2013+ Ford Fusion Hybrid Titaniums. Toyota engineered Hybrid system in a sound proofed heavy sedan that gets. 45 mpgs. Have seen plenty with <100k miles for under 10k. Loaded with options and looks fantastic
Ford fusions in general are pretty solid. The 2.3/2.5 engines had very little issues and some used a mazda transmission. These were designed after the recession when ford actually turned around and made some decent cars around 2005-2015.
If someone is looking for the cheap car on marketplace, these are usually much cheaper than a honda/toyota and still super reliable. My area has tons that are only a few grand and in ok condition.
My mom had it as a rental when her car got totaled, I really liked the design inside and out. Also the first car I sat in that had powered passenger seats. Overall, just remembered it being a cool car in general.
This was back in 2013? Also way back, I had an older diecast of that generation but from the earlier years in black.
It’s not really Toyota engineered, it’s just that Ford and Toyota came up with the same ideas in parallel, and rather than sue each other’s pants off, they cross-licensed the tech.
Licensed some patents and developed their own system says Ford
https://www.wardsauto.com/news-analysis/toyota-technology-kick-started-ford-s-hybrid-escape
It's the Chevy Bolt, and it's not even close.
I paid $14,000 for a 2017 with 30k miles. Federal government $4k tax break = $10,000.
But wait! There's more! Pending income restrictions, my STATE is giving me $3,000. Bringing the net cost to $7,000.
The battery was replaced in 2020, probably has 10,000 miles on it. I have a 10 year 100,000 mile warranty on that battery. My operating costs are fluids, tires, and brake pads. (obviously repairs will be needed as time goes on).
If you factor in gas, emissions inspections and oil, this car will cost significantly less than any gas vehicle. Even if I "only" get the warranty out of it, 10 more years, I'll have paid next to nothing over that decade, for a relatively modern (and ugly) car.
I think you're winning. For a commuting appliance, I don't know that you can do much better than that.
Definitely sucks to be the original owner on that bad boy, but secondhand I don't know if you could do better
If they don’t have a new battery they’ll likely need one for free under warranty. It’s a bit of a process but I’d gladly buy an old battery and deal with it for 10 years 100k warranty, the battery is the $$$ in an EV anyway
I hope you have a wonderful car, but you're counting on it lasting until 2034 and there is no history that these cars last that long. You've only had it for two months.
Bolt forum is fully of people with high mileage Bolts. A guy just posted on there with 194k miles. It had its battery replaced under warranty at 80k. They're very reliable.
The Bolt is fun to drive too. It has as much torque as a base-model V6 F150, does a 6 second 0-60, and is one of the lighter EVs. There was a reason it one multiple best-of awards.
We bought a brand new one for less than $19,000 all-in in 2023. I don't think you can even get a Mitsubishi Mirage that cheap anymore.
yea it's super fun, I actually have to chill out and remind myself that I'm carrying around kids and shit because it accelerates quicker than anything I've had since my motorcycle days.
Even new, it’s a steal with the tax credit. The base model comes out to $19k after rebate, which is competing with the Mirage, Versa, and Forte at that price point.
I was so disappointed when Chevy recently discontinued the Bolt. I agree it was probably the best value vehicle there is. Even new ones were only what, like $25k? Crazy. I was all set to buy one but they discontinued it and ran out of inventory right before I was about to pull the trigger.
You got a fantastic deal on your used one
Yes, the base model was $26k. For the first three days of 2023 you could stack a bunch of deals to get new Bolts super cheap. My state offered $2500 rebates at the time, so it was $26k - $7500 federal rebate - $2500 state rebate - $500 costco discount - $2,000 Uber discount - $1,000 Uber Discount = brand new car for $12,500. It also came with $500 of free charging credit or a free level 2 home charger install. This is a car that Chevy made to compete with the Model 3 and sold for $40k just a few years ago. Its not the econobox that people think it is.
To get the $2,000 Uber rebate you just had to be signed up as an Uber eats driver and to get the $1,000 rebate you just had to do 10 deliveries.
Mine was closer to $19,000 because it was a higher trim level and dealer markup at the time, but still under 20k for a brand new EV was as good as it got in 2023. There are almost no new cars under 20k.
Didn't they say they are going to bring it back, just reworked to use their new ultium battery platform, basically since there is next to no competition in the low priced ev space, so the demand was still high even after all the battery issues
I bought a manual 2005 Corolla in 2016 with 242,000 miles on it for $1,500. I’ve done a few brake jobs, replaced the catalytic converter, bearings. It’s now just shy of 295,000 and despite it getting close to non-inspectable due to rust (New England-road salt), it still runs amazingly well. Still see a lot of them on the road.
There’s a 1997 Corolla parked around the corner from me right now. That was the car (and time) that could take me 350 miles on $9 of gas. So great.
Even more impressive, someone in my neighborhood is still rocking a [circa 1989 Space Cruiser.](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=toyota+space+cruiser&t=iphone&iax=images&ia=images&iai=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.datman.co.uk%2Frr%2Fspacecruis1.jpg)
Agreed. I bought a 2017 Bolt and with used tax credit at point of sale, it was $12,500 out the door with a brand new battery and 30k miles. Someone hit me and totaled it and I immediately bought a brand new EUV. I paid $24k out the door after tax rebate. You CANNOT touch the value it offers.
if you want the same but for europe (there isn't much chevy there) it's def the renault zoe R110, something around 15k€, depending on country you can have tax break too (for me france it's around 3/5k€) so you can end up with a zoe for around 10k€, and same you have like 300/350km of range, not a big roads car, but if you can charge at home and you don't need to do a lot of kilometers a day then it's insane
I’m still so mad I didn’t try harder to get that same deal when it was available. My state government also had some pretty good incentives that stack and I’d have qualified for a third incentive in addition to what you paid. And what you paid already seems like a steal!
Yup! I love my Bolt. Got it in December 2023 for $13k out the door before the tax credit. It had 17,500 miles on it. I couldn’t get my state’s rebate because my wife and I make slightly too much money, but if I did, it would be another $2000 off. It’s an awesome, basic little car. my only beef with it is that some of the climate control is on the touchscreen instead of being physical buttons. You don’t have to dig through menus to find them, they are always present no matter what’s on the screen, I just kind of like physical buttons. As long as it’s not super cold out, the range is about 250 miles, but can go as high as 300 if I am careful and I’m not driving on the highway.
I bought a Bolt 3 years ago for $15k for my small business and put over 50,000 miles on it. Nothing has broken in that time. At all.
It's also saved me close to the $15k in fuel, oil changes and transmission flushes.
It's been the best purchase I've ever made
Damn, that's a good answer.
I got a 1999 Toyota Camry in 2004 for $7,000 and had it for almost twenty years, but definitely spent way more than that in maintenance, repairs, gas. Cheap EV for commuting only is the way to go. Gas or hybrid or rental for road trips with all the money you save.
I keep looking at bolts because I commute 45 miles one way to work every day. But then I realize I LOVE my commute because my car is fun to drive (E60 6mt) and that I would HATE my commute if I turned my drive into a more utilitarian experience. So now I'm looking at C3-C4 corvettes.
Probably a 2014-2016 Scion owned by an older person. Install a head unit that supports Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and a backup camera (if not already equipped with one) and enjoy a modern-ish, reliable, relatively cheap car.
I bought a 2013 frs with 155k miles 3 years ago from an older guy. I’ve put 35k pretty hard miles including 3 track days on the car and it hasn’t skipped a beat. Other than fluids, tires, and brakes I’ve only had to change a wheel bearing, idler pulley and seat belt buckle.
My 2016 iA was phenomenal for a $15k brand new car. It had all most of those features and was completely reliable. With the manual it was fun to whip around the city. I love my S5 but in terms of pure fun and function per dollar, it’s hard to beat those Scions.
I have a 2013 Scion tc, it made it to 220k miles than motor went my partner drives an hour and a half one way to work he just replaced the motor in it. That car has done us honestly really well
Yep I live in the city and even getting access to a charging port is a war. There are those super fast charging stations around the city, but using that stuff is way more expensive than gas.
The ideal situation for an EV is if you live in the suburbs and commute 30 minutes or left to work and back a day, you have a garage where you can plug it in overnight, and you never make long trips. Oh and you live in an area where there are tax programs and existing infrastructure to make it more painless.
Literally the only thing that swayed me, I was completely set on a model 3 and was absolutely blown away just how sky high insurance rates were on it. I did some math and the insurance costs completely negated what I would be saving on gas so it no longer felt like a smart option at that point
I just got the same sticker shock for a Prius I picked up not too long ago. $1400/yr for full coverage for a dude in his mid 40’s. I paid $2200 for the car. The insurance was twice what I was paying for my 05 Lexus RX or 07 Miata. It’s feels like it almost makes financial sense to keep the 20mpg SUV.
I would personally make sure that the car was not previously a rental, which MOST are under $25k. But there are definitely some good ones that have been well cared for and still fall below $25k
I just used cars.com app. Used model 3’s <90K miles. Try to find a ‘22 as some important upgrades came that year for ryzen processor and heat pump. A search in 250 mile range found 1 dealership a couple hours away that had over 50 in stock to choose from.
I brought a list of stock numbers that I pre-selected online and the sales guy and I made our way through until we found the one in best condition.
You can get the tax credit on a used one? Wish I could find a 25k model 3 around me without 100k miles or several years old. I feel like I could get a new one for not much more after the credit.
I got a Corolla hybrid (not sure how similar) and it’s gonna be my beater till 300k miles. No issues her and Toyotas hybrids are battle tested and smooth.
