24 Used Cars That Offer Unbeatable Value for Your Money
While the selection of used cars is larger than ever, prices have also increased during the last five years.
All is not lost, though, as we’ve jumped in at the deep end and scoured the internet for used cars that offer unbeatable value for money.
People will have different definitions of value, so we’ve chosen a wide selection of cars that provide tech, luxury, practicality, or power — or a combination of these.
This list includes SUVs, trucks, sedans, hatchbacks, and even sports cars that can be considered bargains when you look at what you get for your hard-earned cash.
Tesla Model 3
Hertz had a full-scale EV adoption plan, but after the Model 3s were abused by renters, the car rental company decided to sell a portion of its fleet, flooding the market with high-mileage models.
Starting at roughly $40,000, the Model 3 is relatively affordable when new, but it’s now possible to find used cars for half that. Considering how much tech these cars have, that’s an absolute bargain.
MazdaSpeed6
You’ve probably already guessed that the MazdaSpeed6 is the performance version of the Mazda6. If you ask me, this is one of the most underrated Japanese performance cars on the used market.
With a turbocharged 2.3-liter 4-cylinder unit that sends 274-hp to all four wheels via a 6-speed manual, it’s a great alternative to the Mitsubishi Evo and Subaru WRX. It’s also much cheaper and probably more reliable than both of those.
R170 Mercedes-Benz SLK
Almost 30 years have passed since Mercedes-Benz introduced the first-gen SLK in 1995, and they sold over 300,000 units by the time production ended in 2004. Granted, even the latest first-gen SLKs are now old and look a bit dated, but with prices lower than ever, it’s a proper sports car bargain.
The SLK was one of the models that pioneered the folding metal roof, so it’s actually not as bad for winter use as many other convertibles.
Volvo C30 T5
The Volvo C30 T5 may look unassuming, especially when it’s parked next to other hot hatches, but it has an ace up its sleeve.
It’s powered by Volvo’s B5254T turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-five engine, which is also found under the hood of the Ford Focus ST and RS models, and owners have extracted over 1,000-hp from them! It’s hard to beat this little Volvo if you want an innocent-looking sleeper car.
Toyota Avalon
The Toyota Avalon is the brand’s flagship model in several markets, so you know it comes jam-packed with features. Look no further if you want an affordable full-size sedan with impeccable reliability.
Now in its fifth generation, it’s possible to get behind the wheel of the previous fourth-gen model that debuted in 2012 for under $20,000. We’d go for the facelift version that arrived in 2015. The Avalon has a 3.5-liter V6 that’s also found in Lotus sports cars or a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid powertrain; either one packs a decent punch.
Kia Stinger
It seems many gearheads forget about the Kia Stinger when shopping for a sports sedan. It offers good build quality and a range of turbocharged engines, including a V6 with 365 wild stallions.
Since Korean carmakers have hired engineers from Audi and BMW’s performance divisions, the Stinger’s driving dynamics are right up there with what the Germans offer, but for a fraction of the price.
Buick Encore
Those looking for a cheap yet solid compact SUV should check out the first-generation Buick Encore. It was available with a range of inline-four engines, both turbocharged gasoline units and diesel.
Buick’s entry-level model has always been affordable, but used ones can be found for less than $15,000. Not bad for a spacious SUV with some modern amenities.
Honda Civic
Honda’s humble Civic has been around for decades, and it’s one of the best-selling cars in the United States. There are multiple generations and trim levels to choose from, so there’s a Civic to suit most wallets.
We’d opt for the 10th-gen Civic Si, which has a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine and is available in sedan and coupe form. It packs all the modern creature comforts and has excellent driving dynamics, making it the perfect choice for gearheads needing a fun, practical, and affordable vehicle.
Ford Focus
Ford has retired the Focus, but it’s still worth checking out if you want an affordable, practical, easy-to-maintain car. It was around for three generations, and there are plenty of models to choose from.
Our choice would be one of the second or third-generation cars. Base models can be had for a song, and even the more performance-oriented ST model isn’t too expensive. If you want to go really fast, the Focus RS is the one for you.
Volkswagen Phaeton
Volkswagen built the Phaeton to be its flagship model, and although it looks like a Passat, it hides some pretty awesome tech underneath its business suit exterior.
It was available with a W12 engine, but only 500 were sold in the States. That’s okay because we’d rather have one of the VR6 engines anyway. That way, we’d still get the tech, but with a proven and reliable engine that doesn’t cost a fortune to maintain.
Chevrolet Corvette C6
C7 and C8 Corvettes fetch a pretty penny on the used car market, but the C6 is almost as good, and they don’t cost an arm and a leg.
Even the base model sixth-gen Vette has a 6.2-liter V8 engine that sends 430-hp to the rear wheels. If you’re on a very tight budget, you can still buy a Corvette; you just need to look for the older fifth-gen car. The C5 is an absolute bargain today. It still looks stunning, and it was the last car to feature pop-up headlights.
Acura TSX
Acura’s first-gen TSX arrived on the market in 2004. Its design was clean and sleek, just as expected from what’s essentially a luxurious Honda.
The TSX was relatively sporty straight from the showroom floor, but the best part about it is its tunability. Under the hood, it had Honda’s legendary K-series engine. Thanks to a seemingly endless supply of aftermarket parts, the TSX can be turned into a proper supercar slayer if you have enough money.
