Skip to main content

You can find some used cars in the market that are affordable and safe. With today’s technology, vehicles are designed with safety at the forefront. U.S News ranked the safest used cars under $10,000 based on their safety score.

5. The 2014 Dodge Dart is a great cheap car option

A red 2014 Dodge Dart, known to be among the cheap cars, parked indoors.
2014 Dodge Dart | Getty Images

U.S. News Safety Score: 9.5/10 | Minimum Average Price Paid: $9,338

This compact sedan is sporty and features agile handling. It’s a great used car if you are looking for something that’s compact and boasts a modern design.

The IIHS named the 2014 Dodge Dart a Top Safety Pick, and the NHTSA gave it five out of five stars overall. Talk about impressive!

4. The 2014 Honda Insight

U.S. News Safety Score: 9.8/10 | Minimum Average Price Paid: $9,664

The 2014 Honda Insight is the only used hybrid to make the list. The four-cylinder engine and electric motor combined produce 98-hp. It’s a good used car for driving around the city.

The IIHS rated the 2014 Honda Insight its highest rating of Good in four crash tests. The NHTSA gave the 2014 Insight four out of five stars in its rollover crash test.

3. The 2014 Kia Soul

U.S. News Safety Score: 9.8/10 | Minimum Average Price Paid: $9,454

Thanks to its boxy shape, the used Kia Soul has more passenger and cargo space than a small car. 2014 models come well-equipped with features like Bluetooth, satellite radio, and a USB port, and an available panoramic sunroof.

In four IIHS crash tests, the Kia Soul received the best score of Good. In NHTSA crash testing, the Soul received a perfect score of five stars overall.

2. The 2015 Chevrolet Sonic make great used cheap cars

U.S. News Safety Score: 9.8/10 | Minimum Average Price Paid: $9,191

If you need a cheap used car for your daily travels, consider a 2015 Chevy Sonic. It’s quite spacious for a small car or hatchback and offers available safety features like a forward-collision warning.

The IIHS gave the 2015 Sonic the highest rating of “Good” in all five areas tested. It is also named it a 2015 Top Safety Pick. The NHTSA awarded the Sonic an overall rating of five out of five stars.

1. The 2014 Nissan Cube is a cheap car

U.S. News Safety Score: 9.8/10 | Minimum Average Price Paid: $8,748

The Nissan Cube shares some design similarities with the Kia Soul, which also received a 9.8 out of 10. This wagon comes equipped with a four-cylinder engine that generates 122-hp. The Cube is also easy to maneuver through city traffic.

The 2014 Nissan Cube received four out of five stars in the NHTSA rollover test. It also received the highest score of Good in all crashworthiness categories in the IIHS.

What determines a safe car?

According to Business Insider, “The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash-tests cars and determines safety ratings based on four factors: Measurements from dummies, survival space, airbags, and seat belt effectiveness.” In addition, the NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings can help shoppers make smart decisions about safety when they’re ready to buy a vehicle.

If possible, try to test drive the car before making your decision. That way, you can experience all the safety features first-hand.

Related

Cheapest Cars To Insure for 2022