Best Used Cars Under $25,000 (2026)
Prices updated 2026-11-02 from live US dealer listings · CarWhere Research
Quick answer
The newest reliable used car you can typically buy for under $25,000 is the 2024 Toyota Corolla (median asking price $21,074, ~47k mi). Other strong picks: 2024 Subaru Impreza, 2024 Mazda3, 2023 Toyota Camry, 2023 Honda Civic. A $25,000 budget buys a 1-to-3-year-old compact car or midsize sedan with roughly 20,000–45,000 miles, a 3-to-5-year-old compact SUV, or an older midsize truck or three-row SUV from a reliability-first brand.
Reliability-first picks under $25,000
Models from brands with long-standing reliability records, with the newest model year whose median asking price fits the budget.
| Car | Newest year under $25,000 | Typical price | Typical miles | Years that fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Subaru Impreza Compact car | 2024 | $23,073 | 26k mi | 2006–2024See listings · Years to avoid |
Mazda3 Compact car | 2024 | $21,095 | 47k mi | 2007–2024See listings · Years to avoid |
Toyota Corolla Compact car | 2024 | $21,074 | 47k mi | 2005–2024See listings · Years to avoid |
Honda Civic Compact car | 2023 | $24,248 | 40k mi | 2005–2023See listings · Years to avoid |
Toyota Camry Midsize sedan | 2023 | $24,843 | 57k mi | 2005–2023See listings · Years to avoid |
Mazda CX-5 Compact SUV | 2022 | $23,590 | 53k mi | 2013–2022See listings · Years to avoid |
Subaru Forester Compact SUV | 2022 | $24,594 | 56k mi | 2006–2022See listings · Years to avoid |
Honda Accord Midsize sedan | 2022 | $23,985 | 61k mi | 2005–2022See listings · Years to avoid |
Subaru Outback Wagon/SUV | 2022 | $23,900 | 64k mi | 2005–2022See listings · Years to avoid |
Toyota Prius Hybrid | 2022 | $23,222 | 67k mi | 2005–2022See listings · Years to avoid |
Honda CR-V Compact SUV | 2021 | $24,659 | 69k mi | 2005–2021See listings · Years to avoid |
Mazda6 Midsize sedan | 2021 | $19,989 | 71k mi | 2009–2021See listings · Years to avoid |
Honda Pilot 3-row SUV | 2021 | $24,620 | 83k mi | 2005–2021See listings · Years to avoid |
Honda Fit Subcompact car | 2020 | $18,595 | 54k mi | 2007–2020See listings · Years to avoid |
Acura MDX Luxury 3-row SUV | 2020 | $23,895 | 79k mi | 2005–2020See listings · Years to avoid |
Toyota Yaris Subcompact car | 2020 | $15,998 | 81k mi | 2007–2020See listings |
Toyota RAV4 Compact SUV | 2020 | $24,590 | 84k mi | 2005–2020See listings · Years to avoid |
Honda Odyssey Minivan | 2020 | $23,888 | 89k mi | 2005–2020See listings · Years to avoid |
Lexus IS Luxury sedan | 2019 | $24,927 | 76k mi | 2006–2019See listings |
Toyota Avalon Full-size sedan | 2019 | $24,733 | 79k mi | 2005–2019See listings · Years to avoid |
Toyota Highlander 3-row SUV | 2019 | $23,948 | 99k mi | 2005–2019See listings · Years to avoid |
Lexus ES Luxury sedan | 2018 | $23,154 | 80k mi | 2005–2018See listings |
Toyota Sienna Minivan | 2018 | $21,116 | 104k mi | 2005–2018See listings · Years to avoid |
Lexus RX Luxury SUV | 2017 | $24,057 | 98k mi | 2005–2017See listings |
Toyota Tacoma Midsize truck | 2016 | $23,995 | 118k mi | 2005–2016See listings · Years to avoid |
Toyota 4Runner Midsize SUV | 2016 | $24,000 | 132k mi | 2005–2016See listings · Years to avoid |
Acura TSX Luxury sedan | 2013 | $9,500 | 131k mi | 2009–2013See listings |
Most car for the money under $25,000
These depreciate faster, so the same budget buys a newer, lower-mileage year. Check each model’s years to avoid before you shop.
| Car | Newest year under $25,000 | Typical price | Typical miles | Years that fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Kia Soul Compact car | 2024 | $18,651 | 41k mi | 2010–2024See listings · Years to avoid |
Hyundai Elantra Compact car | 2024 | $19,890 | 41k mi | 2007–2024See listings · Years to avoid |
Hyundai Sonata Midsize sedan | 2024 | $21,818 | 47k mi | 2006–2024See listings · Years to avoid |
Chevrolet Malibu Midsize sedan | 2024 | $18,598 | 56k mi | 2006–2024See listings · Years to avoid |
Ford Fusion Midsize sedan | 2020 | $13,898 | 88k mi | 2006–2020See listings · Years to avoid |
Buick LaCrosse Full-size sedan | 2019 | $17,978 | 75k mi | 2005–2019See listings · Years to avoid |
Ford F-150 Full-size truck | 2018 | $23,020 | 111k mi | 2005–2018See listings · Years to avoid |
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Full-size truck | 2018 | $22,205 | 112k mi | 2005–2018See listings · Years to avoid |
What $25,000 really buys
At $25k you are shopping the same model years that sell as certified pre-owned, and many cars still have factory bumper-to-bumper or powertrain coverage left. Check the original in-service date (warranty runs from it, not the model year), compare the CPO price for the same year, and price the specific VIN against the median for its year before you negotiate.
Found one? Check its history before you pay
At this budget the car’s past matters more than the badge. Enter the VIN to see its title brands, auction and damage records, and price history.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best used car under $25,000?
For reliability, the 2024 Toyota Corolla is the newest model year that typically sells for under $25,000 today (median asking price $21,074, about 47k mi). The 2024 Subaru Impreza, The 2024 Mazda3, The 2023 Toyota Camry are close alternatives. The best individual car is the one with a clean history and a fair price, so check the exact VIN before you buy.
How many miles will a used car under $25,000 have?
Among the models on this page, the newest model years that fit under $25,000 have a median of 26k mi to 132k mi on the odometer. Maintenance history matters more than the number itself.
Can I get a newer car for $25,000 if I skip Toyota and Honda?
Yes. Budget-friendly brands depreciate faster, so the same money buys a newer year: the 2024 Chevrolet Malibu typically lists for $18,598. The trade-off is resale value and, for some models, more years to avoid — check the model’s year-by-year record first.
Where do these prices come from?
They are medians of advertised prices across active US dealer listings for each model year (51,732 listings behind the years shown), refreshed 2026-11-02. They are asking prices, not appraisals — trim, mileage, condition, and region move the price of any single car.
How we built this list
Median advertised price and median odometer of each model year among active US used listings; years with fewer than 30 listings dropped. The models are a curated set known for reliability and low running costs. A model year appears when its median asking price is at or under $25,000; “typical miles” is the median odometer for that year. Prices are asking prices, not appraisals.