10 Best Used Cars Under $15K That Are Totally Worth Buying

The average price of a three-year-old used car has increased by 40.9% since the pandemic, jumping from an average of $23,159 in 2019 to $32,635 in 2025. Additionally, used cars under $20,000 made up almost 50% of the three-year-old market in 2019. In contrast, used cars under $20,000 make up just 11.5% of that same market today.

However, buying a dependable used car doesn't mean you have to empty your savings account or take on a hefty loan. With used car prices gradually stabilizing after reaching record highs following the pandemic, there are now several solid used car options available for under $15,000, helping you keep more cash in your wallet.

From sporty sedans to family-friendly SUVs, these 10 used cars highlight that you don't need to drop new car cash to get a modern, reliable daily driver. Read on to discover the best used cars under $15,000 that are totally worth the money today.

Editor's note: The average used car price is sourced from iSeeCars data.

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Average Used Car Price: $14,949

The 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class is a versatile luxury car offered with several engine setups. The base C250 coupe sports a 1.8-liter turbocharged inline-four. The most powerful engine in the lineup is a four-liter twin-turbocharged V8 that produces an impressive 503 horsepower.

Rated first out of 36 rivals in iSeeCar's category of Best Family Luxury Small Cars, the 2015 C-Class thrills drivers with refined handling, a roomy cabin, and an elegant interior.

Average Used Car Price: $14,902

The 2016 Audi A5 was offered in four trim levels, with original MSRPs ranging from $42,925 to $51,125. Now, drivers can get this once high-priced luxury coupe at a steal of a price today.

Along with earning a Quality & Reliability rating of 87 out of 100 from J.D. Power, the 2016 A5 received an iSeeCars score of 8.1 out of 10. Thus, it's easy to recognize the 2016 A5 as one of the most reliable luxury coupes of its class.

Average Used Car Price: $14,801

For drivers looking for a car that offers a strong fuel economy under $15,000, the 2016 Honda Civic is an ideal buy. This coupe averages 34 to 35 miles per gallon, combined. It also scored an impressive 9.3 out of 10 in terms of value retention, making it a solid pick in the used car market.

Built under the reputable Honda brand, the Civic was named the Kelley Blue Book Best Buy award winner of 2016 in the compact car class. The 2016 model was also recently named first out of 22 rivals in the iSeeCars category of Best Small Cars for the Money.

Average Used Car Price: $14,789

If a cool factor at bargain prices is what you're after, the 2015 Dodge Charger is the perfect fit. This muscle car was offered in multiple trims, ranging in starting MSRPs from $29,140 to $64,990.

The base trim was powered by a 3.6-liter V6 with an output of 292 horsepower. In contrast, the top variant, the SRT Hellcat, sported a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 that made an impressive 707 horsepower. Now, that's some serious power residing under the hood of one of the most powerful sedans ever built.

Average Used Car Price: $14,690

An SUV that blends car-like driving with all-wheel drive capability, the 2016 Subaru Crosstrek is one of the best offerings on the used market today. Plus, its 8.7 inches of ground clearance makes it more capable in rugged terrain compared to many of its rivals.

Along with its physical prowess, the Crosstrek also ranks well in its class. It earned the top spot among 21 models in the iSeeCars category of Best Family Subcompact SUVs. The 2016 model year also earned an impressive 8.6 out of 10 iSeeCars score, solidifying its Subaru reputation with a solid 9 out of 10 safety rating.

Average Used Car Price: $14,203

If you're looking for a used car that holds its value, the 2017 Honda Fit might just be the perfect fit, having earned a value retention score of 9.8 out of 10 from iSeeCars. The Honda Fit is also praised for its superior visibility, ride quality, and acceleration capabilities, with seating for five passengers and impressive maximum cargo room.

Another key benefit of driving the Honda Fit is its excellent fuel economy. The hatchback averages 34 to 36 miles per gallon, combined. The 2017 model also ranks well among its class, earning the top spot among 37 rivals in the iSeeCars category of Small Cars With Best Resale Value.

Average Used Car Price: $14,196

When it was new, the 2015 Acura RDX came with a starting sticker price of $37,235. Now, this SUV can be picked up for just a fraction of its original cost with its reliability status still intact. It was made available with only one solid and reliable engine option in the form of a 3.5-liter V6 with an output of 273 horsepower.

Earning the top spot among 28 rivals in the iSeeCars category of Best Luxury Small SUVs and the category of Most Reliable Luxury Small SUVs, the 2015 Acura RDX is one of the best SUV deals on the used market today. Further proving its dependability, the RDX was also named number one by Kelley Blue Book in the category of Best Luxury Compact SUVs of 2015.

Average Used Car Price: $14,103

For drivers looking for an affordable used car that comes standard with all-wheel drive, the 2017 Subaru Impreza Wagon presents itself as an ideal choice. Along with its AWD capability, the Impreza Wagon impresses with a 9 out of 10 safety rating and an 8.9 out of 10 value retention rating from iSeeCars.

Offered in various trim levels, the starting MSRPs ranged from $20,215 to $29,475. All trim levels sport the same 2-liter flat-4 engine with an output of 152 horsepower. However, fuel economy varies among the trim levels based on transmission and body style. For example, the manual wagon averages 24/31 miles per gallon, while the automatic wagon averages slightly better at 28/37 miles per gallon. All in all, this Impreza model delivers standard AWD, solid fuel economy, and great long-term value.

Average Used Car Price: $14,092

Renowned for its standard all-wheel drive across all models, Subaru delivers its standard reputation for dependability and value once again with the 2016 Subaru Forester. This SUV ranks well among the competition, too. The 2016 Forester took second place among 19 rivals in three iSeeCars categories: Best Off-Road Small SUVs, Best Small SUVs for Tall People, and Most Comfortable SUVs. Now, that's a pretty impressive range the Forester's got right there.

The 2016 Forester also offers consumers solid fuel economy for a compact-crossover SUV, averaging 25 to 27 miles per gallon, combined. The base 2.5i trim comes standard with a 6.2-inch Starlink touchscreen display, with a 2.5-inline boxer-4 engine under the hood with an output of 170 horsepower. A larger 7-inch touchscreen was made available on higher-level trims, as was a more powerful 2-liter turbocharged boxer-4 engine with an output of 250 horsepower.

Average Used Car Price: $13,966

The 2015 Honda Accord is the most affordable vehicle option on our list today, but what's even more impressive is the safety and reliability this sedan provides to consumers. The 2015 Accord earned an impressive 10 out of 10 safety rating from iSeeCars, with an overall rating of 8.9 out of 10, taking into account reliability and value retention as well.

The 2015 Accord was offered with multiple engine options. The base model sported a 2.4-liter inline-4 engine with an output of 185 horsepower. It was paired with either a manual or automatic transmission, as was the more powerful 3.5-inline V6 engine option with an output of 278 horsepower. Of course, the hybrid setup with a 2-liter inline-4 engine paired with a 124-kW AC synchronous permanent-magnet electric motor offers consumers the best fuel economy, averaging 50/45 miles per gallon.

If we've learned anything today, it's that you don't have to spend a fortune on a reliable and dependable vehicle.

Plus, modern cars are built to last. It used to be an age-old adage that a car past 100,000 miles was well past its prime. However, as J.D. Power notes, most modern cars can now cross the 200,000-mile threshold without any major issues. That means buying a used vehicle and still getting five to 10 more years of life out of it is pretty routine anymore.

Just be sure to crunch the numbers and weigh your options to ensure you're making the best car owner moves.