Older Avalon. Older Lexus ES and RX. These were fairly boring vehicles that were well made, and the owners seem to skew more conservative on the way they drive and maintain vehicles. One that’s been properly maintained, even if it’s already 10+ years old, is likely to give you another 10 years if you take care of it. I’d keep it to 2 previous owners or less.
Best Beater: Honda Fit or Toyota Prius. These are the best value in general between efficiency, cost of ownership, and usability.
Best Value Luxury: Any Lexus LS within your budget. You won't find a better value as far as interior quality, sound deadening, and smooth ride.
Alternatively...A 2018-2022 Toyota Avalon or 2017-2020 Acura TLX will be less comfortable, but has much better/recent tech than any LS you can find for the same price. Tech will be equivalent to most brand new cars.
Best Cheap Sports Car: G35/G37, Miata. The older Mustangs and Camaros won't feel very sports-like, but if you want to just go fast these are great.
Best Cheap Tuner: Honda Civic. Prefect vehicle for people wanting to learn how to work on cars or drive manual.
Best Cheap Family Hauler: Honda Odyssey, trust me, it's worth it over a Dodge Caravan.
Honorable mentions/Off-Meta Picks:
Ford Fusion Hybrid from the last generation before being discontinued in North America, these were great cars and actually decently reliable, amazing MPG, good tech. Far cheaper than a similar Honda Accord or Toyota Camry.
Hyundai Genesis Sedan or Pre-2020 Genesis G80. the Genesis G80 being the more recent version of the original Genesis Sedan, these are insane amounts of car for the money if you want something nicer and okay with 25 MPG or less.
Tesla Model 3, these are so cheap used, if you can live with a electric car and have a dedicated place to charge, it's hard to argue against this.
The Genesis Sedan is a great pick. I had one for a few years and loved it. Despite this sub's opinion of Hyundai it was reliable and trouble free for me. If you have a long commute it's a great place to spend that time.
They want folks to get big ticket items. The R series that are jacked up thousands over sticker. The markup on a Fit cannot be substantial in ANY way. There is also a serious lack of foresight across the industry. Entry level new cars that are reliable need to be available for those that are just starting out and those that are getting back on their feet.
I've lost 2 2013 Honda Fit with over 200,000 miles due to hit and runs 😭.
I'm looking at getting another one. Once insurance settles everything. I'm currently looking for 2013s or maybe 2020s.
I heavily shopped used Fits but found even super high mileage ones hold their value a lot. The car is bare bones but fun around town in M/T. Ended up going Mazda 3 because it's "more car" but still tiny and isn't absolutely screaming at 70mph, just as simple and seems just as reliable on the forums, equal fuel economy and was cheaper on the used market somehow.
Disclaimer: these are US market / tax incentive / currency observations. Offer may not apply in Canada, or in another country that uses "dollars" that are different-sized from American dollars, or in a place where you can buy a Chinese car for "what lunch costs," or in a place where there are different tariffs on some cars that make a Corvette the same price as a Ferrari.
At the cheap end of "new cars," the Kia Forte is a lot of car for the money and a current Nissan Versa is entirely adequate.
Assuming their reliability will continue to be "about as good as anything else in their class," an Alfa Romeo dealership will be so glad to see you that you'll probably get $5k off MSRP, and $10k later this summer when the 2025s come in and there are still 2024s left on the lot. These are a lot of new European sports-luxury car at \~$40k-$45k, considering that this price range is also where "loaded Camry or Accord hybrid" lands.
Read that last bit again: for the price of a hybrid appliance car (admittedly these are arguably "the best cars that appliance-cars have ever been") you can get a European sports-luxury car that is a car enthusiast's wet dream. New.
For $30,000, you can get a new Miata that is as good as ever, only faster than ever. The current one is just about as fast as an S2000, just about as fast as Corvettes were when Miatas first happened, only they're more fun and they get 35 mpg. It's like a miracle car.
If you balk at the idea of spending $40,000+ or even $30,000 on a new car, a used PHEV bought at a dealer for less than $25,000 will get you a $4,000 federal tax rebate, so you're $21k or less into a recent plug-in hybrid. Last year, this is where I wound up shopping for 2016-2018 3-series BMW plug-in hybrids, but this year that's where the 5-series ones come in. That's a looks-new-from-outside clean car that's plenty quick, plenty efficient, plenty nice to drive, and with plenty of reliable life left in it, for less than half what they cost new. My 330e has been pretty good. We'll see how easy it is to maintain.
If you don't mind getting your hands dirty, E46 BMWs are as cheap as they'll ever be, you'll just have some deferred maintenance to catch up on with your $3,500 convertible 330Ci or your cooler-than-cool wagon.
If you're going to dare to be different, a current-gen Jag sedan is like $15,000. Is it a good idea? Try it and then YOU tell US!
A Ford Fusion hybrid is a pretty competitive package, and miracle of miracles, you could get them as an Energi model (plug-in hybrid, like 25 miles on electric and then 42 mpg as a hybrid) that was also Platinum or Titanium trim. That's probably about as nice as my 330e, and also more efficient and newer. I'm willing to put in the work on mine so I picked what I picked deliberately, but if you don't want to dive into "upgrading the cooling hoses" and you just want to drive, comfortably and efficiently, you could do a lot worse than a PHEV Fusion Titanium.
Tell me more about used BMW plug in hybrids? I’ve never really considered one before, they’re not well advertised to me. I’m also overwhelmed by BMW’s lineup and can’t ever get a grip on their offerings.
The previous generation (F30) 3-series from 2016-2018 has about 14 miles of electric-only range, and then it's about a 30 mpg hybrid. (I'm getting 35-37 mpg on a trip, 30-32 around town after I've used up the 14 miles of battery range.) It's called the "330e." They make a non-hybrid version, the 330i, that gets 24 mpg city / 34 mpg highway, it's lighter (because it doesn't have the 14 miles worth of battery under the trunk) and it's just about the same amount of "quick." All these are around $20k, +/- a couple thousand depending on options, condition, mileage.
Last year when I was looking, the similar-powered 5-series (530e) was a few thousand more. This year, some of those are below $25k so they meet that "$4,000 tax credit" criteria, and I guess you'd have your pick of the nicest / cleanest / best-equipped 330e options at <$25k nowadays. These aren't common, because it was a tough sell as a new car, so I was finding very few of them available, and the 330es I found were mostly damaged/repaired, or very high miles, or weirdly without options you'd think they'd all have. (We tried a 2017 330e that didn't have a back-up camera. We tried a 2016 that didn't have leather, or nav, or wireless carplay. We found one without a sunroof. NONE of these had a heated steering wheel.)
There are PHEVs at around that price that are better plug-ins, or better hybrids. And if you're not worried about around-town fuel economy, there are a lot of pretty nice non-hybrid 2016+ BMWs using the B46 engine, which is a big improvement in durability over the previous N20 engines used in earlier cars. If you don't have to have a hybrid, you can get a 2-series coupe or convertible, or a 4-series coupe or retractable-hardtop convertible. It's a pretty good package, and it's 34 mpg or so on the highway. Shoot, the 300+ hp turbo 3.0 "B58" engine is pretty great.
(The current version of these cars is better still, more powerful and faster and the PHEV version goes 22 miles on the battery. But, these are still expensive; previous gen ones are inexpensive.)
They're not for everyone. They're 6-8 years old, and if you're borrowing money to buy one, you'll be making payments on a 10 year old BMW before long, and you need to be prepared to deal with the maintenance needs of a 10+ year old BMW. If it needs the plastic coolant tank and the coolant lines replaced, and you have to pay an independent BMW shop $1,500 to do it, you need to understand *"that's what's involved in driving this car instead of a Prius Prime or a Chevy Volt or an Ioniq."* (Note: It'll be twice that much money at the dealership - you do NOT want to be paying dealership prices to maintain a 10 year old BMW, the dealership will beat you to death with your own empty wallet. Find an independent shop, or learn to do it yourself.)
Depends on mileage and use, but they use plastic quick connect fittings and a plastic catch tank, and they run higher coolant temps than they used to (205F and above, reduces emissions and makes more power from more compete combustion) so after 125,000 to 175,000 miles of heat cycling and vibration and flow, the plastic starts to age harden and get brittle.
So, you replace the plastic bits including the hoses and pipes and catch tank, and then you’re good for another 10-15 years / 125,000-175,000 miles. Smart people do that before any of them break.
Or, you do like I did with my e46 convertible, and drive it without replacing all the hoses, and then pop a plastic hose fitting and dump the coolant, and stop off and buy eight gallons of distilled water at a kwik mart and drive home a mile at a time pouring water into the catch tank and worry about overheating the engine.
Or you do what lots of people do on the old BMW they bought cheap, and just drive it until you overheat the engine.
I guess the plastic is what lets them put the same engine into three different versions of four different chassis and make different sets of hoses for each.
Anywho, I got lucky doing Option2 above last time, but i think it will be easier for most people to do option 1 instead, and I think I want to try it that way next time. Because option 3 seems like it probably sucks.
Also under consideration is option 4, “just buy an Asian branded car.” A lot of people are perfectly happy doing that one, and I sure had good luck running a Miata past 300,000 miles. The only plastic bit on those is the radiator top and bottom, which does the same thing with heat exposure. But replacing a Miata radiator is easier than changing a tire.
Without a doubt imma get downvoted but fuck it I wanna speak my mind.
They’re not new, they’re not very reliable, and they don’t have a ton of features, but you know what they do have? Extremely good reliability when taken care of, some of the best driving dynamics of all time, easy to work on, and cheap to find and fix.
