TOP 10 Best Used Cars from Canada

Are you planning to buy and deliver a car from America? If so, you should definitely check out the Top 10 best value for money cars sold in Canada - from family sedans and minivans to luxury limousines.

It may surprise you, but despite the obvious pros of owning a new car, most buyers in Canada prefer used ones. Fortunately, there is a wide range of the available, there is no need to wait for a specific model for months, and prices for used vehicles are finally going down.

The used car market in Canada is as big as the US one – there is a great selection and the car’s condition is often better than the ones’ from the States.

Thus, the priority is choosing the right car which is especially important with increased demand.

So how to avoid mistakes when determining the best model? Columbus turned to two trustworthy data sources.

Who Selected the Top 10 and How?

Canadian websites Carpages (a popular service for selling cars) and Moneysense (a website dedicated to personal finances) have compiled a joint rating of the best used cars under 5 years old in terms of price-quality ratio.

When selecting candidates for the Top 10, auto journalists with hundreds of car testing experiences under their belt, took into account their reliability, fuel efficiency and the drive from driving, i.e. driving pleasure. The sum of these factors determined the overall rating of a particular vehicle compared to its competitors.

In addition, another important criterion was taken into account - awards from the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), which are given out annually at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto.

 
Best Family Car: Honda Accord

• Engines: 1.5 L (192 hp), 2.0 L (168 hp)
• Transmission: Manual, automatic, CVT
• Drive: front
• Number of seats: 5
• Fuel consumption: 6.2-7.8 L/100 km (highway-city)

Carpages journalists joke that if everyone drove a Honda Accord, the world would be a better place. This sedan burst onto the Canadian car market in the late 1970s and has remained a best-seller ever since. Accord is renowned for its time proven quality, reliability and driving pleasure.

In 2018, the car received the AJAC Car of the Year Award. The Accord is spacious, safe, powerful and fuel efficient, with room to comfortably accommodate five passengers - these are the qualities that make a big difference in a country with long roads.

The car is available with a wide selection of transmissions; There is also a hybrid option. Fans of manual transmission will be impressed by its smooth and precise operation, as well as one of the best fuel efficiency numbers in the class - with manual transmission and the base 1.5-liter turbo engine the consumption ranges from 6.2 L (highway) to 7.8 L/100 km.

Best Compact Sedan: Toyota Corolla

• Engine: 1.8 L (132 hp), 2.0 L (139 and 168 hp)
• Transmission: CVT, manual
• Drive: front
• Number of seats: 5
• Fuel consumption: 5.6-8.7 L/100 km (highway-city)

Do you know what has been the bestselling car in the world for the last 50 years? It’s Toyota Corolla with 50 million having rolled off the plants of the Japanese manufacturer since the model's launch in 1966! By comparison, Canada's current population is only 38 million.

Since 2017, production of the twelfth generation of sedans has launched in North America including in Canada itself. In 2019, a hatchback joined the Corolla family.

Stylish exterior and interior, sharp steering, reliable and efficient engines (though not very powerful ones in sedans - only 132-139 hp), an impressive list of additional features - this is what makes Corollas attractive in the eyes of millions.

Perhaps this is a car for those who see it as a means of transportation, not a luxury. Fill it up on time, change oil, filters, and carry out other routine maintenance - and it will last you for many years to come.

Best Hybrid: Ford Escape

• Engine: 2.5 L + electric motor (198 hp)
• Transmission: CVT
• Drive: front, full
• Number of seats: 5
• Fuel consumption: 5.3-6.4 L/100 km (highway-city)

Did you think it would be Toyota Prius? The Escape is responsible for the hybrids rise in popularity in Canada, but the evolution of transport means does not stand still.

If you are looking for a used hybrid, a recent Ford Escape available since the 2020 model year is your best choice. And with good reason. The reliability of the car is on par with Toyota; at the same time, the crossover body is a much better option than a sedan for most buyers today.

In addition, Canadians often purchase/resell Ford Escape Hybrids with all-wheel drive, which is ideal for snowy roads - winters in Canada are known to be rough.

Anyone concerned about the reliability of these Ford models would do well to check the experience of the neighboring US - the growing number of Escape Hybrids being used as taxis in New York City speaks for itself.

Best Compact Crossover: Kia Soul

• Engine: 2.0 L (147 hp), 1.6 L (201 hp)
• Transmission: CVT, manual, automatic
• Drive: front
• Number of seats: 5
• Fuel consumption: 7.1-9.4 L/100 km (highway-city)

The Kia Soul is one of Canada's top-selling compact crossover SUVs. The Soul's boxy body looks unconventional but solid, especially on the third-generation model, which hit the North American market in 2020. Kia designers managed to add some menace to the appearance of this small and overall ordinary car in terms of technical specs. What we see here is a bulldog but one from the world of cars.

The interior of the car is less brutal than its exterior, and reflects the calm nature of a base 2-liter car. The crossover is quite spacious and comfortable inside; the simple infotainment system is more intuitive than in the ones in similar class competitors.

One of Soul's only cons is that it doesn't come in all-wheel drive option. But even in Canada’s harsh weather conditions (and even more so in ours), a good set of winter tires can remedy this manufacturer’s oversight.

Best Full-Size SUV: Chevrolet Suburban/GMC Yukon XL

• Engine: 3.0 L (277 hp), 5.3 L (355 hp), 6.2 L (420 hp)
• Transmission: Automatic
• Drive: rear, full
• Number of seats: 7-8
• Fuel consumption: 11.8-18.1 L/100 km (highway-city)

Initially, the Chevrolet Suburban was a station wagon, converted from a truck in 1934 for the needs of the US National Guard. Later it turned into a full-fledged SUV, which, along with its corporate twin GMC Yukon, is the largest in the world - 5690 mm in length. In 2019, the 13th generation Chevy got a new design with an independent rear suspension (adjustable pneumatic suspension is available in some editions) and 650 liters more trunk space for a total of 2,171 liters. Just keep in mind that in American cars the trunk volume is measured to the floor, and not to the shelf, as in European ones.

