All-wheel drive, electrified and used, trying to find an affordable all-weather ride

I will choose 5 of the compounds I recently wrote about For my father, I am looking for used examples that are 2 to 5 years old (what we would call lightly user). Plus, I’ll add a couple of used EVs as well, just for good measure. The five examples used are: Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (hef), the Honda CR-V Hybridthe Prius AWDe hybrid, and a pair of Subaru (Impreza and Crosstrek). Added to the mix: used AWD versions of Tesla Model 3 And Model Y. It should be reasonably easy to find used examples of all of these models, and since all EV models at least have base models that start at less than $35,000 new, we should be able to find some price advantage by shopping used.

Oh wait, looks like I fell asleep for a moment. I thought we were still in 2019 and people weren’t really able to sell used cars for more than the equivalent new model could offer. Sorry about that! I looked up used prices on Craigslist for the two hybrid SUVs in this listing from Honda and Toyota. The lowest price I could find in the Seattle area was $35,000 for either (the Honda was a top 2020 model with just over 21k miles, but the RAV4 was a base 2021 model with 10.6k miles). both of them of these vehicles start at less than $35,000 MSRP new. Now, maybe I can find it for less in another city or another part of the area where I live, and of course the Honda was the top model and I’m comparing that to the entry level MSRP on a new model, but both cars should be priced At least $1,000 to $4,000 less than the asking price based on their blue book values, but Toyota was under $29,000 MSRP when new and Honda $37,000 and change (so at least its value has depreciated a whopping 5.4% in over 3 years). C’mon people, the pandemic-related supply chain issues have now sorted themselves out! The days of bloated used cars are supposed to be over (for now)!?! Sure, inflation (and the APR for car loans), limited supply, and rising gas prices are part of the equation here, but let’s go ahead and cross those two off the list in use for now. It’s probably worth noting that you can’t assume that any new car will sell for its MSRP; Usually traders Coding new vehicles Sometimes in amounts that cause nausea. But please, if any of you out there reading this see either of these used cars being sold for the more favorable price of $23,000-$27,000, leave a comment about where it is.

Let’s take a look at a used Toyota Prius AWDe. I know Toyotas and Priuses in particular are particularly reliable, but we’re looking for a car with lower mileage (preferably under 50,000 miles). Although I have found a few very high mileage or rebuilt Prii titles for $21,000 or less, they are not options due to those conditions. I could only find a used 2021 AWDe Prius, a mid-range XLE model, for $28,000 with 40,000 miles. Considering that the new version of this model has a $32,295 MSRP (and is a completely revised design with a slightly different, and perhaps more capable, all-wheel drive system), this used Prius looks just a little bloated. One could probably easily negotiate a better price for this car than a used SUV, but if you are also financing your next car, the fact that used car prices are usually a few percentage points higher, this used car may still cost almost as much as one New in terms of what the monthly payment will be. Strike 2.

What about that Subaru? user Cross trips They exist in abundance, but the cheapest I saw wasn’t a rebuilt title (and there were a lot (from rebuilt Crosstreks for some reason) It was $23,000 for a 2019 Premium model with 68,000 miles. Since the 2024 Premium model (one step up from the base) starts at $26,145 MSRP, those 68,000 miles and $3,000 in savings don’t seem worth it (and again, remember the higher interest rate you’ll be paying, too). . The same was true for the Impreza wagon although the best price I could find was only about $1,500 less than new for a 4 year old model with about 60,000 miles (and again, a lot of rebuilt Imprezas…hmmm). So, if my dad were buying a car today, I would tell him to forget looking at used gas cars.

But what about electric vehicles? This is where things get interesting. Although most Tesla Model 3 SUVs I’ve seen are rebuilt for under $30,000, I’ve seen at least one 2019 model for $29,995 (sold quickly) with a clean title and less than 50,000 miles on it in near-perfect condition. Considering that the Tesla would save my dad about $1,200 a year in fuel costs (assuming he drove about 12,000 miles a year and paid the average price of gas in Washington state right now), the price difference between a used Tesla and a Tesla of $30,000-$34,000 A new $28,000-$29,000 Toyota Prius or Corolla Cross hybrid will be manufactured within 1-5 years (all other things being equal, they may not consider the potential differences in the loan’s APR, the cost of insurance, and the cost of registration, etc.). Note that the Model Y would be $39,000+ and thus out of his price range, but considering he lives in California at present, if he is able to get the federal and state (and possibly local) incentives for a new electric vehicle , he may be able to get a brand-new Model Y for about $35,000 after incentives (and an AWD 3 for just over $32,000).

I think there is a lot to think about. what do you think? Are you looking for an efficient, low-priced/entry level car? Which one do you choose? Please leave your comments and questions below.

Images courtesy of Honda, Toyota, Subaru, and Tesla.

Justin Hart has owned and driven electric vehicles for over 15 years, including a first generation Nissan Leaf, a second generation Chevy Volt, a Tesla Model 3, an electric bike and most recently a Kia Sorento PHEV. He is also an avid SUP rider, poet, photographer, and wine lover. He enjoys taking long EV and PHEV road trips to beautiful, quiet places with the people he loves. Follow Justin at https://www.torquenews.com/kia for regular electric and hybrid news coverage.