Cars and Drivers

These Are the Best Used Cars to Buy This Year

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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:

Category Winner Runner-Up
Best Subcompact SUV Mazda CX-3 Subaru Crosstrek
Best Luxury Subcompact SUV BMW X1 Buick Encore
Best Small SUV Jeep Wrangler Subaru Outback
Best Luxury Small SUV Acura RDX BMW X3
Best Midsize SUV Toyota Highlander Honda Pilot
Best Luxury Midsize SUV Volvo XC90 Acura MDX
Best Large SUV Toyota Land Cruiser Toyota Sequoia
Best Luxury Large SUV Lexus LX 570 Lincoln Navigator
Best SUV with 3 Rows Toyota Land Cruiser Toyota Highlander
Best Luxury SUV with 3 Rows Volvo XC90 Lexus LX 570
Best Crossover SUV Toyota Highlander Subaru Outback
Best Luxury Crossover SUV Volvo XC90 Acura MDX
Best Midsize Truck Honda Ridgeline Toyota Tacoma
Best Full-Size Truck Toyota Tundra Ford F-150
Best Small Car Honda Civic Toyota Corolla
Best Luxury Small Car Lexus IS 350/300 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Best Midsize Car Honda Accord Toyota Camry
Best Luxury Midsize Car Lexus ES 350 Lexus GS 350
Best Large Car Toyota Avalon Dodge Charger
Best Luxury Large Car Audi A7 Acura RLX
Best Minivan Toyota Sienna Honda Odyssey
Best Wagon Subaru Impreza Kia Soul
Best Luxury Wagon Mercedes-Benz E-Class Volvo V60
Best Sports Car Ford Mustang Chevrolet Camaro
Best Luxury Sports Car Porsche 911 Chevrolet Corvette
Best Convertible Mazda MX-5 Miata Ford Mustang
Best Luxury Convertible Chevrolet Corvette Porsche 911
Best Electric Car Tesla Model S Tesla Model 3
Best Electric SUV Tesla Model X
Best Hybrid Car Toyota Prius Toyota Camry Hybrid
Best Luxury Hybrid Car Lexus ES 300h Lincoln MKZ Hybrid
Best Hybrid SUV Toyota Highlander Hybrid Subaru Crosstrek
Best Luxury Hybrid SUV Lexus RX 450h Lexus NX 300h

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

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