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Top Used Cars Under $20,000

March 6, 2014
If you're in the market for a used car, chances are you're looking for a vehicle that's less than $20,000. The good news is there's lots of great options. Consumer Reports recently did much of the legwork for you, releasing a list of what they consider the best used vehicles for under $20,000, based on reliability and testing track records.

Below is a look at the various options and years, which also includes information on whether or not electronic stability control (ESC) was optional or standard for certain years.

Subcompact & Compact Cars

VehicleUnder $10,000$10,000-$15,000$15,000-$20,000ESC Optional FromESC Standard From
Ford Focus Sedan  05-06, '08-0910-11-0910
Honda Civic Sedan04-0708-1112-130912
Honda Fit  07-0809-13-0911
Hyundai Accent  0913--12
Hyundai Elantra Sedan  07-09-12-130811
Kia Forte-12-13--all
Kia Soul  -10-1113-all
Mazda30809-12-0711
Mazda3 (Skyactiv 2.0-liter)  -1213-all
Nissan Leaf  --11-12-all
Pontiac Vibe  04-0809-10-0509
Scion tC  05-06---11
Scion xB  04-0609-1112-all
Scion xD  -08-10-0810
Subaru Impreza (sedan, non-turbo)-1011/13/140809
Subaru Impreza (wagon, non-turbo)0508, '1011-130809
Suzuki SX408--0712
Toyota Corolla  04-0810-12130510
Toyota Matrix  04-0708, '10-0510
Toyota Prius  04-0708-1011-120410
Toyota Yaris Hatchback  07-10---10
Volkswagen Golf--11-120410
Volkswagen Jetta Sedan (5-cyl.)  0809-10-0409
Volkswagen Rabbit0709-0709

Midsized & Large Cars

VehicleUnder $10,000$10,000-$15,000$15,000-$20,000ESC Optional FromESC Standard From
Acura RL0405-0607-08-all
Acura TL0405-0708-all
Acura TSX (4-cyl.)04-0506-0810-all
Audi A6 (V6)-0608-all
BMW 328i Sedan--09-all
Cadillac CTS (RWD)--090408
Ford Fusion (4-cyl.)0809120910
Ford Fusion (V6, FWD)06-0809120910
Ford Fusion Hybrid  --10-11-all
Honda Accord (4-cyl.)  04-0506-0910-12-08
Honda Accord Sedan (V6)  0405-07--06
Hyundai Azera  0607--all
Hyundai Sonata (4-cyl.)  07-0809--06
Hyundai Sonata (V6)  04, '0709--06
Infiniti G Sedan0406-0708-all
Infiniti M (V6)  --06-08-all
Lexus ES-04-0607-080407
Lexus GS-0406-07-all
Lexus IS Sedan-04-0506, '080406
Lexus LS  --04-05-all
Lincoln MKZ (V6)  -0809-10-09
Mazda6080911-120509
Mercedes-Benz C-Class (V6)  040708-all
Mercedes-Benz E-Class (V6, RWD)  -0507-08-all
Mercury Milan (4-cyl.)  08-09--0910
Mercury Milan (V6, FWD)06-0809-0910
Mercury Milan Hybrid  --10-11-all
Nissan Altima Hybrid  -08-09--all
Nissan Altima Sedan (4-cyl.)  0609, '11-12--10
Nissan Altima Sedan (V6)  -07110710
Nissan Maxima  -08-0409
Subaru Legacy (4-cyl.)  -09-1011-130709
Toyota Avalon (V6)0405-0809-100409
Toyota Camry (4-cyl.)  04-0607, '1011-130510
Toyota Camry (V6)  04-0506-10110410
Toyota Camry Hybrid  -07-0910-11-all
Volvo S6004-0507-08-0407

Sports & Sport Cars/Convertibles

VehicleUnder $10,000$10,000-$15,000$15,000-$20,000ESC Optional FromESC Standard From
BMW Z4-0506-07-all
Ford Mustang (V8)  -05-0607-08-10
Honda Civic Si  -06-08--07
Honda S2000  -0405-07-06
Lexus SC  --04-all
Mazda MX-5 Miata  0406-0809-100612
Nissan 350Z-04060410

Wagons & Minivans

VehicleUnder $10,000$10,000-$15,000$15,000-$20,000ESC Optional FromESC Standard From
Honda Crosstour--10-11-all
Honda Odyssey  0406--05
Mazda5  --12-13-10
Subaru Outback (4-cyl.)  --09-100709
Toyota Prius V  ----all
Toyota Sienna (FWD)  0405-06, '08090408
Toyota Venza (V6)  ----all
Volvo XC70 (Cross Country)  04-080407

Small SUVs

VehicleUnder $10,000$10,000-$15,000$15,000-$20,000ESC Optional FromESC Standard From
Acura RDX--07-08-all
Ford Escape Hybrid  050910-09
Honda CR-V  0405-0809-11-05
Hyundai Tucson 06-07---all
Kia Sportage  -07--05
Mazda CX-5  ----all
Mercury Mariner Hybrid  -0910-09
Mitsubishi Outlander  0708, '1011-12-07
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport  -1112-all
Nissan Juke--12-all
Nissan Rogue  -1011-13-all
Subaru Forester (non-turbo)-0809-100709
Toyota RAV4 (4-cyl.)  04-0506, '0809-12-all
Toyota RAV4 (V6)  -06, '0809-11-all

Midsized & Large SUVs

VehicleUnder $10,000$10,000-$15,000$15,000-$20,000ESC Optional FromESC Standard From
Acura MDX-04-06--all
Ford Edge-0709-all
Honda Pilot  04-0506-07080506
Infiniti FX (V6)  -04-0506-all
Lexus GX--04-05-all
Lexus RX  -04-0506-07-all
Lexus RX Hybrid  --06-07-all
Lincoln MKX  --07-08-all
Mazda CX-9  --10-all
Nissan Murano  ---0409
Toyota 4Runner (V6)  -04-0607-08-all
Toyota Highlander (V6)  0405-0809-all
Toyota Highlander Hybrid  -0607-all
Toyota Sequoia  -0607-all

Pickup Trucks

VehicleUnder $10,000$10,000-$15,000$15,000-$20,000ESC Optional FromESC Standard From
Honda Ridgeline-0607-09-all
Nissan Frontier  --080412
Toyota Tacoma (V6, 4WD)-04-0506-070409
Toyota Tundra (V8, 4WD)-04-05060409




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Gregg Fidan Gregg Fidan is the founder of RealCarTips. After being ripped off on his first car purchase, he devoted several years to figuring out the best ways to avoid scams and negotiate the best car deals. He has written hundreds of articles on the subject of car buying and taught thousands of car shoppers how to get the best deals.

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