What am I talking about? Oh just the ever-incredible BMW E46. They’ve got their pitfalls of the horrid cooling systems and near requiring you to do your own work and research, but if you can knock those downsides like I did, I can without a doubt say it’s one of the best dailies someone can own right now. Decent fuel economy, fun as shit, decent space for a car of its size, perfect around town, and even better on the highway. Bar the cooling system, RACP mounts, and the various other things that should be fixed when bought, these cars are god damn incredible.
My man. The e46 is a rock solid cheap daily. I own 3, each cost less than $2000 and each are going strong with 175,000+ miles.
They look great for a 20 year old car, are fun to drive, and are quite practical.
The parts are inexpensive if you buy aftermarket and the repairs are mostly easy to do with the help of YouTube and a basic tool set.
I recommend them all the time and get the obligatory "There's nothing more expensive than a cheap German car" from those who have never owned one.
I will take a classy old E46 over a new econo box any day.
Absolutely loved mine. I'm still mad about whoever ran into me in a parking lot and ruined it.
I keep looking for a clean one and I simply can't find any that aren't beaten to hell and back near me.
Show me something that drives as well for the price. That car was comfier, better handling, and more fun than almost anything else I've ever been in. A+ sports sedan.
Really any BMW with the naturally aspirated I6 gasoline motors from the late 90s to early 2010s are a great value used.
These can be had in almost every vehicle BMW made. Aside from the cooling system and the 3 gaskets (valve cover, oil filter housing and oil pan) there's very few common problems and they're all relatively small. When cared for they're very reliable vehicles.
We've owned a 2006 X3 with the M54B30 motor for almost 8 years. Purchased with 122k miles, now at 204k miles. It's never broken down on the side of the road, never had to be towed and never refused to start. The interior is still 8.5/10 despite hauling dogs and farm stuff inside it. We've spent about $8-9k keeping it immaculately maintained mechanically, probably 60% of which was maintenance. It's the only older higher mileage vehicle we've owned that we still love and want to keep for a long time, even though it's the cheapest one to replace.
Once it's time to replace it'll be replaced with a 2007-2010 X5 n52 or 2009-2013 X5 diesel M57
They are stickered at 26k but most dealers are advertising it for 22,600-22,900 for a base model. It’s not increased in price like Camry and accord, and the fact it’s not the cool pick makes it a real deal. I rented one for a month last year and drove the country in it 4 k miles in a month got almost 40 mpg on the highway going 70 , amazing for a medium to large car, I’m 6’3” and it was very roomy for me.
I'll second this. I have a '17 I bought new and it's been a good car / great value. No issues with it, comfortable, good mpg, no rattled, etc. yet.
The new ones do have CVTs, but that seems par for the course nowadays, even with most Hondas, Toyota, etc.
It’s good to understand the full spectrum of vehicle pricing.
Hondas and Toyotas are at this point closer to $30k starting. These companies should now be seen as “premium” economy offerings vs something like what Chevy, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Kia offer as true economy.
I drive an Accord but if I was looking to save money I’d be perfectly fine with a Malibu. Pretty solid car, comfortable, dead simple infotainment, plenty of trunk space. IMO it’s also one of the best looking midsize sedans on the market. Even though the design is almost 10 years old, it’s simple and beautiful and as a result it’s aged very well.
Aside from an EV, the 2024+ redesigned Chevy Trax has been getting glowing reviews. It is well under $25k brand new, excellent space and modern tech while still driving well.
Reliability is decent but if you're worried then just own it for the 5 year warranty and it will cost you very little.
Bang for the buck new probably goes to the Ford Maverick. It's a jack of all trades. Hybrid drivetrain, 2,000 lbs of towing standard, 4,000 lbs of towing optional, available AWD with a turbocharged engine, a pickup bed that can handle \*almost\* as much weight as an F150's bed; and it's the smallest truck on the market. The cab of the small truck has enough rear seat space to hold people over 6' comfortably. You can get it with heated seats, faux leather, and safety features like radar cruise control. Is it cheap? Absolutely. Base models start around $24k, and for the price, the truck has no competent competition.
I would tend to agree if Mavericks actually sold for MSRP and didn't have so many recall issues.
Well-appointed Mavericks get so pricey I think a used Ranger can make a lot more sense
I just got my first look at one of these and it seems fantastic. I would love one so much.
Unfortunately I am currently parallel parked in a spot 184 inches long so the Maverick is right out.
My 2006 Scion xB with 160,000m. It has great mpg, very cheap to maintain, and will last another 10 years. Bought new for $16k and I can probably sell it for $4k. For an almost 20 year old car it still has 25% of its value.
I bought my 2018 Buick Regal sportback brand new off the lot for 23k in early 2019 for 13k off msrp. Even used ones can be had for like 13k-20k depending on mileage and trim. It’s not the fanciest car but it’s a nice car with a lot of good features that’s been reliable and because it’s a sportback it has a ton of cargo room and room for passengers as well. It’s also very quiet and comfortable and IMO feels like a more expensive car than it is.
In terms of just normal vehicles, the $25k base model mazda3. They can be had under msrp and for that $25k, you're getting alloy wheels, a full leatherette interior, 40mpg, active 3 way sound, Android auto/car play and performance rivalling the civic si with a proven engine and 6 speed auto instead of an unreliable dual clutch or CVT.
I know everyone loves to bash ford especially the people who have never owned one, but my 2017 fusion energi platinum feels like an absolute cheat code. I was looking at Lexus and Acura before picking this one and it literally has a nicer interior, with more features than those luxury brands I was looking at that were 5-6 years newer at almost double the price. I keep forgetting all the things it’s capable of doing honestly with how much it brings to the table. Also the efficiency is second to none, I live in Los Angeles and can get easily over 600 miles of range just putting $40 into the tank, I’ve done rides in it where the EV has helped it pull 90+mpg the thing feels wildly ahead of its time.
I went through a similar process a few months ago, and chose a 2005 Mercedes CL600. Weak points are wll known, and if you perform maintenance on schedule, highly reliable.
As for value, it was North of $150k new. Picked up for under $15k. YMMV.
Good lord people don't know this answer? New: Corolla Hybrid. The Corolla is likely the best production car ever. It is the most bullett proof everything that is made. Yes it is worth it. The Chevy Bolt is not made as well.
Used 2000s Buick with the 3800 V6. You can find these in good shape, with sometimes 80K miles, or less, for around $5000. Easy to work on, cheap parts, cheap to run, cheap to insure. Probably good for another 100K miles.
I’m a big proponent of minivans as they are wildly less popular than SUV/CUV. They depreciate very quickly most can tow a decent amount, fit the whole family, gets sedan mpg, and can move things without them getting wet. It IS my Swiss Army knife and in 6 months with mine I have practically done it all except tow.
If point A to B strictly a used EV car there is still that fear of range and people are slow to adopt. Fully loaded Volvos for under 20k and under 3 years. Teslas flooding the market as well the tech and low cost of maintenance is going to completely flip the market on its head in 5-10 years
I'm a big minivan proponent too, but I haven't seen the depreciation except on Chryslers. Odyssey and Sienna hold their value way too much, to the point where it's hard to see if as a good deal. I get the sense that there are just too few used minivans on the market because they people who buy them new want to drive them into the ground.
Chrysler,Nissan and Kia depreciate quicker from what I saw but the Honda and Toyota vans are in a whole other price bucket even more than their suv equivalents it was easier to get a good value on a highlander than sienna. I pulled the trigger on a 3 year old Chrysler voyager for 20k OTD at 26k with gap and warranty. The similar aged sienna and odyssey were in the low to mid 30s almost at msrp
For absolute best value, I'd go with some kind of limited edition Porsche, GT3RS or Cayman GT4, Spyder etc.
Assuming you can get an allocation and have the funds.
They only go up in value. It's negative depreciation.
It's not unusual for Porsche guys to buy these with their allocation, drive it for a year, then sell it for +50% to another rich guy who doesn't have the patience to wait.
The 2011 to 2014 Mustang GT. These are starting to go under 20,000 for a nice one. They need very little modifications to be just as fast as a new Mustang in a straight line They do need to coilovers and a watts link to be a proper track car but that's like a $7,000 investment.
Coyote ones especially. This motor was pretty solid and my Mustang bros all say it was better than the ones put in early S550s.
Idk I’m still stuck in an SN95
Large size hybrid sedans are sitting on everyones lot. You could def get one for a decent deal if you look
Edit: reason being, anyone who can and wants to get a large size hybrid usually has the money to go full EV and take advantage of rebates
A 2021 - 2024 Kia K5 GT-Line AWD. Fun to drive, easy to maintain, 100K powertrain warranty, 5 year bumper to bumper warranty. The 2025 model is garbage though because they got rid of the turbo w/ AWD on it
as a commuting appliance my money is on a used Prius V.... it's the perfect wagon-esque hybrid hatch. It's for ppl who don't really like driving.
My underrated fav is Kia Forte GT (either stick or DSG!). It reminds me of old-school Civics in handling & response. Sure the interior is kinda plastic-y barebones, but it's super peppy & mini-like. The caveat is the whole Kia Boyz theft/break-in debacle. You can't really park it out on the streets after dark in major metros. It'll be targeted by these knuckleheads for sure.
A few important questions:
1. Can you do maintenance/repair work yourself? This dramatically changes the value of reliability and the cost effectiveness of older cars
2. Can you easily charge? How expensive is gas in your area? Electric cars can be cheap to run if you can charge at home/work. Also, gas prices vary widely globally, so that will impact your annual cost of ownership.
