What Are the Best Used Cars to Buy Under $10,000 in 2023?

I hope you're ok with buying a used sedan.

by Peter Corn

Published on January 30, 2023 1:10 pm

2 min read

Buying a used car that you can afford and like is no easy task these days. For most people, buying a car usually means compromise, but nowadays, it feels like buying a used car is just a sacrifice. Well, here are a few options for used cars from 2015-2017 that, while not exactly the most attractive cars on the market, are decent. Here are the best used cars to buy under $10,000 in 2023.

2015-2017 Fiat 500

Approximate Price: From $8,100
Safety Ratings: NHTSA 4 Stars overall
Fuel Economy: 27-31/33-38 mpg city/highway
Driving Range: 304-357 miles
0-60 mph Acceleration: 9.7-11.6 seconds

The Fiat 500 might not be the most spacious car on the market, but as far as its price point is concerned, it is one of the most stylish cars. Despite Fiat’s reputation, MotorTrend and J.D. Power say that the Fiat 500 might be more reliable than we think.

While you won’t get all that much inside the Fiat, its small size and light weight make it a groovy little sports hatch that can have you smoking cigarettes and screaming “ciao” in no time.

2015-2017 Chevrolet Sonic

Approximate Price: From $8,400
Safety Ratings: NHTSA 5 Stars overall
Fuel Economy: 24-28/34-38 mpg city/highway
Driving Range: 342-390 miles
0-60 mph Acceleration: 8.1-8.7 seconds

The Chevy Sonic isn’t likely to give you that fuzzy feeling, but MotorTrend says it has a surprisingly good ride and sharp handling. In fact, an RS model offers a bit of sportiness for those looking for a budget racer.

2015-2017 Nissan Versa Note

Approximate Price: From $8,400
Safety Ratings: NHTSA 4 Stars overall
Fuel Economy: 31/39 mpg city/highway
Driving Range: 367 miles
0-60 mph Acceleration: 10.3 seconds

The Nissan Versa Note is all about efficiency. Yielding 35 mpg combined, this little subcompact will get you where you’re going painlessly, no matter what gas prices are. MotorTrend also notes that the cargo area is especially spacious given the Nissan’s stature.

2015-2017 Nissan Sentra

Is the 2016 Nissan Sentra a good car? — 2016 Nissan Sentra | Nissan Motor Corporation

Approximate Price: From $8,500
Safety Ratings: NHTSA 4 Stars overall
Fuel Economy: 25-30/32-38 mpg city/highway
Driving Range: 370-436 miles
0-60 mph Acceleration: 10.0 seconds

The Sentra is decently comfortable and roomier than any of the others used cars we’ve looked at so far. Some models even have modern safety systems, such as automatic emergency braking, which was a fairly uncommon feature at the time.

2016-2017 Chevrolet Cruze

Approximate Price: From $8,800
Safety Ratings: NHTSA 5 Stars overall
Fuel Economy: 28-30/39-40 mpg city/highway
Driving Range: 438-466 miles
0-60 mph Acceleration: 8.2-8.7 seconds

I won’t call the Chevy Cruze an attractive car, but its style is a touch more distinctive than others on this list. More than style, the Cruze’s efficiency alone is worth the price of admission. Depending on which engine you get, the Cruze can yield up to 40 mpg on the highway.

Staff Writer

Peter Corn

Peter Corn joined MotorBiscuit as an Autos Writer in 2020 and brings his quippiest Southern drawl to our table. Having, in his words, “helped” rebuild his dad’s 1959 MGA as a small child, Peter grew up loving vintage cars and trucks, adding motorcycles and all things 4×4 as he went.

Peter earned a Bachelor of Archeology and Creative Writing from the University of Alabama and has since melded his love of driving with storytelling. His voice, full of pleasantries and witticisms, can be enjoyed in The Gentleman Racer, The Vintagent, Gear Patrol, Iron & Air Magazine, and Classic Car Club Magazine.

Peter is a co-founder of both The Colloquial Magazine and The Fire Escape, the official podcast of The Colloquial. In an effort to increase his abilities in “ramping anything with wheels,” Peter has taken track training from Classic Car Club Manhattan and attended Rally School at Monticello Motor Club, where he was coached by eight-time Performance Rally motorsport champion Chris Duplessis.

On a lucky day, we get to hear Peter tell the story of his first car, a jewel of a 1958 Ford Fairlane, into which he dumped more time and money than made sense, but he has no regrets.