Buy This Not That: The Best Used Cars Are As Good, Or Better, Than New
The average price of a new car just crossed the Rubicon, shooting past $50,000 for the first time.
If you have trouble getting used to the idea that new cars are so expensive but need to buy a car, don’t fret. The best used cars are as good as their brand new counterparts, but with a discount for the miles and perhaps slightly older features. Still, they offer interiors, tech and comforts that rival newer models, and those that are only a few years old likely still have time or mileage left on the warranty.
To find the best deals we looked at cars with a reputation for reliability and capability, that regularly update tech and creature comforts between full model redesigns and that should have at least some of the original warranty in tact.
To compare new versus used cars, we looked at the base model price of each new model and shopped Cars.com to compare it with a two to three year old entry-level model with less than 40,000 miles. Here’s what we found.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
Yes, You Can Have a Toyota 4Runner
New from $41,000, used from about $35,000; this is a perennial favorite for on-road driving, off-road chops and hauling gear, dogs and families. The Toyota 4Runner was redesigned last year with a new exterior look and new interior details, but the new design, like the outgoing design, is rugged and comfortable. This reliable SUV simply gets better with age and holds its value well. While the discounts from a new model aren’t stellar, it’ll hold its value more than its competitors
Watch: We Drove Every Toyota 4 wheeler Off Road and This is What We Thought
A Luxury SUV With 3 Rows of Delight? Volvo XC90
New from $62,000; used from about $36,000. Volvo has worked hard on its powertrain to make its engines more efficient; this Swedish company is really dedicated to helping create a cleaner future for our children. However, the company poured its heart into the design of the Volvo XC90 3-row SUV over the last decade, giving older models a look and feel that’s just as posh and modern as newer ones. The trade-off is fuel efficiency, but even so, older models aren’t exactly gas guzzlers, getting about 22PMG.
Watch: Luxury, comfort and prestige in the Volvo XC90
What You Paid for the Lexus RX 350 Can Be Your Secret
New from $51,000; used from about $40,000. Lexus gave the RX 350 a full makeover a few years ago and sitting on the sidelines could really be to your benefit; the 2023 model features all the same details as the 2026 model but comes with a nice discount. Go a year or two earlier and discounts are even deeper. Either way, this is a luxury SUV designed to last a decade or more and it holds its resale value nicely, so when you’re ready to trade it in you should have a nice asset.
Watch: Tour the Lexus 350 With Us!
Fun, Tech-inflected and Spacious: Kia Sorento
New from $32,000; used from about $22,000. We have been fans of the 3-row mid-size Kia Sorento for a while now and while the 2025 model was updated to look more like the rest of the Kia lineup, older models carry classic good looks. Kia’s interiors feel modern and premium with comfortable second and third row seats and all the necessities: USB ports, air vents and cupholders for all passengers. Kia is always keen on updating tech features between model updates so even a two or three year old model will have solid tech. And Kia’s 10 year powertrain warranty gives even second and third buyers peace of mind.
Watch: Why This Mom Bought a Kia Sorento, and What She Likes Most About It
Don’t Pass by the Honda Passport
New from $45,000; used from $30,000. Honda brought the Passport back to the market a few years ago and since then, it’s been one of our favorite 5 passenger SUVs: It delivers nice power at 280 HP, all wheel drive capability and tons of storage. It’s an ideal alternative to the Toyota 4Runner, Ford Bronco or Jeep Grand Cherokee and at this price, a true hidden gem.
Read: 17 Tech Features We Love in the 2019 Honda Passport SUV
This Fan Fave is Good Any Way You Take It: Subaru Outback
New from $30,000; used from about $24,000. The Subaru Outback is a stalwart SUV— capable, reliable and a fan favorite for all it delivers. The last redesign added a great new multimedia touch screen, more driver assistance and safety features and maintained its superior all wheel drive capability. The Outback has been redesigned for 2026 and that model will carry a $5,000 premium over the current base-model price, making a pre-loved Outback an even better deal.
Watch: Here’s What the Subaru Outback Is All About
Dreaming of a Ford Bronco? Look At the Ford Bronco Sport
New from about $31,000; used from about $23,000. For us, this was love at first sight, and we clearly are not alone; this compact SUV has a large fan base. The Ford Bronco Sport, a smaller, more pavement focused version of the Ford Bronco, delivers all the fun features and many off-road abilities of its larger, more muscular sibling. But don’t let the Bronco Sport’s smaller price tag and smaller engine fool you; lots of owners have adapted these for the adventure lifestyle with accessories, increased power and turned them into off-road mavens.
