So you’ve got your heart set on owning a used Chevy, but don’t know which year and model to buy? You’d think it would be easy to find a list of the top used Chevrolets for each type of vehicle (midsize, sport, etc.), but you’d be wrong! When I first started looking for information on these used cars, I realized this gap and decided to put one together. This is a list of the top Chevys for each vehicle type according to U.S. News & World Report, a site providing unbiased ratings and reviews on cars to help car-buyers. It’s important to note that these Chevy models didn’t necessarily score top in their class, but they did rank highest for American-blooded manufacturer in each category.
Best Used Small Cars under $10K
2012 Chevrolet Volt
The 2012 Volt is something of a modern car. It’s got two electric motors and a four-cylinder gasoline engine which feeds the electric motors when the car’s batteries die. This makes it both a hybrid vehicle and our top small car for Chevy’s. The 2012 Volt can travel 35 miles on just one charge and gets 35/40 mpg city/highway when running on gas.
Best Used Hatchback Under $10k
2013 Chevrolet Sonic
This subcompact car brings sharp handling, smooth transmissions, and a comfortable and spacious interior to drivers. It also features ample cargo space and generous legroom for backseat passengers. As an added bonus, the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic scored above-average in reliability ratings. This model gets 25/29 mpg city and 33/40 mpg hwy.
Best Used Compact Car Under $10k
2014 Chevrolet Cruze
The 2014 Chevrolet Cruz ranks as one of the top compact used cars, scoring 7th place this year out of all used makes and models. This car is known for its comfortable ride, composed handling, and appealing and classy cabin. The 2014 Cruze gets excellent fuel economy with its diesel engine, achieving 22/28 mpg city and 35/46 mpg hwy.
Best Used Midsize Car Under $15k
2012 Chevrolet Malibu
The 2012 Malibu brings a bit of comfort and style to the everyday. According to U.S. News, the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu’s interior is both attractive and user-friendly and features large knobs and buttons for audio and climate controls, easy-to-read gauges, and high-quality materials. The front seats are also surprisingly spacious. For a mid-size car, the 2012 Malibu is an excellent choice, offering 17/22 mpg city and 26/33 mpg hwy.
Best Used Large Car Under $15k
2010 Chevrolet Impala
The 2010 Impala can be had for a fantastically low price without sacrificing safety, rated a 9.2 in crash test scoring. This car is sometimes referred to as dated because of its 4-speed automatic transmission, but it’s a quiet comfortable ride for up to 6 people! The 2010 Impala has a simple interior style and gets 17/18 mpg city and 27/29 mpg hwy.
Best Used Sports Cars Under $20k
2010 Chevrolet Camaro
This classic sports car is truly all-American. It ranks high for its powerful base engine and deft handling. Its cool-factor is somewhat diminished by its cramped quarters, but its power is unquestionable, with 304 horsepower. The Camaro was reintroduced in 2010 and features soft suspension and decent fuel economy. This sports car gets 17/18 mpg city and 29 mpg hwy.
Best Used Wagons Under $20k
2010 Chevrolet HHR
The 2010 Chevrolet HHR is one of the highest rated wagons in terms of fuel economy, though it does have less cargo space than other makes and models it competes with. This makes the HHR’s total cost to own very high, rated a 9.4 in that category. This vehicle can be configured with a variety of engines: two four-cylinder engines and a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. In total, the Chevy HHR gets 19/22 mpg city and 29/32 mpg hwy.
Best Used Subcompact SUVs Under $15k
2015 Chevrolet Trax
The 2015 Chevrolet Trax scores high in its class because of its excellent safety scores, strong maneuverability, and good reliability ratings. The 2015 Trax comes in both FWD and AWD varieties and is known for being very maneuverable and to have great fuel economy estimates. The Chevrolet Trax gets 24/26 mpg city and 31/34 mpg hwy.
Best Used Midsized SUVs Under $20k
2009 Chevrolet Traverse
2009 was the first year that the Chevrolet Traverse was on the market and drivers have loved it. This mid-size SUV is sleek, spacious and quiet, sitting between 7 and 8 people. The 2009 Traverse has excellent safety scores tons of cargo and passenger space, so it’s a great family vehicle. The Traverse comes in both FWD and AWD and receives 16/17 mpg city and 23/24 mpg hwy.
Best Used Large SUVs Under $30k
2010 Chevrolet Tahoe
As far as affordable, large SUVs go, this is surely a winner. The 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe can tow heavy freight and has three rows of seating. So if you need to haul your kid’s soccer team around, this might just be the vehicle for you! The Tahoe handles well and has one of the higher fuel economy ratings in the SUV class. It gets 15 mpg city and 21 mpg hwy.
Best Used SUVs with 2 Rows under $15K
2013 Chevrolet Equinox
The used SUVs with two rows, the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox ranks near the top. This vehicle has a strong four-cylinder engine and boasts a perfect reliability score! In fact, the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox has some of the best safety scores in this segment! The interior of the Equinox is known to be quite versatile as well. It comes in AWD and FWD and gets 16-22 mpg city and 23/32 mpg hwy.
Best Used Compact Truck Under $20k
2010 Chevrolet Colorado
The 2010 Chevy Tahoe is the perfect choice for someone who has things to haul, but doesn’t necessarily need a truck for work or heavy lifting. Its total price of ownership rating is very high because of this. For a small truck, it still can seat between 3 and 6 people, so there’s versatility between transporting passengers and cargo. The 2010 Chevy Tahoe gets 14/18 mpg city and 19/25 mpg hwy.
Best Used Full-Sized Trucks Under $25k
2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
The 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has powerful engines and ranks highly among full-sized pickup trucks. Its has strong V8 engines offering ample power, showcases a comfortable and spacious interior, and is known to be a comfortable ride. The 2009 Silverado 1500 generally receives high praise from reviewers and gets 12/15 mpg city and 18/21 mpg hwy.
I hope this complete list of the top rated used Chevys by category helps you begin your search for the perfect used Chevrolet! Find an expert at your local Chevrolet dealership to help you find the best used cars for your needs. Head over to McCluskey Chevrolet in the Dayton, OH area to test drive today!
