10 Best Used Compact Cars Under $5,000

2012 Kia Forte blue driving ・ Photo by Kia

We searched deep into our inventories to find the 10 best used compact cars under $5000 for our budget-conscious shoppers. Obviously, these cars won’t have the most up-to-date technologies, nor will they feature high-end luxury content, but some are from premium brands so at least they'll have a certain level of upscale flair.

The good news is that both sedans and hatchbacks are available, attracting a wider range of customers, and those five-door entries can provide additional cargo space at any price. Is safety a priority? A number of these cars were IIHS Top Safety Picks, too, though that doesn’t mean they’d pass the current, more rigorous testing procedures. 

2010 Toyota Corolla

We kick off our gallery of the 10 Best Used Compacts Under $5000 with the 2010 Toyota Corolla. Notably, this was the first year that the Corolla came standard with the brand’s “Star Safety System.” The package bundles stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, electronic brakeforce distribution, and automatic brake assistance. We take that sort of stuff for granted now, but it’s often missing from similar cars of the same vintage. The Corolla was a 2010 IIHS Top Safety Pick as well. In terms of fuel economy, the entry-level 2010 Corolla has EPA ratings of 26 mpg city/35 mpg highway/30 mpg combined. This compares to the entry-level 2018 Toyota Corolla at a virtually identical 27 mpg city/35 mpg highway/30 combined.

Photo by Toyota

2009 Pontiac Vibe

Another one of Toyota’s best used compacts under $5000 was actually sold by an entirely different automaker. We’re talking about the 2009 Pontiac Vibe. The Vibe was a rebadged Toyota Matrix that was built in California as part of a joint venture between Toyota and General Motors. As a result, the Vibe delivers the same levels of reliability you expect from a Toyota vehicle—literally. Both the 2009 Vibe and the 2009 Matrix have the same four-star predicted reliability scores from Consumer Reports. A further benefit is the Vibe’s roomy interior. The rear cargo hold can fit 20.1 cubic feet of gear behind the rear seats, and with those seats folded, capacity expands to almost 50 cubic feet.

Photo by Pontiac

2008 Honda Civic

Many of the best used compacts under $5000 are older versions of the best new compacts from today. The 2008 Honda Civic, for example, can be as impressive for pre-owned customers as the 2018 lineup is for new-car shoppers. The 2008 Civic even offers a hybrid powertrain and one that runs on compressed natural gas, although these might be over our $5K ceiling. That said, the sedan model that is available at that price point has its share of advantages. This includes a still-modern exterior design and a predicted reliability rating of 4/5 from Consumer Reports. The 2008 model year also was the first to offer a leather-trimmed cabin for the Civic lineup, complete with optional heated front seats.

Photo by Honda

2011 Ford Focus

Depreciation can be a major concern for new-car buyers, but it can also provide some benefits on the pre-owned market. Consider: since a Ford Focus tends to depreciate quicker than a Honda Civic, its market value falls quicker. As a result, it reaches our preferred price point quicker, with newer models. The next car in our gallery is three model years newer than its Honda rival. Yet the 2011 Ford Focus has the same rating for predicted reliability from Consumer Reports as the Honda. The 2011 Focus also features optional content like SYNC infotainment technology, Bluetooth for both hands-free calling and audio streaming, and leather-trimmed seating with a heated front row.

Photo by Ford

2008 Subaru Impreza

The 2008 Subaru Impreza brings a special distinction to our list: it’s the only one with standard all-wheel drive for extra traction when the going gets rough. The Impreza then adds an extra dose of driver confidence with a 2008 Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS. Customers also can choose between two body styles for the 2008 Impreza, gaining extra versatility with the hatchback. With that model, which may be more expensive than the sedan, owners enjoy 19 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 44.4 with the rear seats folded. The sedan can fit a very competitive 11.3 cubic feet of gear in its trunk.

Photo by Subaru

2012 Kia Forte

The list of 10 Best Used Compacts Under $5000 also includes the 2012 Kia Forte, which has a few secret weapons of its own. Unlike some other cars here, the 2012 Forte comes with Bluetooth technology and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls as standard equipment. Those are the kind of features that can push some otherwise inexpensive used cars right out of our $5000 comfort zone. At the same time, the Forte is another entry that scored an IIHA Top Safety Pick certification for the year it was sold. The same year also saw some notable upgrades to the Forte. Among the highlights were refreshed interior and exterior designs. The Forte also is fairly economical, thanks to a standard EPA line of 25/34/28.

Photo by Kia

2012 Chevrolet Sonic

Prefer a made-in-America option when shopping for a used compact under $5,000? The 2012 Chevrolet Sonic checks that box since both hatchback and sedan body styles were built at GM’s Orion Assembly Center in Michigan. In fact, the 2018 Sonic and the 2018 Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicle, are still being assembled at the Orion facility. Getting back to the 2012 Sonic, it also serves up advantages like a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a striking interior design. The dashboard sets the tone with an asymmetric instrument cluster. On the left is a large analog tachometer set inside a circular frame, while the right side features a digital rectangular display for the speedometer and other gauges.

Photo by Chevrolet

2006 Acura RSX

For enthusiasts, the best used compacts under $5,000 include the 2006 Acura RSX. The RSX is a cult favorite among the sport-compact crowd, and it also was a critical favorite back in the day. By 2006, its last year in production, the RSX had notched three straight appearances on the annual “10Best” list from Car and Driver. Meanwhile, beneath its aggressive hood, the RSX carries a powerplant that’s a past winner of a Ward’s 10 Best Engines trophy. A standard track-tuned suspension and bolstered sport seats help complement the car’s athletic demeanor. Beyond its impeccable sports-car credentials, the RSX offers upscale standard touches such as a power moonroof, heated exterior mirrors, automatic climate control and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

Photo by Acura

2007 Audi A4

The 2007 Audi A4 brings a touch of luxury to our list of the 10 Best Used Compacts Under $5000. For starters, the A4 supplies a standard 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, real aluminum inlays, dual-zone automatic climate control, fog lights and even heated windshield washers. Premium power for the A4 comes from a standard 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that makes a peppy 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. Per Audi, that output is good for a top speed of 130 mph and the ability to dash from 0-60 in 7.4 seconds. To be clear, the A4 also has standard power windows and door locks, which can be missing from some of the other cars on today’s list.

Photo by Audi

2010 Scion xB

Designed and engineered by Toyota, the 2010 Scion xB combines versatility, high safety ratings, a relatively high level of technology, and an unmistakable exterior design. Key selling points for the xB include 21.7 cubic feet of standard rear storage, along with 60/40 split folding rear seats that enable a massive, but unspecified, increase in cargo space.  Also standard for the 2010 xB are a Pioneer audio system, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, power windows/locks, and a Top Safety Pick recognition from the IIHS. With all that and affordable pricing, the xB is an excellent way to wrap up our review of the 10 Best Used Compacts Under $5000.

Photo by Scion