Best used compact cars, ranked by owner data

We ranked 15 used compact cars sold in the US and Canada in the last five years against each other on three measured things: problems reported by owners, the used asking price, and EPA combined fuel economy.

Data from October 2026. Sources: owner reports, Auto.dev US listings, EPA ratings. How we rank · Best compact cars

Toyota Corolla

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC)

#1 of 15

Toyota Corolla

Score 92 out of 100

  • Owner reliability (45 of 45 points): Owner reports list only isolated problems: the fewest on this list
  • Price (30 of 30 points): median used asking price $14,785 (42 US listings, all model years, Auto.dev): the lowest of the cars still sold new
  • Fuel economy (17 of 25 points): 33 mpg combined (EPA): better than about 68% of the gas and hybrid cars on this list
Used price
$12k–$19k (median $14,785)
Fuel economy
33 mpg
Owner reports
Owner reports list only isolated problems
Best recent year
2022

Best for

  • Most reliable by owners

    Toyota Corolla

    Owner reports list only isolated problems. Ranked #1.

  • Lowest used price, still sold new

    Toyota Corolla

    Median used asking price $14,785. Ranked #1.

  • Best fuel economy

    Toyota Prius

    52 mpg combined (EPA). Ranked #7.

The full ranking

  1. #1

    Toyota Corolla

    Score 92
    Used price
    $12k–$19k (median $14,785)
    Fuel economy
    33 mpg
    Owner reports
    Owner reports list only isolated problems
    Best recent year
    2022
    Why #1
    • Owner reliability (45 of 45 points): Owner reports list only isolated problems: the fewest on this list
    • Price (30 of 30 points): median used asking price $14,785 (42 US listings, all model years, Auto.dev): the lowest of the cars still sold new
    • Fuel economy (17 of 25 points): 33 mpg combined (EPA): better than about 68% of the gas and hybrid cars on this list
  2. #2

    Honda Civic

    Score 70
    Used price
    $15k–$23k (median $18,436)
    Fuel economy
    34 mpg
    Owner reports
    3 recurring problems in owner reports, none very frequent
    Main owner complaint
    AC compressor failure at low mileage (34,000 miles)
    Best recent year
    2017
    Years to avoid
    2022
    Why #2
    • Owner reliability (36 of 45 points): 3 recurring problems in owner reports, none very frequent: fewer than about 79% of this list
    • Price (13 of 30 points): median used asking price $18,436 (43 US listings, all model years, Auto.dev): lower than about 43% of the cars still sold new
    • Fuel economy (21 of 25 points): 34 mpg combined (EPA): better than about 82% of the gas and hybrid cars on this list
  3. #3

    Nissan Sentra

    Score 66
    Used price
    $11k–$18k (median $15,914)
    Fuel economy
    33 mpg
    Owner reports
    2 very frequent problems and 3 recurring in owner reports
    Main owner complaint
    CVT Transmission Failure (Pre-2024 Models)
    Years to avoid
    2018, 2019
    Why #3
    • Owner reliability (23 of 45 points): 2 very frequent problems and 3 recurring in owner reports: fewer than about 50% of this list
    • Price (26 of 30 points): median used asking price $15,914 (41 US listings, all model years, Auto.dev): lower than about 86% of the cars still sold new
    • Fuel economy (17 of 25 points): 33 mpg combined (EPA): better than about 68% of the gas and hybrid cars on this list
  4. #4

    Honda Insight

    Score 63
    Used price
    $17k–$22k (median $19,499)
    Fuel economy
    50 mpg
    Owner reports
    1 recurring problem in owner reports, none very frequent
    Main owner complaint
    Hybrid battery degradation/concerns
    Best recent year
    2021
    Years to avoid
    2019
    Why #4
    • Owner reliability (40 of 45 points): 1 recurring problem in owner reports, none very frequent: fewer than about 89% of this list
    • Price (0 of 30 points): median used asking price $19,499 (50 US listings, all model years, Auto.dev): lower than about 0% of the cars no longer sold new (this one until 2022)
    • Fuel economy (23 of 25 points): 50 mpg combined (EPA): better than about 93% of the gas and hybrid cars on this list
  5. #5

