Buying a used car from the 2020 model year is one of the smartest moves you can make right now. You get modern safety tech, decent fuel economy, and a price that’s dropped well below what someone paid at the dealership a few years ago.
The 2020 CarGurus Best Used Car Awards pulled together standout picks across every category, using expert reviews, real user feedback, long-term depreciation data, and availability to figure out which cars are worth your money. Here’s what they found, plus what you need to know before you buy.
The 2020 Best Used Car Awards Winners at a Glance
These aren’t random picks. The best used car in each category earned its spot based on how well it performed when new, how it’s held up over time, and whether you can actually find one at a fair price today. Let’s go category by category.
Small Crossover: Toyota RAV4
The Toyota RAV4 took the top spot in the small crossover category, and it’s not hard to see why. Toyota built the 2020 RAV4 with a sharp exterior redesign, upgraded interior materials, and standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 across most trims. That means automatic emergency braking, lane departure alert, and adaptive cruise control come standard, not as expensive add-ons.
Reliability is the RAV4’s biggest selling point. Toyota has a long track record of building crossovers that hit 200,000 miles with routine maintenance. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder makes 203 horsepower and gets around 27 mpg combined on the base model, according to EPA fuel economy data. If you want a used car that holds its value and keeps repair costs manageable, this is a strong place to start.
Midsize Crossover: Toyota Highlander
The 2020 Toyota Highlander got a full redesign that year, making it one of the best used car buys in the midsize category. The third-row seating is genuinely usable for adults, not just kids, and the cabin quality took a real step forward over the previous generation.
Toyota’s reliability reputation carries right through to the Highlander. Ownership costs tend to stay reasonable, and used examples are plentiful. If you need to seat eight and want SUVs that won’t drain your wallet at the shop, this one deserves a serious look.
SUV: Chevrolet Traverse
Full-size SUVs often feel like overkill for families, but the Chevrolet Traverse hits a sweet spot. It’s big enough to haul everyone and everything without being as truck-like as a Suburban or Expedition. The 2020 model carries a 3.6-liter V6 producing 310 horsepower, and the interior offers real passenger space across three rows.
From an automotive standpoint, the Traverse’s appeal in the used car market comes from its depreciation. These tend to drop in price faster than a Toyota or Honda, which means more car for your money upfront. Just get it inspected before you sign anything.
Sedan and Hatchback: Honda Fit
The Honda Fit was discontinued after 2020, which makes used examples of this final generation more appealing than ever. This little hatchback punched well above its weight class for years. The so-called “Magic Seat” system let you fold and configure the interior in ways that made it more practical than many larger cars.
As a used car, the Fit is hard to beat for buyers on a tighter budget. Honda built it with the brand’s typical reliability focus, and four-cylinder engines in small hatchbacks rarely cause major headaches. The sedan category is full of good options, but the Fit’s flexibility makes it stand out. Car and Driver consistently praised it as one of the best small cars of its era, and the 2020 model year gave buyers a polished final version.
Midsize Pickup Truck: Toyota Tacoma
The Toyota Tacoma holds its resale value better than almost any other vehicle on the road. That’s good and bad news. Good because reliability is baked into the product. Bad because you’ll pay more for a used Tacoma than most competing trucks.
Still, if you need a midsize truck that’ll run for years without drama, Toyota’s reputation here is well-earned. The 2020 Tacoma came with a suite of driver assistance features and off-road capability that buyers still pay a premium for on the used car market. You can browse used cars by make to compare what’s available near you.
Full-Size Pickup Truck: Ram 1500
Ram shook up the full-size truck world when it redesigned the 1500 in 2019, and the 2020 model carried all those upgrades forward. The coil-spring rear suspension makes it ride more like a car than a truck, which is a genuine difference you feel on a long drive. The interior quality also jumped significantly over previous generations.
Payload and towing numbers are competitive with Ford and Chevy, and the available eTorque mild-hybrid system helps with fuel economy. For a used car buyer who needs serious capability without sacrificing daily comfort, the Ram 1500 is one of the best used car picks in the truck segment.
Luxury Crossover: Audi Q5
The Audi Q5 consistently shows up on automotive best-of lists for good reason. The 2020 version has a well-designed interior, strong turbocharged four-cylinder performance, and Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drive as standard. It feels genuinely premium without trying too hard.
Used luxury crossovers can be a gamble, though. Repair and maintenance costs on German vehicles tend to run higher than a Toyota or Honda. Make sure you pull a full history report using a free VIN lookup tool before you commit, and budget for higher service costs than you’d expect from a mainstream brand.
