Best used cars under $15,000

By: Bruce Newton

Buying a used car can be a little more complex than buying new. In addition to finding the car that meets your needs and budget, there are a number of other factors to consider.

Ideally, you’ll also be looking for one with the lowest kilometres, a more recent build date, and a complete service history.

For this article, our budget is $15,000 and we’re cutting off our build date at 2010.

But just to add a bit more definition to the search, our contenders must have been awarded, in 2024, at least a four-star Used Car Safety Rating (UCSR) but preferably the maximum five-star rating.

The UCSR is a multi-decade research project run by Monash University Accident and Research Centre that rates the safety of the vehicles we drive based on the results of real-world accidents.

We’re adding some other parameters too. We want vehicles that are good to drive, affordable to run, reliable, and easy and cheap to repair if they do fail.

And we’re not just going to look at small cars either, even though that’s where the cheapest, newest used cars are to be found. We’ll also try and find some value family buys too and even something for the tradies.

Best Light car - Mazda2 2014 onwards

The current generation Mazda2 mini is entering its second decade of life. That’s old. But if you’re buying used that’s actually good news because there is plenty of choice out there.

For $15,000 the best you’re probably going to do is a late teens hatchback with around 100,000km on the clock.

Typical of Mazda, the 2 has earned itself a solid reputation for reliability through its lifespan. Part of the reason for that is a pretty simple mechanical package. There is one petrol engine on offer for all Mazda2s and it avoids complexities like turbocharging.

The Mazda2 is also imbued with Mazda’s sporty approach to driving, with direct steering, good handling and a revvy engine. The driver’s seat is a good one to occupy.

Certainly its better than the back seat, which is cramped and lacking in comfort features like air vents.

While all the fundamental design features are good, be aware the Mazda2 hasn’t always been at the forefront when it comes to equipment. Autonomous emergency braking was added in 2017 and Apple CarPlay in 2019.

The Mazda2 is one of only two vehicles on this list with a four rather than five-star UCSR rating. That’s a reflection of the fact that small cars come off second-best in impacts with much larger vehicles on our roads – of which there are many.

Best small car - Subaru Impreza 2012 onwards

Subaru has a fiercely loyal audience in Australia because it adds distinct character to its vehicles on top of those usual Japanese traits of high engineering, design, and build quality.

It achieves that in a couple of fundamental mechanical ways.

While most small cars are front-wheel drive, every Impreza is all-wheel drive. All-wheel drive adds grip and therefore handling surety, but it also adds weight and fuel consumption.

Every Impreza also comes with what’s called a boxer engine. It’s a layout Subaru likes because it’s compact and helps lower the centre of gravity, again aiding handling. So yes, the Impreza’s handling is pretty good.

For your $15,000 you’re most likely going to be shopping for a fourth generation 2012-2016 Impreza hatchback (there is a sedan, but it’s rare), or you might get lucky and find an early fifth generation (2016-24).

Best mid-size car - Toyota Camry 2011-2017

There’s a basic rule when buying a used car. Buy a Toyota. The problem is these days they’re pretty popular and have excellent resale values, so not many models qualify under our $15,000 price limit/2010 build limit.

But the Camry is one and here we’re predominantly talking about the Australian-manufactured Camry, which was launched in 2011 and phased out in 2017.

There is nothing too exciting about these Camrys. They are sturdy, simple and spacious.

There are lots of them around because they were pressed into fleet and government service by the thousands.

And there is no problem keeping them on the road given the massive Toyota dealer network and being very much a known quantity. The challenge is finding one that’s not a tired ex-taxi or Uber.

If you shop around, you might find an example of the more fuel-efficient hybrid, but the unassisted 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine also does a decent job.

Best family car - Holden Commodore VF 2013-2017

Because we’re moving up in size, the reality is the amount of choice within our parameters is not generous.

The Holden Commodore VF makes it onto the list mainly because it ceased production as a local model in 2017 (it launched in 2013).

That has an impact on resale values for less significant variants of the range like the entry-level Evoke V6. It’s a big, burly and spacious car that came as both a sedan and station wagon.

There’s plenty of room to fit the family and your luggage, although the lack of a folding rear seatback does stop long loads going into the sedan.

Be aware there are issues that need to be checked for when it comes to the VF, most notably the V6 engine timing chain, which can stretch or even break if not serviced properly. Electrical issues such as battery grounding and the infotainment screen have also caused problems.

There’s another Commodore we’ll mention here, the unloved-yet-competent ZB. Imported from Germany and sold in the dying days of Holden, there are low kilometre examples at appealing prices popping up these days.

