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1955 Ford Crown VictoriaSedan Style: Great Cars Under $20,000
We break down ten of the best sedans you can pick up on the used-car market right now for $20,000 or less.
Well Priced Sedans are still Available
It’s no secret that car prices are getting higher and higher. A recent Newsweek article reported that 60% of families and 82% of individuals can’t afford the average new vehicle. Which is currently around $50,364.
The sedan market is shrinking too. Today, there are less than ten different options each in the full-size sedan and mid-size sedan class. Buyers interested in a sedan rightly turn to the used market and that’s what we’re breaking down today. The top ten best cars on sale today for $20,000 or less.
Kia Stinger
Those looking for a reliable, fun, engaging, and rare sedan can pretty much start and end this list with the Kia Stinger. Of every car here it provides the very best performance per dollar in just about every category. It’s available with a fuel-sipping inline-four or a raucous 3.3-liter twin-turbocharged V6. It features nearly telepathic steering feedback and even second-hand owners benefit from Kia’s excellent 10-year or 100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
Hyundai Elantra
Buyers who want a nearly new used car do well to consider the Elantra. For the 2021 model year, it arrived with flashy new styling and up to 33 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway. The ride quality is above average as is the technology package that includes both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay along with a slew of driver safety aids. It also just happens to be an IIHS Top Safety Pick.
Honda Civic
No list of great sedans could be complete without the Honda Civic. It’s wildly reliable, it has clever storage spaces, available leather upholstery, and intuitive controls. Honda also offers a few different engines including a 180 hp four-cylinder with a manual transmission. On the flip side of the coin, one version of the Civic with a different four-cylinder engine gets up to 40 mpg. That’s a wide breadth of skills to choose from.
Kia K5
The K5 took over for the Optima and revitalized the segment for Kia. It’s an attractive and well-appointed car that offers more value per dollar than most. Most come with a 180-hp turbocharged four-cylinder that gets up to 29 mpg in the city and 38 on the highway. The K5 is also available with front or all-wheel drive. It’s one of few cars on this list that comes standard with lane-keep assist, lane-following assist, and forward collision mitigation.
Hyundai Sonata
It might be surprising but the Hyundai Sonata from only a couple of years ago is already available for $20,000 or less. Consider this to be a Kia K5 but with a better interior. The base version comes with a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter engine, cloth upholstery, and an 8-inch infotainment system equipped with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. On top of that, Hyundai offers warranty coverage to the second owner of its vehicles depending on mileage and age.
Chrysler 300
Luxury sedans aren’t often associated with reliability but the Chrysler 300 sort of bucks that trend. Available with either a V6 or a V8, the 300 is one of the most robust cars on this list. It also has the most visual presence on the road and benefits owners with a snappy infotainment system, a spacious interior, and some of the best cargo space in the segment. Chrysler also offers rear or all-wheel drive depending on the year and trim level.
Honda Accord
Every year the Honda Accord seems to get better and that’s good news for late-model used-car buyers. Most versions make about 192 hp and offer up to 30 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway. The real benefit of the Accord is that it’s as reliable as a car can get and at the same time offers an upscale interior and slightly above-average driving dynamics. That combination is rare as most others in this segment make big trade offs in one direction or the other. The Accord is an all-around all-star.
Toyota Camry
Of course, no all-star stands alone and the Toyota Camry is even more special. In a head-to-head, it beat the Accord. Used models offer a few different engines but the most common is a 203 hp four-cylinder with an eight-speed automatic gearbox and front-wheel drive. The Camry also has one of the most distinctive interior spaces on this list. It’s not as intuitive or futuristic as some but a Toyota is a practical choice, not a flashy one.
Dodge Charger
This Dodge is a near carbon copy of the abovementioned Chrysler 300 but the big difference is that the interior quality won’t be as nice. On the upside, the Charger is likely easier to find under budget with a HEMI V8 that can make it an absolute blast to drive without losing any reliability in the process. In addition, it still comes with an above-average infotainment system, a roomy cabin, and a dashing exterior design.
Tesla Model 3
Those looking for great fuel economy can’t get much better than not paying for gasoline again. The Tesla Model 3 isn’t going to be as easy to find under our $20,000 budget as some of the rest of this list but for those with robust local charging options, it’s a good one. Tesla covers the battery up to 100,000 miles too so look for one with less mileage than that. In addition, expect to enjoy quiet, tech-heavy travel everywhere you go.
