Budget-Friendly Used Cars Under $10,000
When you’re ballin’ on a budget, it can be hard to find a reliable car that is also affordable. The best used car dealerships can help you with this problem. Why? They make sure they have cars that cost less than $10,000 in their inventory, along with more expensive ones, because they want to be able to help everyone get into a nicer, newer car that they love and can afford.
Quick Auto is one of those used car dealerships in Indiana. Our large inventory across seven locations means we have a ride that will meet your needs, including your shopping budget.
Check out these on-budget used cars you can regularly find on our lots and learn how they can support your monthly financial goals.
Find a Chevrolet Cruze At Our Used Car Dealership Near You
The Basics
The Chevy Cruze is a compact four-door sedan that’s big on style. It was produced from 2011 to 2019, meaning there are eight model years to choose from at a used car dealership, although only the older years could cost $10,000 or less. Features will vary by model year.
Inside the Cruze
Compared to its counterparts from other automakers, the Chevy Cruze interior is more spacious and comfortable and made of higher-quality materials. It seats five people - two in front and three in the back seat. A 15.4 cubic-foot trunk carries plenty of cargo. For reference, that is the same amount of space as inside a standard refrigerator!
The newer the model, the more tech features it will have. For example, the 2012 Chevy Cruze was originally made with a CD stereo and MP3 jack, but a 2019 will have Bluetooth and other smartphone connectivity options.
Under the Hood
The Cruze was built with a few kinds of four-cylinder engines, including a 1.8-liter and some with a turbocharger. A four-cylinder is one of the most economical gas-powered engines you can find; the turbocharger adds power and zip without guzzling gas.
Is the Chevy Cruze Safe?
Staying on budget when buying a used car is important, but you also want to know the used car you’re buying is as safe as possible. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named the Cruze as one of their Top Safety Picks many years in a row.
The Chevy Cruze was the very first affordable company car to include 10 airbags as part of the standard safety package. Keep in mind that in 2012, only two were required - driver’s and passenger’s front airbags!
The Cruze also has seat-mounted side-impact airbags for all four seats, curtain airbags that cover the side windows on both sides, and front knee airbags. In 2012, other standard safety features included anti-lock brakes and an electronic stability system.
Shop For a Chevrolet Sonic In Indiana
The Basics
The Chevy Sonic is a compact four-door sedan or hatchback known for its aggressive styling. It was produced from 2011 to 2020, meaning there are nine model years available for purchase at a used car dealership at any given time. Like the Cruze, however, you’ll want to look at older model years to stick to your $10,000 budget.
Inside the Sonic
When designing the Sonic, Chevrolet made sure to include some really cool design features, including a gauge display that looks like a motorcycle’s. The 2012 model has two large storage cubbies in the dash on either side of the radio that is perfect for storing the items you reach for every day, like your wallet or phone.
The Sonic seats five, although if you frequently have four passengers, they might prefer the interior of the hatchback because it provides slightly more headroom in the back seat.
In terms of how much you can fit in the trunk, it depends on whether you choose a Sonic sedan or hatchback. The sedan has a trunk that measures 14 cubic feet - just a little less than how much you could store inside a standard refrigerator. The hatchback has 19 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, but if you fold down the backseats, you’ll get 30.7 cubic feet - basically enough to hold the contents of two standard refrigerators if you packed them full.
Under the Hood
The Chevy Sonic’s engines are basically the same as the Cruze’s, but car reviewers say the Sonic feels sportier and more responsive. This can be helpful if you drive at highway speeds during your commute; on and off ramps, merging, and lane changes can be easier with a car that handles nicely and has some pep.
Is the Chevy Sonic Safe?
Like the Cruze, the Sonic earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick award for front, side, and rear crashes, as well as for roof strength. It also has 10 standard airbags in the 2012 model, plus standard anti-lock brakes and traction control.
Used Car Dealerships Sell the Affordable Ford Focus
The Basics
The Ford Focus was made from 2000 to 2018. For the budget shopper, this means you can find a Ford Focus at almost any price range! The Focus is a compact vehicle, sold as a sedan or hatchback.
Inside the Focus
The inside of this compact car or hatchback is pretty standard without any surprises, but the materials are sturdy and strong. A favorite feature is all the storage areas for backseat passengers - perfect for kids’ tablets, coloring books, and toys.
Also in the backseat is plenty of legroom, thanks to deep seat benches. This means an average adult could ride in the backseat without much issue.
Under the Hood
The Focus comes standard with a slightly larger four-cylinder engine than either the Cruze or the Sonic. The result, of course, is that it uses more gas, but it is still considered a fuel-efficient vehicle.
Is the Ford Focus Safe?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2012 hatchback version of the Focus four out of five stars overall. This is a fairly average rating for most vehicles, so four stars shouldn’t be concerning at all.
The 2012 Focus also came standard with anti-lock brakes, traction control, and six airbags, which include side curtain airbags for front and back seats. If you’re shopping for a teen driver, the MyKey feature lets you limit the car’s speed based on who is driving. If you drive with a lead foot, maybe this feature could help you avoid speeding tickets, too!
Drive Away From the Used Car Dealership In a Kia Soul
The Basics
Described by one car reviewer as a “squared-off station wagon,” the Soul is a compact hatchback. Kia made the Soul from 2010 to 2024, meaning you have 14 model years to choose from. Used car dealerships with the best inventories will have plenty of these vehicles to test drive and purchase. As mentioned before, stick with older model years if you need to spend $10,000 or less on a vehicle.
Inside the Soul
The Soul, while economical, is a fun car, with an interesting style. Don’t let the hamster-themed commercials spoil this ride for you! You’ll find lots of little design surprises when you sit behind the wheel.
Inside, the height of the Soul sets it apart from the pack. It has plenty of headroom, but doesn’t sit far off the ground. If you have small children, drive your grandma around on occasion, or are on the taller side, the Soul’s shape and style makes it easy to get in and out.
There are storage bins underneath the cargo area floor for stashing items out of sight, and the cargo area is one of the largest on this list, with 19.3 cubic feet of storage with the rear seats in use or 53.4 with the back seats folded down.
Under the Hood
The Soul’s standard engine is a larger four-cylinder, but it still gets excellent gas mileage and performance.
Is the Kia Soul Safe?
The IIHS named the 2012 Kia Soul a Top Safety Pick. The car also received four out of five stars from the NHTSA.
Standard safety features include anti-lock brakes, traction control, six airbags, and active front head restraints. Child safety seats fit easily in the Soul as well.
Why These Vehicles Are Great For Budgets
Aside from their affordable price tags and low down payment requirements, these vehicles have something else in common: cost of ownership is affordable!
All these vehicles are fairly fuel efficient, so you can drive for longer distances before it’s time to fill up at the gas station. You won’t need to visit the gas station as often, which will save you money.
Getting insurance for these particular models is also fairly inexpensive. They’re not pricey, coveted cars; they’re older models; and they’re not equipped with sports car engines. They’re safe, budget vehicles, and insurance rates are a little lower as a result.
Of course, like any car, you should still plan to budget for maintenance, like oil changes, tire rotations, replacement windshield wiper blades, and more. But overall, driving a Focus, Sonic, Cruze, or Soul could make your finances easier to manage.
Find Your Budget Vehicle At Our Used Car Dealerships In Indiana
Quick Auto makes it easy to shop with a tight budget! Because we offer in-house financing, we can break your loan down into easy weekly payments conveniently made directly to us, rather than a third party.
Browse our inventory of used cars, quickly apply for a car loan, and find a Quick Auto location near you, all on our website!
