First the bad news: cars are already expensive and not getting any cheaper. According to recent data collected by Comerica Bank, the average transaction price for a new car in the United States is around $28,000.
Now for the good news: if you opt for a clean used car, you can easily cut that expense in half. That’s right, a 50-percent discount is within reach. The only question is: Which model should you buy?
Vehix has compiled this list of safe, dependable used vehicles to help make finding your ride a bit easier. Our list of used family cars under $15,000 includes non-luxury models that are rated as midsize or larger. After all, if you’re planning to cart a family around, more room is better. To whittle the potential list of candidates down, we considered which models are recommended by Consumer Reports and which models perform well in dependability surveys conducted by J.D. Power and Associates. Then we checked crash-test scores from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, narrowing the list to include only those vehicles that provide favorable levels of collision protection for passengers.
From this final list of safe and reliable candidates, we selected 10 models that we would recommend to our own family members, friends, colleagues, and neighbors. We might even buy one of them for ourselves. We’ve also tried to ensure that our recommendations offer something for everyone, so our final selections range from a fuel-efficient hybrid to a turbocharged all-wheel-drive sport sedan, with a couple of minivans tossed in for good measure. We’ve also provided you with EPA fuel economy ranges, and we’ve estimated the odometer readings you can expect to find on these cars based on an annual driving rate of 12,000 miles per year.
While we believe any of the vehicles on this list represent good value, remember that when purchasing a used car it is a good idea to obtain a vehicle history report based on the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of the exact car you want to buy. The most reputable source for this information is Carfax, and the purchase of a detailed vehicle history report serves as a cheap insurance policy against what could otherwise prove to be future pain and suffering.
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