Is a $10,000 budget reasonable for a used car in Canada? Yes, it certainly can be, provided you’ve got the time to do some research and set some priorities. You may not drive home a vehicle with the latest safety features, best fuel economy, or coolest technologies, but if spending less means skipping out on a car loan, the trade-offs may be well worth it.
That being said, many of the cars in our list come with plenty of gadgets, such as sunroofs and moonroofs, cruise control and Bluetooth connectivity.
Armed with some knowledge and enough time to be patient with your search, a $10,000 used car could potentially serve your needs for years to come. Read on to find out what we think are the best cars you can buy used with a $10,000 budget in Canada.
We’re only looking at cars for sale here, so you won’t find a Dodge Grand Caravan minivan a Ford F-150 truck or a Honda CR-V SUV in this list. So if you'd prefer an SUV rather than a car, check out our separate guide: The Best Used SUVs in Canada Under $10,000.
You might also notice that there are no Audis, BMWs, Cadillacs or Mercedes-Benz model in our rundown. That’s because, while you will find examples of these brands’ models under our $10,000 ceiling, they’ll often be higher-mileage, or older cars, and the cost of maintaining them is often eye-watering. That’s not to say they don’t have plenty to recommend them, but they’re not brands we would truly recommend on a tight budget.
The Best Used Cars Under $10,000
- Honda Civic
- Toyota Corolla
- Honda Accord
- Toyota Camry
- Nissan Micra
- Mazda3
- Pontiac Vibe
- Nissan Leaf
- Mazda MX-5
- Lexus ES
Honda Civic
SUVs and crossovers are the hot commodity right now, but the Honda Civic was the best-selling passenger car in Canada for 23 years in a row up until 2022. This means there are plenty to choose from on the used market. Whether you prefer a sedan, coupe, or hatchback, or a manual or automatic transmission, a $10,000 budget will net you a used Civic in the neighbourhood of 10 to 12 model years old with decent features and a roughly 150,000-kilometre to 200,000-kilometre odometer reading. That seems high, but the average Civic is good for a lot more distance. Given Honda’s reputation for reliability, a Civic that’s been gently driven and well-maintained should have plenty more life left in it.
Toyota Corolla
For similar reasons to the Civic, the Toyota Corolla compact car is a good bet at this price point. Toyota’s reliability is one of the brand’s greatest selling points. While it only stole the best-seller crown from the Civic in 2022, it’s long been a hot commodity, and older examples of these are commonly found on Canadian roads. This is a good sign that they’re high-quality and built to last. A lower-mileage example may take some patience to find in a 10 to 12-year-old Corolla, but their longevity will make your persistence pay off.
Honda Accord
Is it predictable to recommend a mid-size Honda and Toyota right after recommending a compact Honda and Toyota? Undoubtedly, but there are good reasons Canadians don’t need to be told that these cars are a great value. The Honda Accord remains a reliable and functional sedan for those who need a little more space than what a Civic can offer. They have also remained popular over the years, so there’s plenty of inventory. You shouldn’t have any trouble finding a 12- to 15-year-old Accord with well under 200,000 kilometres on it for less than $10,000, even in this wild used car market. And if you fancy something with a little more brand kudos, the related Acura TL might also be worth a look – though you’ll have to put up with higher-mileage models.
Toyota Camry
For all the same reasons cited above, the Toyota Camry is a great place to start a budget used car search if you need a spacious sedan. There are so many Camrys out there that you should have a wide selection when you have $10,000 to work with, no matter where you live in Canada. It’s not unusual to find Camry Hybrids within this price point, either, and while they won’t be as fuel-efficient as they were new, they will still save you some money relative to gas-only models in the same age range. Expect to be looking at higher-mileage examples in this price range, but do so knowing it’s common for a Camry’s life to extend well past 300,000 kilometres.
Nissan Micra
This unique-to-Canada model is commonly found on the used market for less than $10,000. Why is that? A lot of them didn’t have a much higher price as new cars to begin with. This budget subcompact car launched for the 2015 model year with a starting price of just under $10,000. That was for the base trim level with a manual transmission, no air conditioning, and manual windows, so most sold for more. Nonetheless, a wide selection is available on the used market today as a result. For this budget, it’s not unusual to find a Micra with a CVT, air conditioning, Bluetooth, and with less than 100,000 km in six to eight-year-old models. Oh, and it’s a far more appealing prospect than a Mitsubishi Mirage.
