Why Subaru’s Forester is Your Best Used SUV Buy Under $15K

With the average price of a new 2017 SUV costing $30,000 plus, many people can’t afford a new vehicle. Buying a previously-owned vehicle can meet your needs if you know which ones are best. Yahoo Tech has come up with the best used vehicles under $15K in different segments. We’ll focus on the SUV/Crossover category because it’s the fastest growing segment in the auto industry and many Americans want one for their utility. The 2013 Subaru Forester tops the list in the best used utility vehicle category.

How did they pick the best used vehicles?

They first based their “under 15K” pricing criteria on the fair market range for dealer prices listed by Kelley Blue Book. They next checked with Consumer Reports reliability scores to see how the SUVs are likely to hold up in daily use. Finally, they considered factors like safety, performance, practicality, and style to see which used vehicles were the best for you to buy.

Why Subaru Forester is your best buy

The 2013 Subaru Forester first met the price criteria and comes in under the $15K price tag. You can find one for $12,218-$15,187 (Kelly Blue Book), $11,526.00 (cars.com.). It's more than just price. Consumers want a used vehicle that will hold up for many more years, and Subaru vehicles are known for their longevity. Subaru says 98 percent of their vehicles sold the last 10 years are still on the road today.

Subaru is also known for their Symmetrical all-wheel-drive system, and all Forester models come standard with AWD for all-weather capability. While most owners don’t take them off-road, Forester also has superior off-pavement capability for getting away from civilization. The small SUV is powered by a capable 2.5-liter four-cylinder boxer engine that gets an EPA estimated combined 23 mpg.

Subaru has a reputation for building safe vehicles, and consumers are looking for a vehicle that will keep them safe in the event of an accident. According to the J.D. Power U.S. Tech Choice Study released recently, three of the top five technologies consumers most prefer in their next vehicle are related to collision protection. The Forester had top scores in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash tests as well.

What are the other top used vehicles?

Yahoo Tech says the 2014 Mazda3 scores the best in the used car category, 2012 Toyota Prius is the best used fuel-efficient vehicle, the 2008 Nissan 350Z scores the best in the used performance car segment, and the 2011 BMW 328i is the best used luxury car for consumers. Go to Page 2.

The 2013 Subaru Forester tops the best used SUV segment because of its excellent all-weather, off-pavement capability, superior safety ratings, and its reliability to keep going even after the miles pile on.

Photo credit: Subaru