Cars and Drivers

These Are the Best Used Cars to Buy This Year

Douglas A. McIntyre

Published: January 21, 2022 8:30 am

The car industry has gone through a wrenching transition over the past two years. First, dealerships were shuttered for weeks because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Then a shortage of semiconductors used in the electronics systems of cars made many new car models scarce. The problem became so severe that some major manufacturers closed assembly lines. Publicly held car companies reported sharp declines in revenue.

This shortage has resulted in a rise in new and used car prices. In the most recent report on the consumer price index, figures on used cars showed a 37% year-over-year surge in prices in December.

As these prices have risen, car quality and reliability have become more important than ever. People need to research what models they want to buy if they have to pay such large premiums.

The recently released Best Used Cars to Buy for 2022: The Safest, Most-Reliable Cars that Retain the Most Value study from iSeeCars analyzed 12 million used cars, collecting data on how long a model lasts, which hold their value best and which cars were safest, based on National Highway Transit Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) findings.

Cars were divided into categories, including subcompact, compact, SUV, crossover and pickup. In each category, there was a winner and runner-up.

Commenting on the value of the survey, iSeeCars Executive Analyst Karl Brauer said:

Shoppers who want to purchase a used car can alleviate sticker shock by purchasing a high-quality vehicle that is proven to be long lasting, and this list identifies those vehicles across all vehicle types and price points. This list can point used car shoppers in the right direction of finding the best possible vehicle for their unique needs.

Here are the best used cars by segment, with the runner up included:

Click here to see which is the fastest-selling car in America.