Best small SUV - Mazda CX-3 2015 onwards

The Mazda CX-3 is a classic example of what this Japanese car company does so well.

First, come up with a basic concept aimed at a popular part of the market, then design a good looking exterior, install straight-forward mechanicals underneath and build it to a high standard.

The result is a popular city runabout that looks after its front-seat passengers in comfort and its driver in particular.

But the rear seat is tight and basic – a bit of a Mazda small car theme - and the boot is tiny. If you carry substantial loads look elsewhere.

You’ll be shopping in the early years of the CX-3 timeline at this price point, but the good news is they are very popular so there should be a decent choice.

Back in the teens, the CX-3 came with both petrol and diesel engines and front- and all-wheel drive. We’d avoid the diesel and go front-drive because it’s cheaper to buy and more economical to run.

Best mid-size SUV - Mazda CX-5 2012-2017

Like the CX-3, the CX-5 is a well-executed and reliable example of the SUV breed. It’s just that bit bigger and more spacious.

It also has a bigger 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine on offer, although the 2.0 does an adequate job. Just avoid the diesel, as there have been some issues with that engine through the years.

Within our price limit you’re going to be shopping in the latter years of the first generation CX-5, which ran from 2012 to 2017 in Australia.

The fundamental five-door five-seat offering is simple. But as per the engine line-up, the further you delve, the more comprehensive it all gets.

On offer are front-wheel drives, all-wheel drives, manual and automatic transmissions and from quite basic levels of equipment to quite luxurious.

Best family car - Nissan Pathfinder 2013 onwards

What started out as a rough, tough, go anywhere 4x4 off-roader had by this fourth generation evolved into a much more urban-focused soft-roader.

It traded diesel engines, manual transmissions, low range gearing and ladder frame underpinnings for on-road civility. It even came in front-wheel drive as well as all-wheel drive.

The core powertrain was a 3.5-litre petrol V6 that smoothly got the bulky seven-seat wagon up to speed, albeit sucking a reasonable amount of fuel to do it.

Later, a more frugal petrol-electric hybrid was offered. Early versions (2013-15) of this model Pathfinder are known to have transmission problems, so make sure it’s okay or has been repaired or replaced.

The Pathfinder was never a big sales success, but Nissan kept trying to grow interest with special deals and more equipment, so there are some appealing models around.

At our price point you’re going to be shopping in the early years of the range and the V6, with odometers spiralling well north of 100,000km.

But at least the Pathfinder is accessible. Better family SUVs of the equivalent mid-teen era like the second-generation Mazda CX-9 and third-generation Kia Sorento are in a higher price bracket.

Best people-mover - Honda Odyssey 2014-2022

Often maligned and usually ignored by family buyers in favour of SUVs, people-movers are in fact a very sensible automotive transport solution.

The trouble is not many of them are sold the so choice is pretty limited when buying used, especially if you’re capped at $15,000.

But one worthy of consideration did pop up in our trawl through the classifieds. The Honda Odyssey.

This is the final generation to be sold in Australia, which ended its run in 2022 when the plant closed in Japan where it was being manufactured.

Unlike its low-slung and quite handsome predecessors, this fifth generation Odyssey went for the big and bluff look, bulking up cabin space and swapping to sliding side doors.

The Odyssey offers up to eight seats and a minimum of seven seats in a very flexible cabin. Boot space is substantial and aided by moving the spare tyre up under the front seats.

It also drives capably in that typically well-engineered Honda way. The weakest part is the high-strung 2.4-litre petrol engine that has to work hard to keep this big vehicle moving. Naturally, that increases engine noise levels and has a negative impact on fuel economy.

Best ute - Holden Colorado

At this money, on this timeline, and with our four-star UCSR requirement, 4x4 ute pickings are slim.

You can forget about the Ford Ranger because it costs too much and the Toyota HiLux because it’s also costly and its UCSR ratings are poor.

In the end, we’ve thought a bit laterally and come up with the Holden Colorado. It’s a model that hasn’t been sold new since 2021, but there are some examples on offer in WA in our price range.

And from 2012 onwards it gets a four-star UCSR rating, which is better than most of its rivals.

At its core, the Colorado was a close technical relation of the Isuzu D-Max, but in design, engineering, and equipment there were substantial differences. It was made in Thailand and the best examples can be found after a 2016 overhaul.

The Colorado was a good example of the ute breed, with a simple and strong 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engine and 4x4 go-anywhere ability.

However, it does miss out on AEB, a safety feature that only started flowing into utes in more recent years.

Although Holden is no more, parts and service back-up is handled by parent company General Motors, which is still on the ground in Australia.