Luxury Sedan: BMW 3 Series
The BMW 3 Series has been the benchmark for luxury sport sedans for decades, and the G20-generation car that launched for 2019 and carried into 2020 is one of the best versions yet. Driving dynamics are sharp, the turbocharged engines deliver strong performance, and the tech inside has caught up with the competition.
As a used car, a well-maintained 2020 3 Series can be a genuinely rewarding buy. The key word is well-maintained. Get the full service history, run the VIN, and have an independent mechanic check it over. Reliability on these improves significantly when previous owners stayed on top of maintenance.
Minivan: Chrysler Pacifica
Minivans aren’t exciting, but the Chrysler Pacifica is as close as they get. The 2020 Pacifica comes with sliding rear doors, a fold-flat second row called Stow ‘n Go, and optional all-wheel drive. It genuinely makes family hauling easier, and the available plug-in hybrid version adds real fuel savings.
Hyundai makes competitive people-movers, but the Pacifica is consistently rated as one of the best new car values in this segment, which translates into strong used car appeal. Space, features, and value all check out.
Sports Car: Toyota GR Supra
The Toyota GR Supra came back for 2020 after a long absence, and it made an immediate impact. Built in collaboration with BMW, it uses a turbocharged six-cylinder engine making 382 horsepower in the 3.0 trim. It’s fast, it sounds great, and it looks like nothing else on the road.
Toyota’s involvement gives buyers more confidence in reliability than a purely European sports car at this price point. Used examples sit at a premium compared to when they first hit the lot, but you’re getting a genuinely exciting car with a reputation for holding together.
Editor’s Choice: Hyundai Sonata
The Hyundai Sonata earned the CarGurus editor’s choice for 2020 because of how completely Hyundai reinvented it. The sedan got a bold exterior design, a genuinely upscale interior, and a strong suite of standard safety features. Hyundai made the Sonata feel like a new car from a premium brand without charging premium prices.
For used car shoppers, the Sonata is a reliable used car option that offers a lot of content at a manageable price. Hyundai has dramatically improved its quality in recent years, and the 2020 Sonata represents the brand operating at a high level. It’s an especially smart pick for buyers who want a midsize sedan without paying Toyota Camry or Honda Accord prices.
How These Cars Were Evaluated
The CarGurus 2020 Best Used Car Awards weren’t decided on gut feel. The methodology weighed expert and user reviews together, factoring in how a car was received when it was new versus how owners have felt about it over time. Long-term depreciation rates played a big role too, since the best used car deals come from vehicles that were strong performers but haven’t stayed artificially expensive.
Availability matters just as much as quality. A great used car you can’t find in your area isn’t useful. CarGurus looked at real market data across their listings to make sure winners were cars you could actually go out and buy.
Popular Used Cars From 2020 You Should Know About
Beyond the award winners, several other used car options from the 2020 model year deserve your attention. The Honda CR-V is one of the most searched used car listings online for good reason, combining practicality with Honda’s reliability reputation. The Toyota Camry remains a used car staple for buyers who want a proven sedan. The Hyundai Tucson gives budget-conscious buyers a solid small crossover at a lower price point than the RAV4.
From an automotive perspective, 2020 was a strong year. Most manufacturers had rolled out updated safety features, and you’re far enough removed from that model year now that depreciation has done its job on price.
Used Cars From 2020 Ranked by Budget
Your budget shapes everything about this search. Here’s a rough breakdown of what you can expect:
- Under $20,000: Honda Fit, Hyundai Sonata base trims, Toyota Corolla sedan. Strong reliability without stretching your finances.
- $20,000 to $30,000: Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Ram 1500 base trims, Chrysler Pacifica. The best bang-for-buck used car options sit in this range.
- $30,000 to $45,000: Toyota Highlander, Audi Q5, BMW 3 Series, Toyota Tacoma. More capability and luxury, but do your homework on maintenance costs.
- $45,000 and up: Toyota GR Supra, loaded truck trims, high-trim luxury sedans. Be very selective and always get an independent inspection.
Use our car loan calculator to figure out what monthly payment fits your situation before you fall in love with a specific car.
Whatever category you’re shopping in, the best move you can make before handing over any money is getting a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic. Even a reliable used car can hide past damage or deferred maintenance. Spend the $100 to $150 on an inspection and you’ll either buy with confidence or dodge a bullet. Either way, you come out ahead.
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