With an increasing number of people turning to the used car market in search of reliable and relatively new automobiles without breaking the bank, Consumer Reports has released a list of the top 10 best used cars for 2024 in the US to aid consumers in their hunt.
This list comprises vehicles that performed well when new, exhibited above-average reliability in surveys over the years, and now offer attractive prices.
According to Consumer Reports, it is advisable to purchase the last upgraded version of a car before it transitions to a new generation. This is because automakers tend to refine and rationalize production throughout a vehicle’s lifecycle.
Here are the 10 best used cars for 2024 in the US, as per Consumer Reports:
Chevrolet Cruze (2016-2019)
Price Range: $7,300 – $9,700
Pros: Comfortable ride, spacious interior, powerful engine, fuel efficiency.
Chevrolet Cruze
Hyundai Elantra (2017-2020)
Price Range: $10,750 – $15,175
Pros: User-friendly controls, spacious back seat, fuel-efficient engine.
Hyundai Elantra
Honda HR-V (2016-2022)
Price Range: $13,375 – $16,725
Pros: Practical, spacious interior, versatile rear seats, responsive steering, fuel efficiency.
Honda HR-V
Toyota Corolla Hybrid (2020-2024)
Price Range: $17,150 – $22,000
Pros: Fuel efficiency, reliability, abundant standard safety features.
Toyota Corolla Hybrid
Kia Sportage (2017-2022)
Price Range: $16,500 – $22,075
Pros: Unique design, quality engine, sporty handling, spacious interior.
Kia Sportage
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (2016-2018)
Price Range: $16,250 – $21,275
Pros: Quick acceleration, quiet interior, smooth ride, abundant safety features.
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
Mazda CX-9 (2016-2023)
Price Range: $17,075 – $23,625
Pros: Responsive steering, precise handling, quick-reacting engine, reliability.
Mazda CX-9
Buick Envision (2016-2020)
Price Range: $16,650 – $21,725
Pros: Easy entry/exit, simple controls, excellent infotainment system, low warranty/repair costs.
Buick Envision
Toyota Tacoma (2005-2015)
Price Range: $14,825 – $21,875
Pros: Reliability, capable off-road performance and towing, powerful V6 engine.
Toyota Tacoma
Mazda MX-5 Miata (2016-2024)
Price Range: $15,275 – $21,250
Pros: Precise steering, good steering feedback, reliability, fuel efficiency.
Mazda MX-5 Miata
Most Durable and Trouble-Free Japanese Used Cars
In addition to unveiling the top 10 used cars for 2024, Consumer Reports also ranked the most reliable used car brands. To arrive at these results, Consumer Reports focused on vehicles aged 5 to 10 years old, specifically from the 2014 to 2019 model years.
The survey results revealed that Toyota and Lexus used cars are the most durable and least prone to minor issues. Mazda, another Japanese brand, took third place. All three brands have consistently maintained reliability indices higher than the market average over the years. Honda and Acura rounded out the top 5, indicating that the five most dependable used car brands in the US all hail from the Land of the Rising Sun.
“Brands like Lexus and Toyota have a tradition of conservative design, gradually improving their entire product line rather than introducing many entirely new systems,” explained Steven Elek, Senior Data Analyst of Automotive Data at Consumer Reports. “Over time, our data has consistently shown that vehicles from these brands are reliable, both when new and used.”
In contrast, the least reliable used cars in the survey were from American brands, including Chrysler, Dodge, and Tesla. Interestingly, in the survey of new car reliability, Toyota and Lexus topped the list, while Tesla ranked 14th out of 30.
Explaining this discrepancy, Consumer Reports cited reasons such as Tesla’s Model S being the only vehicle in their lineup that met the criteria for the used car survey. As Tesla’s first commercial model, the Model S introduced previously unseen technologies. Currently, Tesla’s sales are predominantly driven by the Model 3 and Model Y, which have benefited from the company’s accumulated experience in the automotive industry.
“This difference shows up in our data. Many owners of 2014-2015 Model S vehicles reported having to replace the electric motor, battery, or infotainment hardware,” said Elek. “It’s also possible that these components are failing over time, which means newer Teslas would need to be on the road for several years before we know if similar issues will arise. We will continue to monitor the data for any emerging trends.”
Similarly to Tesla, the luxury brand Mercedes-Benz exhibited a significant disparity between its new and used car survey results. In the new car reliability survey, Mercedes-Benz ranked 29th out of 30 brands. However, in the used car survey, the brand placed 10th.
Mercedes-Benz’s low ranking in the new car category is attributed to their newer vehicles, including electric cars, having lower-than-average predicted reliability. This is partly due to the increasingly complex Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system. In contrast, the 2017 and 2019 Mercedes-Benz E-Class models were highlighted for having above-average reliability in the used car survey.
Consumer Reports calculated a vehicle’s reliability based on the average number of problems per year of ownership. These problems tend to increase as a car ages. The organization investigated 20 trouble spots most prone to issues, ranging from minor problems like squeaks and rattles or broken trim pieces to more significant issues like drive system breakdowns, electric car batteries, and charging problems.
The World’s Best Electric Cars: Korean and German Autos Take the Lead
Recently, Consumer Reports, a renowned U.S.-based consumer advice magazine, unveiled its list of the world’s best electric vehicles.
The Hyundai Ioniq 6: The Best Affordable Electric Car with Impressive Performance.
Consumer Reports is a US-based, independent, non-profit consumer organization. We work tirelessly to empower consumers with the knowledge and information they need to make better purchases. Our rigorous testing and research provide unbiased insights into a wide range of products, ensuring that consumers can make informed decisions with confidence.
The Top 14 Electric Cars of 2024: Including Models Available in Vietnam
The most critical factor Consumer Reports used to determine the best 14 electric car models for 2024 was their real-world range.
Is It Worth Buying a Second-Hand Car at an Extremely Low Price?
With price tags comparable to that of a standard motorcycle, used cars priced below 100 million VND are turning heads and capturing the attention of cost-conscious consumers.
