Five Popular Cars to Look for When Shopping Used

Choosing a used vehicle is a great way to save some money or make your budget stretch further to get more than you might be able to afford with a new car. That being said, looking at used cars for sale can quickly become overwhelming since you have so many different options to consider and look at. Here at DePaula Auto Group, we get it—we know precisely how confusing it can be to try to find the perfect used car, which is why we focus on providing the best customer service possible to help you get exactly what you need. Today, let’s take a look at some of the most popular sedans on the road these days, which can help you focus on used cars that you’ll find easily and with great features on them.

The Toyota Camry

The best-selling car on the market these days, the Toyota Camry, first hit the scene in 1983, and within two years, it had already sold more than 128,000 models. Developed as an option that would be enjoyable to drive while also keeping gas costs down, for the last 40 years, the Camry has established itself as a leader in the auto industry. The modern Camry doesn’t look much like that first model, but it carries on the same tradition of excellence in design and engineering.

As you look at different pre-owned Toyota Camry options, you don’t need to go as far back as its first generation, thankfully. Instead, we suggest you focus on more recent offerings, like a model from 2018 or later, which kicked off the start of the eighth generation for the Camry. If you want some of the latest features, look for one from 2021, when the Camry received a facelift and update for you to enjoy. With these years in mind, it’s easier to narrow down your options and focus on those cars that have what you’re looking for.

The Toyota Corolla

The fact that the Camry goes back to the early 1980s is impressive—that the Toyota Corolla has been available uninterrupted since the 1960s is incredible. First released for the 1968 model year, by 1974, the Corolla was the best-selling car in the world, and it has remained an incredibly popular option ever since. This is a compact car, which makes it perfect if you’re looking for something smaller for city driving or to keep your gas costs low. More than 50 million Toyota Corolla models have sold since it was first released, but we can help you focus on a few model years, so you don’t need to consider quite that many cars.

The earliest you should go with the Corolla is 2014, which launched this car’s 11th generation with a full redesign and major updates. If you’re looking for something with more modern features, the 2017 model year gave the Corolla a facelift and refresh, making it a good one to keep in mind. We particularly like models from 2020 and later, which is when Toyota released the 12th generation of the Corolla since they’ll get you the most modern features. Both of these Toyota cars are terrific choices that are well-known for incredible long-term reliability and performance, so you can’t go wrong with either of them.

The Honda Accord

If you’re not interested in a Toyota or simply looking for something different, then the Honda Accord is a great choice that’s been nearly as popular as the two Toyota models. The Accord is a midsize sedan that’s perfect for driving on your own, taking a date out for a night on the town, or even for a new family car. The Accord also has deep roots in the auto industry, going back to its initial release in 1978; in 1982, it became the first Japanese car manufactured here in the US, and it became the first import vehicle to be the best-selling car in the US in 1989.

As you’re looking at used Honda Accord models, the furthest back you might want to go is the ninth generation, which started with the 2013 model year. We’d suggest looking at models from 2016 and later, when the ninth-gen Accord received a facelift and update, or at models from 2018 and later to find the 10th generation. This will get you updated features and more modern technology in the Accord, along with a great car that you can rely on for a long time.

The Honda Civic

Next up, we have another Honda—yes, Toyota and Honda are the leaders in the industry when it comes to cars, much the same way that Ford and Chevy lead the pack for full-size trucks. The Honda Civic is a smaller compact model that has been around since 1972—it was a sporty, fastback sedan in those days and has changed a lot in the decades since then. This early Civic model was quite popular due to its efficiency amidst the Oil Crisis of the 1970s; a four-door sedan version didn’t make it to the US until the 1981 model year.

We wouldn’t suggest going quite that far back when looking for one of these used Hondas, however, and instead start with the 2013 model at the earliest, which saw a much-needed facelift and update for the ninth generation. For newer options, the 10th generation of the Civic launched with the 2016 model year, making it a great one to look for, or check out the refreshed 10th-gen Civic that kicked off with the 2019 model. You can’t really go wrong with either of these Honda models, which is why they’re both so popular; much like the two cars from Toyota, it largely comes down to what you’re looking for, the size that will best meet your needs, and what you can find.

The Hyundai Elantra

Although its roots don’t go quite as far back as the cars we’ve looked at so far, the Hyundai Elantra is another one that’s been around a long time and has proven itself many times over. First produced in 1990, the Elantra is a compact car that’s a great choice if you’re looking for something small but not interested in the Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic. After its launch, the Elantra was quick to start winning over drivers, and it’s been through numerous generations and updates since then.

As you look for a Hyundai Elantra, we’d suggest starting with models from 2017 or later, which kicked off the sixth generation of this compact car. This isn’t quite as far back as some of the other ones we looked at, but that just means you’ll find more modern options on it. For something with more updated tech or safety systems, consider a 2019 model, when the sixth-generation Elantra received a facelift and refresh. A seventh generation for the Hyundai Elantra kicked off with the 2021 model year, so that’s a great one to look for if your budget allows for something so recent.

Which Car Is Right for You?

If the best-selling cars are the ones you’re most interested in, then your focus should be on Toyota and Honda. Remember that you have plenty of other great options beyond those two brands, however, like the Elantra or other models such as the Kia Forte, Hyundai Sonata, and even the midsize Chevy Malibu. One of the great things about shopping for used vehicles is that you can even find older models that aren’t available anymore, like the Ford Fusion (discontinued in 2020), the Chevy Impala (also canceled after 2020), or the Kia Optima (replaced by the K5 in 2021). No matter what you’re looking for, here at DePaula Auto Group, we are ready to help you find it. Once you know what you want, you can contact us and let us handle everything else; we’ll make sure you drive away in a pre-owned sedan that you love.