Best 5 Used Cars (small and sedan) in Canada Under $15,000 in 2018
These are the Best 5 Used Small and Sedan Cars in Canada Under $15,000. If you are looking for the Best Affordable Used Cars these are some of your best options.
When you’re buying a used car, there are many factors to take into consideration. The good news is you don’t have to sacrifice efficiency and luxury in the used market, especially when it comes to small cars.
Regardless of the car you want and choose, you must do your research, so you can get the best value for your money, wants and needs.
There are many selections of used cars under $15,000 in Canada and their sizes run from small to full-sized SUV and trucks. Their age range also runs the gamut, so it will be up to you to decide which year you’re comfortable with when purchasing a used car. We’ll start with the small and sedan edition of buying a used car in Canada. We came to our conclusions for this list by comparing overall value (features and resale) with safety rating and fuel efficiency.
Car Buying Checklist
Before you shop, review the quick checklist we created below so you can decide which features are of the most importance:
Best 5 Used Cars Under $15,000 (small and sedan)
Honda Civic
Honda Civic
Years: 2013-2015
Price range: The average price of a used Civic now ranges between $11,800 to $14,000 at dealers according to Autotrader.ca (source for all the price ranges covered in this article).
Edmunds New Car Buying Guide, a recognized authority in the auto industry, rated the Civic in these years best of their small car list. An improvement on earlier Civic models, you can purchase a coupe or sedan with either manual or automatic transmission, with several tech options (like LaneWatch monitor, interior touch screen on the multimedia system, auto theft deterrent and more). Also has a hybrid option and is spacious for a small car with average of 11.7 cu ft. as it’s max cargo volume (coupe base). It’s considered a fun sport drive, with 205 horsepower. Its fuel economy isn’t bad either at 6.7 L/100km.
Volkswagen Hatchback GTI
Volkswagen Hatchback GTI
Years: 2010-2012
Price range: $8,200 to $15,000. VW’s have very good resale value, especially older model years if they have true German-made parts.
VW discontinued the two-door model of the GTI in 2014, so if you’re looking for that feature, this car is for you. The car boasts excellent performance with 200 horsepower, zooming from 0-100km in 7.2 seconds, excellent cargo space and roomy seats. Fuel efficiency is one of the best at 6.6 L/100km on the highway and 10L for city driving.
Special note: If you want to save more money, you can get older models from 2005-2007, where average prices ranged between $6k to $8k. Pros of going with a bit older models is that diesel engines live a long time, and if you maintain the body integrity, you can have a really great car for a long time. A big con is that VW maintenance costs are generally higher than other makes. If you’re handy, then it may be a good investment.
Volvo S60
Volvo S60
Years: 2009-2011
Price range: $11,500 to $15k+ (median even within this range was about $13,500). Like VW’s, Volvo’s will last a long time if you’re willing to put in the maintenance costs.
Volvo coined and created “pedestrian detection” when they created a system that had a full auto brake system, a solid-safety feature for anyone worried about little ones around the driveway (or those who can’t seem to get off their cell phone). The S60 is sporty little sedan (boasting 300 horsepower) and is both sleek, like a coupe, but elegant in ways only Volvo can be with classic racetrack features. Like it’s predecessors, this car is solid and safe, with excellent safety ratings. They go above-and-beyond with improved spinal support headrests that move backward a little bit upon being rear-ended (earning a top rating for headrest safety from Sweden). Fuel efficiency is good, at 9.9L/100KM. With an original price tag of almost $50k, this is one of the best deals for age on our list.
Kia Rio5
Kia Rio5
Years: 2013-2016
Price range: $9000 to $13,500
Kia continues to dominate the budget car market by delivering excellent value on all fronts. Edmunds user ratings give the Rio5 a general rating of 4.5 stars. The Rio5 handles like a sports car in terms of control, but drivers can enjoy comfort that sportier vehicles generally skimp on. If you choose the hatchback, you’ll be surprised with how roomy it is inside. It has 138 horsepower and boasts a very impressive 4.9-6.8L/100km! The Rio5 comes in several models and trims, which can alter the price a bit.
Mazda 3
Mazda 3
Years: 2011-2014
Price range: $10,000 to $14,500 (note: some very low mileage options appeared over $15k during our research, but these are rare).
With 155 horsepower, almost as much torque and impressive 8 city, 5.8 highway on the manual and 7.9 city, 5.7 on the automatic, the Mazda3 lives up to it’s zoom-zoom marketing gimmick. According to driving.ca, the Mazda3 is one of the best-handling compact cars on the market for its price-point. You can enjoy its modern multimedia system, heated seats & mirrors and even rain-sensing windshield wipers. There are two packages that these years could come with either the leather package or the touring package which varies on their bonuses (like fog lights, adjustable driver seat, etc).
The easiest way to buy a car in Canada
Did you see a car you like? Canada Drives can deliver it to your door!
Get pre-approved online today to know exactly what model year or trim you can fit into your budget and get access to hundreds of great deals on certified pre-owned vehicles.
