One Of The Most Reliable Used Cars To Buy In 2025 Is A 2017 Chevrolet Under $10,000

Visual Capitalist's 2025 used car brands report lists Chevrolet as one of the most dependable non-luxury brands, meaning its used cars usually last and need fewer repairs. The 2017 Chevrolet Cruze is a good example; owner surveys on Cars.com give it a 4.8 out of 5 reliability score, showing it breaks down less often than many rivals. A rating that high supports Chevy's reputation for building cars that cost the least over time. Since it is based on real owners' experiences, the ratings represents how the car really performs, not just what the ads say.

Picking a reliable car means it will stay on the road longer. A strong engine and drivetrain let you drive it for years before thinking about a replacement. In today's used-car market, the 2017 Chevrolet Cruze stands out by pairing proven dependability with a price tag under $10,000, making it a smart pick for budget-minded buyers. That said, spending a bit more can bring added advantages; some used cars above $10,000 can let you dodge Trump's import tariffs, that is asides their factory-set specifications.

To land a 2017 Chevrolet Cruze for less than $10,000, set realistic search parameters on sites that publish verified market data, such as Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds. For instance, in Kelley Blue Book's national Fair Purchase Price, a 2017 Cruze L Sedan in good condition typically costs about $6,636. The LS trim runs around $7,683, and the LT about $8,341.

Use each platform's price filters to cap your budget, then widen your radius to 150 to 200 miles so you see rural listings where prices often run lower than big-city ads. In the Richmond, VA, area, Edmunds listings show prices from $5,999 for higher-mileage models up to $11,434 for fully loaded Premier versions. Of nearly 3,000 active Edmunds ads, about seven out of ten are under $10,000, with many even below $8,000.

Once you spot a 2017 Cruze you like, grab its VIN and order a Carfax or AutoCheck report. Then pay under $100 for an independent inspection; AAA says most shops charge less than that, and it can save you from big repair bills later. Print out price comparisons from Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds to support your offer. If you're buying from a private seller, you'll usually pay less than at a dealership, since there's no extra markup, according to iSeeCars. It is also for this reason you need to avoid buying a car from a small dealership.

Edmunds says most 2017 Chevrolet Cruze trims get 33 miles per gallon (mpg) combined, about 29 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway. If you cover 15,000 miles in a year, the 2017 Cruze's combined rating of about 33 mpg means you'll use about 455 gallons of fuel. Multiply that by the EIA's 2025 national average pump price of about $3.108 per gallon, and the annual fuel bill comes to $1,410.

Safety is solid, too. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2017 Cruze its top "Good" rating in every major crash test — front, side, roof strength, and head restraints. RepairPal estimates annual repair and maintenance costs at about $524, close to the $526 compact-car average. Oil changes, tire rotations, and spark-plug replacements typically run $205 to $225 every 60,000 to 75,000 miles, according to YourMechanic's price tables.

On resale value, Kelley Blue Book data show that a 2017 Cruze LT has lost 47% of its value over the last three years. A well-kept example now resells for about $6,761, and dealers offer around $5,376 on trade-in. Five-year figures from iSeeCars put total depreciation at roughly 40%, similar to many compact cars but faster than a Toyota Corolla. In plain terms, if you buy a clean Cruze today for $8,000 to $10,000 and keep up with maintenance and mileage, it should hold about 60% of that price five years from now.