When shopping on a budget, it's no surprise that you'll have to make some compromises. Some of those tradeoffs may include things such as quality and luxury, but among those things is also safety. Unlike many of those items I mentioned, safety, for many, is non-negotiable. When you and your passengers' lives are on the line, you don't want to make any compromises. That is why, for a lot of consumers, a shortlist of budget used cars will depend highly on the safety ratings of each entry.
How is car safety measured, however? While the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has its own safety ratings system, its testing parameters are often seen as rudimentary and do not reflect more realistic situations in which one would get into an automobile accident. A more trusted source is the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), whose tests have led to manufacturers having to increase their safety standards. According to them, here are 10 of the safest cars you can buy for less.
11 Mazda3 - est. $8,700
One affordable model that scores highly in the safety department is the Mazda3. This fun-to-drive compact is considered a "best choice" by the IIHS, not to mention often priced below $10,000.
Model years the IIHS recommends purchasing are 2014 or newer. These are exceptional cars due to their snappy driving manners, reliability, and excellent fuel economy, and they can be had in a manual.
10 Subaru Legacy/Outback - $8,300-8,800
The Subaru Legacy, available in wagon form in the United States as the Outback, is among one of the highest-rated midsize sedans by the IIHS. They recommend buying examples built after August 2012, which are highly likely to be found costing less than 10 grand.
They come with standard all-wheel-drive, and an optional manual transmission, and are known for lasting 200,000 miles or longer. These examples also came optional with Subaru's EyeSight adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, and collision avoidance system. In other words, it's a fantastic buy.
9 Ford C-Max - est. $8,400
The Ford C-Max is part of a rare segment in the United States, the compact MPV, rivaling only the Mazda5. It's also available only as a hybrid, making it exceptionally efficient. And, according to the IIHS, it's also a "best choice" for buyers on a budget.
Because the C-Max is based on the same platform as the agile Focus, its efficiency is also coupled with jovial driving manners. Plus, because Fords don't hold their value too well, you'll be sure to find one for less than $10k.
8 Mazda CX-5 - est. $10,200
If an SUV is what you desire, try the Mazda3's sport-ute counterpart, the CX-5. The IIHS recommends buying one from 2014 or later in order to be behind the wheel of what they consider to be a "best choice."
Like the Mazda3, the CX-5 is a delight to drive. This time, along with that you get added practicality and heightened ground clearance, making it a great option for those who need more trunk space or live amid rough terrains, respectively.
7 Chevrolet Volt - est. $10,500
If the efficiency of the C-Max hybrid isn't enough, no need to fret. The Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid is also highly lauded by the IIHS. Out for about a decade now, examples of the Volt have depreciated enough to where they're now very attainable.
Electric-only capability and liftback practicality are only some of the Volt's virtues. The interior contains modern tech that, while not as modern as some of today's cars, has still aged quite well. Plus, you'll be driving something unlike many cars on the road even now.
6 Mazda6 - est. $10,800
So you want a Mazda3, but you need more space. The CX-5 is an option, but you'd rather not pay the insurance premiums of an SUV. Enter the Mazda6, Mazda's midsize sedan used examples of which can go for pretty cheap.
Also considered a "best choice" by the IIHS, the Mazda6 features dynamic, daresay sexy styling, excellent fuel economy for its class, and a cavernous rear compartment, with the car seating five more than comfortably. The IIHS recommends buying model years 2014 or newer.
5 Toyota Prius V - est. $12,400
If in search of a safe gas saver, unfortunately, the legendarily efficient Toyota Prius does not make the IIHS's "best choice" list. However, model years 2015 through 2017 of the bigger, more practical Prius V do.
Roomy, efficient, and reliable, during its time in production, the Prius V even met the strict criteria of New York City's Metropolitan Transit Authority to be entrusted as a taxicab for its fleet, with many roaming the city blocks to this day. That said, most examples can be had for a pretty affordable sum.
4 Subaru Impreza - est. $11,000
If safety and capability are what you seek, but you don't need a car as big as something like an Outback, look no further than the Subaru Impreza. Model year 2015 is the one to get, so advises the IIHS.
Like the Legacy and Outback, the Impreza comes in both sedan and wagon form, and the reputation for reliability also carries over. Model year 2015 also comes optional with EyeSight, making it an especially safe vehicle.
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2 Honda CR-V - est. $14,900
Honda's compact crossover, the CR-V, continues to be one of America's best-selling vehicles, much in part due to its ironclad reliability, but also its safety. The IIHS considers model years 2015 and newer a "best choice."
On top of its longevity, the 2015 CR-V was the first car to come with Honda's Honda Sensing suite of safety technologies. These include adaptive cruise control, collision avoidance, and LaneWatch camera system.
1 Volkswagen Passat - $10,400
We typically wouldn't recommend German engineering on the cheap, but the newest-generation Volkswagen Passat makes an exception, especially where safety is concerned. The IIHS rates model years 2015 and 2017 as "best picks."
Safety wouldn't be your only reason for buying one of these sedans. Volkswagen's build quality—at least among non-luxury contenders—is superb. They also came optional with the storied 3.6-liter VR6 for those seeking tunability.