Looking to buy a used car? Here are the 15 best

By Paul A. Eisenstein, The Detroit Bureau

The Detroit Bureau

The 2010 Toyota Prius; one of 15 Used Car Best Bets.

It’s not been a great year for used car buyers. Prices have been soaring because of inventory shortages – in large part because with fewer new cars sold during the recession there are now fewer new cars entering the “previously owned” vehicle market.
The good news is that inventories are once again rising – which means used car prices are beginning to fall, according to a new report by the Black Book, a used car pricing and tracking service. In the meantime, vehicle quality is reaching an all-time, something true for both used cars and new.

So, the question is which are the best used car to buy? The folks at Edmunds, an automotive data tracking and testing service, have compiled a list of 15 best bets. This isn’t just a beauty contest. The selections were based on criteria including reliability, safety, value and, yes, availability. It wouldn’t help to pick a product consumers can’t find. The list was limited to vehicles now between two and seven years old.
The list includes a total of 11 different brands, but four marques appear twice, Ford, Honda, Hyundai and Toyota. (Nissan is there twice, as well, if you include both the Nissan and Infiniti brands). The editors’ picks:

• Compact Sedan: 2005-2010 Hyundai Elantra
• Midsize Sedan: 2005-2010 Nissan Altima
• Large Sedan: 2006-2010 Hyundai Azera
• Coupe: 2005-2010 BMW 3 Series
• Convertible: 2005-2010 Mazda Miata
• Wagon: 2005-2010 Pontiac Vibe
• Compact SUV/Crossover: 2005-2010 Honda CR-V
• Midsize SUV/Crossover: 2005-2010 Ford Explorer
• Large SUV/Crossover: 2005-2010 Chevrolet Tahoe
• Minivan/Van: 2005-2010 Honda Odyssey
• Compact Truck: 2005-2010 Toyota Tacoma
• Large Truck: 2005-2010 Ford F-150
• Luxury: 2005-2010 Infiniti G35/G37
• Hybrid: 2005-2010 Toyota Prius
• Sport Compact: 2005-2010 Subaru Impreza WRX

How much you’ll pay varies widely, not just on the age but also the condition of the vehicles listed here. Costs vary widely by region, and equipment levels play a major role, of course. Even vehicle color can be influential. Black cars tend to be hard to sell in Phoenix or Miami this time of year. All-wheel-drive models can command a premium in the Snowbelt when winter arrives.
But the big bubble in used car pricing may finally be at an end.
“Almost a million more used vehicles will be added to the industry this year as a result of more trade-ins on new-car sales,” said Ricky Beggs, auto analyst at Black Book USA. “This is a significant driver of lower prices, combined with additional rental cars being sold at auction and dealers preparing for the coming 2013 models.”

15 Best Family Cars of 2012

A Mix of High Mileage Cars as Well as Budget, Crossover, Eco-Friendly and Large Family Vehicles Make the List
SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Parents and Edmunds.com, the leading online resource for car buyers, today revealed their list of the Best Family Cars for 2012. For the fifth consecutive year, car experts from both organizations scrutinized hundreds of vehicles focusing on safety and reliability as top priorities. Each car was also judged on performance, interior, exterior and family-friendly features. Every car on the list is equipped with antilock brakes, electronic stability control and a minimum of six air bags. Plus, a record 14 vehicles recommended by Parents/Edmunds.com earned a “Top Safety Pick” designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
In addition to test-driving, analyzing, and comparing prices and features, Parents and Edmunds.com consulted parents who own and drive these vehicles every day. The Best Family Cars of 2012 feature appears in the July issue of Parents magazine on newsstands June 12th.
According to Parents and Edmunds.com, the 15 Best Family Cars of 2012 (and their MSRPs) are:

HIGH MILEAGE CARS

• Toyota Prius V, starts at $26,400
• Honda Civic Hybrid, starts at $24,200
• Chevrolet Cruze Eco, starts at $19,245

BUDGET

• Chevrolet Sonic, starts at $13,865
• Ford Focus, starts at $16,500
• Hyundai Elantra, starts at $15,345

CROSSOVERS

• Mazda 5, starts at $19,625
• Kia Sorento, starts at $23,150
• Honda CR-V, starts at $22,495

SEDANS

• Volkswagen Passat, starts at $19,995
• Toyota Camry, starts at $21,955
• Kia Optima, starts at $21,000

LARGE VEHICLES

• Dodge Durango, starts at $28,995
• Toyota Sienna, starts at $25,060
• Honda Odyssey, starts at $28,375

To read more about the 15 Best Family Cars featured in the magazine, go to: http://www.parents.com/parenting/money/car-buying/best-family-cars-2012/.
About Parents:
Parents, published monthly by Meredith Corporation, has been America’s #1 family magazine for more than 85 years. Since its inception in 1926, it has been a trusted source by every generation of parents. Currently, the magazine is a powerful community of nearly 16 million readers devoted to supporting the efforts of parents, educators and other citizens who strive to make the world a better place for our children. Parents can be found online at http://www.parents.com/.
About Edmunds.com, Inc. (http://www.edmunds.com/about/)
Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information, launched in 1995 as the first automotive information Web site. Its acclaimed mobile site, Edmunds.com Android App and five-star Edmunds iPhone and iPad apps make car pricing and other research tools available for car shoppers at dealerships and on the go. Its automotive enthusiast web site, InsideLine.com, is the most-read car publication of its kind. Its highly regarded mobile site and iPhone app features the wireless Web’s most comprehensive gallery of automotive photos and videos. Edmunds.com Inc. is headquartered in Santa Monica, California, and maintains a satellite office in suburban Detroit. Follow Edmunds.com on http://www.twitter.com/edmunds and fan Edmunds.com on Facebook.