Pre-Owned Compact Sedan Options That Are Perfect for Hillsborough Drivers

October 18th, 2024 by

A grey 2022 Volkswagen Jetta GLI is shown from the side.

Forming our list of the best pre-owned compact sedans you should consider buying wasn’t easy, but we’ve put together some of the most notable used cars for sale in Hillsborough that are the perfect fit for your life. Remember that our job requires looking at plenty of vehicles, and we know you’ll find what you’re looking for by reading on. Let’s get started, and if you’re looking to check out any of these exciting pre-owned options, we invite you to visit us here at CBS Quality Cars and take a few for a test drive!

Volkswagen Jetta

The Volkswagen Jetta is a great sedan for Hillsborough residents looking to stick with a budget but put the money toward an efficient sedan that’s pretty to look at and smooth to drive. The Jetta launched in 1979 and has since been through over seven generational leaps, with the 2019 Jetta kicking off the most recent generation. The performance of the Jetta depends on the model you buy, with various model years providing different results. 

A turbocharged 1.4L I-4 engine comes standard with 2016 through 2021 Jetta models. The standard engine in many of these models outputs 150 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. However, the Jetta GLI is a stronger variant of the Jetta, with a turbocharged 2.0L I-4 engine outputting 210 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque, providing a noticeable amount of extra kick in your acceleration. If you’re buying a Jetta, the GLI models won’t disappoint.

The Jetta can also be fitted with a hybrid powertrain. An electric motor is matched with the turbocharged 1.4L I-4 engine to create a combined output of 170 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque with the best fuel economy ratings we’ve mentioned, with 42 MPG in the city, 48 MPG on the highway, and 44 MPG combined.

You can travel up to 524 miles on a full gas tank in the 2016 Jetta – one of the most notable reasons we recommend the Jetta to Hillsborough residents, especially those on a budget. Considering the 2016 Jetta’s 11.9-gallon fuel tank, traveling over 500 miles on a full gas tank is commendable. If you live in Hillsborough, a used Jetta will get you to work or help you drop the kids off at school without rapidly burning fuel. 

A grey 2022 Mazda3 Sedan is shown from the rear at an angle.

Mazda3 Sedan

The Mazda3 sedan is a great choice for Hillsborough drivers because it’s performant, efficient, and easily one of the most premium sedans for its price. The Mazda3 recently celebrated its 20th birthday, and pre-owned models can easily give you the entire Mazda3 experience you’re looking for, albeit sometimes with slight exceptions. For example, the 2019 and 2020 Mazda3 don’t have the same horsepower output of the latest model, but its 186 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque are respectable. 

Some newer pre-owned models, like the 2022 Mazda3, have a lower base horsepower output but a higher maximum output. The turbocharged 2.5L I-4 engine can provide up to 250 hp, a large 34% increase. The Mazda3 is also one of the few vehicles on the market still offering a manual transmission (if you opt for a hatchback), while an automatic transmission is standard on the sedan version. For Hillsborough drivers who prefer a stick shift, the Mazda3 hatchback should be the compact sedan you buy. Manual transmissions are fun to drive, meaning you can breathe new life into your driving, whether running errands or going out for some evening fun.

Features like Push Button Start and an infotainment center are standard on various base-level Mazda3 models. Push Button Start has been a standard feature for the Mazda3 for over a decade, first coming standard with the 2014 model, with some prior models having optional implementations. The 2016 Mazda3 introduced the Mazda Connect infotainment center—one of the first mainstream infotainment centers to come with a base model. However, the 2019 Mazda3 introduces Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, albeit on every trim but the base model. The Mazda3 is an exceptional compact sedan and a great choice for Hillsborough drivers. 

Toyota Corolla

The Toyota Corolla is one of the most well-known compact sedans on the market. You can link each manufacturer with one phrase, and the phrase that best describes Toyota is “reliable.” It’s well known that Toyota vehicles are among the most reliable cars on the road regarding longevity. If you consider a vehicle an investment, the Corolla will protect your investment by consistently providing you with a great compact sedan experience.

When the Corolla was released, it was a smaller subcompact sedan and was later accompanied by a larger compact sedan called the Camry. Eventually, the Camry and Corolla both received a size increase, and the Camry became Toyota’s midsize sedan for 30 years and counting, while the Corolla has sat upon the throne of Toyota’s go-to compact sedan for an equal amount of time. 

With dozens of model years appearing on the pre-owned market, the Corolla has been around for a while. Since the first model launched, the Corolla has been escorted through twelve generations of changes, and there’s no reason to believe the train is stopping anytime soon. Brand-new Corolla models are the most cost-effective new Toyota sedans, and because of the Corolla’s competitive pricing against sedans like the Honda Civic, pre-owned models compete much the same, and as a result, are some of the most cost-effective pre-owned compact sedans. 

A red 2023 Toyota Corolla is shown from the side after leaving a dealer that has used cars for sale in Hillsborough.

You’ll get all the performance and efficiency you’ll need out of the Corolla, especially if you’re a Hillsborough resident going about your day. The size of the Corolla’s interior is accommodating for up to five passengers, meaning you can drive your kids to their after school activities, while still being able to fit cargo like sports equipment.

Something special about the Corolla you may find important is that a base 2009 Corolla has the same horsepower output as a 2019 Corolla, as they both use a 1.8L I-4 engine – 132 hp and 128 lb-ft of torque. You may not know this, but your 2009 Corolla can come with a 2.4L 4-cyl engine that outputs 158 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque—more than the 2019 Corolla can generate. What does this mean for you? If you’re worried about driving a less powerful vehicle because it’s older, the focus behind the Corolla’s innovation isn’t performance but rather creating the ideal compact sedan experience. 

If you want modern tech, recent Corolla models are the perfect vehicle to start your browsing. The 2020 Corolla introduced Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa integration. However, if you use an Android phone and want a car with Android Auto, the 2021 Corolla introduced it to its feature set.

It’s fair to say Toyota added popular features like Apple CarPlay a bit late compared to the competition – the software launched over 10 years ago. However, infotainment tech, whether developed by Apple, Google, or Amazon, has historically rolled out through the industry at different intervals, with some manufacturers opting to instantly apply the tech, while others slowly added these features to the more affordable vehicles in the lineup. 2020 and 2021 Corolla models can be found at a great price, so keep this in mind when shopping. 

Which Sedan Should You Buy?

If you’re a Hillsborough driver, you may wonder after reading about the vehicles mentioned, which sedan should you buy? We believe the best sedan is what you make of it. If you want a Volkswagen, Mazda, or Toyota vehicle, each lineup has a great compact sedan, and the best sedan to buy is the one that fits your budget. One thing is for sure: a compact sedan is a practical and efficient way to travel around the greater area of Hillsborough, and our team at CBS Quality Cars can help you find your perfect pre-owned sedan.