Buying a new car is not cheap and finding a new one under a small budget is almost impossible. But there is a great way to fulfill your dream of buying a car and that is a used car. Used cars are the best option when you have a limited budget. You can get a well-maintained used car under $10,000 if you do proper research and to help you with that we have shortlisted a list of the top 15 best used cars under $10K that you can buy in 2023-2024.
Benefits of buying a used car
Cost Savings: Used cars come at a significantly lower price, allowing you to save money upfront.
Depreciation Advantage: Avoid the rapid depreciation of new cars; used cars retain their value better over time.
Lower Insurance Costs: Enjoy reduced insurance premiums as the value of used cars is generally lower.
Proven Reliability: Research online reviews and vehicle history reports for a reliable used car with a track record of performance.
Wider Selection: Choose from a diverse range of makes, models, and features within your budget when buying used.
The Honda Fit is one of the best hatchbacks that you can get for under $10,000 in the used car market. With proper research, you can find a well-maintained 2013 model Honda Fit in the price range of $9,800 to $10,000.
The Honda Fit is equipped with a 1.5-liter inline-4 cylinder engine that produces a maximum of 117 horsepower and peak torque of 106 lb-ft. This engine is paired with a 5-speed automatic transmission. The hatchback can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 8.3 seconds and achieve a top speed of 111 mph. With a NHTSA safety rating of 4 stars, the Honda Fit offers a mileage of around 31 mpg.
2. 2013 Hyundai Accent
2013 Hyundai Accent
Car name
Hyundai Accent
Model year
2012-2013
Price range
$7,900 – $8,500
Engine
1.6 L inline 4 cylinder
Power
138 hp
Torque
123 lb-ft
Transmission
6 speed shiftable Automatic
Fuel Economy
31 mpg
0-60 mph
8.5 seconds
Top speed
130 mph
NHTSA
4 star
The Hyundai Accent is a perfect small family car that you can buy for under $10,000 in the used car market. A well-maintained 2012-2013 model Hyundai Accent can be found in the price range of $7,900 – $8,500. The car comes with a 1.6 liter inline four-cylinder engine that produces a max power of 138 horsepower and peak torque of 123 lb-ft. Power is transferred to the wheel through a 6-speed shiftable automatic transmission.
The Hyundai Accent offers a fuel economy of 31 mpg and with the top speed of 130 mph, it can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 8.5 seconds. In terms of safety, it has got NHTSA safety rating of4 stars.
3. 2013 Hyundai Sonata
2013 Hyundai Sonata – best luxury sedan under $10k
Car name
Hyundai Sonata
Model year
2013-2015
Price range
$7,300 – $8,000
Engine
2.4 L inline 4 cylinder
Power
198 hp
Torque
184 lb-ft
Transmission
6 speed shiftable Automatic
Fuel Economy
28 mpg
0-60 mph
7.6 seconds
Top speed
132 mph
NHTSA
5 star
4. 2013 Kia Forte
2013 Kia Forte
Car name
Kia Forte
Model year
2013-2014
Price range
$8,100 – $8,500
Engine
2.0 L inline 4 cylinder
Power
156 hp
Torque
144 lb-ft
Transmission
6 speed shiftable Automatic
Fuel Economy
29 mpg
0-60 mph
8.1 seconds
Top speed
118 mph
NHTSA
