The best used car options in Australia

It’s often said that if you’re a smart car buyer, you’ll be shopping second hand. That’s because the shine and new car smell of a brand-new car can be fleeting. Especially once you take depreciation into account.

In fact, a brand-new car will dump residual value pretty quickly, while good second hand cars of a few years old will already have done most of their depreciating, so you don’t lose as much money when you sell.

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There’s the wrong example of the right model (one that has been abused and not serviced correctly) but just as common is the wrong make and model.

Car manufacturers still mess it up from time to time. And even the quality brands out there have had their share of turkeys; cars you wouldn’t want to own at any price.

But against that are some makes and models that absolutely shine when it comes to a second hand buy. They have the reliability, build quality and appeal that lasts beyond the warranty period and, therefore, represent great second hand buying.

The only catch is you have to know which models are the ones to aim for. And that’s what this is all about.

In fact, we could almost call this a list of the most reliable used cars Australia has to offer, because reliability is so important in any car without a factory warranty.

So, here goes our top five right at the moment, across a variety of categories.

Obviously, these aren’t the only good second hand buys out there, but they represent the ones no specialist would have a problem recommending.

Mazda MX-5 1989 to 2025

It doesn’t matter which model Mazda MX-5 you buy, because for the last three decades, pretty much every MX-5 has been a reliable proposition that also just happens to be one of the most brilliant cars to drive.

No, they’re not fast in a straight line, but for sheer purity and handling fun, an MX-5 takes some beating. They’re not just one of the best second hand sports cars, they’re also one of the best used cars Australia or anywhere else has ever seen.

Obviously, find one that hasn’t been used for racing or track-days, fit some good quality rubber and enjoy. The fact the Mazda is a drop-top is just icing on the cake. A manual is far preferable to an automatic.

Price guide: $9000 to $42,000

Toyota Corolla/RAV4 Hybrid 2019 to 2025

What about the best second hand hybrid cars Australia has been treated to? This gets a little tricky, because hybrids are, by nature, complex cars. And nothing affects reliability as much as complexity.

But Toyota has been building hybrids for so long now, it has the tech well and truly tamed. Either the Corolla or RAV4 Hybrid will offer cheap motoring in an urban environment and the sort of reliability other Toyotas have made their name on.

And even though the industry is a bit leery of hybrid battery replacement costs, the Toyota twins have shown they can go the distance.

Price guide: $17,000 to $60,000

Hyundai Getz 2002 to 2011

Need a small city hatchback on a really tight budget? Then the early Hyundai Getz is exactly what you need. There’s something about these little guys that just seems right, and the combination of the frugal four-cylinder engine and optional four-speed auto makes for an easy-to-live-with city car that’s simple to park and cheap to run.

More importantly, this generation of Getz also seems to be borderline bullet-proof. They can easily rack up 300,000km-plus mileages and although the engines can get a bit noisy, they don’t seem to ever stop. Even the electrical gear seems to keep on keeping on, and the trim is durable and functional.

The best part is that if it does go wrong, you’ll have so little in the car, you just walk away and buy another one. One of the best second hand cars under $10,000? Absolutely.

Price guide: $2000 to $10,000

Toyota Camry Hybrid 2017 to 2025

A full-sized family sedan that is reliable and cheap to run was once the aim of many. Nowadays, the march of the SUV has seen sedans shrink in number, but the hybrid version of the Camry is proof the concept still has relevance.

The hybrid driveline of the Camry is well understood and well regarded by the trade. It seems to defy the fears surrounding hybrid battery replacement costs, too, and the vast majority of Camrys are still on their original battery-pack

The driving experience is more Lexus that Toyota, too, and the quality fit and finish is impressive. This is also one of the safest second hand cars Australia has to offer. Just watch out for ex-taxis and ex-Uber cars which might have led a pretty hard life. Super-high mileage will be the clue to that.

Price guide: $16,000 to $48,000

Isuzu D-Max 4X4 2012 to 2020

What’s known as the RC model D-Max ute has become a bit of a legend for reliability. No, it’s not the fastest or most luxurious of the dual-cabs out there, but there’s something in the D-Max’s DNA that allows it to keep chugging on.

Even though it uses the same turbo-diesel technology as many of its peers, it doesn’t seem quite as prone to the DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) and intake-clogging problems that some owners of other brands report. Clearly, the relative simplicity that makes it a bit agricultural to drive has a pay-off in durability terms.

One of the big factors determining the price of vehicles like the D-Max will be the accessories (and quality of accessories) fitted. A service body or camper on the back, for instance, can add a huge chunk to the asking price. And be a bit canny: Lots of off-road accessories probably means the vehicle has been used hard in the bush.

And don’t confuse the Hi-Ride model with the 4X4. The former is two-wheel-drive and, therefore, much cheaper.

Price guide: $14,000 to $65,000

Meanwhile, the best second hand cars to buy will be from private sellers. In fact, the best second hand cars Australia wide are to be found in private driveways all over the country.

Dealers will always add their profit margin to any deal, mainly because they have to feed their families and also because buying from a licensed used-car dealer means a statutory warranty and other things the dealer needs to look after that a private seller doesn’t. If you do purchase from a second hand car sales specialist, make sure they’re licensed and above board.

But overall, second hand cars have never been better value. It’s worth mentioning that under the broad heading of used car prices Australia, 2024 was the year where the bottom fell out of the retained value of many cars. Blame the post-Covid reality check.

The rot probably set in even earlier than that – after the lock-downs stopped – but anybody holding on to a used car thinking the values would come back up, has been disappointed.

Which brings us back to the original statement that the best used cars to buy and arguably the best value are in the hands of private sellers, provided you know precisely what you’re looking for and looking at. And good second hand cars will always find a buyer, which is why lots of people choose to sell privately.

As for auctions, well, they’re kind of best left to the experts and speculators out there. In many cases you can’t drive the car or even start the engine before bidding, and relying on an auction house’s own mechanical report might not give you the full picture.

But if you’re totally familiar with a particular make and model, a clean example from an auction site might be worth a punt. But it will always be a punt to some degree.

That said, we’ve heard of some absolute bargains from car auctions, so maybe the best cheap second hand cars are the ones nobody else is willing to take a gamble on. Maybe that gambler is you. Maybe not.