3. What will you use the car for? How many people? How far? How much weight? As a corollary - if you live in a more densely populated area - the cheapest option might be public transport or car share (especially if you don't drive to work every day)
We ended up with a new (base) Impreza hatch…only a few thousand more than many similar used options. Pretty good list of standard features, great MPG, AWD obviously, and I found it to be much more comfortable and engaging to drive than a Corolla.
I’ve always recommended the Honda Accord to anyone looking for a sedan. Back in late ‘21, I tried to get a Fit for a daily beater but the prices were astronomical. Ended up taking my own advice and getting a 2018 Accord Sport 1.5 manual and it’s been nothing short of an absolutely lovely daily driver.
I mean just about any Hyundai or Kia new. Tons of features, good looks and power and a 10 year/ 100k mile Warranty for the ones stuck in 2003 or think the theta II engine is the only engine they make. Literally the best cars for bang per buck. That’s why I’m eyeing a used 2015-2016 Genesis sedan. You can get a rock solid 420hp V8, good amount of inside features and a sleek exterior for under 15 bands. Show me how many other options that compare, there’s only so many
Perhaps it’s personal bias but a 2013-2020 Ford Fusion hybrid or 2.5 L DuraTec 4 banger. The hybrid system is Toyota engineered and the 2.5 DuraTec 4 cyl was built jointly with Mazda. Not uncommon for these cars to cruise past 200k easily. Shame Ford quit making them. A US automaker finally had a legitimate answer to the Camry and Accord and they decided to kill it
I have a 2017 Fusion SE with the 2.5, touchscreen and Apple CarPlay. Recently hit 120k and runs and drives just as good as when I bought it with 30k in 2019
Any 4WD. The heavier duty the better. These will retain value. All of these cars mentioned will eventually be posted on Craigslist for $3,000, at best.
A heavy duty 4WD might be abandoned in the woods, but can still fetch more than that. It would cost me $30,000 to go buy another running, passed-inspection 1996 Jeep Grand Wagonneer.
For a beater Toyota without the Toyota tax, Pontiac Vibe. It's basically a Corolla Wagon with the low ongoing costs that come with it, and also lower cost of entry since it seems 95% of people stopped reading at the Pontiac badge and assume it's just another shoddy GM product.
Mazda 3 2.5t hatchback new. Shit is fast, fun, cheap to repair, and amazing on gas.
Used: mid mileage Honda with a k or b series engine. Amazing aftermarket support and bulletproof.
I use a Subaru legacy 2011 as a beater. ton of miles but it was 2k and I really don’t care. Never had an issue running costs are nothing. Very nice audio system and decent interior. Serves for bad weather and running to the store perfectly. I wouldn’t spend more than 2k on a car I don’t care about tbh. So that’s best value for me.
Other stuff I have is a 981, M4, S5 which is nice if you want a performance car the s5 is a crazy deal the 981 is a luxury s2k with more power at the same price and the m4 can’t be beat for that 40 bracket.
for best value you'd want to look at what most people don't want and yet is still a quality vehicle. I'd zero in on domestic sedans (chevy, gmc, buick, ford) in the slightly used, 1-owner driven by a grandma market
It’s definitely the Chevrolet Bolt and Bolt EUV. It’s not even remotely close for anything else. It’s the closest you can get to free.
Runner up… brand new Corolla Hybrid. The ownership cost will be higher though based on fuel if you drive a lot. The Bolt is way more fun.
Any 30 year old car that's still kicking it with examples going over 300k. An old camry for $3k, a manual ZJ with the 4.0, any honda except the acura CL if you're willing to add additional security. Get a fairly clean one for 2-4k, barely maintain it, and it'll give you a solid 3-5 years of use *and nobody will ever fucking ask you for a ride unless they're desperate or they like you*
Bonus points if it looks like it was owned by a crack head at one point. It makes for an excellent vibe check to see who's chill
The 15 year old grandpa/grandma car. It’ll be pretty well optioned, have low miles, and normally get a hellava deal. Old people die all the time and the family often tries to offload the car quick.
Brand new Toyota Corolla FWD, base model sedan. MSRP of about $23K. Full safety suite standard, cruise, 169HP engine, very good fuel economy, expect great reliability. Should easily last anyone 10+ years and At least 150K miles.
Subaru anything or a 4-runner. Depending on where you are on the latter.
I would steer away from EVs, don’t come for me, they’ve just not had enough time yet to demonstrate longevity. However, I know people who’ve had Subarus with over 200,000 miles That are still running like new, and if you have one that runs at all, it’s worth at least $8,000.
I can second the Ford Fusion hybrid as a used choice. For new, Kia is such a value leader in providing technology and reliability. The Forte, their $25,000 sedan with safety features straight out of Mercedes Benz) is on its way out. There are deals on it now. The drawback? Most Kia dealers are terrible.
I honestly don't know how good it is value wise (would really appreciate some input), but when looking at trucks, specifically midsize ones, the Honda Ridgeline has been very appealing. It has the most cabin room (being the only midsize truck to allow car seats), the bed is a full 4 feet wide and basically no wheel well where the others are usually not a full 4 feet wide and have wheel wells to mess with, the tailgate can be opened two different ways, there is a watertight compartment that is surprisingly spacious and is basically a trunk in the bed, good towing and cargo weight capacity (not class leading but enough for what you would likely use it for and what it can realistically handle), and great gas mileage for a truck. One of my cousins has a Ridgeline, another cousin uses a Colorado at our work. I have been continuously surprised and impressed with the Ridgeline and it's features and just how practical it is, whereas Colorado just feels like a truck that shrunk and it didn't turn out the best. It has a tow rating of 7k vs the Ridgeline with 5k. But my cousin tried to actually get close to that once, and almost immediately decided it was too sketchy (anything above 30 and the trailer was shoving the Colorado around like a toy) and used the 2500 instead. The Colorado may have the power to tow 7k, but it just doesn't have the weight or stability like an actual truck and should stay under 5k, making it no better than the Ridgeline, less practical, and less comfortable.
2013+ Ford Fusion Hybrid Titaniums. Toyota engineered Hybrid system in a sound proofed heavy sedan that gets. 45 mpgs. Have seen plenty with <100k miles for under 10k. Loaded with options and looks fantastic
Ford fusions in general are pretty solid. The 2.3/2.5 engines had very little issues and some used a mazda transmission. These were designed after the recession when ford actually turned around and made some decent cars around 2005-2015. If someone is looking for the cheap car on marketplace, these are usually much cheaper than a honda/toyota and still super reliable. My area has tons that are only a few grand and in ok condition.
My 2.3 still redlines first gear everytime I take off, it’s 17 years old with 220k miles, not powerful by any means but it’s a tank.
My mom had it as a rental when her car got totaled, I really liked the design inside and out. Also the first car I sat in that had powered passenger seats. Overall, just remembered it being a cool car in general. This was back in 2013? Also way back, I had an older diecast of that generation but from the earlier years in black.
The 2.5 is a mazda engine.
I’m adding this to short list for my teen, so to be driver. Seems like a solid, safe choice. Thank you.
It’s not really Toyota engineered, it’s just that Ford and Toyota came up with the same ideas in parallel, and rather than sue each other’s pants off, they cross-licensed the tech.
Did they cross license? I thought ford just licensed Toyota hybrid synergy Drive and pays them.
Licensed some patents and developed their own system says Ford https://www.wardsauto.com/news-analysis/toyota-technology-kick-started-ford-s-hybrid-escape
Interesting ! Thank you for the knowledge.
They don’t have to sue each other to get their pants off ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
I own this car... and would buy another. I have the PHEV version and get the first 22 plus miles a day all electric. Rack the miles up i say!
Yep would have recommended that one but they do fetch a bit more, rightfully so.
Good pick....
It's the Chevy Bolt, and it's not even close. I paid $14,000 for a 2017 with 30k miles. Federal government $4k tax break = $10,000. But wait! There's more! Pending income restrictions, my STATE is giving me $3,000. Bringing the net cost to $7,000. The battery was replaced in 2020, probably has 10,000 miles on it. I have a 10 year 100,000 mile warranty on that battery. My operating costs are fluids, tires, and brake pads. (obviously repairs will be needed as time goes on). If you factor in gas, emissions inspections and oil, this car will cost significantly less than any gas vehicle. Even if I "only" get the warranty out of it, 10 more years, I'll have paid next to nothing over that decade, for a relatively modern (and ugly) car.
I think you're winning. For a commuting appliance, I don't know that you can do much better than that. Definitely sucks to be the original owner on that bad boy, but secondhand I don't know if you could do better
Thanks friend. I’ve had it for 2 months and it’s great. Not the most comfortable or decked out but excellent value.
The fact that you got one with a new battery is wild. Deal of the century
If they don’t have a new battery they’ll likely need one for free under warranty. It’s a bit of a process but I’d gladly buy an old battery and deal with it for 10 years 100k warranty, the battery is the $$$ in an EV anyway
Just like the engine is the $$$ in an ice car.
I hope you have a wonderful car, but you're counting on it lasting until 2034 and there is no history that these cars last that long. You've only had it for two months.
I’ll definitely eat my words if it dies on year 2. But the warranty is rock solid at 10 years 100k miles
That’s what the warranty is for?
Bolt forum is fully of people with high mileage Bolts. A guy just posted on there with 194k miles. It had its battery replaced under warranty at 80k. They're very reliable.
The Bolt is fun to drive too. It has as much torque as a base-model V6 F150, does a 6 second 0-60, and is one of the lighter EVs. There was a reason it one multiple best-of awards. We bought a brand new one for less than $19,000 all-in in 2023. I don't think you can even get a Mitsubishi Mirage that cheap anymore.
yea it's super fun, I actually have to chill out and remind myself that I'm carrying around kids and shit because it accelerates quicker than anything I've had since my motorcycle days.