2nd-Gen Volvo V70R
We know what you’re thinking: There’s no way an old Volvo station wagon will provide any fun — unless you enjoy transporting IKEA furniture. Well, we’re going to tell you that you’re wrong!
While it looks about as exciting as a plate of plain Swedish meatballs, the Volvo V70R is a proper high-performance sleeper car. Its turbocharged 2.5-liter 5-cylinder engine produces close to 300-hp. It also came with a 6-speed manual transmission for maximum driver engagement.
Honda Ridgeline
We understand why many pickup truck enthusiasts don’t like the Honda Ridgeline. It’s not a proper work truck, and if you constantly need to haul stuff around, better options are available.
However, what people don’t like about the Ridgeline is also what makes it great. It has a unibody construction and 4-wheel independent suspension, so it behaves like a car, not a truck. It’ll still haul some dirt bikes or jetskis, though, so it’s practical enough for recreational use.
Ford Fiesta ST
The Ford Fiesta ST looks like your average grocery-getter, and while it can certainly be used as that, there’s a lot more to it. This is a proper pocket rocket that’s up for some hooliganism whenever you fire it up.
In standard form, this tiny beast packs nearly 200 ponies. That’ll get you to 60 mph in a mere 6.9 seconds. If that’s not quick enough for you, it enjoys a massive aftermarket, so you can turn the Fiesta ST into a fire-breathing, wide-bodied, WRC-inspired monster.
4th-Gen Ford Taurus SHO
Ford introduced the original Taurus SHO in the late-1980s, and the formula remained very similar throughout the various generations. The fourth generation arrived in 2010, and there aren’t many clues to what the Taurus SHO really is.
To the uninitiated, it may look like just another comfortable sedan, but thanks to its twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, this is a real sports car-slayer. With 365-hp and 350 lb-ft of torque, the Ford Taurus SHO will sprint to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds. It has a top speed of 162 mph, and it will run the quarter-mile in 13.7 seconds. It also offers all the creature comforts that were available at the time.
Chrysler 300 SRT
The Chrysler 300 is built on technology and a chassis that’s nearly 20 years old. We don’t think that matters, as the SRT version is a luxurious muscle sedan we’d love to own.
Opting for the SRT version of the second-gen Chrysler 300 SRT means you’ll get a 6.4-liter V8 that sends 470 thoroughbred American stallions and an equal amount of torque to the rear wheels. Granted, handling isn’t its strong suit, but it would keep up with sports cars in a straight line, and you’ll do so in comfort.
Chevrolet SS
The Chevrolet SS is actually based on the Australian Holden Commodore. It’s the perfect car if you want something that’s stylish and modern but still flies beneath the radar.
While the exterior won’t attract much attention, the roar from its angry, Corvette-derived 6.2-liter LS3 V8 will undoubtedly turn some heads. The Chevrolet SS has 415-hp and 415 lb-ft, sent to the rear wheels via a 6-speed transmission. Zero to 60 mph only takes 4.5 seconds, which is impressive for a large, comfortable sedan.
Hyundai Genesis
Hyundai was best known for its cheap, low-quality vehicles. Then, the Koreans decided they wanted to make affordable but fun cars with better build quality, and the world instantly became a better place.
The top-spec Genesis packed a 5.0-liter V8 engine, producing a very respectable 430hp. In its most powerful spec, the Hyundai Genesis could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds.
2008 Lexus IS F
Toyota created the Lexus brand to compete with German luxury car brands, so the IS F is as well-specced as any European sports sedan and has better build-quality.
The Lexus IS F didn’t look much different from the regular IS sedan. It had different rims, and the stacked exhaust was unique for this model, but otherwise, nothing really stood out. Performance-wise, it’s a different animal, though. Its furious 5.0-liter V8 engine produces 427 horsepower and 371 lb-ft of torque, which is sent to the rear wheels via an 8-speed automatic gearbox.
2001 Volkswagen Passat W8
We’ll admit that the old VW Passat doesn’t look very impressive, but it’s practical, and in W8 form, it’s certainly not boring!
As its name suggests, the Passat W8 has an eight-cylinder engine in W-form, hence W8. It also has 4Motion AWD, so none of its 275-hp and 273 lb-ft of torque was wasted on wheel spin.
Dodge Challenger
It’s possible to pick up a high-mileage six-cylinder Dodge Challenger for less than $10,000. However, if you’re willing to spend $15-20,000, you can get behind the wheel of a V8-powered R/T model instead.
The Challenger isn’t the best-handling muscle car, but it certainly gets the job done if you prefer to go fast in a straight line. It also looks fantastic, and while there are plenty of Challengers on the road, gearheads will still turn to have a second look.
5th-Gen Ford Mustang
It’s been 60 years since Ford introduced the Mustang, which became an American icon after it single-handedly kickstarted the pony car segment. There are plenty of generations and trims to choose from, but the 5th-gen is probably the biggest bargain of them all.
With retro-tastic styling and a rumbling V8 engine, you can’t really go wrong with one of these.
Subaru BRZ / Toyota GT86 / Scion FR-S
Apart from some minor details, these three Japanese sports cars are virtually identical. It doesn’t matter which one you go for, as they all deliver excellent driving dynamics and can put a smile on practically anyone’s face.
With a 2.0-liter boxer engine at the front sending all its power to the rear wheels, it’s impossible to have a bad time behind the wheel. If you want more power or think the styling is too tame, a massive aftermarket will sort it out for you, as turbo kits and wide bodies are readily available.
