‘Consumer Reports’ Just Released A List Of The Best Used Cars Under $10,000, So Here Are Some Of Our Best Cars Under $5,000

When the year ends we get lists, like this one of recommended used cars under $10,000. Who’s it by? None other than Consumer Reports, the closest thing dishwasher enthusiasts have to the New Testament. That’s not a Camry joke, CR’s home appliance ratings can help you avoid some real stinkers. However, Consumer Reports also compiles and analyzes reliability data on a boatload of cars, and this year’s list shakes out pretty much how you’d expect.

There are a few picks that might seem a little odd, like the third-generation Toyota Prius that’s known for head gasket issues, but overall this is a solid list. The 2015 Mazda 6 is an exceptionally reliable midsize car, the Toyota Venza is a rock-solid crossover utility vehicle pick, but what if you’re on a tighter budget? Say, half of $10,000. Well, fear not, because we’re here to help. Here’s a list of used cars that frequently list for less than $5,000 and that we actually recommend.

Look, I know we’re not always the greatest about giving consumer advice on used cars. I, for one, look at heavily depreciated German machinery and see enjoyment rather than ruin, and there’s something very wrong with that. However, this time, we promise to behave. As an added bonus, we’ve actually owned and lived with many of our picks, so we know firsthand how many of them shake out in the long term. It’s not nearly as scientific as the methods some outlets use, but just trust us on this one.

Best Economy Car: 2003 to 2006 Scion xB

Who says you can’t be frugal with a little bit of style? The original Scion xB isn’t just a neat-looking car with a reputation for durability, it’s one we’ve put to the test. Our very own Jason Torchinsky owned one, and it survived what can best be described as hell. At the end of his decade-plus time with it, general neglect resulted in a moldy interior, a persistent misfire, and a howling throwout bearing resulting in a car you probably wouldn’t take on a road trip. However, you’re not Jason.

Not only did the xB make it from North Carolina to Detroit in this condition, it got absolutely trashed with food scraps, abandoned in a major automaker’s lot, and then re-abandoned it somewhere else. However, the story doesn’t end there. A reader named Tom rescued this 232,000-mile xB, popped in a new spark plug and ignition coil, gave it a good clean, and guess what? Not only does it still work, it’s now a rallycross car. Fun, funky, practical, stout. Exactly what you want in a cheap car.

Best Hybrid: 1999 to 2005 Honda Insight

What’s the closest thing you can get to a supercar for less than $5,000? A Pontiac Fiero? I reckon you could get closer than that. We’re talking about the first-generation Honda Insight, Mercedes Streeter’s nomination for this list. Not only does it feature aluminum monocoque like a supercar, it was built in the same Suzuka factory that built the original Acura NSX. Under the hood, a 67-horsepower one-liter three-cylinder engine paired with a 13-horsepower electric motor to pump out a combined 73 peak horsepower, and given a curb weight of less than 1,900 pounds, that’s enough.

More importantly, it was originally rated at 70 MPG on the highway, and although that number’s since been revised downward to 61 highway MPG, that’s still excellent. Want to pair economy with engagement? If you’re a manual transmission purist, you can get an Insight with a five-speed manual. As with many two-decade-plus-old hybrids, the big what-if is the longevity of the battery pack, as a third-party replacement goes for around $2,000. Still, the Insight doesn’t actually need a functioning high-voltage battery pack to still drive, and a stick-shift Insight is a pretty stout car that’s also properly interesting. Back in 1999, the original Honda Insight was genius. A quarter of a century later, it still is.

Best Luxury Car: Lexus LS 430

Ballin’ on a budget ain’t easy, so let’s face it, you probably won’t get the best Lexus LS 430 in the world for less than $5,000. It likely won’t have the fridge in the back, it’ll probably be a pre-facelift model, and it’ll almost certainly have moon mileage, but that won’t matter. The LS 430 is a car that just won’t quit. Seriously, unlike a Mercedes-Benz S-Class or a BMW 7 Series, the biggest source of complaints on the LS 430 is the power-adjustable steering column packing up. That’s it. No need to take out a second mortgage to replace valve stem seals or what have you.

The 4.3-liter V8 is smooth and reliable, the automatic transmissions feature long lifespans so long as fluids are changed regularly, and the flagship Lexus for the new millennium is generally extremely overbuilt. It’s as luxurious as a German flagship, yet nearly as reliable as a Camry. Budget a little room to have the timing belt and water pump done, and then drive it to Neptune, or until the universe implodes, whichever happens first.

Best Minivan: 2012 to 2015 Mazda 5

I bet you didn’t see this one coming. It’s no secret that minivans grew huge through the 2000s, and if you’re looking for a true minivan sold in America in the past 15 years, you have three to choose from and only one has sliding doors. The Mazda 5 was sold in America from 2006 through 2015, but it’s the 2012-onward model that you really want. Not only was it the only production car to bear the sheetmetal swooshes of Mazda’s old Nagare design language, it had two big improvements over its predecessor — substantially better corrosion resistance and the use of a stout 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that rectified its 2.3-liter forerunner’s tendency to consume oil. [Ed Note: I’d like to add that this stout MZR 2.5-liter could be found in 2010-2013 Mazda3s; that’s a great cheap small car option. -DT]. 

