When on the hunt for a great used car, there are many things to consider. Safety, value, and insurance rates for that specific vehicle are very important and can be defining factors in your purchase; commented Evelyn C, president of American US Insurance, a Florida Independent Insurance agency based in Boca Raton. But what makes a great car great?
We’ve compiled a list for you of the best used cars of 2021 to make your search even easier!
Car Inflation Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Before diving into our list, it’s important to gain some background knowledge on the current state of used car shopping.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the price of used cars to skyrocket by 32% within the first six months of 2021 (Bartash). Low supply coupled with high demand resulted in a shortage. Rental car companies begun purchasing used cars instead of new vehicles because they simply couldn’t find enough new ones anymore. In addition to this, people were moving out of the city and needing cars for the first time or straying away from public transportation due to social distancing. Chief economist Gus Faucher of PNC Financial Services stated that, “Used-car prices are temporarily elevated because of very strong demand from stimulus payments, people returning to work, and limited supplies of new cars. Used-car prices will fall back to Earth later this year as new-car production picks back up.” (Bartash).
This was at the beginning of the year, but as the Delta variant continues to thrive the future of used cars remains unknown.
Cars with the Best Resale Value of 2021
Car depreciation is something that plagues us all. It’s important to consider this when purchasing a auto because you may not need it forever.
On average, a brand new car will only hold 40% of its value after 5 years. That’s a huge deal when you’re talking about such a big investment. SUVs tend to hold their value a bit longer than sedans, but the biggest factor in all of it is brand. Choosing a car brand and making sure it has a great resale value will let you keep the biggest amount of your money.
This year, Toyota ranked #1 for the Best Resale Value. It won this award in 2014, 2017, 2018, and 2019 as well, making it a great choice for a used car. If you’re looking for a more luxury brand, Porsche just won the Best Resale Value: Luxury Brand category for the fifth year in a row! (Bartash)
While car hunting, pull up the car you’re looking at and compare its resale value to other similar autos. If it’s losing a lot of value quickly, there’s probably a reason.
Best Cars of 2021
The Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) and The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) publish a list every year of the safest new cars. They also publish a list of the best and safest used cars.
All of these cars have the following,
“All listed vehicles earn good ratings in the IIHS moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests, as well as a good or acceptable rating in the driver-side small overlap front test. If rated by NHTSA, they earn 4 or 5 stars overall or 4 or 5 stars in the front and side tests under the old rating scheme. All come with standard electronic stability control and have a curb weight greater than 2,750 pounds.
These vehicles have above-average reliability scores from CR for the majority of model years listed and CR emergency handling scores of 3 out of 5 or higher. They also have dry braking distances (going from 60 mph to zero) of 145 feet or less.
Vehicles with substantially higher than average claim frequency under medical payment or personal injury protection coverage are excluded from this list.” (IIHS)
All of these vehicles are tested to be safe and have some of the lowest insurance claims because of their safety, making them dependable and reliable.
The Best Used Cars of 2021 are as follows, in no specific order, as per the IIHS and the HLDI.
- Mazda 3 sedan or hatchback 2014 or newer $8,100
- Toyota Prius 2014 or newer $8,600
- Hyundai Elantra GT 2018 or newer $15,200
- Subaru Crosstrek 2017 or newer $17,900
- Honda Insight 2019 or newer $18,200
- Toyota Prius Prime 2017 or newer $18,200
- Toyota Corolla hatchback 2019 or newer $18,300
- Kia Niro 2019 $18,600
- Subaru Impreza sedan and wagon 2019 $19,400
Midsize cars Model years Price
- Subaru Outback 2013 or newer $8,700
- Subaru Legacy 2013 or newer $8,800
- Mazda 6 2014 or newer $10,100
- Lincoln MKZ 2013, 2016, 2018 or newer $10,300
- Honda Accord sedan or coupe 2013 or newer $10,900
- Volkswagen Passat 2016-17 $11,400
- Toyota Prius v 2015-18 $11,600
- Volkswagen Jetta 2017 $12,900
- Volvo S60 2016, 18 $14,100
- BMW 3 series 2017 or newer $17,900
Large cars Model years Price
- Ford Taurus 2014 $9,600
- Hyundai Genesis 2016 $18,700
Small SUVs Model years Price
- Mazda CX-5 2014 or newer $9,300
- Nissan Rogue 2014, 2016-18, 2020 $10,100
- Subaru Forester 2016 or newer $13,500
- Honda CR-V 2015 or newer $14,800
- Kia Sportage 2017, 2018, 2020 $14,800
- Toyota RAV4 2015 or newer $14,900
- Honda HR-V 2017 or newer $15,400
- Hyundai Kona 2018 or newer $15,800
- Buick Encore 2018-19 $16,300
- Hyundai Tucson 2018 or newer $16,800
- Mazda CX-3 2019 or newer $17,800
- Volvo XC60 2017 $19,200
Midsize SUVs Model years Price
- Chevrolet Equinox 2017, 2019 $13,700
- Nissan Murano 2015 or newer $14,800
- GMC Terrain 2017, 2019 $15,100
- Lexus NX 2015-16, 2018 or newer $16,000
- Kia Sorento 2017-18 $16,500
- Hyundai Santa Fe 2017-19 $18,700
- Ford Edge 2018 or newer $19,600
- Mazda CX-9 2017 or newer $19,600
- Audi Q5 2016-19 $19,800
Minivans Model years Price
- Toyota Sienna 2015-16 $13,900
- Honda Odyssey 2016 $15,400
- Kia Sedona 2017 $15,600
Insurance
With any car, having adequate insurance coverage is vital. Retaining the value of your vehicle can be as simple as making sure your insurance covers bumps and scratches. If you’re looking for a good car insurance coverage in Florida at the best price, look no further! With multiple coverage options, we are happy to help you get the right coverage you need.
https://amerinsured.com/personal-insurance/car-insurance
Sources:
http://marketwatch.com Bartash, Jeffry. “Why Used-Car Prices Are Driving U.S. Inflation Higher - and Why It Won't Last.” MarketWatch, MarketWatch, 13 July 2021, www.marketwatch.com/story/why-used-car-prices-are-driving-u-s-inflation-higher-and-why-it-wont-last-11626193391#:~:text=In%20the%20first%20six%20months,brought%20on%20by%20the%20pandemic.
www.iihs.org “Safe Vehicles for Teens.” IIHS, www.iihs.org/ratings/safe-vehicles-for-teens#best.