Hybrid | - | - | 06-07 | - | all |
| Lincoln MKX | - | - | 07-08 | - | all |
| Mazda CX-9 | - | - | 10 | - | all |
| Nissan Murano | - | - | - | 04 | 09 |
| Toyota 4Runner (V6) | - | 04-06 | 07-08 | - | all |
| Toyota Highlander (V6) | 04 | 05-08 | 09 | - | all |
| Toyota Highlander Hybrid | - | 06 | 07 | - | all |
| Toyota Sequoia | - | 06 | 07 | - | all |
Pickup Trucks
| Vehicle | Under $10,000 | $10,000-$15,000 | $15,000-$20,000 | ESC Optional From | ESC Standard From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Ridgeline | - | 06 | 07-09 | - | all |
| Nissan Frontier | - | - | 08 | 04 | 12 |
| Toyota Tacoma (V6, 4WD) | - | 04-05 | 06-07 | 04 | 09 |
| Toyota Tundra (V8, 4WD) | - | 04-05 | 06 | 04 | 09 |
3 Steps Every Car Buyer Needs to Take to Save Maximum Money
The key to getting the best deal is to gather price or lease bids from as many local dealers as possible. Then shop that best price around until no one can beat it. Here are the steps:Step 1 Get Prices From My Trusted Network
Select the vehicle you're interested in to see if there are local dealers in my network who will provide you with their best upfront price. You will get direct access to an internet sales manager who you can further negotiate with online (no need to visit dealership).Select Vehicle to Get Local Pricing
Step 2 Get Prices From TrueCar / CarsDirect
TrueCar, and CarsDirect are my top 2 online price quote recommendations. These services show you pre-negotiated prices from dealers closest to you - and the deals are usually pretty decent. But remember, you can still negotiate further.Step 3 Complete my Checklist
Follow this up with my checklist to make sure you squeeze out every last bit of savings.- Gregg Fidan
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