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5 Best Used Cars Under $15,000 According to iSeeCars

The used car market has been booming for much of the last year. But if you’re looking for a great option on a budget, it may be difficult to narrow down your options. Here are five cars under $15,000 iSeeCars says are among the best to buy in 2022, courtesy of Honda, Toyota, and Subaru. 

The used car market has been booming for much of the last year. But if you’re looking for a great option on a budget, it may be difficult to narrow down your options. Here are five cars under $15,000 iSeeCars says are among the best to buy in 2022, courtesy of Honda, Toyota, and Subaru. 

The 2013 Honda Accord is one of the best used cars under $15,000

A red 2013 Honda Accord, among the best used cars, sitting indoors.
2013 Honda Accord | Getty Images
  • Average price: $14,774

According to iSeeCars, the 2013 Honda Accord is one of the best used cars you can buy on a budget. The Honda Accord was fully redesigned for 2013 with five main trim options: the LX, EX, EX-L, Sport, and Touring.

Four of the five trims come standard with a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine making 185 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. That’s up eight horsepower and 20 lb-ft of torque from the previous generation of Honda Accord models. The Sport trim’s 2.4-liter engine bumps up to 189 hp and 182 lb-ft of torque, thanks to exhaust upgrades. Additionally, a 3.5-liter V6 is available for the EX-L and Touring trims and pushes out 278 hp and 252 lb-ft of torque.

Across the variety of powertrains, U.S. News reports the 2013 Honda Accord offers precise steering and excellent handling. It also gave it high marks in safety of 9.5 out of 10. Standard features include cruise control, a rearview camera, emergency braking assist, and Bluetooth connectivity.

This Accord, in particular, is a reliable choice. Consumer Reports information shows the 2013 Accord has the best ratings on reliability and owner satisfaction of any Accord model since 2000.

The 2013 Toyota Camry Hybrid is a great option for used hybrid shoppers

  • Average price: $14,048

According to iSeeCars, the Accord’s competitor in the midsize sedan segment, the Toyota Camry, is another excellent option if you’re shopping for the best used cars under $15,000. 

The 2013 Toyota Camry has two engine options. A 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder providing 178 hp and 170 lb-ft of torque comes standard on the SE, LE, XLE, and L trims. Like the Accord, two Camry trims have the option of a 3.5-liter V6, the SE and XLE, and it gives you 268 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque.

The 2013 Camry benefits from an upgraded sound system too. That includes Entune, the smartphone-connected system, features services like Bing search, Pandora streaming radio, real-time traffic updates, and sports and stock information. The interior is roomy, and there’s plenty of visibility from the driver’s seat.

U.S. News ranks the 2013 Camry seventh among affordable midsize cars from that model year. That is a few spots higher than the Accord, with the Camry earning a better rating for the total cost of ownership. A head-to-head comparison shows the Camry is a better choice for the 2013 model year. 

2013 Subaru Impreza

  • Average price: $13,669

Like the Camry, the 2013 Subaru Impreza was a year removed from a complete redesign. All models come with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 148 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque. According to U.S. News, all Impreza trims have all-wheel drive, which helps provide composed handling and grip in changing conditions.

The Impreza’s interior is comfortable, with lots of space in the rear. There are 12 cubic feet of cargo capacity, which is less than the Camry and Accord. Bluetooth and iPod connectivity, an auxiliary audio jack, and a rearview camera are standard on each Impreza model. 

Reviewers at Edmunds did note the audio quality in this used Subaru Impreza model isn’t the best. Additionally, reviews have shown the 2013 Impreza burns through oil quickly.

2013 Honda Civic

  • Average price: $13,088

Compared to the year before, Honda’s compact sedan and the most popular car model, the 2013 Civic, got refreshed styling. It’s still powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine giving you 140 hp and 128 lb-ft of torque. The Civic gets a combined 32 miles per gallon with the automatic transmission.

Some new standard features for the 2013 model year include a rearview camera, USB port, and Bluetooth connectivity. There are many safety features, including stability control and antilock brakes. The IIHS named the 2013 Civic a Top Safety Pick+, and it received the highest rating (Good) in all but two tests. The other two got acceptable marks, the second-best score.

Edmunds notes very few drawbacks with the 2013 Civic; a busy-looking dash and mediocre brakes were the only ones of note. U.S. News put it sixth among the best compact cars of 2013.  

2013 Toyota Prius is still one of the best used cars

  • Average price: $12,761

Toyota’s iconic hybrid, the Toyota Prius makes for a great used car option. The 2013 Toyota Prius is more affordable than all of the other cars on the list. It’s ranked better, too: U.S. News named it the second-best compact car of 2013 and the best used small car between $12,000 and $14,000.  

The 2013 Prius continues the same generation with the slight redesign of the 2012 model. A 1.8-liter inline four-cylinder gas-electric hybrid engine gives you the lowest power numbers on the list: 134 hp and 105 lb-ft of torque. But you do get the best fuel economy by far at 50 mpg combined.

This used hatchback gives drivers plenty of cargo room and plenty of space in the back seat. There’s a long list of standard features on the 2013 Prius, including cruise control, keyless entry, a trip computer, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, a touchscreen interface, and a six-speaker sound system are all included. And it’s plenty reliable, as Kelley Blue Book Consumer Reviews gave the 2013 Prius a 4.8 out of 5 stars on reliability.

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