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Best used-car deals

Save money on Consumer Reports recommended models

Last updated: March 2013

A late-model used car can be one of the best values you'll find when buying a car. With relatively low mileage, modern safety and convenience features, and usually a much lower price than similar new vehicles, these used cars are in the sweet spot of auto deals.

We've scoured through the used car options and put together this list of best deals on 2008-2012 vehicles in ten categories. Each of the vehicles featured are models recommended by Consumer Reports. In making these selections, we focused on models that show the greatest depreciation from their original retail price and their current value, then culled the list to just those vehicles that meet our stringent criteria to be Recommended, including good performance in our tests, average or above safety scores, and average or better reliability. For some car types, this may mean limited diversity in the recommendations, though in all cases, we have focused on balancing the quality of the deal and that of the vehicle.

See all current deals on recommended used vehicles. Continue your research by comparing ratings, reliability, reviews, fuel economy, performance, and much more (available to subscribers). For a list of the most reliable used cars covering ten model years, see our best and worst used cars report.

To get detailed pricing on a used car or for vehicle comparisons, subscribe to our ConsumerReports.org Cars Best Deals Plus and used car price reports.

2009 Honda Accord

Current price from the dealer $15,825 (original MSRP: $24,405)

The Accord is an excellent used-car choice. The sedan is quiet overall, though some road noise creeps in. The 2008 redesign brought with it a larger body and roomier interior. Ride and handling are very good, and the four-cylinder engine is smooth, powerful, and economical returning 23 mpg.  Stability control is standard in all trim levels and crash-test results are impressive.

Small cars

Vehicle Mileage MSRP When New Buying From Dealer Avg Price Drop In Retail Value vs. MSRP
2008 Honda Civic
 66,000 $19,510 $12,225 37%
2009 Toyota Corolla
 51,000 $16,150 $10,400 36%
2010 Subaru Impreza
 40,000 $18,495 $16,150 13%
2011 Honda Fit
 22,000 $17,710 $15,200 14%
2012 Volkswagen Golf
 11,000 $19,095 $17,975 6%

Family cars

Vehicle Mileage MSRP When New Buying From Dealer Avg Price Drop In Retail Value vs. MSRP
2008 Ford Fusion
 66,000 $18,135 $8,650 52%
2009 Honda Accord
 51,000 $24,405 $15,825 35%
2010 Mazda6
 40,000 $20,470 $12,625 38%
2011 Toyota Camry
 22,000 $22,325 $16,950 24%
2012 Nissan Altima
 11,000 $22,570 $17,550 22%

Small SUVs

Vehicle Mileage MSRP When New Buying From Dealer Avg Price Drop In Retail Value vs. MSRP
2008 Honda CR-V
 66,000 $24,150 $16,700 31%
2009 Kia Sportage
 51,000 $23,400 $15,775 33%
2010 Subaru Forester
 40,000 $23,795 $19,075 20%
2011 Nissan Rogue
 22,000 $22,060 $18,025 18%
2012 Toyota RAV4
 11,000 $26,085 $21,500 18%

Midsized SUVs

Vehicle Mileage MSRP When New Buying From Dealer Avg Price Drop In Retail Value vs. MSRP
2008 Acura MDX
 66,000 $45,895 $23,950 48%
2009 Honda Pilot
 51,000 $30,495 $20,525 33%
2010 Mazda CX-9 40,000 $30,205 $21,125 30%
2011 Toyota Highlander
 22,000 $27,540 $24,625 11%
2012 Toyota Venza
 11,000 $28,875 $26,475 8%

Wagons

Vehicle Mileage MSRP When New Buying From Dealer Avg Price Drop In Retail Value vs. MSRP
2008 Pontiac Vibe
 66,000 $16,855 $8,175 51%
2009 Pontiac Vibe
 51,000 $16,100 $8,625 46%
2010 Toyota Matrix
 40,000 $17,510 $13,425 23%
2011 Scion xB
 22,000 $16,950 $14,775 13%
2012 Scion xB 11,000 $17,250 $16,275 6%

Upscale cars

Vehicle Mileage MSRP When New Buying From Dealer Avg Price Drop In Retail Value vs. MSRP
2008 Acura TL
 66,000 $33,725 $17,625 48%
2009 Infiniti G37
 51,000 $33,250 $21,550 35%
2010 Lexus ES 350
 40,000 $34,800 $27,400 21%
2011 Lincoln MKZ
 22,000 $36,220 $22,950 37%
2012 Acura TSX
 11,000 $29,810 $26,550 11%

Luxury cars

Vehicle Mileage MSRP When New Buying From Dealer Avg Price Drop In Retail Value vs. MSRP
2008 Acura RL
 66,000 $46,280 $20,025 57%
2009 Infiniti M35
 51,000 $47,950 $24,950 48%
2010 Lexus GS 350
 40,000 $46,950 $34,850 26%
2011 Lexus LS 460 22,000 $69,435 $54,575 21%
2012 Infiniti M37 11,000 $47,700 $41,625 13%

Minivans

Vehicle Mileage MSRP When New Buying From Dealer Avg Price Drop In Retail Value vs. MSRP
2008 Toyota Sienna LE
 66,000 $26,015 $15,525 40%
2009 Toyota Sienna Ltd. 51,000 $35,665 $25,550 28%
2010 Toyota Sienna XLE 40,000 $29,725 $24,025 19%
2011 Toyota Sienna Base
 22,000 $25,800 $21,000 19%
2012 Toyota Sienna SE
 11,000 $33,440 $26,925 19%

Pickups

Vehicle Mileage MSRP When New Buying From Dealer Avg Price Drop In Retail Value vs. MSRP
2008 Honda Ridgeline
 66,000 $28,000 $17,125 39%
2009 Toyota Tacoma
 51,000 $19,130 $16,425 14%
2010 Toyota Tundra
 40,000 $33,115 $27,550 17%
2011 Honda Ridgeline
 22,000 $28,900 $24,125 17%
2012 Toyota Tacoma
 11,000 $22,105 $20,225 9%

Luxury SUVs

Vehicle Mileage MSRP When New Buying From Dealer Avg Price Drop In Retail Value vs. MSRP
2008 Infiniti FX35
 66,000 $39,550 $23,225 41%
2009 Lexus RX 350
 51,000 $39,100 $26,175 33%
2010 Lexus RX 350
 40,000 $38,200 $32,750 14%
2011 Lexus RX 450h
 22,000 $46,325 $39,700 14%
2012 Lexus GX 460
 11,000 $53,245 $52,700 1%

   

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