Plenty of great vehicles are put out to pasture before their time, from battle-tested pickups to ageless compacts. Here are seven of Consumer Reports‘ favorites, and three of ours.
If you’re looking for a solid buy at under five grand, you’d better be a fan of Hondas and Toyotas. The best-used cars to buy under $5,000 according to Consumer Reports are exclusively manufactured by these two automakers.
If you know anything about Japanese cars, this isn’t all that surprising. These automakers don’t always produce the most exciting, stylish, or powerful autos on the road, but you can usually count on them to pass 250k on the odometer, and that’s pretty important when you’re shopping for a used car. After all, who cares how nice a car looks if the thing won’t run?
With these two automakers, you can generally count on a used car not needing too much restoration. If you shop smart, you’re probably not going to be spending $5k on a 2011 Honda Civic, and then another $3k replacing the transmission.
As long as it performs well on the test-drive, you can probably count on getting at least a few good years out of it.
Many drivers will even take a used Honda or Toyota over a new car, because these things are battle-tested. A twelve-year-old Corolla has already proven its worth, where a brand-new car may still have some catastrophic defects and recalls in its future.
The point is: this isn’t the most exciting list you’re ever going to read, but it may just be the most useful. If you’ve got five grand to spend, and you just want a rock-solid point-A-to-point-B-mobile, you could throw a dart at Consumer Reports‘ selections and find something worth more than you’re paying for it.
CR‘s Best Pre-owned Cars Under $5K
Here you’ll find Consumer Reports‘ picks and what we think of them. Unless otherwise noted, the stats cited will be based on base trims and older models so that you know what you’re looking at as a starting point.
Honda Civic 2009-2011
Ol’ reliable. You really can’t do much better than a Honda Civic when it comes to sheer dependability, with some of these cars even topping a million miles on the odometer.
Consumer Reports recommends models made from 2009 on, because those ones come with electronic stability control, a more spacious interior, and great mileage.
- Engine: 1.8L SOHC MPFI 16
- Horsepower: 140 hp
- MPG: 26/36 city/highway
- Vehicle History owner review rating: 4.2/5.0
Drivers cite the Civic‘s ease-of-use as one of the key draws. If you’re teaching your teenager to drive, if you’re not much of a gearhead, you just need a set of wheels, or if you just prefer cars that aren’t a pain in the neck to operate, a Civic is a solid choice.
Toyota Corolla 2002-2009
CR recommend mid-2000s Corollas for their solid ride quality and great mileage.
However, CR also note that the 00s models are only preferable to the 2010s models based on price, as Toyota didn’t add side curtain airbags until 2009.
If you can find a 2010 at a 2005 price, or if you’re willing to go a little over $5,000, that might be the smarter choice.
- Engine: 1.8L twin
- Horsepower: 125 hp
- MPG: 32/41 city/highway
- Vehicle History owner review rating: 4.2/5.0
Safety features aside, a 2002 Corolla CE starts at $2,287 in the Kelley Blue Book. You can get a quote and do the math yourself, but it’s possible to get a 2002 Corolla and have airbags installed for less than you would spend on a 2010.
Whether it’s worth the hassle is up to you, but the point remains that a 2002 Corolla, even with a few upgrades added on, is one of the most affordable cars on this list.
Toyota Prius 2002-2007
The first truly viable hybrid, the 2002-2007 Prius is… less impressive now than it was fifteen years ago, back when hybrids were still seen as cutting edge and the all-electric was thought to be a pipe dream.
The interior is pretty basic, the ride is a bit stiff, and there’s some noticeable cabin noise. But the money you can save on gas makes this perhaps the very best bang-for-buck selection on the whole list.
The 2002 Prius is around twenty years old now, and it still gets better gas mileage than most cars do today. And the 2007 gets up to 60 miles to the gallon on the highway.
- Engine: 1.5L DOHC SEFI VVT/electric
- Horsepower: 70 hp
- MPG: 45/52 city/highway
- Vehicle History owner review rating: 4.1/5.0
If there’s one downside to the Prius, it’s the continuously-variable transmission. This is a type of transmission using a single cone, rather than multiple gears. Once you get used to it, it’s really fun to drive. No clunky shifting, just a smooth slide from one speed into the next.
But in the 00s, this was new technology, and older CVTs have a reputation for failing at low mileage. That’s not always a problem, but it can be. Ask the seller if they’ve ever had to swap out the transmission and check the VIN so that you know what you’re getting yourself into.
Honda Fit 2007-2009
The surprisingly spacious Honda Fit. It’s been pointed out that the Fit has some issues with cabin noise, and it can feel a bit clunky to operate in comparison to some other cars on this list, but if you’re looking for a family car at a low price, the Fit is a decent choice.
- Engine: 1.5L SOHC MPFI 16
- Horsepower: 117 hp
- MPG: 28/35 city/highway
- Vehicle History owner review rating: 4.4/5.0
Although the Fit looks kinda like a tiny SUV, it’s technically a subcompact, or supermini. 2007 marked the start of the second generation for the car, which saw the car branching out into Sport, Hybrid, and, in Japan, the Shuttle trim level, their version of a station wagon. 2020 will be the last model year for the Fit, as Honda are phasing the car out for the HR-V.
Honda Accord 2004-2007
Consumer Reports cites the mid-00s Accord’s able handling and intuitive user interface as pluses. Add to that the comfy interior, sleek design, capable 2.4L engine, and the fact that a 2004 sedan starts at around $3,000 in the Kelley Blue Book, and you’ve got an excellent deal on your hands if you can find one with under 200k miles on the odometer.
- Engine: 2.4L DOHC MPFI 16
- Horsepower: 160 hp
- MPG: 26/34 city/highway
- Vehicle History owner review rating: 4.3/5.0
A 2004 owner, in a 2021 review, claims to have never done any more maintenance on the car than changing the oil.
