Shopping on a Budget: The Best Used Cars for $20,000 or Less

August 16th, 2024 by

A white 2020 Hyundai Elantra is shown driving to view used cars for sale near Mebane.

Shopping for used cars for sale near Mebane doesn’t require settling for less or compromising quality, reliability, or innovative technologies. Buying a used vehicle is an outstanding investment because you’re putting your money to work, stretching your hard-earned dollar, and paying closer to the vehicle’s actual value. In turn, your $20,000 budget often means affording a better-equipped model or a top-tier trim with excellent features and amenities that guarantee every experience in the driver’s seat is engaging, comfortable, and fun.

Our dealership is home to the area’s largest selection of used cars, trucks, and SUVs. More importantly, we’re here to help kickstart your search by showcasing some of the best-value models that are frequently found on our lot. Which models make the cut? It’s time to find out and explore our top six cars, trucks, and SUVs with outstanding features that you can typically find for $20,000 or less.

Hyundai Elantra

Are you ready to upgrade your weekday commute with a compact road warrior like the Hyundai Elantra? Debuting in 1990, the Elantra is a well-equipped sedan praised for its engaging driving demeanor and value-oriented packaging. Mebane drivers will especially appreciate the sixth-generation Elantra, which debuted in 2016 and received a mid-cycle redesign in 2019.

The Elantra’s 2019 redesign is key, with Hyundai giving the compact car a more modern, sophisticated design and enhancing its suite of safety and driver-assist features essential to keeping you safe behind the wheel. 2019 and newer models feature SmartSense technologies that include Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keep Assist, Driver Attention Assist, and Safe Exit Assist. The interior is also well-equipped, with top-tier trims boasting an eight-inch Multimedia Navigation System with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth compatibility, all comparable to what you’ll find in the newest models.

Nissan Rogue

Are you ready to venture to downtown Mebane in style? If so, a used Nissan Rogue is an excellent option, with a spacious cabin that can easily accommodate all your finds at the area’s many beloved boutiques and antique shops. What can you expect from Nissan’s “right-sized” SUV?

The Rogue has been a staple in the Nissan fleet since 2008, but our customers can easily find newer, third-generation models built after 2020 for $20,000 or less. Nissan introduces more versatility and features with the 2020 Rogue and newer models, meaning your money goes further in a used model. For example, advanced technologies like ProPILOT Assist and the Nissan Safety Shield 360 complement the Rogue’s expansive center touchscreen with smartphone integration and navigation. Most notably, your comfort is guaranteed, with the Rogue boasting industry-leading and NASA-inspired Zero Gravity seats.

A red 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport is shown driving on a highway.

Mitsubishi Outlander/Outlander Sport

Mebane drivers looking for luxury in an SUV that can confidently handle all the demands of the road will appreciate options like the Mitsubishi Outlander and its smaller sibling, the Outlander Sport. While the models share a name and many comparable features and design elements, a few slight differences are worth considering. For example, the Outlander Sport is smaller, more agile, and slightly more efficient than the larger Outlander. Alternatively, the Outlander has a more spacious cabin and is typically equipped with a larger, more powerful engine.

Either way, the Outlander and Outlander Sport are two outstanding options because of Mitsubishi’s dedication to giving drivers tangible value. For example, Mitsubishi reinvented the best-selling Outlander Sport in 2020 by redesigning it from the ground up. With bolder styling and more features, a 2020 Outlander Sport or a newer model offers more amenities, sleek styling, and advanced technologies.

You’ll find premium interior elements that showcase Mitsubishi’s keen attention to detail in the Outlander Sport and larger Outlander. The SUVs are also engaging to drive because of Mitsubishi’s dynamic powertrain lineup. For example, the Outlander Sport GT is a must-have for those looking for a little more excitement in the driver’s seat. Its more potent engine delivers dynamic performance, making any drive in town or on the highway fun without compromising efficiency.

Subaru Outback/Outback Sport

Mebane sees its fair share of rainy conditions and even some snowfall in the winter months. Fortunately, shopping for a used car doesn’t mean you have to compromise your confidence in the driver’s seat when navigating slippery conditions. Instead, you can invest in a crossover like the Subaru Outback or Outback Sport that features the brand’s symmetrical all-wheel drive system.

Subaru is renowned for making all-wheel drive standard across its lineup, and the Outback and Outback Sport are certainly no exceptions. With all-season and all-terrain confidence, the SUVs are excellent finds on the used lot, especially sixth-generation models built since 2020. Subaru transformed the automotive landscape in 2020 when it debuted the Outback as the safest, most capable, and best-equipped in history. Depending on the trim, you’ll find some models feature an 11.6-inch touchscreen display with Subaru STARLINK and advanced driver-assist tools like the DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation System and the Standard EyeSight Driver Assist Technology with Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Centering.

A blue 2019 Ford Ranger is shown driving near trees.

Chevy Equinox

The Equinox showcases Chevrolet’s ingenuity and century-old mission of building high-quality, versatile vehicles that offer outstanding value without forcing drivers to compromise. Debuting in 2005, the Equinox is Chevrolet’s second best-selling model behind the full-size Silverado. Mebane drivers will undoubtedly appreciate the Equinox’s impressive history and how Chevrolet consistently updates the SUV to meet and exceed every expectation.

Chevrolet recently introduced the fourth-generation Equinox in 2025, making third-generation models an outstanding find on the used lot. For example, models like the 2021 Equinox feature a diverse lineup that stretches from the well-equipped L and LS to the LT and Premier. With the Midnight Edition, Sport Edition, and Redline Edition, it’s easy to find an Equinox that fits your style and needs. Beyond aesthetics, the Equinox is loaded with value, from its engaging turbocharged engine to the Chevy Safety Assist suite of driver-assist technologies and amenities like premium leather seats that add comfort wherever the road takes you.

Ford Ranger

Does a budget of $20,000 mean you can’t get behind the wheel of a capable and well-equipped truck? It doesn’t, at least not when you shop our inventory and look for models like the best-selling Ford Ranger. The Ranger has been a staple in the Ford fleet for decades, initially debuting as a compact truck before being reintroduced to the lineup in 2019 as a midsize powerhouse. The reinvented Ranger is worthy of the spotlight, proving its prowess as one of the most well-rounded trucks in the segment.

Whether using I-40 to travel between job sites for work, tackling a DIY project around the house, or running errands in town, the Ranger is the right-sized truck with the heart of a warrior. The Ranger’s capability is unquestionable, with the 2019 model powered by a 2.3L EcoBoost that delivers 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque for a maximum trailering capacity of 7,500 pounds and a total payload of 1,860 pounds. Ford ensures the Ranger is no slouch when it’s time to work or play, with the optional FX4 Off-Road Package readying the midsize marvel for the trail with an off-road-tuned suspension, skid plates, a rear locking differential, and Ford’s renowned Terrain Management System with Trail Control.