10 Best Used Cars Worth Every Penny

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Used car prices fell recently, which is good news, according to Kelley Blue Book. Even so, interest rates have remained high. The Federal Reserve is set to meet in mid-September and even though an interest rate cut might happen, it will take time for borrowing rates for auto loans to go down, as reported by AP News.

With so much economic uncertainty right now, many car buyers are seeking the best value for their money. That means many drivers don’t want — or can’t afford — to buy new.

Keep reading to find out which used cars are the best to buy right now.

10 Best Used Cars

If you’re in the market for a new-to-you vehicle, take heart. ISeeCars recently pinpointed the best used cars on the market today, showcasing vehicles with the longest remaining lifespan at the lowest prices per 10,000 miles.

Here are the top 10 best used cars:

1. Chevy Trax
2. Honda Fit
3. Honda Insight
4. Buick Encore
5. Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
6. Honda Accord
7. Honda CR-V
8. Honda Ridgeline
9. Toyota Avalon
10. Jeep Renegade

Chevy Trax

Chevy Trax, which is ranked by iSeeCars as the best five-year-old used car for the money, sells for an average price of $17,274 and a price per 10,000 miles of $1,442. The Trax launched in the U.S. in 2015.

If you can snag one from 2019, you can realistically expect to get an additional 120,000 miles out of it, which equals 65% of its total lifespan. The Trax also dominated ISeeCars’ list of best five-year-old SUVs for the money.

Honda Fit

Honda Fit is another great used car option, especially if affordability is tops on your list when you’re shopping. With an average price of $19,049 for a 5-year-old model and a price per 10,000 miles of $1,473, the Honda Fit is a tremendous value. You can expect to get around 129,000 miles out of this year model, which is about 68% of its total lifespan.

It’s worth noting that the Honda Fit was discontinued in 2020 due to a lack of demand, but it still delivers a great ride if you’re in the market for something small and fuel efficient.

Honda Insight

The reliable Honda Insight, which is based on a Honda Civic, delivers plenty of value, according to Autoweek. The five-year-old model has a cost of $1,485 per 10,000 miles. You can expect to get a total of over 148,885 miles out of this car, which equals 68.8% of its lifespan.

You won’t find this make and model on new car lots, however. The Honda Insight, which was launched in 1999, ended its production in 2022 and was replaced with the Honda Civic Hybrid.

Buick Encore

The Buick Encore is a subcompact SUV that makes the lists of best five-year-old and 10-year-old vehicles, according to Consumer Reports. The 5-year-old model costs $1,492 per 10,000 miles and you’re likely to get almost 125,000 miles out of it. If you go for the 10-year-old model, you can expect more than 82,471 miles, which isn’t too shabby for an average price of $12,784.  

Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, which is a compact SUV, is one of just two cars on this list with an average price under $18,000 for a five-year-old model, according to U.S. News & World Report. This car has a cost of $1,498 per 10,000 miles.

You can expect a total of almost 115,000 miles out of it, which could equal a lot of road trips in the future. It also means this could be the vehicle that helps your tween move into their college dorm someday.

Honda Accord

Making Car and Driver’s list of top 25 bestselling vehicles in 2024, the Honda Accord typically represents a solid value for those in the market for a mid-size sedan. You can save a lot of money by investing in an older model. Both the five-year-old and 10-year-old models made ISeeCars’ list of best values for used cars.

Honda CR-V

Whether you choose a five-year-old or 10-year-old model, a used Honda CR-V will still have plenty of life left in it. This sedan has an average price of just over $15,726 for a 10-year-old model and is expected to last another 110,976 miles. A five-year-old model also offers a good value, selling for an average of $25,434, but delivering even better longevity with 160,207 more driving miles.

Honda Ridgeline

Billed as Honda’s midsize adventure pickup truck, the Honda Ridgeline takes the top spot for best five-year-old and ten-year old used trucks for the money. It also makes the list for best five-year-old and ten-year-old cars. The average price for a five-year-old model is right around $30,000, while the average price for a 10-year-old Ridgeline is $20,257. You can expect to get 182,288 miles from the five-year-old model and 127,038 miles from the 10-year-old model.

Toyota Avalon

Toyota Avalon is another mid-size family sedan that makes the lists of best five-year-old and best 10-year-old vehicles. The 5-year-old model costs $1,694 per 10,000 miles and you’re likely to get more than 171,000 miles out of it. If you go for the 10-year-old model, which ranks as the best 10-year-old used car for the money, you can expect to get 124,000 miles, which isn’t too shabby for an average price of $16,986.  

Jeep Renegade

The Jeep Renegade is a mini SUV that’s one of the roomiest in its class, according to Car and Driver. It’s also considered one of the best values for five-year-old cards and SUVs. The five-year-old model costs $1,716 per 10,000 miles and you can expect to get over 116,000 miles out of it — or 65.6% of its lifespan. The average price is $20,026.

Remember To Consider All Possibilities

Investing in a used car makes good financial sense rather than paying high monthly loan payments for a brand-new car. When you buy a used car, consider the common problems it might face, the average miles the car is expected to last and the cost of ownership per 10,000 miles.

Cynthia Measom contributed to the reporting for this article.

Data is accurate as of August 1, 2024 and is subject to change.

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