In fact, there are dozens of five-star owner reviews on Vehicle History from the last year alone. So you can trust an Accord to go the distance.
Toyota Camry 2002-2005
If you can find the 2005, that’s when they added ESC, so that’s the one you want. But any early-00s Camry is a solid buy if you find it in good condition. Most drivers report that their early-00 models are still riding smooth after almost twenty years, with the biggest issue being that it might run a little noisy.
- Engine: 2.4L twin
- Horsepower: 157 hp
- MPG: 24/33
- Vehicle History owner review rating: 4.3/5.0
Now, on a list full of basic cars, this might be the most basic. But consider what that says about the person you’d be buying it from: Camry buyers are not going mudding in these things. They’re not hitting the dirt track or doing burnouts at stoplights.
A typical Camry owner is someone who changes the oil a few miles early, heads straight to the garage at the first sign of trouble, and never forgets to use their turn signals.
Toyota Avalon 2002-2005
The closest you’re going to get to a prestige luxury car for under five grand. The Toyota Avalon is basically a stretched-out Camry. A little longer, a little roomier, and a little smoother to drive. The 2005 Avalon was the first with ESC, while the 2002 can be had for under $3k if you know where to look.
- Engine: 3.0L 4
- Horsepower: 210 hp
- MPG: 21/29 city/highway
- Vehicle History owner review rating: 4.6/5.0
210 horsepower doesn’t exactly make the Avalon a muscle car, but it does make it the toughest car on the Consumer Reports list, so you don’t need to worry about the Avalon being a too-heavy, underpowered ride that can’t make it up a hill.
If you always wanted a land yacht luxury cruiser, but you’d rather not drop six figures on a Rolls-Royce, the Avalon ain’t bad.
Vehicle History’s Best Used Vehicles Under $5K
Consumer Reports’ selections make a lot of sense. If you want a solid commuter, if you want to get to work and back without stopping at the garage both trips, and you’ve only got about $5k to spend, any one of the Hondas or Toyotas listed above will do the job just fine.
But, the list is confined strictly to car cars. Sedans, coupes, compacts. No trucks, no SUVs, nothing that can really handle dirt roads and loose gravel. Not to mention, seven is a weird number to stop at, and we want to round that up to an even ten. So here are three more we’d like to add to the list.
Ford F-150 (1998-2003)
The best-selling vehicle in America, so it’s not hard to find a good one for cheap. Many F-150 drivers simply buy a new one every five, ten years, meaning that a lot of used F-150s are retired with plenty of good years left on them. The truck’s popularity makes it very easy to run maintenance on, as well. A short trip to the nearest junkyard should provide you with everything you need to rebuild a carburetor, refurbish the cab, or get that wonky tailgate clicking shut again.
- Engine: 4.2L EFI V6 engine – 5.4L OHC V8 BI
- Horsepower: 206 hp – 235 hp
- MPG: 16/21 city/highway
- Vehicle History owner review rating: 4.3/5.0
If you’re not familiar with early F-150s, bear in mind that they don’t have a lot in common with the newer models. In the 2010s, the F-150 became a heavy-duty work truck with a roomy, SUV cab.
In the late 90s and early 00s, it was a heavy-duty work truck with a rugged, stripped down cab. If you can find a twenty-year-old F-series with under 200k miles on it, that’s going to be just the thing for hauling, towing, farm, and ranch work. If you’re looking for a daily driver, a 1998 F-150 might be a little too rugged.
Ford Escape 2008-2012
The second-generation Ford Escape saw the SUV getting an exterior redesign, a new steering system (Ford’s “pull-drift” mode), a hybrid option and improved suspension. There’s also a 3.0L V6 engine option that can get you up to 240 hp if you need a more rugged option.
- Engine: 2.3L DOHC SEFI 16
- Horsepower: 153 hp – 240 hp
- MPG: 22/28 city/highway
- Vehicle History owner review rating: 4.3/5.0
Many users are still driving like-new Escapes over a decade later, with the biggest complaint being limited cargo space inside the SUV, particularly in the rear. Make no mistake, this is a compact crossover SUV with the emphasis on compact. But, the high mileage and low maintenance make for an excellent family SUV for the budget-minded driver.
Jeep Liberty 2002-2007
Here’s the problem with adventure vehicles: they’re a lot of fun out on the back roads, but they’re not the best choice for your primary car. And how many of us can really afford to spend twenty, thirty grand on something we’re only going to take out of the garage for a few weekends in the summer? And Jeep Wranglers will sell for their sticker price ten, twenty years after their debut. So how do you get out there on a budget? With a mid-00s Jeep Liberty, that’s how.
- Engine: 2.4L DOHC I4
- Horsepower: 150 hp – 210 hp
- MPG: 19/23 city/highway
- Vehicle History owner review rating: 4.1/5.0
The Jeep Liberty is the same car as the Jeep Cherokee, a compact SUV built to handle blacktop and gravel in equal measure, and the Sport edition starts at under $3k. If you’re buying a “just for fun” car on a budget, this might be just what you’re after.
Something that you need to keep in mind when car-shopping on a budget: the sale price isn’t always the total price. If the car gets terrible mileage, if it requires frequent repairs, if the transmission’s days are numbered, those are all costs that you need to factor in. Sometimes it’s worth it, even with those additional expenses.
If you can find a Silverado for $500 and replace the cracked engine block for $2,000, sure, that might be worth it, if you don’t mind the hassle of pulling the engine. But it might not be. So, keep those additional expenses in mind, because sometimes what look like a great deal is just a money pit.
Photos: Ford, Honda, Toyota, Jeep
