The best used cars to buy now according to Consumer Reports

Between inflation and tariffs, buying a new car is further out of reach than ever before for the average working-class consumer. As of the most recent census, the median individual income in the United States is around $42,000, while the average price of a new car is almost $49,000, according to Kelley Blue Book.

And since most folks don’t have a year’s salary squirreled away in a new car fund, buying used is the norm, with used car sales making up around 75 percent of all auto purchases. But even used cars are massive purchases, with the average used car price over $25,000 as of summer 2025. That’s why, especially when buying used, it’s important to choose a vehicle — and model year — with a reputation for long-lasting quality.

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But how do you get reliable information about which models and model years tend to perform well and which tend to run into pricey mechanical problems? Ideally, you’d get directly from the source — current owners. Since that’s impractical, however, this list of the best used from Consumer Reports might be the next best thing.

What is Consumer Reports & how does it evaluate used cars?

Consumer Reports, founded in 1936, is a legacy consumer advocacy nonprofit known for rigorously testing popular products, particularly those with high price tags like cars, electronics, and appliances.

CR has a dedicated auto testing facility in Connecticut, complete with a private driving course featuring over six miles of road. The organization purchases cars anonymously and at full price each year, and then its testing professionals evaluate them for everything from comfort and safety to acceleration and handling.

Related: The 5 worst-scoring car brands according to Consumer Reports data

CR also surveys its millions of members annually about their own cars, with respondents reporting any issues that came up over the course of the year and what sorts of repairs and maintenance were needed. Between its own testing results and the collated reports of its members’ cars, CR assigns each model year of a vehicle a reliability score.

The list below includes used vehicles that scored well in terms of reliability and are relatively affordable as far as the current used car market is concerned.