What Is the Best Used Car to Buy?

If you’re looking for a high-quality new ride without breaking the bank, consider a used model from Santa Cruz Toyota! We pride ourselves on pre-owned cars with like-new quality and affordable price tags, whether you’re searching for a sedan, SUV, hybrid, or pickup truck. Buying a used car can be a bit intimidating if you haven’t done it before, since there are a lot of factors to consider, and you might be worried you aren’t getting a good value for your money. Luckily, the team at Santa Cruz Toyota is here to help! We’re committed to making the process of finding a new ride in Santa Cruz a breeze, so we’ve compiled a list of the best used cars to buy from Toyota and other popular brands below. 

The Best Used Cars to Buy From Toyota

We’ve taken our data from U.S. News & World Report, one of the leading experts on vehicle reliability and capability. In addition to reviewing new models, they also rank and examine pre-owned models, so drivers in Watsonville and beyond can get the best value for their money. Here’s what they have to say about Toyota pre-owned vehicles in four key categories: sedan, hybrid, pickup truck, and SUV.

• Best Used Toyota Sedan – 2011 Toyota Avalon – The Toyota Avalon has been a crowd-favorite for drivers interested in a reliable sedan packed with powerful specs and features.
• Best Used Toyota Hybrid/EV – 2010 Toyota Prius – The iconic Toyota Prius was the first major hybrid on the market, and it’s still going strong after over a decade! This hybrid is classified as a midsize sedan with plenty of space inside the cabin and excellent safety ratings. 
• Best Used Toyota Pickup – 2012 Toyota Tacoma – Whether you’re looking to haul heavy cargo to and from a worksite or take the family on an off-road adventure, you can’t go wrong with an affordable pre-owned Toyota Tacoma pickup truck!
• Best Used Toyota SUV – 2010 Toyota RAV4 – The formidable Toyota RAV4 may be classified as a compact SUV, but it packs a serious punch on the road as well as offering plenty of room for passengers and cargo alike.

The Best Used Cars to Buy From Other Brands

While Santa Cruz Toyota is primarily a Toyota dealership, we also offer pre-owned vehicles from plenty of other popular automakers! Here are four of the most reliable used cars from non-Toyota brands, again according to U.S. News & World Report:

• Best Used Sedan – 2018 Kia Rio – The crowd-favorite Kia Rio is a compact sedan that gets excellent gas mileage and delivers strong performance specs on the road. 
• Best Used Hybrid/EV – 2018 Tesla Model S – If you have a bit of a higher budget and you’re looking for a fully-electric ride, consider a used Tesla Model S! This spacious electric sedan features powerful acceleration, a smooth ride, and plenty of advanced technology inside the cabin. 
• Best Used Pickup – 2019 Ford F-150 – The iconic Ford F-150 is the flagship of the Ford brand, and it’s easy to see why when you get behind the wheel! 
• Best Used SUV – 2010 Honda CR-V – Like Toyota, Honda has a long history of reliability with their vehicles, and the compact CR-V is no different! This SUV boasts top-notch safety ratings and a roomy interior cabin for up to five passengers.

Find an Affordable Pre-Owned Ride at Santa Cruz Toyota!

Interested in a particular used model from our inventory? Contact our office to see if it’s available, and set up a test drive around Santa Clara! You can also contact us with any questions or for more information on the best used cars to buy right now. Be sure to keep up with our blog for more vehicle walkthroughs, automotive news, and service tips and tricks!