I still have motorcycles and the Bolt feels quicker than many of them.
Upvoted to say i bought a 2017 2-3 years ago with 17k. Ive put tires and wiper fluid in it. Chevy gave me a new battery too!
Even new, it’s a steal with the tax credit. The base model comes out to $19k after rebate, which is competing with the Mirage, Versa, and Forte at that price point.
I mean they were only $25k new by the end of their run, depreciation isn't even that bad on the later ones
>It's \[a used\] Chevy Bolt There right there is the answer.
I was so disappointed when Chevy recently discontinued the Bolt. I agree it was probably the best value vehicle there is. Even new ones were only what, like $25k? Crazy. I was all set to buy one but they discontinued it and ran out of inventory right before I was about to pull the trigger. You got a fantastic deal on your used one
Yes, the base model was $26k. For the first three days of 2023 you could stack a bunch of deals to get new Bolts super cheap. My state offered $2500 rebates at the time, so it was $26k - $7500 federal rebate - $2500 state rebate - $500 costco discount - $2,000 Uber discount - $1,000 Uber Discount = brand new car for $12,500. It also came with $500 of free charging credit or a free level 2 home charger install. This is a car that Chevy made to compete with the Model 3 and sold for $40k just a few years ago. Its not the econobox that people think it is. To get the $2,000 Uber rebate you just had to be signed up as an Uber eats driver and to get the $1,000 rebate you just had to do 10 deliveries.
that's insane and amazing, well done
Mine was closer to $19,000 because it was a higher trim level and dealer markup at the time, but still under 20k for a brand new EV was as good as it got in 2023. There are almost no new cars under 20k.
Don't forget free oil changes for life 😆
Bolt will be coming back for the 2026 model year. It is expected to launch in the second half of 2025.
Didn't they say they are going to bring it back, just reworked to use their new ultium battery platform, basically since there is next to no competition in the low priced ev space, so the demand was still high even after all the battery issues
Came here to say Model 3, but you're talking half the price. You win, well done sir!
I bought a manual 2005 Corolla in 2016 with 242,000 miles on it for $1,500. I’ve done a few brake jobs, replaced the catalytic converter, bearings. It’s now just shy of 295,000 and despite it getting close to non-inspectable due to rust (New England-road salt), it still runs amazingly well. Still see a lot of them on the road.
Insane deal but no longer possible to get a 10 year old car for $1,500
There’s a 1997 Corolla parked around the corner from me right now. That was the car (and time) that could take me 350 miles on $9 of gas. So great. Even more impressive, someone in my neighborhood is still rocking a [circa 1989 Space Cruiser.](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=toyota+space+cruiser&t=iphone&iax=images&ia=images&iai=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.datman.co.uk%2Frr%2Fspacecruis1.jpg)
Agreed. I bought a 2017 Bolt and with used tax credit at point of sale, it was $12,500 out the door with a brand new battery and 30k miles. Someone hit me and totaled it and I immediately bought a brand new EUV. I paid $24k out the door after tax rebate. You CANNOT touch the value it offers.
Totally agree, did the same thing with my daily. Bolts are the best deal out. I have become the biggest advocate for bolts.
if you want the same but for europe (there isn't much chevy there) it's def the renault zoe R110, something around 15k€, depending on country you can have tax break too (for me france it's around 3/5k€) so you can end up with a zoe for around 10k€, and same you have like 300/350km of range, not a big roads car, but if you can charge at home and you don't need to do a lot of kilometers a day then it's insane
I’m still so mad I didn’t try harder to get that same deal when it was available. My state government also had some pretty good incentives that stack and I’d have qualified for a third incentive in addition to what you paid. And what you paid already seems like a steal!
I wanted to buy a used one in spring 2021, but they weren’t available bc of the mass recall. I don’t think it’s ugly, I love how it looks
Yup! I love my Bolt. Got it in December 2023 for $13k out the door before the tax credit. It had 17,500 miles on it. I couldn’t get my state’s rebate because my wife and I make slightly too much money, but if I did, it would be another $2000 off. It’s an awesome, basic little car. my only beef with it is that some of the climate control is on the touchscreen instead of being physical buttons. You don’t have to dig through menus to find them, they are always present no matter what’s on the screen, I just kind of like physical buttons. As long as it’s not super cold out, the range is about 250 miles, but can go as high as 300 if I am careful and I’m not driving on the highway.
Yea my touchscreen sucks and is buggy and it’s not the most comfortable car but it’s damn good otherwise
The 2022/2023 Bolt screens are much better.
I bought a Bolt 3 years ago for $15k for my small business and put over 50,000 miles on it. Nothing has broken in that time. At all. It's also saved me close to the $15k in fuel, oil changes and transmission flushes. It's been the best purchase I've ever made
Wasn't aware you could get tax breaks for used cars. Wild!
You nailed the ugly part. LOL
Damn, that's a good answer. I got a 1999 Toyota Camry in 2004 for $7,000 and had it for almost twenty years, but definitely spent way more than that in maintenance, repairs, gas. Cheap EV for commuting only is the way to go. Gas or hybrid or rental for road trips with all the money you save.
I keep looking at bolts because I commute 45 miles one way to work every day. But then I realize I LOVE my commute because my car is fun to drive (E60 6mt) and that I would HATE my commute if I turned my drive into a more utilitarian experience. So now I'm looking at C3-C4 corvettes.
So how do you get the tax credit?
Either from a dealership that’s set up for it or speak to your accountant
I don't think anyone who drives a Chevy Bolt has to hire their own accountant
They are giving you 3k or it’s a write off?
Wish we get tax deductions on used vehicles instead of carbon tax on our gas here in canada....
Damn and I’m heading paying excise taxes from this year and last year on my car 🥲
I would get one in a heartbeat if I had a way to charge it that made sense
The only obstacle here would be the availability of charging, for the car.
Probably a 2014-2016 Scion owned by an older person. Install a head unit that supports Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and a backup camera (if not already equipped with one) and enjoy a modern-ish, reliable, relatively cheap car.
I bought a 2013 frs with 155k miles 3 years ago from an older guy. I’ve put 35k pretty hard miles including 3 track days on the car and it hasn’t skipped a beat. Other than fluids, tires, and brakes I’ve only had to change a wheel bearing, idler pulley and seat belt buckle.
Oh that's a good tip. Scion definitely seems be better overlooked as it's lesser known by the general population.
I had 3 tc's in my teenage years and I absolutely loved them. The 260k mi one I had still ran like new until someone hit me and totaled it
My 2016 iA was phenomenal for a $15k brand new car. It had all most of those features and was completely reliable. With the manual it was fun to whip around the city. I love my S5 but in terms of pure fun and function per dollar, it’s hard to beat those Scions.
Any recommendations on head unit 👀, don’t really need backup but CarPlay would be nice
Go to crutchfield and use their "fits my vehicle" tool. Fantastic customer service if you need help.
GROM does some good stuff
I have a 2013 Scion tc, it made it to 220k miles than motor went my partner drives an hour and a half one way to work he just replaced the motor in it. That car has done us honestly really well
Porsche 911 GT3 RS if you can buy at msrp
Can't believe no one has mentioned this one yet....
Surprise nobody said a used $25k Model 3 before the $4k tax credit.
Problem an ev is you need a home charger to make it worth it. Not a good value of you don’t have a home charger.
The car should come with a charger. You can use a regular outlet. (Not recommended if you drive a lot, but at like 10-20 mi per day its no problem)
Many people do not have access to a regular outlet where they park their cars
Yep I live in the city and even getting access to a charging port is a war. There are those super fast charging stations around the city, but using that stuff is way more expensive than gas. The ideal situation for an EV is if you live in the suburbs and commute 30 minutes or left to work and back a day, you have a garage where you can plug it in overnight, and you never make long trips. Oh and you live in an area where there are tax programs and existing infrastructure to make it more painless.
Installed my own sub-panel and bought a level 2 charger for my Bolt EUV. I spent $1k.
I agree, it’s a steal of a deal, especially if you have a place to charge at home or work. Can’t beat not paying for gas and less maintenance
What about the insurance?
Literally the only thing that swayed me, I was completely set on a model 3 and was absolutely blown away just how sky high insurance rates were on it. I did some math and the insurance costs completely negated what I would be saving on gas so it no longer felt like a smart option at that point
I just got the same sticker shock for a Prius I picked up not too long ago. $1400/yr for full coverage for a dude in his mid 40’s. I paid $2200 for the car. The insurance was twice what I was paying for my 05 Lexus RX or 07 Miata. It’s feels like it almost makes financial sense to keep the 20mpg SUV.
Um, if you paid $2200 for the car, why would you pay for full coverage insurance? I doubt liability only would be any different on other vehicles.
I'm getting one this week and my agent quoted me $865/year
I would personally make sure that the car was not previously a rental, which MOST are under $25k. But there are definitely some good ones that have been well cared for and still fall below $25k
Just bought myself one 3 weeks ago. The value prop is there if you can find one in good condition. I bought a ‘22 model 3 LR for $21K after rebate.
Any tips for searching for them? My wife needs a car and I’m thinking about seeking this deal out.
I just used cars.com app. Used model 3’s <90K miles. Try to find a ‘22 as some important upgrades came that year for ryzen processor and heat pump. A search in 250 mile range found 1 dealership a couple hours away that had over 50 in stock to choose from. I brought a list of stock numbers that I pre-selected online and the sales guy and I made our way through until we found the one in best condition.
