Skip to headerSkip to main contentSkip to footer
Get our Free E-newslettersGet our Free E-newsletters
Kiplinger logoLink to homepage
Get our Free E-newslettersGet our Free E-newsletters
Subscribe to Kiplinger
Subscribe to Kiplinger
Save up to 76%
Subscribe
Subscribe to Kiplinger
  • Store
  • Home
  • Investing
  • Retirement
  • Taxes
  • Personal Finance
  • Your Business
  • Wealth Creation
    • Podcasts
    • Economic Outlooks
    • Tools
    • Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine
    • The Kiplinger Letter
    • The Kiplinger Tax Letter
    • Kiplinger's Investing for Income
    • Kiplinger's Retirement Report
    • Store
    • Manage My E-Newsletters
    • My Subscriptions
Skip advert
  • Home
  • Buying & Leasing a Car
Buying & Leasing a Car

The Safest Used Cars for $20,000 or Less

Shopping for a used car?

by: David Muhlbaum
March 23, 2020

Courtesy Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Skip advert

Shopping for a used car? Want it to be as safe as possible? Here’s the hitch: The absolute safest vehicle is almost always a brand-new model.

Each year, the latest cars boast more-effective active safety systems (such as automatic braking) as carmakers look to match evolving testing standards from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Newer models also often have invisible structural improvements to aid performance in tests meant to closely simulate real-world collisions (such as hitting a utility pole). Headlight technology is advancing as well. So newer, and thus more expensive, generally means safer.

Don’t despair, though. Many of these features are available on vehicles selling for $10,000 to $20,000. We worked with IIHS’s annual rankings and value data from CarGurus.com to identify the safest models in that price range. Our quest was safety first, but not safety only: We looked for cars that enjoy good reputations for reliability and are popular choices in their segments. Take a look.

  • The Safest Cars for $30,000 or Less
Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert

1 of 9

Safe Small SUV Under $20,000: Hyundai Tucson

2016 Tucson

Courtesy Hyundai

Skip advert
  • Model year: 2016
  • Used price: $18,283 (Limited AWD)

Small SUVs get all the attention (and sales) these days as Americans abandon sedans for a few inches of ride height and the convenience of a hatchback. That popularity means they don’t tend to depreciate as quickly in the used market; our top choice flirts with our price limit, and while we also would have liked to include the popular (and safe!) Honda CR-V, it’s just too pricey.

A used 2016 Hyundai Tucson is probably the most crashworthy small SUV you can put yourself in with up to $20,000 to spend. The Tucson passes the IIHS’s demanding small-offset test, which forces a much smaller part of the car’s structure to dissipate crash energy (imagine hitting a wall with just the corner of your car), for both driver and passenger. Among the category competitors the Tucson surpasses in this test are the 2016 Toyota RAV4 and the 2016 Subaru Forester.

We’re talking crashworthiness here: how well the car’s structure, air bags and seatbelts work together to protect the occupants in a collision. Any Tucson from 2016 forward meets that standard, and many are available for well under $20,000. The same goes for the Kia Sportage, built on the same platform, for models starting in 2017.

But as we mentioned, the IIHS also considers collision avoidance (systems that can slow or even stop a car if there’s an obstruction ahead) and headlight performance. You’ll find Hyundai’s automatic emergency braking on Tucsons with the Ultimate trim level, and the best headlights on Limited or higher trim.

 

  • How to Clean and Maintain Your Car in the Coronavirus Era
Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert

2 of 9

Safe Small SUV Under $20,000: Mazda CX-3

Courtesy Mazda

Skip advert
  • Model years: 2016-2018
  • Used price: $18,315 (2017 Grand Touring AWD)

The smallest of Mazda’s SUV line, the CX-3 scores impressively for crashworthiness and collision avoidance and rates “acceptable” for headlights (if you get the i-ACTIVSENSE package). You can buy one fully loaded for less than $20,000. However, it’s tiny--roughly 600 pounds lighter than the Tucson. As the IIHS notes, “Larger, heavier vehicles generally afford more protection than smaller, lighter ones.” Since the laws of physics still apply, that’s something to keep in mind.

 

  • 7 Car-Care Myths That Need to Die
Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert

3 of 9

Safe Large SUV Under $20,000: Volvo XC90

Courtesy Volvo

Skip advert
  • Model years: 2003-2014
  • Used price: $13,740 (2013 3.2 FWD), $17,086 (2013 3.2 R-Design Platinum AWD)

The IIHS has separate categories for midsize SUVs, midsize luxury SUVs and large SUVs. We searched all of these with our own standard: only models with three rows. Finding one of these big boys under $20,000 wasn’t easy. Models that feature the collision-avoidance technology and fancy headlights that the IIHS gives weight to in recent years usually cost substantially more.