    Kia Forte

    Score 60
    Used price
    $14k–$18k (median $16,686)
    Fuel economy
    31 mpg
    Owner reports
    4 recurring problems in owner reports, none very frequent
    Main owner complaint
    Engine failure (oil consumption, piston ring issues, catastrophic failure)
    Why #5
    • Owner reliability (31 of 45 points): 4 recurring problems in owner reports, none very frequent: fewer than about 68% of this list
    • Price (15 of 30 points): median used asking price $16,686 (39 US listings, all model years, Auto.dev): lower than about 50% of the cars no longer sold new (this one until 2024)
    • Fuel economy (14 of 25 points): 31 mpg combined (EPA): better than about 54% of the gas and hybrid cars on this list
  6. #6

    Hyundai Elantra

    Score 53
    Used price
    $10k–$20k (median $16,174)
    Fuel economy
    31 mpg
    Owner reports
    2 very frequent problems and 4 recurring in owner reports
    Main owner complaint
    Major engine failure (requiring replacement)
    Best recent year
    2018
    Years to avoid
    2017
    Why #6
    • Owner reliability (18 of 45 points): 2 very frequent problems and 4 recurring in owner reports: fewer than about 39% of this list
    • Price (21 of 30 points): median used asking price $16,174 (43 US listings, all model years, Auto.dev): lower than about 71% of the cars still sold new
    • Fuel economy (14 of 25 points): 31 mpg combined (EPA): better than about 54% of the gas and hybrid cars on this list
  7. #7

    Toyota Prius

    Score 52
    Used price
    $13k–$28k (median $21,719)
    Fuel economy
    52 mpg
    Owner reports
    2 very frequent problems and 4 recurring in owner reports
    Main owner complaint
    Hybrid battery failure
    Best recent year
    2023
    Why #7
    • Owner reliability (18 of 45 points): 2 very frequent problems and 4 recurring in owner reports: fewer than about 39% of this list
    • Price (9 of 30 points): median used asking price $21,719 (50 US listings, all model years, Auto.dev): lower than about 29% of the cars still sold new
    • Fuel economy (25 of 25 points): 52 mpg combined (EPA): the best gas or hybrid on this list
  8. #8

    Mazda 3

    Score 49
    Used price
    No data yet
    Fuel economy
    28 mpg
    Owner reports
    1 recurring problem in owner reports, none very frequent
    Main owner complaint
    Outdated powertrain technology
    Best recent year
    2022
    Why #8
    • Owner reliability (40 of 45 points): 1 recurring problem in owner reports, none very frequent: fewer than about 89% of this list
    • Price (0 of 30 points): No data yet (no used listing prices)
    • Fuel economy (9 of 25 points): 28 mpg combined (EPA): better than about 36% of the gas and hybrid cars on this list
  9. #9

    Volkswagen Jetta

    Score 40
    Used price
    $12k–$24k (median $18,153)
    Fuel economy
    34 mpg
    Owner reports
    3 very frequent problems and 6 recurring in owner reports
    Main owner complaint
    Head Gasket Failures (2022-2023 1.5T models)
    Years to avoid
    2019
    Why #9
    • Owner reliability (2 of 45 points): 3 very frequent problems and 6 recurring in owner reports: fewer than about 4% of this list
    • Price (17 of 30 points): median used asking price $18,153 (46 US listings, all model years, Auto.dev): lower than about 57% of the cars still sold new
    • Fuel economy (21 of 25 points): 34 mpg combined (EPA): better than about 82% of the gas and hybrid cars on this list
  10. #10

    Hyundai Veloster

    Score 38
    Used price
    $7k–$10k (median $8,590)
    Fuel economy
    24 mpg
    Owner reports
    1 very frequent problem and 8 recurring in owner reports
    Main owner complaint
    Catastrophic Engine Failure (Theta II engines in base/Turbo models)
    Best recent year
    2020
    Years to avoid
    2016
    Why #10
    • Owner reliability (6 of 45 points): 1 very frequent problem and 8 recurring in owner reports: fewer than about 14% of this list
    • Price (30 of 30 points): median used asking price $8,590 (49 US listings, all model years, Auto.dev): the lowest of the cars no longer sold new (this one until 2022)
    • Fuel economy (2 of 25 points): 24 mpg combined (EPA): better than about 7% of the gas and hybrid cars on this list
  11. #11

    Volkswagen Golf

    Score 37
    Used price
    No data yet
    Fuel economy
    27 mpg
    Owner reports
    4 recurring problems in owner reports, none very frequent
    Main owner complaint
    Water pump and thermostat housing leaks (Mk7 GTI/R)
    Best recent year
    2020
    Years to avoid
    2016, 2017, 2019
    Why #11
    • Owner reliability (31 of 45 points): 4 recurring problems in owner reports, none very frequent: fewer than about 68% of this list
    • Price (0 of 30 points): No data yet (no used listing prices)
    • Fuel economy (6 of 25 points): 27 mpg combined (EPA): better than about 25% of the gas and hybrid cars on this list
  12. #12

