30 Best Used Cars Under $30K: Ranked

There are so many choices when it comes to cars that will suit your lifestyle—stylish hatchbacks like the Honda Civic or Kia Forte, roomy sedans like the Nissan Maxima or Volkswagen Passat, and sporty coupes like the Dodge Challenger. With such an impressive selection, choosing your ideal car has never been simpler.

Take a look at our list of the 30 best used cars with average prices less than $30,000, based on CarMax average prices and sales data from September 1, 2019 through February 29, 2020, to see which of these vehicles is right for you.¹ Be aware that certain model years and upper trim configurations may bring the prices of some of these vehicles over $30,000.

1. Nissan Altima
   
2. Nissan Sentra
   
3. Honda Civic
   
4. Hyundai Elantra
   
5. Honda Accord
   
6. Toyota Corolla
   
7. Toyota Camry
   
8. Hyundai Sonata
   
9. Chevrolet Malibu
   
10. Ford Fusion
    
11. Chevrolet Cruze
    
12. Kia Optima
    
13. Ford Focus
    
14. Mercedes-Benz C300
    
15. Volkswagen Jetta
    
16. Kia Soul
    
17. Nissan Versa
    
18. Dodge Charger
    
19. Kia Forte
    
20. Nissan Maxima
    
21. Infiniti Q50
    
22. Dodge Challenger
    
23. Subaru Outback
    
24. Mazda Mazda3
    
25. BMW 328
    
26. Ford Fusion Hybrid
    
27. Volkswagen Passat
    
28. Toyota Prius
    
29. Lexus ES 350
    
30. Chrysler 300
    

Hatchbacks and sedans dominate our list, and with good reason—they come in a great mix of shapes and sizes to suit you, and provide an unbeatable blend of practicality, style, and in some cases performance. At the smaller end is the Honda Civic, which is ideal for city driving. Larger options like the Nissan Maxima or Dodge Charger can seat five with plenty of comfort and space. And in the midsize bracket that blends the best of both worlds, you have picks like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.

If you're after some performance thrills, we've got that covered. The 2018 Dodge Challenger has a great selection of high-performance engines, from a 3.6L V6 up to a 6.2L supercharged V8 producing 707 horsepower. All of that comes in a car that's comfortable for everyday cruising.

If it's luxury you're after, you can't go wrong with the Lexus ES 350, or the Infiniti Q50 — both are bound to turn heads on your commute or as your run errands.

Looking to learn more? Check out these related articles to help you on your search:

• 25 Best Cars for the Money
• 10 Best AWD Cars
• 130 Best Used Cars

¹Based on prices on carmax.com from September 1, 2019 through February 29, 2020. Actual prices may vary based on your selected model year, features, and trim packages. Prices do not include taxes, tags, titles, and any applicable fees.
Unless otherwise noted, information related to these featured vehicles comes from third-party sources, including manufacturer information. Product and company names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of third-party entities. Use of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by these entities.