The Budget Sedan Is Dead; Here Are the 4 Best Used Ones
Nissan just pulled the Versa ($17,390) from the U.S. market. The Mitsubishi Mirage ($16,695) disappeared after 2024. It’s now official: The cheapest vehicles available are crossovers, such as the Hyundai Venue and Chevrolet Trax. Luckily, there are still plenty of budget-friendly sedans on the used market. Here are four that offer the most bang for your buck.
Nissan Altima
Used Toyotas and Hondas dominate the iSeeCars list of vehicles most likely to hit 250,000 miles. As a result, they command a premium on used car lots. That makes Nissan one of the most overlooked Japanese automakers.
According to registration data, a Nissan Altima has a 3.5% chance of reaching 250,000 miles. That’s 1.4 times the likelihood of the average vehicle. Meanwhile, the average five-year-old Altima loses $12,913 in value and resells for just $14,087. The average 10-year-old Altima sells for less than $8,000.
The analysts at iSeeCars also urge shoppers to consider the smaller Nissan Sentra. The 2016 model year, in particular, hits a sweet spot between affordability and dependability. It resells for $9,555 on average.
See listings for used Nissans near you.
Mitsubishi Mirage
For years, the humble Mirage reigned as the cheapest new car on sale. Now, it rules the used market. Experts recommend the 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage G4, which carries an average resale value of $8,907.
Mitsubishi sold the sixth-generation Mirage in the U.S. from 2014 to 2024. Buyers could choose either a hatchback or sedan. The Mirage used a three-cylinder engine and offered either a CVT automatic or a cheaper manual transmission.
Check out used Mitsubishis for sale.
Hyundai Elantra
When iSeeCars ranked the best used compact cars for under $10,000, the 2016 Hyundai Elantra took the top spot. It earned an overall review score of 8.2 out of 10, including an 8.8 for safety.
Today, the average 2016 Elantra resells for $9,922. A five-year-old Elantra averages $10,899, while a 10-year-old model depreciates to $8,048.
Experts also recommend considering the 2016 Hyundai Veloster ($9,929 on average), the 2016 Hyundai Elantra GT hatchback ($9,983), and the related 2016 Kia Forte ($9,417).
Want to know more? Here are used Hyundai cars near you.
Volkswagen Jetta
The 2015 Volkswagen Jetta ranked second among European automakers on the iSeeCars list. It earned an 8.0 overall review score, trailing only in predicted reliability at 7.5.
The 2015 Jetta currently resells for $9,409 on average. See used Volkswagens for sale.
Another intriguing European option is the 2015 Fiat 500L. Unlike the standard Fiat 500, the 500L offers four doors and real cargo space. It ranked No. 1 among small or compact cars for tall drivers and cargo room. The 2015 model year resells for $8,848 on average and earned a 7.4 reliability score and a 7.8 overall rating. Check out used Fiats near you.
