Buying a used car is a great way to save money. But if you want to save the most, you’re going to want to make sure your car lasts. Thanks to a new IC Cars analysis of vehicle lifespans, national sales reports, and over 3 million odometer readings, today we’re talking about the best-used cars that you can buy. Today, we’re sticking to 5-year-old used cars that, on average, still have the longest lifespan left so you get the most bang for your buck.
Ford Edge
Starting with this blue oval, SUV edged its way into the Ford lineup, slotting it in between the Escape and the Explorer. It’s a jack-of-all-trades two-row SUV, perfect for comfortable commuting, and family hauling, and with the rear seats dropped in, decent towing capacity. It’s great for Home Improvement Weekend Warriors. The Edge packs an efficient turbocharged 4-cylinder, good for an EPA-estimated 29 MPG on the highway, or if you spring a little more for the Edge ST model, you get a twin-turbocharged V6 that’s downright quick, but you’ll be stopping for gas a little more often. Driving dynamics and handling are industry average, though the ST model certainly feels nimbler and more exciting. IC Cars estimates the average used 2019 Ford Edge has over 125,000 miles of useful life left on it. Considering an average used sales price of $23,636 and all you can do with the Edge, that’s a pretty sharp edge and a pretty great deal.
Now guys, the Ford Edge, one of my absolute favorite Fords, you can get some great deals on these things. As you can see here, there are some with roughly 111,000 miles for 11,000 bucks and 11,400 bucks for 142k. As we scroll, you can see a lot of these are relatively cheap. I’ve linked to all these ideal deals in our first pinned comment below via AutoTempest, so go check them out and find a deal of the century.
Toyota Avalon
The Toyota Avalon was Toyota’s largest sedan. Toyota pulled the plug on the Avalon line in 2022, but there are still plenty of great, lightly used Avalons on the road today. It’s the Camry’s better-equipped bigger brother. A 300-horsepower V6 is standard, but you can find a 4-cylinder hybrid model from the final production year. The interior is big and luxurious, and the trunk is a whopping 16 cubic feet, enough for four golf clubs. It’s got a buttery smooth 8-speed automatic and offers Toyota’s version of subtle, unpretentious luxury. Even in base trim, the interior features quality materials and finish that outshine a basic Civic or Camry. The Avalon has always attracted an older, more responsible crowd. That’s probably why used Avalons are typically well-maintained and have a ton of life left. IC Cars estimates your average 2019 Avalon has over 170,000 miles of useful life left on it. Another IC Cars report puts the Avalon as the number one passenger car most likely to last more than 250,000 miles.
Toyota Avalons are usually scooped up by old people and their parents, but for the price, people hang on to them forever because they’re just such great vehicles. Now, the lowest-priced one in the nation is $15,897 bucks, has 200,000 miles on it, but as we know, that’s probably just broken in. Real quick, you can see these things start to go up in price, and after the sixth or seventh on AutoTempest, you’re now at $22,000 or more. Here’s a great one, $20,900 bucks with 103,000 miles. That’s probably what I’d be looking to spend on the Toyota Avalon and get a ton of fun miles ahead of you.
Honda Ridgeline
The Ridgeline is a pickup that bucks truck tradition, but if you can look past the lack of body-on-frame construction and its limited towing capacity compared to its rivals, the Ridgeline is the most livable vehicle with a truck bed money can buy. It handles and behaves more like a crossover SUV than a truck, probably because it shares its platform with the Pilot and Odyssey. In fact, in recent years, we’ve seen Ford and Hyundai copy Honda’s homework with the Maverick and Santa Cruz. They’re all livable, comfortable, and fuel-efficient family SUVs with a truck bed instead of a trunk.
In base trim, the Ridgeline is front-wheel drive only, with all-wheel drive available in higher trim levels. But no matter how many wheels are putting down power, it all comes from a dead-reliable Honda V6 under the hood. The average used sales price of a 5-year-old Ridgeline is around $33,000, making it the most expensive car on this list. But with an estimated 182,780 useful miles remaining, plus all the versatility and dependability the Ridgeline offers, it’s still a great value proposition.
Yes, the truck that’s not a truck but is a truck, the Honda Ridgeline. These are salvaged, but $11,500 is the cheapest on the US market right now. Quickly, you see these going up to roughly 20,000 bucks. They are actually really great trucks, and for 55,000 miles for $19,999, under 20 grand, that’s a hard deal to beat. I would definitely be interested in that one. They’re out there and they’re relatively cheap for what you get.
Honda CR-V
The 2019 Honda CR-V is a fantastic choice for a used SUV. It’s completely practical, dead-reliable, and infinitely capable. Under the hood, you get a four-pot engine paired with a seamless CVT, which provides decent acceleration and excellent fuel economy. If you need a little more pep, the upper trims do come with the turbo. The roomy, comfortable cabin seats five adults with plenty of legroom to spare. The cargo space is impressive too, making it easy to haul luggage, outdoor adventure gear, or your monthly Costco pickup. It’s easy to see why the CR-V set the high water mark all other crossovers are judged against. IC Cars estimates used CR-Vs from the last 5 years have over 160,000 miles of useful life left, which should give you about 10 years to enjoy your reliable Honda.
That’s ideal. From one Honda to the next, now we have the CR-V. The LX is kind of the lowest trim, $13,649. That is the second cheapest one in the nation. Something hokey with this top one, so I would say that one right there, 131,000 miles. That’s about as inexpensive as you’re going to see them. Again, they’re trending towards 15,000, 16,000. Here’s a great one with 87,000 miles for $15,995, except it’s salvage, so never mind. Don’t buy that one. Never buy a salvaged car. Here’s another one, $16,000 with 92,000 miles. You can definitely get one, especially in EX. That’s a great trim package, and with that Platinum Pearl White, that’s what I’m talking about. Again, linked in the first pinned comment if you want to check out any of these ideal deals.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a full-size sedan with options for everyone. In its most pared-back form, you get a practical and efficient 1.5-turbo four-pot that will save you money at the pump. The 2.0L turbo has enough power to make your front wheels spin and can be found with a six-speed manual that’ll bring a smile to enthusiasts’ faces. In hybrid trim, you’ll be going a long, long way in between fuel-ups. No matter the powertrain, the driving dynamics are top-notch. The Accord is balanced, stable, and even elegant in its driving characteristics. Don’t think for a second it’s not practical. The roomy back row can comfortably seat three adults, and with 17 cubic feet of cargo space, the trunk is roomier than their first studio apartment.