4 star
5. 2013 Subaru Legacy
2013 Subaru Legacy
Car name
Subaru Legacy
Model year
2012-2013
Price range
$9,800 – $10,000
Engine
2.5 L flat 4 cylinder
Power
173 hp
Torque
174 lb-ft
Transmission
Continuously variable-speed automatic
Fuel Economy
27 mpg
0-60 mph
7.3 seconds
Top speed
161 mph
NHTSA
5 star
6. 2014 Chevrolet Cruze
2014 Chevrolet Cruze
Car name
Chevrolet Cruze
Model year
2014
Price range
$9,600 – $10,000
Engine
1.4 L inline 4 cylinder
Power
138 hp
Torque
148 lb-ft
Transmission
6 speed shiftable Automatic
Fuel Economy
30 mpg
0-60 mph
9.5 seconds
Top speed
130 mph
NHTSA
5 star
7. 2014 Kia Soul
Best used hatchback under $10,000 – 2014 Kia Soul
Car name
Kia Soul
Model year
2013-2014
Price range
$9,800 – $10,200
Engine
1.6 L inline 4 cylinder
Power
130 hp
Torque
118 lb-ft
Transmission
6 speed shiftable Automatic
Fuel Economy
26 mpg
0-60 mph
8.4 seconds
Top speed
112 mph
NHTSA
5 star
8. 2014 Nissan Sentra
2014 Nissan Sentra – best used car under 10k
Car name
Nissan Sentra
Model year
2012-2014
Price range
$9,700 – $10,000
Engine
1.8 L inline 4 cylinder
Power
130 hp
Torque
128 lb-ft
Transmission
Continuously variable-speed automatic
Fuel Economy
34 mpg
0-60 mph
10 seconds
Top speed
124 mph
NHTSA
4 star
9. 2015-2017 Chevrolet Spark
Best used hatchback under $10k – 2015 Chevrolet Spark
Car name
Chevrolet Spark
Model year
2015-2017
Price range
$8,200 – $9,000
Engine
1.4 L inline 4 cylinder
Power
98 hp
Torque
94 lb-ft
Transmission
Continuously variable-speed automatic
Fuel Economy
33 mpg
0-60 mph
10.7 seconds
Top speed
90.1 mph
IIHS rating
Good
10. 2015-2017 Fiat 500
best small car under $10,000 – 2015 Fiat 500
Car name
Fiat 500
Model year
2015-2017
Price range
$8,100 – $8,500
Engine
1.4 L inline 4 cylinder
Power
101 hp
Torque
98 lb-ft
Transmission
5 speed manual
Fuel Economy
29 mpg
0-60 mph
9.7 seconds
Top speed
132 mph
NHTSA
4 star
11. 2011 Chevrolet Camaro LS V6
Best 300hp used car under 10k – 2011 Chevrolet Camaro LS V6
Car name
Chevrolet Camaro LS V6
Model year
2011-2012
Price range
$9,200 – $9,700
Engine
3.6 L V6 petrol
Power
312 hp
Torque
278 lb-ft
Transmission
6 speed manual
Fuel Economy
20 mpg
0-60 mph
5.4 seconds
Top speed
155 mph
NHTSA
4 star
12. 2012 BMW 550i Sedan
Best luxury sedan under 10k
Car name
BMW 550i Sedan
Model year
2012-2015
Price range
$7,900 – $8,800
Engine
4.4 L V8 Petrol
Power
400 hp
Torque
450 lb-ft
Transmission
8-speed shiftable automatic
Fuel Economy
18 mpg
0-60 mph
4.3 seconds
Top speed
176 mph
NHTSA
5 star
13. 2012 Chrysler 300C
2012 Chrysler 300C – best 300 hp used car
Car name
Chrysler 300C
Model year
2012
Price range
$9,100 – $9,500
Engine
5.7 L V8 petrol
Power
363 hp
Torque
394 lb-ft
Transmission
5 speed shiftable Automatic
Fuel Economy
19 mpg
0-60 mph
5.4 seconds
Top speed
175 mph
NHTSA
5 star
14. 2012 Dodge Charger R/T
2012 Dodge Charger – used muscle car under $10k
Car name
Dodge Charger R/T
Model year
2011-2012
Price range
$9,900 – $10,500
Engine
5.7 L V8 Petrol
Power
370 hp
Torque
395 lb-ft
Transmission
5 speed shiftable Automatic
Fuel Economy
18 mpg
0-60 mph
5.8 seconds
Top speed
140 mph
NHTSA
5 star
15. 2012 Jaguar XF Supercharged
Powerful luxury sedan under $10,000 – 2012 Jaguar XF Supercharged