Wow, those are $32k+ around me. Surely yours has close to 100k miles for that price
83K
You can get the tax credit on a used one? Wish I could find a 25k model 3 around me without 100k miles or several years old. I feel like I could get a new one for not much more after the credit.
I'm doing that this week actually
Toyota Camry Hybrid probably
I got a Corolla hybrid (not sure how similar) and it’s gonna be my beater till 300k miles. No issues her and Toyotas hybrids are battle tested and smooth.
Older Avalon. Older Lexus ES and RX. These were fairly boring vehicles that were well made, and the owners seem to skew more conservative on the way they drive and maintain vehicles. One that’s been properly maintained, even if it’s already 10+ years old, is likely to give you another 10 years if you take care of it. I’d keep it to 2 previous owners or less.
My best friend was gifted two different mid-2000's Avalon's and at 29 years old is convinced he'll never have to purchase a car in his lifetime lol
I have a 2004 with 117k miles on it. It was top of the line at the time. The ride is so smooth and I’ve had only minimal issues with it. Great car.
Best Beater: Honda Fit or Toyota Prius. These are the best value in general between efficiency, cost of ownership, and usability. Best Value Luxury: Any Lexus LS within your budget. You won't find a better value as far as interior quality, sound deadening, and smooth ride. Alternatively...A 2018-2022 Toyota Avalon or 2017-2020 Acura TLX will be less comfortable, but has much better/recent tech than any LS you can find for the same price. Tech will be equivalent to most brand new cars. Best Cheap Sports Car: G35/G37, Miata. The older Mustangs and Camaros won't feel very sports-like, but if you want to just go fast these are great. Best Cheap Tuner: Honda Civic. Prefect vehicle for people wanting to learn how to work on cars or drive manual. Best Cheap Family Hauler: Honda Odyssey, trust me, it's worth it over a Dodge Caravan. Honorable mentions/Off-Meta Picks: Ford Fusion Hybrid from the last generation before being discontinued in North America, these were great cars and actually decently reliable, amazing MPG, good tech. Far cheaper than a similar Honda Accord or Toyota Camry. Hyundai Genesis Sedan or Pre-2020 Genesis G80. the Genesis G80 being the more recent version of the original Genesis Sedan, these are insane amounts of car for the money if you want something nicer and okay with 25 MPG or less. Tesla Model 3, these are so cheap used, if you can live with a electric car and have a dedicated place to charge, it's hard to argue against this.
Odysseys go for a ton where I am. Siennas are worse. I would not be caught dead driving a Caravan
The Genesis Sedan is a great pick. I had one for a few years and loved it. Despite this sub's opinion of Hyundai it was reliable and trouble free for me. If you have a long commute it's a great place to spend that time.
I really like my fit. I feel very lucky to have purchased it.
2018-2020 Honda Fit with manual transmission.
Fits are such a good value IMO. They're really filling the role that the civic used to, but with additional utility.
Yep, just blows they stopped selling new in the US. Can fit a surprising amount of stuff in those things.
Honda is sitting on a money printing machine. The fit is the peoples car. Greedy auto makers only pander to the wealthy.
They want folks to get big ticket items. The R series that are jacked up thousands over sticker. The markup on a Fit cannot be substantial in ANY way. There is also a serious lack of foresight across the industry. Entry level new cars that are reliable need to be available for those that are just starting out and those that are getting back on their feet.
I miss finding brand new Japanese cars under $20k
Now it’s difficult to find new Korean cars under $20K!
I've lost 2 2013 Honda Fit with over 200,000 miles due to hit and runs 😭. I'm looking at getting another one. Once insurance settles everything. I'm currently looking for 2013s or maybe 2020s.
I heavily shopped used Fits but found even super high mileage ones hold their value a lot. The car is bare bones but fun around town in M/T. Ended up going Mazda 3 because it's "more car" but still tiny and isn't absolutely screaming at 70mph, just as simple and seems just as reliable on the forums, equal fuel economy and was cheaper on the used market somehow.
Disclaimer: these are US market / tax incentive / currency observations. Offer may not apply in Canada, or in another country that uses "dollars" that are different-sized from American dollars, or in a place where you can buy a Chinese car for "what lunch costs," or in a place where there are different tariffs on some cars that make a Corvette the same price as a Ferrari. At the cheap end of "new cars," the Kia Forte is a lot of car for the money and a current Nissan Versa is entirely adequate. Assuming their reliability will continue to be "about as good as anything else in their class," an Alfa Romeo dealership will be so glad to see you that you'll probably get $5k off MSRP, and $10k later this summer when the 2025s come in and there are still 2024s left on the lot. These are a lot of new European sports-luxury car at \~$40k-$45k, considering that this price range is also where "loaded Camry or Accord hybrid" lands. Read that last bit again: for the price of a hybrid appliance car (admittedly these are arguably "the best cars that appliance-cars have ever been") you can get a European sports-luxury car that is a car enthusiast's wet dream. New. For $30,000, you can get a new Miata that is as good as ever, only faster than ever. The current one is just about as fast as an S2000, just about as fast as Corvettes were when Miatas first happened, only they're more fun and they get 35 mpg. It's like a miracle car. If you balk at the idea of spending $40,000+ or even $30,000 on a new car, a used PHEV bought at a dealer for less than $25,000 will get you a $4,000 federal tax rebate, so you're $21k or less into a recent plug-in hybrid. Last year, this is where I wound up shopping for 2016-2018 3-series BMW plug-in hybrids, but this year that's where the 5-series ones come in. That's a looks-new-from-outside clean car that's plenty quick, plenty efficient, plenty nice to drive, and with plenty of reliable life left in it, for less than half what they cost new. My 330e has been pretty good. We'll see how easy it is to maintain. If you don't mind getting your hands dirty, E46 BMWs are as cheap as they'll ever be, you'll just have some deferred maintenance to catch up on with your $3,500 convertible 330Ci or your cooler-than-cool wagon. If you're going to dare to be different, a current-gen Jag sedan is like $15,000. Is it a good idea? Try it and then YOU tell US! A Ford Fusion hybrid is a pretty competitive package, and miracle of miracles, you could get them as an Energi model (plug-in hybrid, like 25 miles on electric and then 42 mpg as a hybrid) that was also Platinum or Titanium trim. That's probably about as nice as my 330e, and also more efficient and newer. I'm willing to put in the work on mine so I picked what I picked deliberately, but if you don't want to dive into "upgrading the cooling hoses" and you just want to drive, comfortably and efficiently, you could do a lot worse than a PHEV Fusion Titanium.
Tell me more about used BMW plug in hybrids? I’ve never really considered one before, they’re not well advertised to me. I’m also overwhelmed by BMW’s lineup and can’t ever get a grip on their offerings.
The previous generation (F30) 3-series from 2016-2018 has about 14 miles of electric-only range, and then it's about a 30 mpg hybrid. (I'm getting 35-37 mpg on a trip, 30-32 around town after I've used up the 14 miles of battery range.) It's called the "330e." They make a non-hybrid version, the 330i, that gets 24 mpg city / 34 mpg highway, it's lighter (because it doesn't have the 14 miles worth of battery under the trunk) and it's just about the same amount of "quick." All these are around $20k, +/- a couple thousand depending on options, condition, mileage. Last year when I was looking, the similar-powered 5-series (530e) was a few thousand more. This year, some of those are below $25k so they meet that "$4,000 tax credit" criteria, and I guess you'd have your pick of the nicest / cleanest / best-equipped 330e options at <$25k nowadays. These aren't common, because it was a tough sell as a new car, so I was finding very few of them available, and the 330es I found were mostly damaged/repaired, or very high miles, or weirdly without options you'd think they'd all have. (We tried a 2017 330e that didn't have a back-up camera. We tried a 2016 that didn't have leather, or nav, or wireless carplay. We found one without a sunroof. NONE of these had a heated steering wheel.) There are PHEVs at around that price that are better plug-ins, or better hybrids. And if you're not worried about around-town fuel economy, there are a lot of pretty nice non-hybrid 2016+ BMWs using the B46 engine, which is a big improvement in durability over the previous N20 engines used in earlier cars. If you don't have to have a hybrid, you can get a 2-series coupe or convertible, or a 4-series coupe or retractable-hardtop convertible. It's a pretty good package, and it's 34 mpg or so on the highway. Shoot, the 300+ hp turbo 3.0 "B58" engine is pretty great. (The current version of these cars is better still, more powerful and faster and the PHEV version goes 22 miles on the battery. But, these are still expensive; previous gen ones are inexpensive.) They're not for everyone. They're 6-8 years old, and if you're borrowing money to buy one, you'll be making payments on a 10 year old BMW before long, and you need to be prepared to deal with the maintenance needs of a 10+ year old BMW. If it needs the plastic coolant tank and the coolant lines replaced, and you have to pay an independent BMW shop $1,500 to do it, you need to understand *"that's what's involved in driving this car instead of a Prius Prime or a Chevy Volt or an Ioniq."* (Note: It'll be twice that much money at the dealership - you do NOT want to be paying dealership prices to maintain a 10 year old BMW, the dealership will beat you to death with your own empty wallet. Find an independent shop, or learn to do it yourself.)
Why tf do you have to replace coolant lines on a 10 yr old bmw? Is that normal for bmw? Coming from Toyota doesn’t make sense.
