3 Worst Used Cars You Should Avoid According to U.S. News and What to Buy Instead
Shopping for a used car and trying to avoid buying a lemon? Then you’re going to want to steer clear of U.S. News & World Report’s picks for the worst used cars and consider buying one of these better alternatives instead.
The 2016 Jeep Patriot is one of the worst used cars
Buying a used Jeep SUV might sound like a good idea. What’s not a good idea is buying a used 2016 Jeep Patriot. Because, according to U.S. News, the 2016 Jeep Patriot is one of the worst used cars you can buy. It’s not the most reliable used SUV out there, and owners have reported plenty of problems with it to the NHTSA. Not to mention, Consumer Reports gave it a one out of five owner satisfaction rating, which is pretty dismal.
Fortunately, there are better options out there. Take, for example, the 2013 Honda CR-V. While U.S. News gave the used Jeep Patriot a 6.3 overall rating, the organization gave the used Honda CR-V an 8.5 overall rating, making it one of the best used cars you could pick over the used Jeep Patriot.
U.S. News isn’t the only one singing the used Honda CR-V’s praises either. According to Consumer Reports, the 2013 Honda CR-V is also a very reliable used SUV. In fact, the organization even gave the used Honda CR-V a five out of five reliability rating. J.D. Power gave it a similarly high reliability rating too.
The 2019 Mitsubishi Mirage is an “awful car to drive”
The 2019 Mitsubishi Mirage also landed a spot on U.S. News’ list of the worst used cars you should avoid. Though, the Mirage’s presence on the organization’s worst used car list shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. The organization gave the used Mitsubishi Mirage a 5.3 overall score. U.S. News added that the Mitsubishi Mirage is an “awful car to drive day to day.”
The good news is that you don’t have to buy the 2019 Mitsubishi Mirage. As a matter of fact, there are several used cars that make for even better options. Among them are well-known models like the Honda Fit, Chevrolet Sonic, and even the Hyundai Accent, U.S. News reports. And if none of those models strike your fancy? Consider a vehicle like the 2019 Honda Civic.
While the 2019 Honda Civic isn’t a hatchback, it’s one of the best used cars you can buy. U.S. News gave it an 8.2 overall score, adding that, this used car “delivers precise steering, sporty handing, and a comfortable ride.” Perhaps the only downside to the 2019 Honda Civic is that it gets fairly average reliability ratings.
The 2016 Jeep Compass is a used SUV worth avoiding
When it comes down to it, the 2016 Jeep Compass is the worst used car you can buy. According to U.S. News, “The Compass has a cheap and plasticky interior, a dearth of advanced tech and safety features, poor crash-test ratings, and a stiff-legged ride.” It certainly doesn’t help that the NHTSA has received a significant number of complaints about the used Jeep SUV’s engine and transmission.
For a better alternative to the used Jeep Compass, consider the 2016 Hyundai Tucson. According to U.S. News, the used Hyundai Tucson is among the best used SUVs with two rows of seating. In fact, the organization gave the 2016 Hyundai Tucson a 9.0 overall rating, which is just short of perfect.
“The 2016 Hyundai Tucson sits near the top of the compact SUV class thanks to its respectable performance, spacious interior, abundance of advanced safety features, and high safety and reliability ratings,” U.S. News added.
The best used cars are worth searching for
Shopping for a used car can make for a stressful experience, especially if you’re trying to avoid buying one of the worst used cars. Fortunately, there are plenty of excellent alternatives available, many of which are among the best used cars you can buy.
