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The best used vehicles for under $20,000

Last updated: April 2012

Suzuki SX4

These are CR's lists of reliable cars from the 2011 Annual Auto Survey. They are the specific models with above average reliability spanning the model years 2002 through 2011. These vehicles performed well in CR road tests when tested new. Also, see our complete list of reliable used vehicles and those used cars to avoid (available to subscribers)

Our best advice is to buy the newest car that fits your budget, in order to benefit from the most up-to-date safety advances.

Price ranges are what you'd pay for a typically equipped car with average mileage.

Models are listed alphabetically within car type.

Make & Model	Under $10,000	$10,000 - $15,000	$15,000 - $20,000
Small cars
Ford Focus	'05-07	'08-09	'10
Honda Civic	'02-05	'06-08	'09-11
Honda Civic Hybrid	'03-05	'06-07	'08
Honda Fit	-	'07-11	-
Hyundai Elantra (sedan)	'05	'07-10	-
Hyundai Elantra (wagon)	-	'09	-
Kia Forte	-	-	'10
Mazda3	'04-05	'06-08	'10-11
Nissan Sentra	-	-	'10
Nissan Versa	-	'08-09	-
Pontiac Vibe	'03-06	'07-09	'10
Scion xB	'04-05	'06, '08	'09-11
Scion xD	-	'08-09	'10
Subaru Impreza (non-turbo)	'04-05	'06-07	'09-11
Suzuki SX4	-	'08-10	-
Toyota Corolla	'02-06	'07-09	'10
Toyota Echo	'02-03, '05	-	-
Toyota Matrix	'03-05	'06-08	'09-10
Toyota Prius	'02-04	'05-06	'07-08
Volkswagen Golf	-	-	'10-11
Volkswagen Rabbit	-	'07-09	-
Midsized & large sedans
Acura RL	'02	'04	'05-06
Acura TL	-	04-05	'06-07
Acura TSX	-	04-06	'07-08
Chevrolet Malibu (4-cyl.)	-	-	'09
Ford Fusion (4-cyl.)	'06	'07-08	'09
Ford Fusion (V6, AWD)	-	'08	-
Ford Fusion (V6, FWD)	-	'06-08	'09-10
Ford Taurus (FWD)	'04	-	'09
Honda Accord (4-cyl.)	'02-04	'05-07	'10
Honda Accord (V6)	'02-03	'04-07	-
Honda Accord Hybrid	-	'05-07	-
Hyundai Azera	-	'07	-
Hyundai Sonata (4-cyl.)	'06	'08	'09-10
Hyundai Sonata (V6)	'03-05	'07-08	'10
Hyundai XG350	'04-05	-	-
Infiniti G	-	'04-05	'06
Infiniti I35	'02-04	-	-
Kia Optima	-	'08	'11
Lexus ES	-	'02-05	'06
Lexus GS	-	'02-05	-
Lexus IS	'02	'03-05	-
Lexus LS	-	-	'02-04
Lincoln MKZ (FWD)	-	-	'07-08
Lincoln Town Car	'02	'04, '06	-
Lincoln Zephyr	-	'06	-
Mazda6	-	'07	'09-10
Mercedes-Benz E-Class (RWD)	-	-	'03
Mercury Milan (4-cyl.)	'06	'07-08	'09
Mercury Milan (V6, FWD)	-	'06-08	'09-10
Mercury Milan (V6, AWD)	-	'08	-
Mercury Sable	'04	-	'09
Nissan Altima (4-cyl.)	'03-05	'06-07	'09-11
Nissan Altima (V6)	'03	'04-06	-
Nissan Altima Hybrid	-	-	'07-10
Subaru Legacy (4-cyl.)	-	'06	'07-08
Toyota Avalon	'02-04	'05-06	'07-08
Toyota Camry (4-cyl.)	'02-04	'05-07	'08-11
Toyota Camry (V6)	'02-03	'04-06	'07-10
Toyota Camry Hybrid	-	-	'07-10
Volvo S60	-	-	'07-08
Sports & sporty cars
Acura RSX	'02-04	'05-06	-
BMW Z4	-	'03	'05
Ford Mustang (V6)	'04	'06	'09
Ford Mustang (V8)	'02-04	'05	'06-07
Honda Civic Si	-	'06	'07-09
Honda S2000	-	'02-04	'05-06
Lexus SC	-	-	'02-03
Mazda MX-5 Miata	'02-03	'04, '06-07	'08-09
Mazdaspeed3	-	-	'08
Mini Cooper Hatchback	-	-	'08, '10
Nissan 350Z	-	'03-04	-
Porsche Boxster	-	-	'03
Subaru Impreza WRX/STi	'03	'05	-
Toyota Camry Solara	'02-04	'05-07	'08
Toyota Celica	'02-03	-	-
Minivans & wagons
Honda Odyssey	'02	'03-04	-
Mazda5	-	-	'10
Subaru Outback (4-cyl.)	-	-	'07-08
Subaru Outback (6-cyl.)	-	-	'06-07
Toyota Sienna (FWD)	'02-03	'04-05	'06-07
Volvo XC70	-	'04	-
Small SUVs
Ford Escape (V6, AWD)	'04	'05	-
Honda CR-V	'02-03	'04-06	'07-08
Hyundai Tucson	-	'05, '07	'09
Kia Sportage	-	'06-07	-
Mazda Tribute (V6, AWD)	-	'04-05	-
Mercury Mariner (V6, AWD)	-	'05	-
Mitsubishi Outlander	'03	'07	'08-10
Nissan Rogue	-	-	'09-10
Subaru Forester (non-turbo)	-	'05	'06-10
Toyota RAV4	'02-03	'04-07	'08-10
Midsized & large SUVs
Acura MDX	-	'04	'05
Ford Expedition	'02	-	-
Honda Pilot	-	'03-05	'06-07
Hyundai Santa Fe (V6)	'03-04	-	'07
Infiniti FX	-	-	'03-05
Lexus GX	-	-	'03
Lexus RX	-	'02-03	'04-05
Nissan Xterra	-	-	'08
Subaru B9 Tribeca	-	-	'06-07
Toyota 4Runner (V6)	-	'02-04	'05-06
Toyota Highlander (V6)	'02-03	'04-05	'06-07
Toyota Highlander Hybrid	-	-	'06
Toyota Sequoia	-	'02-04	-
Pickup trucks
Ford F-150 (V8, 4WD)	-	'02-03	-
Honda Ridgeline	-	-	'06-07
Subaru Baja	-	'05	-
Toyota Tacoma (V6, 4WD)	-	'05	'06-08
Toyota Tundra (V8, 4WD)	-	'02-04	'05-06

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