Watch: The Ford Bronco Sport Offers Bronco DNA is a Smaller Package
This Solid SUV Will Go the Distance: Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
New from $33,000; used from about $26,000. The Toyota RAV4 was just redesigned for 2026 and while it has a new look and feel inside and out, its hybrid powertrain and horsepower remains mostly the same. This presents a great opportunity to get in a gently used model for a nice discount. It’s notable that pricing for the 2026 model hasn’t yet been announced, so a used model might represent an even better deal.
Toyota RAV4: A Small SUV That’s Big On Adventure
Hyundai Ioniq 5 Delivers Stellar EV Design and Performance
New from $42,000; used from about $25,000. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is now one of the OG EVs on the road, having logged millions and millions of miles and a favorite of EV drivers for its open cabin design, fast charge capability and fun to drive experience. The new 2025 model has a range of 318 miles while a used SE has a range of 290 miles, so not a huge difference. And, a good reason to buy used is that you still benefit from the original tax incentive, which is mostly reflected in used market prices.
Watch: This is What We Love About the Hyundai Ioniq 5
The Tesla Model 3 Makes a Great First, or Next, EV
New from $37,000; used from about $25,000. Current Tesla owners have flooded the market with these solid, reliable EVs, and they can represent a really good deal. Used models will have a slightly lower driving range, about 50 miles, but even so, the Model 3’s range is still among the best. Add in the minimalist interior, fast charging and access to Tesla Superchargers and it’s easy to slide into the Tesla life.
Read: Tesla Model 3: Clean Energy … Dirty Fingers???
This One’s a Personal Favorite: Ford Mustang Mach-E
New from $38,000; used from about $23,000: This is one of the best options on the market right now, and this is why: the battery has an 8 year warranty and the first buyer should have taken the tax credit, which can be reflected in the resale price. The Mustang Mach-E is beautifully designed, fun to drive and will save you money if you charge at home. I drove one for four months and despite the lower range, about 260 miles on a charge, I’m a fan. This is a great car.
Watch: We Took the Mustang Mach-E Out on a Dirt Track… and It Was a Blast!
One of our Favorite Compact SUVs Is a Great Deal: Mazda CX-5
New from $29,000; used from about $21,000. The Mazda CX-5 is one of the most popular cars on the road for its beautiful, reflective paints, luxurious interior appointments and stellar engineering. A driver’s car that delivers a fun drive experience, it’s also an easy runabout with plenty of interior space, a comfortable cabin and if you need it, all wheel drive for hilly roads and messy weather. The CX-5 has been redesigned for 2026 so this is a great time to grab the older model and realize some nice savings.
Watch: Tour the Mazda CX-5 and See Why We’re Fans
The Audi Q5 Is One of the Best Used Cars — For Good Reason
New from $52,000; used from about $26,000. Audi gives its models some nice standard features, such as leatherette seating even at the entry level, and updates it tech feature with some frequency, so buying a two or three year old model will deliver many of the premium features found in new models. And, while the company has updated some aspects of the 5-passenger Audi Q5 SUV for 2025, it still retains its iconic good looks; it always looks classic, never dated.
Watch: The Audi Q5 SUV is Always Elegant and Classic, and This is Our Favorite Version
The VW Atlas is a Favorite Among Families
New from $39,000; used from about $27,000. VW has made a few subtle changes to the Atlas in the past few years, but the basics remain solid: a great touchscreen multimedia system, great driver assistance and safety features and a full-size 3rd row. Add air vents, USB ports and good cargo space and an elegant design that ages well and this car is a winner any way you look at it.
Watch: Why We Love the VW Atlas
We Can’t Get Enough of the Honda HR-V
New from about $28,000; used from about $24,000. Redesigned in 2023, this is a great time to find these sleek, feature-filled (even in the base model) Honda HR-V coming off leases or being traded in for larger SUVs. The redesign added a new look, more passenger space and more cargo space, and was among the first to be finished with Honda’s new design approach, inside and out. And, add in the reliability and solid resale value and a lightly driven Honda HR-V could feel just as good as a new one.
Watch: The Honda HR-V Was Redesigned With Even More Great Details
Jeep Grand Cherokee Should Always Be On Your List
New from $35,000; used from about $27,000. Even though Jeep has been busy attending to pricing and delivering more for the money in its new models, there’s still something to be said for its used models. Jeep Grand Cherokee’s design language is sharp and sophisticated, delivering one of the most beautiful interiors on the road. The tech system is also super smart, giving buyers top-notch tech features and of course, classic Jeep 4×4 capability. We might also classify this one as buy the used top trim rather than the lower-trim of a new model; you won’t necessarily save money but you will get a whole lot more for the price.
Watch: Don’t Let the Jeep Grand Cherokee’s Luxury Appointments Fool You; It’s a Badass Off-Road
Is a used car the right way to go for you? Only you can tell if the price, the financing details and the specifics on a car you’re considering are the right fit for you. But certainly, used cars represent a great opportunity for a new-to-you car and a lower price. Happy shopping!
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