Pulling up in a 2013 Volvo XC90 will reassure the other parents in the soccer carpool that you’re putting safety first; crash tests still support the Swedish brand’s reputation. It was rated “good” for the driver’s side small-overlap test (the passenger wasn’t tested). Notably, this test rating extends all the way back to this model’s introduction in 2003, so you can shop way back if you want to save some money without sacrificing any crashworthiness. On the other hand, newer, high-trim models are more likely to feature projector headlights. While the IIHS didn’t actually test XC90 headlight performance, we think it’s a fair bet to extrapolate from other results that the projectors are likely to be better than the old-fashioned halogen reflector beams. We provided a price range for 2013 models, from the cheapest trim to the fanciest.

  • Honorable mention: The 2014 Ford Flex. This huge, retro-styled SUV actually shares some DNA with the XC90, as it dates from the era when Ford owned Volvo. But it scored only an “acceptable” on the driver’s side small-overlap test. Also, it’s far scarcer on the used market.

 

  • Should You Buy Your Next Car New or Used?
Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert

4 of 9

Safe Sedan Under $20,000: Honda Accord

2017 Honda Accord Sedan Touring

Courtesy Honda

Skip advert
  • Model years: 2016-2017
  • Used price: $15,934 (2017 LX with Honda Sensing Package)

As the popularity of SUVs of all sizes has surged, sedan sales have suffered – to the point that the domestic manufacturers are scaling back production, or in Ford’s case, dropping them altogether. But if you can stomach the social opprobrium of a sedan (we’re joking, mostly), you can get yourself into a number of cars with excellent IIHS safety ratings for well under $20,000.

The eternally crowd-pleasing Honda Accord earns the IIHS’s highest ranking, Top Safety Pick Plus (TSP+), for model years 2016 and 2017. Accords of these years scored “good” in small-overlap testing for both sides. A plus if you’re shopping for one now: Honda made its collision avoidance system, called Honda Sensing, available across trim lines, so even an LX model with cloth seats can have the latest tech (though on the used market, Sensing will still be more common on the pricier EX and Touring trims). You could also consider the previous generation, 2013-2015. Crashworthiness is a match, but the collision system is more primitive.

  • Honorable mention: The Honda Civic does just as well in crash testing. However, it is smaller than the Accord, so draw your own conclusions about which is really safer. This video -- see what happens when a Smart car hits a Mercedes C-class sedan – might help.
  • Honorable mention: Another Honda product, the hybrid Honda Insight, has been reintroduced for 2019. Its crash scores match its stable mates. It’s 200 pounds heavier than the Civic, and its headlights (rated “good”) beat the Civic’s (“poor”). But you’d be buying this new, and it’s right on the $20,000 threshold.

 

  • 7 Steps to Get Your Car Ready for a Summer Road Trip
Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert

5 of 9

Safe Sedan Under $20,000: Mazda6

Courtesy Mazda

Skip advert
  • Model years: 2016-2017
  • Used price: $16,663 (Grand Touring with Technology Package, 2016)

Mazda scaled back the “Zoom-Zoom” ad campaign ages ago, but the design ethos continues to this day. The Mazda6 both looks and drives a bit sportier than most of its sedan competitors here.

The model we’re looking at here was launched in 2014, but the 2016 (and later) models benefit from some airbag reprogramming to get “good” ratings for the IIHS small-overlap test. The headlights are rated “acceptable,” the same as the Honda Accord. A distinction, though: That rating only applies to the higher-trim models that have LED projector beams and other advanced features. Lower-trim halogen reflector beams are just “marginal.”

The brand’s smaller sedan, the Mazda3, is also worth a look. However, only the 2019 model gets the critical small-overlap tests right, and it sits right on the $20,000 bubble.

 

  • New-Car Shopping for the Introvert: Still a Hassle
Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert

6 of 9

Safe Sedan Under $20,000: Nissan Altima

With the addition of the new SR model to the 2016 Altima line-up, Nissan is taking dead aim at one of the fastest growing areas of the mid-size sedan segment – sport variants. Among some comp

Courtesy Nissan

Skip advert
  • Model years: 2016-2018
  • Used price: $14,988 (SL with Technology Package, 2016)

No zoom-zoom from the Nissan Altima, but plenty of value. According to the IIHS, Nissan made changes in 2016 to the front-end structure and reinforced the junction of the door sill, hinge pillar, and footwell to get this model through the small-overlap tests. So even though this redesign dates back to 2013 (part of the reason its price is cheap), you shouldn’t go older than 2016.

To get the IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus rating, you’ll need to look for an SL trim level (the highest) equipped with the Technology Package (to get crash prevention and better headlights). That will push the price up, but the Altima is still on the cheaper side of this category, so you could also pick out a 2017 or maybe even a 2018 model.

 

  • 21 Secrets to Shopping at Costco
Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert

7 of 9

Safe Sedan Under $20,000: Subaru Impreza

Courtesy Subaru

Skip advert
  • Model year: 2017
  • Used price: $18,743 (2.0i Limited with EyeSight package)

The Impreza is Subaru’s smaller sedan offering, about 400 pounds lighter than its big brother, the Legacy. So why does it come first here when we put the Honda Accord ahead of the smaller Civic? Crash-test results. A 2017 redesign put the Impreza through the small-overlap testing that’s the latest challenge for carmakers. The Legacy didn’t pass that until a 2018 redesign. With our $20,000 price cap, that year of depreciation matters. With Subarus holding residual value well, the Legacy is north of the price limit and the Impreza squeezes under, when equipped at a level that includes the LED projector headlights and the EyeSight collision prevention system needed to earn TSP+.