Mazda3
People get anxious about buying used Mazdas because of their reputation for rust issues. This hasn’t been as significant a problem in Mazdas sold over the past 10 years, though, and the reticence of others could be to your benefit if you go looking for a used Mazda3. Known as one of the most fun cars to drive for the price, sub-150,000 km examples of reasonable age are not difficult to come by on Canada’s used car market for within a $10,000 budget. They’re also much more entertaining than a Volkswagen Jetta.
Pontiac Vibe
Here’s an option that doesn’t get as much consideration as it could. The Pontiac Vibe was jointly developed by General Motors and Toyota and shares a lot in common with the Corolla, which means that many examples live on today with surprising reliability and ease of maintenance. Sure, it’s a bit quirky-looking, but its body style and available all-wheel drive make it a practical option for those looking for something SUV-like at a fair price. Because these don’t get searched up as often, it’s not unusual to find examples with odometers below 200,000 kilometres on the used car market for well below our $10,000 budget.
Nissan Leaf
Some of the earliest electric cars are starting to appear in higher volumes on the used market, so it’s worth having a well-rounded discussion. Yes, you can find examples of the Nissan Leaf from its first model years for less than $10,000. Is it for everyone? Definitely not, for the same reasons people wouldn’t have considered buying them when they were new: the range on these older models is too low for a lot of applications. But it’s a great second commuter vehicle for driving about town running errands, and it could make for a friendly introduction to the world of EVs. Plus, the nature of how these cars have been driven means that lots of them are relatively low in mileage for their age, which only adds to their already-low maintenance costs. If you think you might fit the profile for a used Nissan Leaf, now is a good time to consider making the leap to a car with an electric drivetrain.
Mazda MX-5
If your lifestyle allows you to trade some practicality for fun, don’t sleep on the Mazda MX-5. You may be surprised to learn it’s not at all unusual to score a second-generation MX-5—known by enthusiasts as the NB Miata—for less than $10,000 with under 100,000 kilometres on the odometer. It’s not even all that uncommon to find a third-generation, or NC, model a with similar mileage and price range. Sure, you’re trading two rows of seats for one, and you’ll need to pack creatively for your weekends away. But isn’t that a small price to pay for pure, unadulterated (no turbos here), affordable motoring joy?
Lexus ES
We found a nameplate that works within our $10,000 budget we can confidently recommend for more discerning drivers. It’s not surprising to see the Lexus ES midsize sedan lauded for its reliability, especially given that it has long shared a platform with the Toyota Camry. And if you see this suggestion and turn your nose up at it because you see it as a car for drivers of a more advanced age, you might want to think again. Used examples tend to be gently driven and lower in mileage than average for this price point, making them a solid bet. And even if you can’t find one in your area with less than 200,000 kilometres on it, a well-maintained example is likely to have plenty more life in it. For $10,000, the Lexus ES may not be trendy, but it’s a very smart buy.
Honourable mentions
We’ve picked only 10 models in our cheap used car rundown, but there are plenty of other options out there from other manufacturers that could be a great pick. A Hyundai Elantra would be a thoroughly sensible choice, for example, as there are plenty to choose from and, even though at this price point they’ll most likely be out of warranty, one of these could still provide dependable motoring. Similarly A Kia Forte or Soul will be just out of manufacturer warranty but should also deliver relatively dependable budget motoring.
If you want a classy sedan, a Volvo S60 should be available in this price range, but it will most likely be an older model with high miles.
If brand cachet is less of a clincher, then a Chevrolet Cruze should perhaps be on your shortlist. At this money you should be able to find a tidy second-generation example, though if you’re looking for lower miles then you might need to find a pre-2016 first-generation example.
And if you are looking for more dependability, then you could well consider the solid and sensible Subaru Impreza – though brand loyalty among Subaru fans means these cars hold onto their value surprisingly well.
Best Cheap Trucks
If you’re looking for a pickup, you can find a used Ford F-150, a GMC Sierra or a Chevrolet Silverado for our notional $10,000 budget, but they’ll likely be somewhat older. If you’re seeking a newer vehicle, you’re much better off rocking up at the dealership forecourt with a budget closer to $20,000 - so check out our separate list of The Best Pickup Trucks Under $20,000.