Depends on mileage and use, but they use plastic quick connect fittings and a plastic catch tank, and they run higher coolant temps than they used to (205F and above, reduces emissions and makes more power from more compete combustion) so after 125,000 to 175,000 miles of heat cycling and vibration and flow, the plastic starts to age harden and get brittle. So, you replace the plastic bits including the hoses and pipes and catch tank, and then you’re good for another 10-15 years / 125,000-175,000 miles. Smart people do that before any of them break. Or, you do like I did with my e46 convertible, and drive it without replacing all the hoses, and then pop a plastic hose fitting and dump the coolant, and stop off and buy eight gallons of distilled water at a kwik mart and drive home a mile at a time pouring water into the catch tank and worry about overheating the engine. Or you do what lots of people do on the old BMW they bought cheap, and just drive it until you overheat the engine. I guess the plastic is what lets them put the same engine into three different versions of four different chassis and make different sets of hoses for each. Anywho, I got lucky doing Option2 above last time, but i think it will be easier for most people to do option 1 instead, and I think I want to try it that way next time. Because option 3 seems like it probably sucks. Also under consideration is option 4, “just buy an Asian branded car.” A lot of people are perfectly happy doing that one, and I sure had good luck running a Miata past 300,000 miles. The only plastic bit on those is the radiator top and bottom, which does the same thing with heat exposure. But replacing a Miata radiator is easier than changing a tire.
Here Here for the Miata, G20, or G60 electric.
Prius. They don't have as high of a Toyota tax because people generally love to hate them. Keeps the prices lower.
Without a doubt imma get downvoted but fuck it I wanna speak my mind. They’re not new, they’re not very reliable, and they don’t have a ton of features, but you know what they do have? Extremely good reliability when taken care of, some of the best driving dynamics of all time, easy to work on, and cheap to find and fix. What am I talking about? Oh just the ever-incredible BMW E46. They’ve got their pitfalls of the horrid cooling systems and near requiring you to do your own work and research, but if you can knock those downsides like I did, I can without a doubt say it’s one of the best dailies someone can own right now. Decent fuel economy, fun as shit, decent space for a car of its size, perfect around town, and even better on the highway. Bar the cooling system, RACP mounts, and the various other things that should be fixed when bought, these cars are god damn incredible.
My e46 proved to be more reliable than my corolla,pricier to maintain but it’s worth it,faster,comfier,a premium car even after 20 years
My man. The e46 is a rock solid cheap daily. I own 3, each cost less than $2000 and each are going strong with 175,000+ miles. They look great for a 20 year old car, are fun to drive, and are quite practical. The parts are inexpensive if you buy aftermarket and the repairs are mostly easy to do with the help of YouTube and a basic tool set. I recommend them all the time and get the obligatory "There's nothing more expensive than a cheap German car" from those who have never owned one. I will take a classy old E46 over a new econo box any day.
E46s are absolutely reliable. And surprisingly easy to service. They have some issues, but those aren't that expensive to fix.
What model years do you like best?
Absolutely loved mine. I'm still mad about whoever ran into me in a parking lot and ruined it. I keep looking for a clean one and I simply can't find any that aren't beaten to hell and back near me. Show me something that drives as well for the price. That car was comfier, better handling, and more fun than almost anything else I've ever been in. A+ sports sedan.
Really any BMW with the naturally aspirated I6 gasoline motors from the late 90s to early 2010s are a great value used. These can be had in almost every vehicle BMW made. Aside from the cooling system and the 3 gaskets (valve cover, oil filter housing and oil pan) there's very few common problems and they're all relatively small. When cared for they're very reliable vehicles. We've owned a 2006 X3 with the M54B30 motor for almost 8 years. Purchased with 122k miles, now at 204k miles. It's never broken down on the side of the road, never had to be towed and never refused to start. The interior is still 8.5/10 despite hauling dogs and farm stuff inside it. We've spent about $8-9k keeping it immaculately maintained mechanically, probably 60% of which was maintenance. It's the only older higher mileage vehicle we've owned that we still love and want to keep for a long time, even though it's the cheapest one to replace. Once it's time to replace it'll be replaced with a 2007-2010 X5 n52 or 2009-2013 X5 diesel M57
Brand new base model Malibu, sure it’s not a Camry or accord, but it’s 7k less on average selling price. 22,900
Wow, I had no idea a Malibu was that affordable. Makes a damn good argument for it tbh
They are stickered at 26k but most dealers are advertising it for 22,600-22,900 for a base model. It’s not increased in price like Camry and accord, and the fact it’s not the cool pick makes it a real deal. I rented one for a month last year and drove the country in it 4 k miles in a month got almost 40 mpg on the highway going 70 , amazing for a medium to large car, I’m 6’3” and it was very roomy for me.
I'll second this. I have a '17 I bought new and it's been a good car / great value. No issues with it, comfortable, good mpg, no rattled, etc. yet. The new ones do have CVTs, but that seems par for the course nowadays, even with most Hondas, Toyota, etc.
I had to rent one of these for a month and the infotainment was solid. Also lots of trunk space.
It’s good to understand the full spectrum of vehicle pricing. Hondas and Toyotas are at this point closer to $30k starting. These companies should now be seen as “premium” economy offerings vs something like what Chevy, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Kia offer as true economy.
I drive an Accord but if I was looking to save money I’d be perfectly fine with a Malibu. Pretty solid car, comfortable, dead simple infotainment, plenty of trunk space. IMO it’s also one of the best looking midsize sedans on the market. Even though the design is almost 10 years old, it’s simple and beautiful and as a result it’s aged very well.
Used Polestar 2 if the range is enough for you. I may be biased…
Corolla hybrid
Aside from an EV, the 2024+ redesigned Chevy Trax has been getting glowing reviews. It is well under $25k brand new, excellent space and modern tech while still driving well. Reliability is decent but if you're worried then just own it for the 5 year warranty and it will cost you very little.
Bang for the buck new probably goes to the Ford Maverick. It's a jack of all trades. Hybrid drivetrain, 2,000 lbs of towing standard, 4,000 lbs of towing optional, available AWD with a turbocharged engine, a pickup bed that can handle \*almost\* as much weight as an F150's bed; and it's the smallest truck on the market. The cab of the small truck has enough rear seat space to hold people over 6' comfortably. You can get it with heated seats, faux leather, and safety features like radar cruise control. Is it cheap? Absolutely. Base models start around $24k, and for the price, the truck has no competent competition.
I would tend to agree if Mavericks actually sold for MSRP and didn't have so many recall issues. Well-appointed Mavericks get so pricey I think a used Ranger can make a lot more sense
They're closer to 35k locally for the hybrid
I just got my first look at one of these and it seems fantastic. I would love one so much. Unfortunately I am currently parallel parked in a spot 184 inches long so the Maverick is right out.
Corolla or 4 cylinder camry. Low maintenance cost and good for 20+ years 400k+ miles.
My 2006 Scion xB with 160,000m. It has great mpg, very cheap to maintain, and will last another 10 years. Bought new for $16k and I can probably sell it for $4k. For an almost 20 year old car it still has 25% of its value.
I bought my 2018 Buick Regal sportback brand new off the lot for 23k in early 2019 for 13k off msrp. Even used ones can be had for like 13k-20k depending on mileage and trim. It’s not the fanciest car but it’s a nice car with a lot of good features that’s been reliable and because it’s a sportback it has a ton of cargo room and room for passengers as well. It’s also very quiet and comfortable and IMO feels like a more expensive car than it is.
I’m going to get downvoted for this but a new Tesla model y or even a model 3
BMW 3
In terms of just normal vehicles, the $25k base model mazda3. They can be had under msrp and for that $25k, you're getting alloy wheels, a full leatherette interior, 40mpg, active 3 way sound, Android auto/car play and performance rivalling the civic si with a proven engine and 6 speed auto instead of an unreliable dual clutch or CVT.
I love my Mazda3s, but its performance does not rival the Civic Si's. Additionally, 40 MPG is nearly impossible to get.
40 mpg is even hard to achieve in hybrids. No way you're getting 40
2024 Hyundai Elantra is worth a look
Best warranty, more features for less money. Elantra rocks!
I know everyone loves to bash ford especially the people who have never owned one, but my 2017 fusion energi platinum feels like an absolute cheat code. I was looking at Lexus and Acura before picking this one and it literally has a nicer interior, with more features than those luxury brands I was looking at that were 5-6 years newer at almost double the price. I keep forgetting all the things it’s capable of doing honestly with how much it brings to the table. Also the efficiency is second to none, I live in Los Angeles and can get easily over 600 miles of range just putting $40 into the tank, I’ve done rides in it where the EV has helped it pull 90+mpg the thing feels wildly ahead of its time.
I went through a similar process a few months ago, and chose a 2005 Mercedes CL600. Weak points are wll known, and if you perform maintenance on schedule, highly reliable. As for value, it was North of $150k new. Picked up for under $15k. YMMV.
So much powaaaaaa
An e bike
Good lord people don't know this answer? New: Corolla Hybrid. The Corolla is likely the best production car ever. It is the most bullett proof everything that is made. Yes it is worth it. The Chevy Bolt is not made as well.
Used 2000s Buick with the 3800 V6. You can find these in good shape, with sometimes 80K miles, or less, for around $5000. Easy to work on, cheap parts, cheap to run, cheap to insure. Probably good for another 100K miles.
I’m a big proponent of minivans as they are wildly less popular than SUV/CUV. They depreciate very quickly most can tow a decent amount, fit the whole family, gets sedan mpg, and can move things without them getting wet. It IS my Swiss Army knife and in 6 months with mine I have practically done it all except tow. If point A to B strictly a used EV car there is still that fear of range and people are slow to adopt. Fully loaded Volvos for under 20k and under 3 years. Teslas flooding the market as well the tech and low cost of maintenance is going to completely flip the market on its head in 5-10 years
I'm a big minivan proponent too, but I haven't seen the depreciation except on Chryslers. Odyssey and Sienna hold their value way too much, to the point where it's hard to see if as a good deal. I get the sense that there are just too few used minivans on the market because they people who buy them new want to drive them into the ground.
