# Best car under 20k? **URL:** \ **Category:** Buying/Selling\ **Created:** [February 6, 2023, 7:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-car-under-20k/189008 "2023-02-06T19:01:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![isaiahj1107\_184032](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/df788c/32.png) [@isaiahj1107\_184032](https://community.cartalk.com/u/isaiahj1107_184032)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2023, 7:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-car-under-20k/189008/1 "2023-02-06T19:01:30Z")
Hey everyone So i’m looking to purchase a car pretty soon but not too sure on what to decide on especially since all cars are pretty high right now so i want to make sure i make the right decision. Looking for an awd sedan and under 20k for the purchase price (willing to go up to 25k). any suggestions on what would be the a good option for a daily driver? I know it’s a personal preference type a thing i’m just looking for some suggestions from others being the fact I’m not too knowledgeable on cars, thanks. Located in naperville IL ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2023, 7:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-car-under-20k/189008/2 "2023-02-06T19:13:09Z")
This site allows all your wants and needs to be input… and this is what you get, > **[Used AWD/4WD Vehicles for Sale Near Me in Naperville, IL - Autotrader](https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/awd-4wd/naperville-il-60565?requestId=2281868035&searchRadius=100&minPrice=15000&maxPrice=20000&marketExtension=include&isNewSearch=true&showAccelerateBanner=false&sortBy=relevance&numRecords=25)** > > Test drive Used AWD/4WD Vehicles at home in Naperville, IL. Search from 24586 Used cars for sale, including a 2014 Maserati Ghibli S Q4, a 2015 Audi A7 3.0T Prestige, and a 2016 BMW 428i xDrive Coupe ranging in price from $900 to $1,179,800. I’d suggest staying away from European models… they are cheap for a reason, they will wreck you financially unless you have loads of extra money for service. I am not too fond of Chrysler/Jeep products either. I’d also be looking for the newest car in your area - rust is a big problem in Illinois - or expanding your search to more southern cities within a cheap airplane flight away. ---
**Author:** ![PintoKid](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/pintokid/32/45996_2.png) [@PintoKid](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PintoKid)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2023, 7:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-car-under-20k/189008/3 "2023-02-06T19:16:13Z")
> [@isaiahj1107\_184032](#): > > an awd sedan Sounds like you want a Subaru. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2023, 7:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-car-under-20k/189008/4 "2023-02-06T19:17:13Z")
Why do you need AWD ? The price point will mean used vehicles . FWD will handle all most all winter driving plus make your selection much higher. Edit: Your area has several car dealers . They all have website’s. Go to all off them and you might find something new ( New vehicles have lower loan rates than used plus a warranty ) that you want to look at . ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2023, 9:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-car-under-20k/189008/5 "2023-02-06T21:21:35Z")
Agreed—why AWD? ---
**Author:** ![isaiahj1107\_184032](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/df788c/32.png) [@isaiahj1107\_184032](https://community.cartalk.com/u/isaiahj1107_184032)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2023, 9:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-car-under-20k/189008/6 "2023-02-06T21:43:39Z")
Okay thanks. Yea i’ve definitely been staying away from European models for that reason, but ill look in some different cities forsure ---
**Author:** ![ledhed75](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f6c823/32.png) [@ledhed75](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ledhed75)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2023, 9:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-car-under-20k/189008/7 "2023-02-06T21:46:24Z")
We have had two Mazda 3 hatchbacks that have been wonderful cars. Not sure if they offer AWD…but it’s not a feature I’m interested in, either. Both of ours cost well under $20K, though. ---
**Author:** ![isaiahj1107\_184032](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/df788c/32.png) [@isaiahj1107\_184032](https://community.cartalk.com/u/isaiahj1107_184032)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2023, 9:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-car-under-20k/189008/8 "2023-02-06T21:51:30Z")
honestly never thought of looking at a subaru. how are they in terms of reliability? ---
**Author:** ![PintoKid](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/pintokid/32/45996_2.png) [@PintoKid](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PintoKid)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2023, 9:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-car-under-20k/189008/9 "2023-02-06T21:58:32Z")
> [@isaiahj1107\_184032](#): > > Subaru reliability Below Toyota and Honda, but still ranked high in reliability. And they are all AWD. ---
**Author:** ![isaiahj1107\_184032](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/df788c/32.png) [@isaiahj1107\_184032](https://community.cartalk.com/u/isaiahj1107_184032)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2023, 10:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-car-under-20k/189008/10 "2023-02-06T22:03:08Z")
To be honest I did think that having an AWD would handle much better in the winters out here, but it hasn’t been horrible this year so i guess i can look at some FWD cars too. ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2023, 10:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-car-under-20k/189008/11 "2023-02-06T22:04:22Z")
Loved my trailblazer, if you are not considering gas mileage. Got totalled, ended up with an acadia limited. 2017 Rav4 has been fine. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2023, 10:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-car-under-20k/189008/12 "2023-02-06T22:15:22Z")
Why do you say Sedan when a vehicle with a rear hatch like a Honda CRV is much more useful ? Even our 2018 Ford Fiesta can haul a lot in the back with the seats folded down. ---
**Author:** ![isaiahj1107\_184032](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/df788c/32.png) [@isaiahj1107\_184032](https://community.cartalk.com/u/isaiahj1107_184032)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2023, 10:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-car-under-20k/189008/13 "2023-02-06T22:25:55Z")
Personal preference… Ive been very stingy in the process of searching so I haven’t searched too much out of the criteria I provided. The Honda CRV is actually pretty nice suv though so ill consider ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2023, 11:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-car-under-20k/189008/14 "2023-02-06T23:32:10Z")
Friend bought a new legacy with 6cyl. He has had a dozen new cars in the $50k range in the last 20 years. He loves the legacy. ---
**Author:** ![wolyrobb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wolyrobb/32/45497_2.png) [@wolyrobb](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wolyrobb)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2023, 11:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-car-under-20k/189008/15 "2023-02-06T23:47:16Z")
Consider winter tires like Bridgestone Blizzak for Awd or not. Brother has has had nokian tires for over20yrsbut has Blizzak’s on the sequoia. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2023, 11:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-car-under-20k/189008/16 "2023-02-06T23:53:53Z")
> [@Cavell](#): > > Friend bought a new legacy with 6cyl. He has had a dozen new cars in the $50k range in the last 20 years. He loves the legacy. A Legacy or Outback with the bullet-proof 6 cylinder is an excellent choice. Acceleration comparable to a BMW 5-series, but with much lower maintenance expenses. A timing chain instead of a timing belt, no head gasket issues, and a conventional 5-speed automatic instead of a CVT. In 11 years, the only repair to my Outback 6 cylinder was the replacement of the WW fluid reservoir–under warranty. ---
**Author:** ![vipergg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/50afbb/32.png) [@vipergg](https://community.cartalk.com/u/vipergg)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2023, 1:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/best-car-under-20k/189008/17 "2023-02-08T01:26:46Z")
Camry either FWD (it is all you really need) or AWD . Go on to [cars.com](http://cars.com) and input your search criteria for all the cars you might like . you can filter by almost any parameter . There are a few AWD in your area that are less than $25K and they dont have that high of mileage either. Lots of FWD Camrys in your area .