Car and Driver's 10Best list has crowned numerous vehicles that remain genuinely competitive on the used market, even at budget prices. Buyers hunting for recent model years without flagship pricing have legitimate options among these award winners.
The 10Best awards carry real weight in the industry. They identify vehicles that balance performance, value, efficiency, and design in ways that matter to actual drivers. When those same cars hit the used market within five years, depreciation works in a buyer's favor while the engineering remains current.
Several past winners deliver particular value. The Honda Civic, a perennial 10Best honoree, offers reliable transportation with engaging handling at rock-bottom secondhand prices. Early Toyota GR86 models, which claimed 10Best status after launch, provide affordable rear-wheel-drive sports car thrills that newer generations now command higher prices for. The Mazda CX-50 compact crossover brought 10Best credentials to the crowded utility segment without luxury pricing, and used examples remain feature-rich and mechanically sound.
Pickup trucks on the list, including models from Ford and Chevrolet, show similar dynamics. A five-year-old F-150 or Silverado 1500 with 10Best recognition still delivers the tech and capability that justified the award, yet costs thousands less than current inventory.
The strategy works because these vehicles earned recognition for fundamental competence, not trendy gadgetry that ages poorly. A 2019 or 2020 10Best winner still has four to six years of manufacturer warranty remaining on many components, depending on transfer eligibility and original ownership.
Buyers should verify maintenance records and inspection reports, naturally. A well-kept 10Best winner from 2021 beats a neglected non-award vehicle from 2022 every time. But the underlying advantage holds. These cars were engineered well, tested rigorously