Compact crossover SUVs are all the rage right now. The segment represents roughly one out of every five cars sold in the US.
Models such as the Nissan Rogue and Honda CR-V are among the best selling vehicles in the US.
However, the used car market is not where you want to look for compact crossovers.
Matt DeLorenzo of Kelley Blue Book said that "everyone seems to want a crossover SUV," so sellers of a used crossover hold the cards. Better to consider a hatchback or at least a compact SUV which has undergone an extensive redesign.
Instead, look for a new one. With manufacturers eager to hold on to market share in a brutally competitive segment, you are likely to find incentive packages that could knock thousands of dollars off the sale price of a new crossover.
The Ford F-150 was, far and away, the best selling new vehicle in America in 2018, with sales topping 909,000 units, while the next best seller, the Chevrolet Silverado, sold more than 585,000 trucks.
With new pickups selling in such record numbers, pre-owned pickups are also in high demand and thus are priced higher than ordinary for a used vehicle. Unless your work demands the use of a pickup, consider other types of used vehicle.
DeLorenzo advises against "odd-ball vehicles" like the Nissan Cube or Ford Flex because while "they're cheap, [they] don't have much in retained value," he said.
Buying a used car that you likely can't sell for any appreciable amount means you are investing in something that's not much of an investment.
DeLorenzo advises against "high-powered sports coupes," as insurance will be costly, and repairs and maintenance will start to add up. A Corvette is likely to cost an average of $2,148 a year in maintenance by the fourth or fifth year, and costs more than $1,300 annually in average insurance rates.
You can often get a great deal on a used car from a brand that's no longer around in the US, like a Saab or Suzuki. But once that vehicle needs repairs or maintenance, you may well pay dearly for the upkeep. Parts will be harder to find and thus much more expensive, and finding a shop that can service the vehicle properly might prove a challenge.
If a carmaker releases a brand new model — not just a mild refresh, but a brand new generation or an altogether new vehicle — don't buy one for several years, new or used.
Instead, let the vehicle settle in for a while, as any defects or shortcomings will soon be identified and rectified, or the model will be canceled, leaving its owners with a used car that's hard to sell.
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