10 Most Comfortable Used Cars Under $10k

2009 BMW 3 Series quarter2 ・ Photo by BMW

With the most comfortable used cars under $10K, shoppers on a budget don’t have to sacrifice things likes leather seating, a smooth-riding suspension, and a calm, quiet cabin. In fact, all of those features are available here, as are powerful engines, additional premium luxuries, and a dash of modern technology. That’s because we've found a healthy selection of upscale sedans, including some from the well-established luxury brands. But we’ve also got a few mainstream choices since these cars offer an alternative way to maximize comfort: After all, spending $10,000 on a mainstream sedan can sometimes get you more amenities than the same amount would for a “real” luxury car.

2010 Honda Accord

The 2010 Honda Accord, for example, may be a mainstream midsize sedan, but not only is the Accord among the segment’s leaders - $10,000 also can get you an EX-L V6 model from up near the top of the range. In that trim, you can enjoy heated and leather-trimmed seating, with the front row featuring heat and a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat. The driver benefits from a leather-wrapped steering wheel, too, and all occupants stay comfortable with the Accord’s dual-zone automatic climate control. Also, compared to many of the most comfortable used cars under $10K, the 2010 Accord represents a relatively recent choice, and cars often can be found with fewer than 90,000 miles on the odometer.

Photo by Wikimedia Commons

2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

For shoppers interested in moving up to a premium German brand, the 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class is easy to recommend as one of the most comfortable cars under $10K. Now, as opposed to the Accord, staying below our price ceiling with Mercedes probably means sticking with the entry trim. Yet the base-level E-Class—the E350—is certainly no stripped-out, low-content sedan. It’s a mid-size luxury vehicle that comes standard with 10-way power-adjustable front seats, a leather-trimmed multifunction steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, and low levels of noise, vibration, and harshness you expect in the cabin of a Mercedes sedan. For comfortable levels of rear-wheel-drive performance, the E350 relies on a 3.5-liter V6 engine for 260 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque.

Photo by Mercedes-Benz

2011 Buick LaCrosse

The 2011 Buick LaCrosse splits the difference between cars like the Honda Accord and Mercedes-Benz E-Class, thanks to its distinctive combination of upscale luxury cues and relative affordability. Indeed, the CXL trim from this model year serves up standard leather-trimmed seating, and both the driver and front-row passenger can relax in heated and eight-way power-adjustable bucket seats. The 2011 LaCrosse CXL also checks in with typical comfort content such as a leather-wrapped steering wheel and dual-zone automatic climate control. Helping the LaCrosse stand out from the most comfortable cars under $10K, however, is the Buick “QUIETUNING” process. Developed to boost comfort by eliminating unwanted cabin noise, it delivers an impressively hushed interior for both rows.

Photo by Wikimedia Commons

2010 Audi A4

From the compact segment, the most comfortable used cars under $10K include the 2010 Audi A4. This sophisticated sport sedan showcases leather seating surfaces, and keep in mind, those aren’t always available in larger cars that fit beneath today’s price ceiling. The standard seats in the A4 also are heated up front, and both the driver and front-seat passenger chairs have eight-way power adjustability. The standard steering wheel? That’s wrapped in leather as well. Another point to remember is that the A4’s list of standard content is anything but small, so that standard equipment extends to a power sunroof, 17-inch seven-spoke alloy wheels, automatic climate control, and a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that dials up 211 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque.

Photo by Audi

2008 Cadillac DTS

The 2008 Cadillac DTS is a bit of an old-school alternative for shoppers, though there’s no issue with the car’s comfort. As a full-size American luxury sedan, the DTS has a large and spacious interior, a traditionally soft and comforting ride, and a potent 4.6-liter Northstar V8 engine that makes 275 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Next, to join our roster of the most comfortable used cars under $10K, the DTS can stay below that price point with leather seating surfaces, a heated front row, and a heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel. The finishing touch is a particularly spacious rear seat, with 41.6 inches of legroom, to ensure optimum comfort in both rows.

Photo by Cadillac

2010 Lincoln Town Car

Of course, if you really want to go “old school” with the most comfortable cars under $10K, the 2010 Lincoln Town Car gets top grades. More than a foot longer than a current-day Lincoln Continental, the Town Car furnishes leather seating surfaces, eight-way power-adjustability and heating for the driver and front-row passenger, and a leather-wrapped, multifunction steering wheel with real-wood inserts. The Town Car also is one of the few vehicles to supply power-adjustable pedals at this price, to enable an extra dimension of comfort for owners. As for the Town Car’s relaxing approach to the road, credit goes to a standard V8, rear-wheel drive, and a compliant suspension.

Photo by Wikimedia Commons

2008 Toyota Avalon

Our research into the most comfortable used cars under $10K also turned up another mainstream comfort leader: the 2008 Toyota Avalon. With a suspension tailored for a smooth and forgiving ride, the Avalon Limited is in tight demand at $10,000, but a diligent search will have its rewards. And to be clear, those rewards can include fully climate-controlled front seats — with heat and ventilation — plus perforated leather trim and a power-adjustable driver’s seat with an also-powered seat-cushion extender. Naturally, the car’s steering wheel is likewise wrapped in perforated leather. A further advantage comes from the Avalon’s refined powertrain, which combines a 268-hp 3.5-liter V6 with a six-speed automatic transmission. Moreover, the Avalon’s full-size dimensions make for an especially roomy cabin.

Photo by Toyota

2008 Lexus ES 350

Lexus offers a variety of the most comfortable used cars under $10K, although the best combination of value and luxury may come with the 2008 Lexus ES 350. It’s already the more premium of the brand’s mid-size choices — as compared to the athletically oriented IS 350 — and it welcomes owners with standard 10-way power-adjustable front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, and an especially well-composed driving experience. The cabin of the ES 350 also has rich standard details, such as real walnut-wood trim, a power-adjustable steering-wheel column, and height-adjustable seat headrests for all positions. It’s worth noting, too, that some 2008 ES 350 models were produced with even higher levels of comfort content, like seats covered in semi-aniline leather.

Photo by Lexus

2009 BMW 3 Series

Though we just opted against the sportier Lexus in our previous pick for the most comfortable used cars under $10K, some customers do prefer to combine comfort and driving excitement. For those folks, we present the 2009 BMW 3 Series. More specifically, be on the lookout for a 335i, since these compact coupes are configured with a 300-hp turbocharged V6 engine and can sprint from 0-60 in 5.2 seconds. Yet, as you’re pinned back against the seats, you rub up against soft leatherette upholstery or available leather, and the front row has eight-way power adjustability and optional three-stage heating. If you’d rather rock a sedan, the 2009 328i can be had for less than $10,000 with all-wheel drive.

Photo by BMW

2006 Jaguar XJ

A slightly more exclusive choice among the most comfortable cars under $10K is the 2006 Jaguar XJ sedan. We’re not talking about any old XJ, either. Perhaps surprisingly, ten large will take home an ultra-lux Vanden Plas edition, complete with standard leather seating, a heated front row, power-adjustable pedals, a leather-wrapped and heated steering wheel, and dual-zone climate control. Plenty of leather and real wood also details the rest of car’s full-size cabin, which features a 12-speaker Alpine surround-sound audio system and full-function navigation. Under the hood, a standard V8 engine provides 294 hp, 303 lb-ft of torque, and enough output to go from 0-60 in 6.4 seconds.

Photo by Jaguar