Add in the option of a five-speed manual transmission and the joy of relative mechanical simplicity, and you’ve got an interesting and engaging family car that offers all the reliability of a second-generation Mazda 3, but with more space, more seats, and sliding doors. If you don’t need an Odyssey-sized minivan, the 2012-onward Mazda 5 is a left-field no-brainer.

Best Truck: GMT400 Chevrolet C/K and GMC Sierra

Sometimes, life puts you in a position where you need a half-ton truck, and the liveability improvements made to trucks over the past 25 years are absolutely considerable. At the same time, fancy gadgets, vastly superior towing and hauling capabilities, and improved efficiency are nice to live with, but sometimes you just need a hammer on four wheels. The GMT400 is that hammer. It had an incredible 14-year production span, and so long as you stuck with the gasoline-powered engines, they were as reliable as gravity.

Sure, one of these trucks will probably leak oil, the steering will be as accurate as sailing, the anti-lock brakes might pack up and leave you without ABS, and you won’t want to crash a GMT400, but these trucks are monoliths, understressed enough to get you and your payload wherever you need to go eventually. The GMT400 was GM at its absolute best, so find a rust-free one and keep it forever. Lord knows I should’ve kept mine.

Best Crossover: 2005 to 2009 Subaru Outback 3.0R

So far, all of our picks have covered some interesting niches, but what if you just want a normal crossover to do normal things in? The 2005 to 2009 Outback 3.0R hits a sweet spot, but you need to get it with this powertrain. While Subaru’s EJ series of flat-four engines had head gasket issues up until 2009, the EZ30 three-liter flat-sixes were remarkably robust by the mid-2000s, and they had the benefit of a timing chain rather than a timing belt. Just make sure you replace the tensioner and idler pulleys for the serpentine belt system if they haven’t been done already.

What’s more, the five-speed automatic in the Outback 3.0Rs was also a sturdy unit, meaning this is an older Subaru that’s unlikely to become an example of why people make jokes about older Subarus. With precarious reliability largely out of the way, what you’re left with is a tasteful and immensely practical all-wheel-drive vehicle, a true do-anything machine for anyone who doesn’t need to conquer Moab.

Best Off-Roader: Chevrolet Tracker and Suzuki Grand Vitara

Right now, the little Suzuki Jimny off-roader is one of the hottest cars America doesn’t get, and the first examples of the current generation won’t be eligible for importation until 2043. Can’t wait that long? Well, if you flash back 20 years, you’ll find that a cousin of the Suzuki Jimny was sold in America, and it was brilliant.

The 1999 to 2004 Chevrolet Tracker and Suzuki Vitara twins did lose the rugged solid front axle of their predecessors, but the rack-and-pinion steering and optional V6 they gained made them much nicer little SUVs to reach the trail in. If you’ve been reading this site for a while, you might recall that David Tracy picked up a $700 Chevrolet Tracker back in 2022, and while it did require some work to get up and running, it was an absolutely loveable machine perfect for hitting the trails in. In David’s words, “We are all underestimating the Chevy Tracker,” since one of these reliable, cheap to fix, and surprisingly capable little SUVs makes a great addition to any garage.

Best Sport Compact: Acura RSX Type-S

It’s 2024, and fast Hondas are cool again. From Gen X returning to its tuner roots to Generation Z gaining a healthy appreciation for Integra GSRs and Civic Si coupes, few cars have seen such a turnaround in reputation over the past 15 years as performance Honda products of the ’90s and early 2000s. The Acura RSX Type-S hasn’t received quite the same amount of love as its ancestors, it’s still a smart buy.

A 200-horsepower K20A2 two-liter four-cylinder engine screaming to nearly 8,000 RPM, a notchy six-speed manual transmission, and a reasonable 2,778-pound curb weight helped the RSX Type-S run from zero-to-60 mph in 6.1 seconds during Car And Driver instrumented testing, and even though it lost the double-wishbone front suspension of the Integra, the handling was still tenacious. Best of all, more than two decades later, these cars hold up extremely well mechanically. Sure, a sub-$5,000 RSX Type-S will have torn upholstery, but these cars are still an absolute blast. Want to experience a high-revving naturally aspirated performance engine and a manual transmission without going bankrupt? Pick one of these up.

Best Sports Car: 1990 to 2005 Mazda Miata

Yeah, yeah, we’ve heard the line a million times: “Miata is always the answer.” Until someone builds a more reliable, cheaper, more grin-inducing sports car, that platitude will remain true. If you find a Scion FR-S for $5,000, it’ll probably be pretty awful. If you find an RX-8 for $5,000, it’ll need an engine rebuild sooner or later. If you find a Boxster for $5,000, run. If you find a Miata for $5,000, that’s what a solid project costs. Buy one that isn’t rusty, make sure the clutch hydraulics and timing belt are good, then hoon it and love it. It doesn’t matter which generation you choose, one of these little sports cars is almost guaranteed to put a smile on your face without emptying out your wallet.

So there we are, nine solid cars under $5k that probably won’t let you down, each of which also comes with some sort of X-factor, whether that’s rugged good looks, overall excellence, or good ol’ quirkiness. Proof you don’t have to break the bank to drive something that’s both interesting and good.

(Photo credits: Honda, Lexus, Mazda, Chevrolet, Subaru, Acura)

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