Although Toyota and Honda are commonly regarded as two carmakers that provide the best value, Hyundai has recently improved its reputation in providing affordable and reliable used cars. Learn more about used Hyundai vehicles, whether Hyundai is becoming better than Toyota, and what other used vehicles provide a great value under $15,000.

Is Hyundai better than Toyota?

Hyundai hasn’t gotten nearly as much respect as Toyota in the world of automakers, but that might be about to change. Hyundai has produced some excellent cars over the past few years and has consistently created more affordable cars than Toyota. 

Price will always be a major consideration for anyone looking to buy a car, used or new, and Hyundai offers plenty of great features for less than most other carmakers. Another benefit that Hyundai offers is one of the best warranties in the industry. Toyota’s warranty isn’t awful by any means, but Hyundai’s definitely takes the cake in a head-to-head competition between the two. 

Hyundai offers a five-year/60,000-mile warranty for its minor coverage, whereas Toyota only offers a three-year/36,000-mile warranty. When it comes to powertrain warranties, Hyundai provides coverage for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Toyota only gives five years or 60,000 miles worth of coverage for its vehicles’ powertrains. 

Car buying doesn’t just come down to price and warranties, however, and both Toyota and Hyundai are working hard to provide value for their customers. It’s impossible to say whether one of these carmakers is better than the other, as they both have their own set of strengths and weaknesses, and each driver has a unique set of wants and needs. 

Hyundai captures two spots on a prestigious Carmax list

Carmax recently released its list of “Best Used Cars For 2021 Under $15,000”, and Hyundai was the only carmaker to show up on the list twice. The 2021 Hyundai Elantra finished in third place on the list, and the Hyundai Sonata came in fifth. This may have surprised some, as many regard Toyota as the carmaker with the most reliable and value-holding cars. Toyota only ended up taking one spot on the list, as the Toyota Corolla came in second. 

In the Toyota brand’s defense, it did have two cars on the list of Best Used Cars for 2021 under $30,000, but are people who can’t afford to spend more than $15,000 on a used car better off going with Hyundai instead?

Other excellent used cars under 15K in 2021

According to Carmax’s list, the Nissan Sentra is the used car under 15K to look at this year. This is an excellent car for those looking for an affordable and reliable used car, as Nissan has really upped its Sentra game in the past few years. U.S. News reports that Sentras may not come with all the bells and whistles more expensive cars do, such as powerful engines or extra infotainment features. Still, the model provides better-than-decent reliability, a notable standard safety feature list, and competitive fuel efficiency. It’s certainly not the most stylish car on the market, but it will get you from point A to B in a way that’s easy on your wallet. 

Carmax also placed the Chevy Cruze on its list, which is another fantastic choice for those looking to get a good bang for their buck. The Chevy Cruise offers more infotainment features, better gas mileage, and higher reliability ratings than the Nissan Sentra in some models. However, it may also come with a slightly higher price tag. 

When selecting an affordable used car, the best choice for you comes down to personal preferences, but it’s hard to go wrong with any of the vehicles Carmax outlined on its list.