Client Reviews’ Greatest Used Automotive Suggestions for July 2025

Is paying artificially inflated costs and going into debt essential to personal an acceptable automobile?

Will it’s a must to accept used fashions with fewer security options and questionable reliability?

By no means. A brand new replace on used automobile purchasing demonstrates that Client Reviews automotive specialists are serving to consumers discover used-car choices that may save them as much as tens of hundreds of {dollars} whereas nonetheless permitting consumers to personal a secure automobile with trendy security options and a confirmed observe document of reliability―all by making use of an identical stage of rigor and selectively as they do of their new automobile opinions.

Tariffs are Inflation on the Horizon

CR analysts notice that as a result of at this time’s present consumers are involved about looming inflation and the uncertainty of tariffs and their influence on customers, shopping for a used automobile could make good financial sense for many households.

“With the traditionally excessive value of recent autos today, increasingly more individuals are naturally seeking to the pre-owned market looking for a greater cut price,” says Alex Knizek, affiliate director of auto check growth at Client Reviews. “However they should not must sacrifice security, reliability, or gas financial system to remain inside their finances. That is why we now current Used Automotive High Picks and have expanded our used-car protection and insights.”

Client Reviews is well-known for its informative new automobile opinions, during which it has highlighted distinctive vehicles, SUVs, and vans gleaned by intensive testing and buyer survey knowledge.

Of their evaluation of used autos CR automotive specialists contemplate the next elements:

1. Nice new vehicles do not all the time make nice used vehicles, particularly when factoring in depreciation and long-term reliability.
2. To establish sensible selections, used vehicles have been chosen from a era perspective slightly than a model-year perspective.
3. The advantage of a era perspective is that it constantly reveals the fashions that grew to become extra trouble-free over a era’s multiyear span; the final two years of a era are usually the most effective.
4. Security options in new fashions present in used fashions are one other qualifying consideration.
5. Automotive worth is important, as some fashions depreciate greater than others, making them a cut price as a used automobile in comparison with different used automobile fashions of the identical age.
6. Used automobile consumers should keep in mind that every automobile is exclusive, has its historical past, and should be inspected by knowledgeable mechanic earlier than shopping for.

“The technique we make use of for choosing used vehicles emphasizes worth inside a value vary, and it signifies that the highlighted fashions might not have been the highest-scoring fashions when examined new. As a substitute, they’re usually good vehicles that depreciated greater than others, making them extra enticing as used vehicles than they have been when new,” states the replace.

THE BEST CAR TOP PICKS BY CONSUMER REPORTS

SEDAN UNDER $10,000

2016 Mazda 6 (Era 2014-2011)

Worth Vary: $8,550 – $11,325

Proprietor Reported MPG: 29 mpg

SEDAN UNDER $15,000

2019 Toyota Corolla (Era 2014-2019)

Worth Vary: $12,925 – $16,230

Proprietor Reported MPG: 32 mpg

SUV UNDER $15,000

2018 Mazda CX-5 (Era 2017-2025)

Worth Vary: $12,025 – $16,450

Proprietor Reported MPG: 26 mpg

HYBRID UNDER $20,000

2019 Toyota Camry Hybrid (Era 2018-2024)

Worth Vary: $16,875 – $21,450

Proprietor Reported MPG: 45 mpg

SMALL SUV UNDER $20,000

2021 Kia Sportage (Era 2017-2022)

Worth Vary: $14,925 – $19,475

Proprietor Reported MPG: 25 mpg

HYBRID SUV UNDER $20,000

2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (Era 2016-2018)

Worth Vary: $15,800 – $20,650

Proprietor Reported MPG: 32 mpg

3-ROW SUV UNDER $20,000

2018 Mazda CX-9 (Era 2016-2023)

Worth Vary: $12,175 – $17,300

Proprietor Reported MPG: 23 mpg

LUXURY SUV UNDER $20,000

2017 Lexus NX (Era 2015-2021)

Worth Vary: $17,500 – $20,300

Proprietor Reported MPG: 25 mpg

PICKUP TRUCK UNDER $20,000

2015 Toyota Tacoma (Era 2005-2015)

Worth Vary: $13,675 – $20,025

Proprietor Reported MPG: 19 mpg

SPORTS CAR UNDER $20,000

2020 Mazda MX-5 Miata (Era 2016-2024)

Worth Vary: $15,350 – $21,475

Proprietor Reported MPG: 32 mpg

There’s Extra to Shopping for a Used Automotive Than Its Worth… It is What Occurs After

Though you could have the advisable pre-purchase inspection earlier than shopping for that used mannequin and the vendor’s assurance that all the things is on the up and up, there are essential issues that have to be taken care of afterward on this order:

1. Switch the title and registration — go to your native DMV instantly to make sure the automobile is legally in your title. Watch out for curbstoning scams.
2. Get insurance coverage protection — be sure to have applicable and reasonably priced insurance coverage protection in place earlier than you drive a lot additional.
3. Get a full mechanical inspection — this may uncover hidden points missed through the pre-purchase inspection and enable you handle them early earlier than they turn into expensive.
4. Change all fluids and filters — together with engine oil, transmission fluid, coolant, brake fluid, air filters, and cabin filters. Do not assume they have been modified or modified appropriately.
5. Test or change the timing belt or chain — if the automobile has a timing belt or timing chain and there isn’t any proof it was just lately modified, changing it will possibly stop catastrophic engine harm.
6. Test tires and brakes — be sure that they’re secure and never worn past their limits.
7. Replace upkeep data and begin a log — to maintain observe of what is been executed and when, staying on prime of future automobile upkeep.

For extra current Client Reviews suggestions, listed here are a couple of on your consideration:

Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter primarily based in Cincinnati who presently researches and works on restoring older autos with engine modifications for improved efficiency. He additionally stories on trendy vehicles (together with EVs) with a concentrate on DIY mechanics, shopping for and utilizing instruments, and different associated topical automotive restore information. Observe Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites in addition to on Fb and his automotive weblog “Zen and the Artwork of DIY Automotive Restore” for helpful day by day information and subjects associated to new and used vehicles and vans.

Picture Supply: Deposit Photographs