The 10 Most Reliable Used SUVs Under $10K And Subaru Forester’s Full Report

If you have a used Subaru Forester budget of $10,000, what can you buy in the new year? The good news is a Kelley Blue Book (KBB) report says used car prices are coming down from record highs in 2022.

Is it a good time to buy a used vehicle?

Kelley Blue Book says vehicles priced under $15,000 are the most difficult used cars to find. KBB says, "All signs point to the used vehicle market hitting reverse after more than a year of high prices and low inventory."

The report says finding a used Acura, Honda, Subaru, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Volkswagen, Nissan, and Lexus is challenging. By price category, "the lower the price, the lower the supply," the report said.

If you are reading this, you likely can't buy a new 2023 Subaru Forester. If you are willing to shop for a used Forester, you can still find a 2010 Subaru Forester. A report from U.S. News ranks the best used vehicles under $10,000 you can buy this winter.

U.S. News looked at used SUV listings to determine which models are the most reliable (based on the J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study and are available at or below the $10,000 mark. But a 2010 Subaru Forester in Boulder, Colorado, will likely be more than a used model in Houston, Texas.

There is no guarantee that you'll find a used Forester near you at the average price U.S. News has calculated. Below are the ten most reliable used SUVs under $10,000 for the U.S. News study.

2009 BMW X3, 2010 Acura RDX, 2010 Toyota RAV4, 2010 Subaru Forester, 2008 Mazda CX-9, 2011 Kia Sportage, 2007 Infiniti FX, 2009 Saturn Outlook, 2009 Lexus RX 350, 2010 Honda CR-V.

The bottom line for a used Forester

A recent report from iSeeCars says it's challenging to find a deal on low mileage used Subaru Forester compact SUV in today's market, but expanding your search radius can provide consumers with the best chance to see more savings. "Even if you can't travel to the city with the greatest savings on your car, you will probably find greater savings beyond your local area, making the travel worth it," said Brauer.

What is the price of the 2010 Subaru Forester?

The U.S. News report says the average price is about $8,347.67, and the 2010 Forester's overall score is 9.1/10, with a reliability score of 5/5.

What does U.S. News say about the 2010 Subaru Forester?

"The 2010 Subaru Forester is a compact SUV with a surprising amount of interior space. That means all five passengers can stretch out comfortably, and you'll have room to bring plenty of stuff. In addition to great reliability ratings, the Forester is one of the safer vehicles in its class. Part of Forester's practical approach is that the base model is rather sparsely equipped, with cloth upholstery and a CD player. You'll have to look for higher trim levels for features like Bluetooth and navigation. On the upside, every Forester back then came standard with all-wheel drive, just like they do today."

For the 2010 model year, Forester came with two engine options and five trim levels. The Forester is available in 2.5-liter naturally aspirated (non-turbocharged) and 2.5-liter turbocharged models.

The naturally aspirated models are available with a manual or automatic transmission. The naturally aspirated model is available in three trim levels; 2.5X, 2.5X Premium, and 2.5X Limited.

The 2.5XT turbocharged version was available in two trim levels, the 2.5XT Premium, and 2.5XT. The 2.5X and 2.5XT turbocharged models come standard with an automatic transmission.

What is the best trim level?

The Forester Premium offers good value. The 2.5X Premium standard equipment included a 10-way power driver's seat, 17-inch Alloy Wheels, 225/55 R17 95H all-season tires, privacy glass, a panoramic power moonroof, roof rails, steering wheel mounted audio switches, reclining rear seatback function and rear seat retractable rear tray. An optional all-weather package included heated front seats, windshield wiper de-icer, and heated exterior mirrors.

What is the 2010 Forester fuel mileage?

The Forester with the 2.5-liter engine with the naturally-aspirated engine gets the best fuel mileage. The EPA estimates are 20/26 city/highway mpg and 22 combined mpg with the automatic transmission. The 5-speed manual transmission gets one more mpg highway (27).

Other used Forester model years to consider

If you can buy a newer used Forester, Consumer Reports (by subscription) says the 2017 Forester is the best five-year-old SUV you can buy now. Consumer Reports says the 2017 Forester is fuel-efficient and reliable, and they also come with standard safety features with the highest crash scores.

How fuel-efficient is the 2017 Subaru Forester?

CR says the owner's predicted fuel mileage is 27 mpg. The EPA estimates for the 2017 Subaru Forester are 26/32 city/highway mpg and 28 combined mpg with the 2.5-liter engine and CVT automatic transmission.

What is the price of the 2017 Forester?

CR says a used 2017 Forester price range is $18,775 - $24,600. With new 2023 Forester models scarce, prices may be higher as retailers raise the prices of low-mileage Forester SUVs.

2017 Forester safety scores

The Forester earned the highest Top Safety Pick+ safety score from the IIHS. The Forester received the highest five-star rating from the NHTSA.

If you buy a used Subaru Forester or any used vehicle, it's best to consider vehicles maintained according to the owner's manual. Ask the owner or car dealer for maintenance records, and getting a vehicle history report is a good idea. AutoCheck and CarFax are excellent sources for this information.

You Might Also Like: Forbes Says the Subaru Forester Is the Most Likely to Run For Over 250,000 Miles

Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report, where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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