5 for 50,000: Economical and reliable used cars

In the new car market, the hits are hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Even those who can invest around NIS 200,000, the median price of a new car in Israel, want to save at least on fuel.

Those with a lower budget are also looking for the two magic phrases: “no visits to the garage” and “no stops at gas stations.” True, it’s hard to guarantee reliability when buying a used car, but some cars are less prone to breakdowns and can better withstand the neglect many people show in maintaining their used vehicles.

Five cars for NIS 50,000. It may sound cliché, but our list does not include European or Korean cars. Not that there aren’t economical or reliable options among them, but it’s hard to find cars that are both. At least in the two parameters that shaped our list, Japanese cars still stand out.

The selection of used hybrids at this price is still limited: Hyundai Ioniq, Toyota Yaris, and Prius, or Honda Jazz. They are successful on their own, but paying hundreds of shekels for extended battery warranty plans (except for the Honda, which does not offer such a service, unfortunately) reduces some of their fuel-efficiency advantage.

In mid-2016, the 11th generation of the Corolla received a facelift that slightly refined its design and improved quality and equipment, but most importantly added autonomous emergency braking for the first time, along with original distance and lane-keeping alerts.

The updated Corolla kept the 1.6-liter non-turbo engine with 132 hp, providing relatively agile performance. Ride comfort is good, and road handling is decent. The main drawback is the noise from the continuously variable automatic transmission during acceleration. A manual version also exists, though rare. Both the manufacturer and importer offer extended warranties in Israel for gasoline models, up to 250,000 km or 15 years, renewed annually.

Years: 2016–2017. Euro NCAP Crash Test Rating: *****. Fuel consumption: 12–13 km per liter

Suzuki models can also suffer from mechanical issues. In 2017, the manufacturer launched a facelift, replacing the CVT with a 6-speed automatic transmission. On paper, it might seem like a step back, but in practice it solved issues with the less reliable previous transmission despite its Japanese origin.

The new transmission, combined with the 1.4-liter turbo gasoline engine (140 hp), shows good reliability, low fuel consumption, and solid performance (0–100 km/h in 9.5 seconds).

This car was designed for Europe, with good road handling, although city ride comfort is less impressive. Interior space is good, and the trunk is practical, but the driver’s area is quite simple and plastic-heavy. The seating is not as high as the Sportage from the same years, but fuel consumption is dozens of percent lower. Surprisingly, there is also a manual 6-speed option. Unfortunately, autonomous emergency braking only became available in 2019, which is beyond our budget.

Years: 2017. Euro NCAP Crash Test Rating: *****. Fuel consumption: 13–14 km per liter

A car that was not a sales hit like the Corolla or the Crossover, even though it offers a SUV-like design and high seating, at a low price. It is essentially a tall and stylish supermini, very well equipped, including a smart key, climate control, and a 7-inch multimedia screen as an option.

The 1.2-liter engine (90 hp) paired with a CVT (as usual in Suzuki, there is also a manual option) provides agile performance thanks to its light weight. Ride comfort is generally good, road grip less so, and noise levels are high. The steering wheel does not adjust for depth, making it difficult for some drivers to find a comfortable driving position.

Years: 2018–2019. Euro NCAP Crash Test Rating: ***. Fuel consumption: 15–16 km per liter

In 2017, the Yaris also received a facelift, which included an upgraded interior, the addition of autonomous emergency braking (except for the base Sol trim), and an engine upgrade to 1.5 liters, 112 hp.

Performance improved and fuel consumption remained excellent, even with the addition of a hybrid version, more efficient but above our budget limit. Ride comfort is less impressive, as is noise insulation, including the CVT noise under acceleration. Extended warranties are also available for most car components up to 15 years or 250,000 km, providing rare peace of mind for a car of this age.

Years: 2017. Euro NCAP Crash Test Rating: *****. Fuel consumption: 14–15 km per liter

This year, Mazda stopped producing the 2, which hardly changed in the last decade, a testament to both the company’s financial situation and the model’s competitiveness even a decade after its launch. The driver’s area is very modern for its time, and apart from the basic Active trim, higher trims offer autonomous emergency braking (only at low speeds up to 30 km/h), a 7-inch multimedia screen, reverse camera, alloy wheels, cruise control, folding cameras, and leather-wrapped steering. The top trims, Sport and Pure White, also offer a rare head-up display for a car of this size, with the latter even offering leather upholstery, making it a small executive car.

Unlike other cars on the list, the 2 is also fun to drive, with good handling, precise steering, and a capable engine (1.5-liter non-turbo, 111 hp, 6-speed automatic). On the downside, ride comfort is lower, and the rear seat is not particularly spacious even compared to other superminis of the period. There is also a semi-family option, the sedan Demio, with an enlarged trunk.

Years: 2016–2017. Euro NCAP Crash Test Rating: ****. Fuel consumption: 12–13 km per liter

Mitsubishi Space Star 2020: Yes, we know, it’s a noisy and simple car with less impressive road handling. Its interior space is smaller than a typical supermini, and its 4-star Euro NCAP rating from 2012 is long expired.

However, the five-year-old Space Star has some advantages. Within our price limit, you can buy a facelifted version with a slightly more modern appearance, autonomous emergency braking, a higher-quality interior, and in the two higher trims, alloy wheels, a multimedia screen with Waze, and automatic high beams. The premium trim also offers a smart key and partial leather upholstery. Most importantly, performance with the 1.2-liter 3-cylinder engine (71 hp) is reasonable, and fuel consumption is excellent (15–16 km per liter). Combined with high reliability, it’s a car with very low running costs.

Full road test