5 Reliable Used Cars You Should Buy Now Before They’re Gone

The year has barely begun, but already experts are predicting this year will be tough on used car shoppers.

According to Cars.com, one of the biggest challenges shoppers face is a dwindling used car inventory that declines year over year by 1.2% overall. As of 2024, there were just 11.4 million used cars 6 years old or newer available to buy at dealerships — a drop in 4.1 million from the 15.5 million used cars available in 2022. Shoppers with the money to buy a used car will have to hustle before their preferred models are sold out.

So what are the best used cars to buy? GOBankingRates referred to a video from YouTuber Mark Holubetz at ExoticCar PlayPlace who broke down the best vehicles to shop for if you’re in the market to buy a used car. 

Keep reading to see which used cars received top recommendations.

Shoppers looking for reliable sedans are recommended by Holubetz to shop for the “tried and true” Toyota Camry. Buyers receive lots of space and plenty of tech features. Even a relatively modest budget can land you a used Camry with nice-to-have extras like a sunroof and heated steering wheel.

“You’re going to get hundreds of thousands of miles out of that vehicle,” Holubetz said. “I would stand on just about every drivetrain of late-model Camrys. Any [model] within the last 10 or 15 years is guaranteed to be a reliability king.”

The Honda Civic is recommended by Holubetz as an extremely affordable, reliable and easy-to-own used car worth buying this year. 

“The Civic is one of those vehicles people love to drive,” Holubetz said, adding that drivers can get hundreds of thousands of miles out of these cars.

Whenever possible, Holubetz recommends going with a manual gearbox or one of the older torque converter autos since most Civics have durable and highly reliable engines.

What if you want to buy a used luxury car? This is a tough used car market to navigate due to a high number of models with unreliable drivetrains and complexity in technology. 

However, Holubetz does recommend looking at used Lexus vehicles. A used Lexus is a sporty-looking ride that’s nice to drive and equipped with great tech features. It’s even possible to get a turbo 2.0 L 4-cylinder in some models. 

“The beauty with Lexus products is they are essentially Toyotas,” Holubetz said. “A lot of their drivetrains are built on Toyota drivetrains. Buying a Lexus is going to guarantee you you’re going to have a reliable drivetrain, luxury motoring and a whole lot of fun.”

For extreme levels of fuel economy and reliability, shoppers should consider looking into used Toyota Corollas. 

“You can either get a 1.8-liter or a spicier 2-liter engine,” Holubetz said. “Toyota knows how to make a CVT transmission. You can also get a six-speed automatic transmission.”

Don’t miss your chance to buy a used Mazda3, especially if this is your first-ever used car purchase. Holubetz recommends the “ultra reliable” Mazda3 for young drivers or anyone shopping for a reliable and cost-effective vehicle. 

In terms of available car types, Holubetz said used car shoppers can choose from hatchback or more conventional sedan styles.

Not everyone wants to drive a Honda, Toyota or Mazda. Some buyers may be seeking used cars that are equipped with towing power or come with luxury amenities.

Keep in mind that maintenance costs for certain vehicles may end up being “through the roof” and the vehicle’s overall reliability might not be what you asked for, Holubetz said. If all you need is an affordable and trustworthy car to get you from point A to point B though, the five vehicles recommended will be able to cover you.