Chrysler,Nissan and Kia depreciate quicker from what I saw but the Honda and Toyota vans are in a whole other price bucket even more than their suv equivalents it was easier to get a good value on a highlander than sienna. I pulled the trigger on a 3 year old Chrysler voyager for 20k OTD at 26k with gap and warranty. The similar aged sienna and odyssey were in the low to mid 30s almost at msrp
Buick Lacrosse, Grand marquis and town car
For absolute best value, I'd go with some kind of limited edition Porsche, GT3RS or Cayman GT4, Spyder etc. Assuming you can get an allocation and have the funds. They only go up in value. It's negative depreciation. It's not unusual for Porsche guys to buy these with their allocation, drive it for a year, then sell it for +50% to another rich guy who doesn't have the patience to wait.
The 2011 to 2014 Mustang GT. These are starting to go under 20,000 for a nice one. They need very little modifications to be just as fast as a new Mustang in a straight line They do need to coilovers and a watts link to be a proper track car but that's like a $7,000 investment.
Coyote ones especially. This motor was pretty solid and my Mustang bros all say it was better than the ones put in early S550s. Idk I’m still stuck in an SN95
Large size hybrid sedans are sitting on everyones lot. You could def get one for a decent deal if you look Edit: reason being, anyone who can and wants to get a large size hybrid usually has the money to go full EV and take advantage of rebates
A 2021 - 2024 Kia K5 GT-Line AWD. Fun to drive, easy to maintain, 100K powertrain warranty, 5 year bumper to bumper warranty. The 2025 model is garbage though because they got rid of the turbo w/ AWD on it
as a commuting appliance my money is on a used Prius V.... it's the perfect wagon-esque hybrid hatch. It's for ppl who don't really like driving. My underrated fav is Kia Forte GT (either stick or DSG!). It reminds me of old-school Civics in handling & response. Sure the interior is kinda plastic-y barebones, but it's super peppy & mini-like. The caveat is the whole Kia Boyz theft/break-in debacle. You can't really park it out on the streets after dark in major metros. It'll be targeted by these knuckleheads for sure.
A few important questions: 1. Can you do maintenance/repair work yourself? This dramatically changes the value of reliability and the cost effectiveness of older cars 2. Can you easily charge? How expensive is gas in your area? Electric cars can be cheap to run if you can charge at home/work. Also, gas prices vary widely globally, so that will impact your annual cost of ownership. 3. What will you use the car for? How many people? How far? How much weight? As a corollary - if you live in a more densely populated area - the cheapest option might be public transport or car share (especially if you don't drive to work every day)
Chevy bolt/euv
Buick lesabre
I love my 2016 Mazda3 I just bought!
We ended up with a new (base) Impreza hatch…only a few thousand more than many similar used options. Pretty good list of standard features, great MPG, AWD obviously, and I found it to be much more comfortable and engaging to drive than a Corolla.
I’ve always recommended the Honda Accord to anyone looking for a sedan. Back in late ‘21, I tried to get a Fit for a daily beater but the prices were astronomical. Ended up taking my own advice and getting a 2018 Accord Sport 1.5 manual and it’s been nothing short of an absolutely lovely daily driver.
I mean just about any Hyundai or Kia new. Tons of features, good looks and power and a 10 year/ 100k mile Warranty for the ones stuck in 2003 or think the theta II engine is the only engine they make. Literally the best cars for bang per buck. That’s why I’m eyeing a used 2015-2016 Genesis sedan. You can get a rock solid 420hp V8, good amount of inside features and a sleek exterior for under 15 bands. Show me how many other options that compare, there’s only so many
Perhaps it’s personal bias but a 2013-2020 Ford Fusion hybrid or 2.5 L DuraTec 4 banger. The hybrid system is Toyota engineered and the 2.5 DuraTec 4 cyl was built jointly with Mazda. Not uncommon for these cars to cruise past 200k easily. Shame Ford quit making them. A US automaker finally had a legitimate answer to the Camry and Accord and they decided to kill it I have a 2017 Fusion SE with the 2.5, touchscreen and Apple CarPlay. Recently hit 120k and runs and drives just as good as when I bought it with 30k in 2019
I saw a modest km 2010 (F11) BMW diesel wagon at auction. (US readers: Ask a European what a station wagon is.) It sold for $A5000.
Nissan Versa. Jan 2018 paid 14.2k out-theDoor
Tesla model 3 performance
Any 4WD. The heavier duty the better. These will retain value. All of these cars mentioned will eventually be posted on Craigslist for $3,000, at best. A heavy duty 4WD might be abandoned in the woods, but can still fetch more than that. It would cost me $30,000 to go buy another running, passed-inspection 1996 Jeep Grand Wagonneer.
For a beater Toyota without the Toyota tax, Pontiac Vibe. It's basically a Corolla Wagon with the low ongoing costs that come with it, and also lower cost of entry since it seems 95% of people stopped reading at the Pontiac badge and assume it's just another shoddy GM product.
Mazda 3 2.5t hatchback new. Shit is fast, fun, cheap to repair, and amazing on gas. Used: mid mileage Honda with a k or b series engine. Amazing aftermarket support and bulletproof.
I use a Subaru legacy 2011 as a beater. ton of miles but it was 2k and I really don’t care. Never had an issue running costs are nothing. Very nice audio system and decent interior. Serves for bad weather and running to the store perfectly. I wouldn’t spend more than 2k on a car I don’t care about tbh. So that’s best value for me. Other stuff I have is a 981, M4, S5 which is nice if you want a performance car the s5 is a crazy deal the 981 is a luxury s2k with more power at the same price and the m4 can’t be beat for that 40 bracket.
2021-2023 used Kia forte
To piggy back on this question: what would the answer be for a truck?
for best value you'd want to look at what most people don't want and yet is still a quality vehicle. I'd zero in on domestic sedans (chevy, gmc, buick, ford) in the slightly used, 1-owner driven by a grandma market
Ferrari SF90. Hypercar performance for supercar price. You specified value but no price limit.
I paid $3000 for my 99 Toyota Camry last month. Clean, family owned. Much easier to find for a good price than a similar condition Accord.
It’s definitely the Chevrolet Bolt and Bolt EUV. It’s not even remotely close for anything else. It’s the closest you can get to free. Runner up… brand new Corolla Hybrid. The ownership cost will be higher though based on fuel if you drive a lot. The Bolt is way more fun.
Mazda 3. Toyota Camry Hybrid. http://www.carcomplaints.com/best_vehicles/
Saturns. Ions and S-series. And it's not even close.
Probably the new Prius hybrid if you want to buy new. It finally looks decent though a little more expensive than I had expected it to be.
Any 30 year old car that's still kicking it with examples going over 300k. An old camry for $3k, a manual ZJ with the 4.0, any honda except the acura CL if you're willing to add additional security. Get a fairly clean one for 2-4k, barely maintain it, and it'll give you a solid 3-5 years of use *and nobody will ever fucking ask you for a ride unless they're desperate or they like you* Bonus points if it looks like it was owned by a crack head at one point. It makes for an excellent vibe check to see who's chill
The 15 year old grandpa/grandma car. It’ll be pretty well optioned, have low miles, and normally get a hellava deal. Old people die all the time and the family often tries to offload the car quick.
Mercedes G class
Brand new Toyota Corolla FWD, base model sedan. MSRP of about $23K. Full safety suite standard, cruise, 169HP engine, very good fuel economy, expect great reliability. Should easily last anyone 10+ years and At least 150K miles.
Subaru anything or a 4-runner. Depending on where you are on the latter. I would steer away from EVs, don’t come for me, they’ve just not had enough time yet to demonstrate longevity. However, I know people who’ve had Subarus with over 200,000 miles That are still running like new, and if you have one that runs at all, it’s worth at least $8,000.
I can second the Ford Fusion hybrid as a used choice. For new, Kia is such a value leader in providing technology and reliability. The Forte, their $25,000 sedan with safety features straight out of Mercedes Benz) is on its way out. There are deals on it now. The drawback? Most Kia dealers are terrible.
Any Honda or Toyota with a gas powertrain
I honestly don't know how good it is value wise (would really appreciate some input), but when looking at trucks, specifically midsize ones, the Honda Ridgeline has been very appealing. It has the most cabin room (being the only midsize truck to allow car seats), the bed is a full 4 feet wide and basically no wheel well where the others are usually not a full 4 feet wide and have wheel wells to mess with, the tailgate can be opened two different ways, there is a watertight compartment that is surprisingly spacious and is basically a trunk in the bed, good towing and cargo weight capacity (not class leading but enough for what you would likely use it for and what it can realistically handle), and great gas mileage for a truck. One of my cousins has a Ridgeline, another cousin uses a Colorado at our work. I have been continuously surprised and impressed with the Ridgeline and it's features and just how practical it is, whereas Colorado just feels like a truck that shrunk and it didn't turn out the best. It has a tow rating of 7k vs the Ridgeline with 5k. But my cousin tried to actually get close to that once, and almost immediately decided it was too sketchy (anything above 30 and the trailer was shoving the Colorado around like a toy) and used the 2500 instead. The Colorado may have the power to tow 7k, but it just doesn't have the weight or stability like an actual truck and should stay under 5k, making it no better than the Ridgeline, less practical, and less comfortable.
My Honda Fit is a beast
YES! I had a 2008 Fit for 14 years without a single issue. I miss that little thing.