The crashworthiness applies to a family of smaller Subarus: both the sedan and wagon versions of the Impreza from 2017 forward, as well as the higher-riding Crosstek wagon from 2018 forward.

  • Honorable mentions: Having opened the door to smaller vehicles with the Impreza, we should also mention a range of small-but-safe options from Hyundai Motor Company: the 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT (not the regular Elantra, the GT – this one is a hatchback), the 2017 Hyundai Ionique Hybrid and the 2017 or 2018 Kia Niro. All are TSP+ vehicles.

 

  • 15 Cars You Can Drive Forever
Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert

8 of 9

Safe Pickup Under $20,000: Toyota Tundra Double Cab

Toyota Tundra 2010

Courtesy Toyota

Skip advert
  • Model years: 2010-2013
  • Used price: $17,902 (2013, Grade 4.6L)

One thing’s for sure with a pickup truck: You’ve got size on your side. But not many pickup trucks get good marks from the IIHS. Plus, they’re expensive. To stay under our price cap, we had to reach back to 2013, when the Toyota Tundra Double Cab was named a Top Safety Pick. But remember that as you go older, testing standards weren’t as rigorous. The Tundra got a good rating for the IIHS’s moderate-overlap test but wasn’t subjected to the small-overlap test on either side. In 2013, collision-prevention systems were not available on a Tundra, and headlights weren’t tested by IIHS.

If you’d like to spend less and get more features, you can go back to 2010, when the driver and passenger front air bags and front seat belts were modified, and knee air bags for the driver and front passenger were added.

 

  • 10 Ways YouTube Can Save You Money on DIY Projects
Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert

9 of 9

Safe Pickup Under $20,000: Ford F-150 SuperCrew

Courtesy Ford

Skip advert
  • Model years: 2009-2013
  • Used price: $19,643 (XLT SuperCrew 4WD, 2013)

The Ford F-150 SuperCrew is an even bigger beast than the Tundra, with test scores just as good. Again, this older testing doesn’t include small overlap, collision prevention or headlights. Since you can shop back to 2009 and enjoy the same crashworthiness, you can probably find yourself a fancy trim level such as Platinum and still stay under $20,000.

We should note that if you’re willing to spend a bit over $20,000 (and settle for a bare-bones truck), a 2015 Ford SuperCrew is the only recent pickup truck to get “good” ratings for both driver and passenger side small-overlap testing. Prices start at $21,850 (for the XL trim, 2WD) and rise steeply as you add goodies.

 

  • 31 Cheapest U.S. Cities for Early Retirement
Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert
  • used cars
  • cars
  • Buying & Leasing a Car
Share via EmailShare on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedIn
Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert

Recommended

Car Prices: They're Way More Than Meets the Eye
Brandon Copeland

Car Prices: They're Way More Than Meets the Eye

Atlanta Falcons linebacker and Kiplinger contributing editor Brandon Copeland illustrates how car prices are far more than meets the eye.
May 11, 2022
High Gas Prices with The Kiplinger Letter’s Jim Patterson
cars

High Gas Prices with The Kiplinger Letter’s Jim Patterson

Why are we paying so much more at the pump? How long will it last? What can you do? Plus: Congress is making changes to retirement-savings rules again…
April 5, 2022
How to Get a Car Deal in This Market
Buying & Leasing a Car

How to Get a Car Deal in This Market

Low inventories mean it’s hard to haggle on price, but you can still negotiate on financing when shopping for a new or used car.
March 28, 2022
Gas Prices Around the World
Budgeting

Gas Prices Around the World

You might be feeling pain at the pump, but it could be worse; gas is a lot more expensive in some other countries.
March 16, 2022

Most Popular

Why Are Gas Prices Still Going Up?
spending

Why Are Gas Prices Still Going Up?

The cost of a gallon of gas is at an all-time high. What’s driving the surge and will gas prices go down anytime soon?
May 23, 2022
Your Guide to Roth Conversions
Special Report
Tax Breaks

Your Guide to Roth Conversions

A Kiplinger Special Report
February 25, 2021
Which States' Taxes Are Going Down
Tax Breaks

Which States' Taxes Are Going Down

State lawmakers are cutting income, sales and property taxes to return budget surpluses to residents.
May 25, 2022
  • Customer Service
  • About Us
  • Advertise With Us (PDF)
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Kiplinger Careers
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy Preferences

Subscribe to Kiplinger's Personal Finance

Be a smarter, better informed investor.
Save up to 76%Subscribe to Kiplinger's Personal Finance
Do Not Sell My Information

Kiplinger is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site www.futureplc.com
© Future US LLC, 10th floor, 1100 13th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005. All rights reserved.

Follow us on InstagramFollow us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterConnect on LinkedInConnect on YouTube