If you’re looking to save yourself some money on your next car purchase, chances are you’re eyeing the used market. However, if you don’t want to get something outdated and lacking in technology, you have to shop cleverly, getting something only a few years old.
The second-hand market is filled with excellent bargains, with you able to buy nearly new cars at an absurd discount compared to buying them new. The first owner takes on the brunt of initial depreciation, and you get a more affordable car. If you know which model years to buy, you can also get allthe latest tech offerings too.
Exploring the used market, we’ve found ten slightly used models that will save you tons of money compared to buying new. These 2022 or 2023 models feature the latest in automotive technology, with great comfort features and impressive levels of integration. We explore how much they cost and what helps them stand out.
to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including TopSpeed. All used prices were sourced from Edmunds. This list focuses on affordable mainstream models, ranking them by their average used price.
102022 Kia Forte GT
Average Used Price: $22,118
The Forte has recently been replaced by the K4 sedan, but it remains a solid choice if you’re shopping for a cheap used car. The biggest downside to the Forte was its weak base engine. However, if you opt for the GT model, you get the upgraded 201 horsepower turbocharged inline-four.
Key Tech Features
The Forte’s standard offerings are pretty good, but climbing the trim ladder gets youthe best features. The GT model not only gets a more impressive engine, but comes fitted with an upgraded infotainment screen, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a plethora of comfort features.
92023 Hyundai Elantra Limited
Average Used Price: $22,378
If you’re not concerned about gettingthe facelifted model, the 2023 Hyundai Elantra is a bargain on the used market. It is very similar to the Kia Forte, but with a smoother and classier approach to styling. The Limited model may come with the weaker base engine, but it features a ton of comfort features.
Hyundai’s Elantra features a sleek and stylish interior. While you might find some squeaky plastics in the cabin, the Limited model mitigates this by using a ton of soft-touch materials. Tech is plentiful in the range topping Elantra, with an advanced infotainment system that allows you to utilize voice commands.
82023 Hyundai Sonata Limited
Average Used Price: $24,231
Once again, you’ll have to forgo the latest facelift, but the 2023 Sonata still has a ton to offer. If you’re looking for something bigger and more comfortable than the Elantra, this is the way to go. Its dramatic exterior styling is matched by a comfortable and feature packed cabin.
The Sonata comes with all the most desirable features that you’d find in the top trim Elantra and more. The most impressive among these features is the ability to use your smartphone as a key. It goes further, though, with a ton of vehicle functions operable via your phone, including a self-parking feature.
72023 Kia K5 EX
Average Used Price: $25,935
While the GT model of the K5 might be alluring, with its 290-horsepower turbocharged engine, used models cost above $30,000 and the EX is the more comfort-oriented model. This stylish sedan featuresrougish good looksand an interior packed with all the modern features you could want.
The Kia K5 features sportier styling than its Hyundai counterpart, which bleeds over into the interior. Plush comfort is still a major priority, with soft-touch materials throughout the cabin. Beyond a clever cabin, you can use your smartphone to operate many of its features remotely.
62023 Nissan Altima SR 2.0
Average Used Price: $26,243
Nissan updated the mid-size Altima for the 2023 model year, giving it a more aggressive and more modern look. This also includedupgrades to all the tech offerings. The SR can be had with the more powerful 248-horsepower turbocharged engine and a more enjoyable suspension tune.
The Altima may not be the first choice of people shopping in this segment, but a slightly used model offers a ton of comfort technology for an affordable price. Things like adaptive cruise control are included as standard, and top models come equipped with high-end features, like intelligent climate control which can regulate the cabin before you climb in and get going.
52023 Mazda 3 Turbo Premium Plus
Average Used Price: $27,114
Mazda’s little compact car is one of the mostunderrated carson the market right now. It blends brilliant exterior and interior styilng with a chassis designed for back road fun. The Turbo Premium Plus model offers the best of these two worlds, with a near-luxurious interior and a 250-horsepower turbocharged engine.
The interior of the Mazda 3 is a class above, especially when you opt for a top trim like the Premium Plus. High-end materials cover most surfaces in the cabin and you’ll find a plethora of features. This includes a heads-up display and a semi-autonomous driving system for use in congested traffic.
42023 Honda Civic Touring
Average Used Price: $27,208
The Honda Civic was fully redesigned for the 2022 model year, meaning if you geta used 2023you’ll get the most modern features. As well as coming with a much plusher interior, the Touring model also comes fitted with the upgraded 180-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
While the Honda Civic doesn’t come with the largest infotainment screen, the digital gauge cluster is fully customizable. The Civic features a sporty interior, with plenty of comfort features, especially on the Touring model. Low-speed follow also means less taxing daily commutes.
32022 Toyota Camry XLE
Average Used Price: $27,670
The Camry is one of the most prominent go-to options for those trawling the used market. Its stoic reliability and practical offerings make it a great value-for-money option. Its strong list of features offered and comfortable cabin make a used XLE an especially good choice.
The Camry features a unique interior, with a clear focus on practicality. The XLE is the more comfortably tuned model and can come with either a four-cylinder engine or a V-6. Either way, it comes fitted with many modern features and its reliability means it shouldn’t deprecate too aggressively.
22023 Honda Accord Hybrid EX-L
Average Used Price: $30,006
The 2023 model year of the Honda Accord represented the beginning of the 11th generation for the nameplate. A new EX-L hybrid would’ve set you back close to $35,000, meaning this slightly used model will save you tons. It looks brilliant and its hybrid 204-horsepower powertrain is excellent.
The Accord has always been one of the mostvalue-packed optionsin the mid-size sedan segment. The EX-L is the entry-level hybrid model, and if you have more in your budget to spend, you can get an even plusher model. Despite not being a top trim, the EX-L features a suite of desirable amenities.
12023 Toyota Prius Limited
Average Used Price: $30,636
The 2023 Prius teeters ever so slightly over the $30,000 mark, but it is well worth every penny. While you may spend a little more upfront for the latest generation of this hatchback, you get a comfortable and packed model that will save you tons in the long run with its fuel-sipping engine.
The previous generation of the Prius was incredibly underwhelming,albiet super reliable, and the last in a long line of underwhelming Prius models. The 2023 model year changed everything, making Toyota’s iconic hybrid an enjoyable car to own and drive, transcending its ethos of simply being pragmatic above all else.
