Our Picks For The Best $5,000 Used Cars

Looking for a great used car but have only a few thousand bucks to spend? $5,000 represents a common starting point for many budget-conscious buyers (and also a few penny-pinching parents when they go looking for quality used cars for their children). At this price range, we've rounded up the best cars, trucks and SUVs across all the popular categories in the market today.

Each these cars was hand-picked by our editors, using Kelley Blue Book's rating of "excellent" as a requirement. KBB's rating of "excellent" means that the vehicle looks great, is in excellent mechanical condition and needs no reconditioning. All are priced at or around $5,000 at retail price.

Ford Mustang
Example Year: 1997
Equipment: 4.6-liter 8-cylinder, 5-speed manual
Why We Like This $5,000 Used Car: The fourth-generation Ford Mustang was a landmark design change from the rather ungainly third-generation models. Always fun as a rear-wheel-drive sports car, prices of the 'Stang (even with a V-8 engine) are now very reasonable. 1996 and later models received Ford's then-new "Modular" 4.6-liter V-8.

Honda CR-V
Example Year: 2002
Equipment: 2.4-liter 4-cylinder, automatic, 2-wheel drive
Why We Like This $5,000 Used Car: The second-generation Honda CR-V is based on the Honda Civic, giving it a true labeling as a "crossover" for its car-like underpinnings. The car's exterior redesign represented a much smoother and contemporary appearance than the first CR-V, while Honda's iconic I-VTEC 4-cylinder engine provided fuel economy numbers that were much more like a sedan than a larger SUV. Later models in this generation received standard safety features like ABS, side airbags and rollover sensors, too.

Toyota 4Runner
Example Year: 1995
Equipment: 2.4-liter 4-cylinder, automatic, four-wheel drive
Why We Like This $5,000 Used Car: The 4Runner represented one of the best of the SUVs in the 1990s, that period of time when the segment really took off. Always a bit smaller in size than the best-selling (for that time) Ford Explorer, the 4Runner had the advantage of driving a little less truck-like, even though it was based on a truck platform. We love its rugged exterior styling.

Ford Expedition
Example Year: 1998
Equipment: 4.6-liter 8-cylinder, automatic, 4-wheel drive
Why We Like This $5,000 Used Car: Let's be honest: the Ford Expedition will not save the earth. It started life in the 1990s, when manufacturers were on a race to create bigger and bigger vehicles (with and eye toward bigger profits to stuff in their pockets). The Expedition wasn't the biggest SUV Ford made (do you remember the gargantuan Excursion?), but it would never be considered small. Seating capacity was up to eight with a third-row seat.

Mazda Miata
Example Year: 1997
Equipment: 1.8-liter 4-cylinder, 5-speed manual
Why We Like This $5,000 Used Car: If you're looking for a used convertible for $5,000, you're going to be hard pressed to find anything as entertaining as the Mazda Miata. The small, light, easy-to-shift convertible launched in 1990 in the U.S. and almost immediately became a hit. We like the first generation model the best as its styling is the cleanest and the car's total weight was at its lowest.

Subaru Outback
Example Year: 2000
Equipment: 2.5-liter 4-cylinder, 5-speed manual, all-wheel drive
Why We Like This $5,000 Used Car: The second-generation Subaru Outback sits squarely at the top of our list of used wagons for $5,000. With a design that still feels fresh and mechanicals that have a history of longevity, we feel comfortable recommending it to any of our friends and family. Like most Subarus of the time (and all of them now), the Outback comes with all-wheel drive as standard.

Volkswagen GTI
Example Year: 1999
Equipment: 2.0-liter 4-cylinder, 5-speed manual
Why We Like This $5,000 Used Car: Although Volkswagen's Golf hatchback has never been a hot seller in the U.S. (the Jetta sedan, with its commodious trunk, has always been the company's better seller), enthusiasts love the GTI for its handling. The fourth-generation Golf is considered by many to be the last generation of VW's "nip-tuck" styling, as later cars tended to grow in visual appearance and weight. The fourth-generation GTI also shares its platform with the Audi TT sports car.

Toyota Camry
Example Year: 2002
Equipment: 2.4-liter 4-cylinder, automatic
Why We Like This $5,000 Used Car: 2002 was the first model year for the sixth-generation Toyota Camry. This generation of the car grew to be much bigger, with many more standard features included. A new 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine was introduced and ABS, vehicle stability control and side airbags were made optional. Kitted with all the safety features, the Camry would make a great pick for a family sedan in this price range.

Honda Odyssey
Example Year: 2000
Equipment: 3.5-liter 6-cylinder, automatic
Why We Like This $5,000 Used Car: The second-generation Honda Odyssey offered two sliding doors as standard equipment, a revelation at the time of its introduction. Moms liked the car's simple layout and its interior configuration won high praise. Since then, the Odyssey has since gone on to be one of the best-selling minivans in America.