    Volkswagen Golf R

    Score 30
    Used price
    $21k–$35k (median $28,989)
    Fuel economy
    26 mpg
    Owner reports
    2 very frequent problems and 2 recurring in owner reports
    Main owner complaint
    High Purchase Price (Mk8)
    Best recent year
    2018
    Years to avoid
    2017
    Why #12
    • Owner reliability (26 of 45 points): 2 very frequent problems and 2 recurring in owner reports: fewer than about 57% of this list
    • Price (0 of 30 points): median used asking price $28,989 (49 US listings, all model years, Auto.dev): lower than about 0% of the cars still sold new
    • Fuel economy (4 of 25 points): 26 mpg combined (EPA): better than about 14% of the gas and hybrid cars on this list
  13. #13

    Subaru Impreza

    Score 22
    Used price
    No data yet
    Fuel economy
    29 mpg
    Owner reports
    1 very frequent problem and 7 recurring in owner reports
    Main owner complaint
    CVT transmission problems
    Best recent year
    2023
    Years to avoid
    2019
    Why #13
    • Owner reliability (11 of 45 points): 1 very frequent problem and 7 recurring in owner reports: fewer than about 25% of this list
    • Price (0 of 30 points): No data yet (no used listing prices)
    • Fuel economy (11 of 25 points): 29 mpg combined (EPA): better than about 43% of the gas and hybrid cars on this list
  14. #14

    Volkswagen Golf GTI

    Score 17
    Used price
    No data yet
    Fuel economy
    27 mpg
    Owner reports
    3 very frequent problems and 3 recurring in owner reports
    Main owner complaint
    Perceived Unreliability / Costly Repairs
    Best recent year
    2020
    Years to avoid
    2017, 2019, 2022
    Why #14
    • Owner reliability (11 of 45 points): 3 very frequent problems and 3 recurring in owner reports: fewer than about 25% of this list
    • Price (0 of 30 points): No data yet (no used listing prices)
    • Fuel economy (6 of 25 points): 27 mpg combined (EPA): better than about 25% of the gas and hybrid cars on this list
  15. #15

    Subaru WRX

    Score 6
    Used price
    $18k–$28k (median $22,995)
    Fuel economy
    22 mpg
    Owner reports
    4 very frequent problems and 4 recurring in owner reports
    Main owner complaint
    Slow/unresponsive infotainment system
    Best recent year
    2021
    Why #15
    • Owner reliability (2 of 45 points): 4 very frequent problems and 4 recurring in owner reports: fewer than about 4% of this list
    • Price (4 of 30 points): median used asking price $22,995 (49 US listings, all model years, Auto.dev): lower than about 14% of the cars still sold new
    • Fuel economy (0 of 25 points): 22 mpg combined (EPA): better than about 0% of the gas and hybrid cars on this list

Not enough data to rank yet

These compact cars are sold here, but we won't rank a car on guesses.

  • Kia K4: too new to judge (on sale since 2024)

How we rank

  • Owner reliability, 45 points. Problems that owners report again and again, from our owner reports. A very frequent problem counts twice. Fewer problems than the other cars on this page earns more points.
  • Used price, 30 points. The median asking price in US listings (Auto.dev), all model years together. Cheaper than the others earns more.
  • Fuel economy, 25 points. EPA combined rating. Electric cars are compared only with other electric cars, in MPGe.
  • No guesses. A car needs enough owner reports and three years on sale to be ranked. A number we don't have earns 0 points and says "No data yet". We never compare NHTSA complaint counts between models, because they grow with the number of cars sold.

Questions

What is the best used compact car?
The Toyota Corolla ranks #1 of 15 with a score of 92 out of 100. Owner reports list only isolated problems, and its used price is $14,785 at the median.
Which compact car has the fewest owner-reported problems?
The Toyota Corolla: owner reports list only isolated problems.
Which compact car still sold new is the cheapest to buy used?
The Toyota Corolla, with a median used asking price $14,785, based on US listings.
How does CarWizz rank compact cars?
Each car is compared only with the other cars on this page. Owner reliability is worth 45 points, used price 30 points and EPA combined fuel economy 25 points. A car without enough owner reports is not ranked, and a missing number earns no points.

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