Best deals on used small cars

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Best deals on used small cars

Mar 29, 2012 10:00 AM

If you're looking for a gas sipper to help save money at the pump, there are many used cars that make excellent choices. And if you do your research, you can buy one that is not only efficient, but safe and reliable, as well. To make it easier to find what you're looking for, we have identified some of the best used deals on fuel-efficient small cars.
Buying a used car has many benefits. Most importantly is that the original owner takes the initial depreciation hit, as new cars lose much more value in the first and second years than those that follow. Also, some used models may have the latest safety equipment (such as curtain air bags and stability control) and are still affordable.
When shopping, look for cars that scored well in Consumer Reports' tests when new, have proven to be reliable, and performed well in government and insurance industry crash tests. Before handing over the cash, have the vehicle inspected by a trusted mechanic to make sure there are no hidden problems.
Check out our top deals for recommended vehicles from the 2007-2008 model years. We placed the vehicles in order of the cheapest price you might be able to get when buying from the dealer. The models listed below are available for 13- and 40-percent less than the retail price when the vehicle was new. Plus, all of the models have at least average reliability, according to our latest subscriber survey.

Make & model	MSRP (new)	Selling to dealer avg price	Buying from dealer avg price	Drop in private sale vs. MSRP	Drop in retail value vs. MSRP
2008 Suzuki SX4	15,870	8,175	10,025	48%	37%
2007 Toyota Corolla LE	16,315	8,960	11,075	45%	32%
2007 Honda Fit Sport	15,970	9,330	11,350	42%	29%
2007 Volkswagen Rabbit	16,065	9,500	11,600	41%	28%
2008 Toyota Corolla LE	16,415	9,810	12,025	40%	27%
2007 Mazda3 i	14,795	10,010	12,100	32%	18%
2008 Honda Fit Sport	16,070	10,875	13,075	32%	19%
2007 Honda Civic EX	19,510	11,330	13,675	42%	30%
2008 Scion xD	17,349	11,950	14,150	31%	18%
2008 Volkswagen Rabbit	18,650	11,960	14,300	36%	23%
2008 Scion xB	16,600	12,185	14,400	27%	13%
2007 Toyota Prius	22,175	13,220	15,475	40%	30%
2008 Mazdaspeed3	22,440	14,800	17,175	34%	23%
2008 Toyota Prius	22,475	15,175	17,450	32%	22%
2008 Honda Civic Si	29,500	15,150	17,700	49%	40%
2007 Subaru Impreza WRX STi	33,495	22,070	25,225	34%	25%

Full used car pricing information is available to Cars Best Deals Plus subscribers on the model overview pages. Consumer Reports also offers individual Used Car Price Reports on vehicles from the 2002 - 2011 model years. Pricing information can be adjusted for vehicle condition, mileage and optional equipment.
See our complete list of used-car deals across a variety of vehicle categories.

—Liza Barth