With engines ranging from 277 to 420 hp and a 10-speed automatic transmission, the car is a beast, and a truly voracious one at that, guzzling at least 16-18 liters of fuel per hundred kilometers in the city and about 12-13 liters on the highway.

However, taking into account the Suburban’s capabilities, it’s a small price to pay - after all, it can fit up to 8 passengers, as well as a lot of stuff in its spacious trunk.

Chevrolet easily tows multi-ton trailers (from 3.4 to 3.7 tons). All-wheel drive, powerful engines, truncated bumpers and ground clearance of 203 mm make it clear that this cruiser is built for the toughest off-road conditions.

Best Sports Car: Mazda MX-5

• Engine: 2.0 L (181 hp)
• Transmission: manual, automatic
• Drive: rear
• Number of seats: 2
• Fuel consumption: 6.7-9 L/100 km (highway-city)

Many Canadians like to take a fast ride, so there is a steady demand on cars with a sporty character in the country. Since not everyone can afford a Porsche (although they are in high demand on the Canadian used car market as well), a popular replacement came in the form of the Mazda MX-5, whose cocky character has been familiar to many since the model’s first appearance in 1989.

The compact MX-5 offers high build quality, reliable components, sharp steering, low roll in corners and sufficient power for its weight to not just get to your destination, but to do fast and in style. It's no surprise that AJAC named the Mazda MX-5 the best sports car of 2019.

Best Minivan: Dodge Grand Caravan

• Engine: 3.6 L (283 hp)
• Transmission: automatic
• Drive: front
• Number of seats: 7
• Fuel consumption: 9.4-13.8 L/100 km (highway-city)

Another ideal family car for couples with many children. The long-wheelbase Grand Caravan, which was produced without major changes from 2011 to 2020, has a wonderful feature - the second and third row seats fold into the floor in one click (Stow n' Go system), opening up a flat trunk space that increases from 886 to 3,973 liters. The owner of a Grand Caravan does not need to ponder whether this vehicle suitable for transporting something - in 99.9% of cases it is.

After 2020, the Grand Caravan gave way to the Chrysler Pacifica as the leader in the minivan segment, causing its prices to drop. But the car is reliable, unpretentious, and capable of faithfully serving its new owner for a long time. Fortunately, since the Grand Caravan was produced for many years, it is not difficult to find plenty of inexpensive spare parts for it.

Best Pickup: Ford F-150

• Engine: 2.7 L (325 hp), 3.0 L (250 hp), 3.3 L (290 hp), 3.5 L (400-430 hp), 5 .0 L (400 hp)
• Transmission: Automatic
• Drive: rear, full
• Number of seats: 3-6
• Fuel consumption: 5.6-8.7 L/100 km (highway-city)

F-Series pickups have been a hit on both sides of the US-Canadian border since forever. More precisely, since 1948, when the very first F-pickup truck from Ford appeared. In Canada it was sold under the Mercury brand. Since then, more than 27 million F-series vehicles have been sold. Judging by the success of the 13th generation F-150, produced since 2011, it is just a beginning.

Fun fact: If Ford had only sold the F-150 and ditched the rest of its products, it would still have remained a successful Fortune 500 automaker, as the F-series continues to rank one of the most popular cars in North America year in and year out.

The F-150 has a great choice of bodies, editions, engines and transmissions - everyone can find the car for themselves and their needs. The vehicle has a high build quality and unquestionable reliability. And the owners could not be happier about it since they often use their trucks get some harsh treatments. The cars made after 2015 are in special favor – this is when Ford switched to producing aluminum bodies in accordance with military standards.

Best Compact Luxury Sedan: Lexus ES

• Engine: 3.5 L (302 hp)
• Transmission: Automatic
• Drive: front, full
• Number of seats: 5
• Fuel consumption: 7.4-10.7 L/ 100 km (highway-city)

Having debuted in 1989, Toyota's sub-brand Lexus blew away the competition with its combination of reasonable prices, reliability and style. Years passed, the brand matured and became one of the trendsetters in the luxury car segment.

The ES model is an integral part of the Lexus portfolio, giving buyers the chance to own a luxury car without overpaying. Especially if you buy the car used.

The ES, which was last updated in 2021, has just one engine option but a decent selection of transmissions, including a hybrid. The car is well equipped and well built, has a spacious trunk and a roomy and practically soundproof interior.

Another point in the ES's favor is that the model won the 2018 AJAC Award for Best Active Safety Innovation, namely for the introduction of a pedestrian detection system.

Best Full-Size Luxury Sedan: Genesis G90

• Engine: 1.8 L (132 hp)
• Transmission: Automatic
• Drive: front, full
• Number of seats: 5
• Fuel consumption: 5.6-8.7 L/100 km (highway-city)

The car has been in production since 2017, replacing the Hyundai Equus. We can honestly say that the G90 seamlessly merges style and practicality. With powerful turbocharged V8 and V6 engines and HTRAC all-wheel drive - which is especially important in Canada - you'll feel in full control of the road.

The car is calm, with a comfortable suspension that easily absorbs any bumps on the road. The stylish, high-quality interior offers two rows of comfortable seats and numerous high-tech options. The G90 has one of the highest reliability ratings in its class - this car ages gracefully without causing any serious issues for its owner.

Sources: Carpages.ca, Moneysense.ca