When looking for a new car in 2023, one might be looking to pick up a car on the second-hand market considering the sheer price of cars on the first-hand market in the present day. The problem with buying on the second-hand market is that there is a multitude of options, which can lead to a myriad of problems when deciding what car to buy. For this reason, one might cast their eye on the second-hand market of sleeper cars. After all, sleepers are the best all-rounders. They're sleek and stylish in design but reserved enough to lead to surprise at the speeds they can achieve.
Therefore in this list, we provide ten options for prospective buyers that should be cheap enough, fast enough, and more importantly reliable enough to last you years, if not decades, to come.
Looking at data from RepairPal, CarEdge, the NHTSA, and CarComplaints, we've put together a list of the best and most reliable second-hand sleepers that are below $20,000.
10 2016 Honda Accord Touring
Like many sleeper cars in the market, the 2016 Honda Accord Touring might not have the most aggressive design on the market; however, underneath its hood is a bit of a rocket – a 3.5-liter V6 producing 278 horsepower and over 250 lb-ft of torque. Spacious and sleek in design that is perfect for family outings and trips to the workplace, the Accord also is a lightning bolt with the acceleration pedal.
According to J.D. Power, the car receives an impressive 84/100 score on reliability, with an average yearly repair cost of less than $350. All the more reason to pick an Accord Touring up considering that they are selling for an average of $16,000 on the second-hand market, according to Classic.com.
Average Used Price: $16,000
Reliability:
- Avg. Yearly Maintenance Costs: $349 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Costs During First 10 Years: $5,412 (CarEdge)
- Recalls: 2 (NHTSA)
- Worst Year To Buy Used: The 2003 Honda Accord (CarComplaints)
9 2015 Buick Regal GS
Upon first reflection of the Buick Regal, the first reaction would be unlikely that one would liken it to a sports car. With safe designs that place it firmly in the saloon category, it comes as a surprise to find out that it produces close to 260 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. With this four-cylinder engine behind it, the Regal GS is able to reach speeds of 155 mph. According to J.D. Power, the car has a very strong score of 89 concerning reliability, and like the Honda Accord Touring, one can pick one up on the second-hand market for less than $20,000 according to Classic.com.
Average Used Price: $19,750
Reliability:
- Avg. Yearly Maintenance Costs: $577 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Costs During First 10 Years: $9,063 (CarEdge)
- Recalls: 0 (NHTSA)
- Worst Year To Buy Used: 2011 Buick Regal (CarComplaints)
8 2012 Toyota Camry SE
When first looking at the Camry SE, one might remark that it has the design of a distant cousin to the Prius with its sharp-edged bonnet and trunk, a design that doesn’t invoke the notion of speed. However, the Camry SE comes fitted with a 3.5-liter V6 that can produce 268 horsepower and 249 lb-ft of torque. 0-60 is achieved in 6.2 seconds and top speeds of 147 mph are available to the driver. When it comes to the Camry's reliability, it scores a decent 86/100 on J.D. Power, with average yearly maintenance costs sitting at $398. Considering it costs just less than $10,000 to pick up one according to Classic.com.
Average Used Price: $9,850
Reliability:
- Avg. Yearly Maintenance Costs: $398 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Costs During First 10 Years: $4,203 (CarEdge)
- Recalls: 2 (NHTSA)
- Worst Year To Buy Used: 2008 Toyota Camry (CarComplaints)
7 2008 Audi S6
In recent years, Audi has always been known for their stylish yet speedy saloons, however, even in the mid-2000s their S-line had an unbelievable pace unknown to onlookers. The engine is a 5.2-liter V10, taken from none other than a Lamborghini Gallardo supercar. This means the S6 can produce a whopping 435 horsepower – enough to propel the sleeper to 155 mph (limited to) and can reach 60 mph in less than five seconds. The car scores a respectable score of 79 on J.D. Power, and one can pick up the S6 on average for anywhere from $12,000 to $14,000 according to Classic.com.
Average Used Price: $13,000
Reliability:
- Avg. Yearly Maintenance Costs: $897 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Costs During First 10 Years: $10,210 (CarEdge)
- Recalls: 2 (NHTSA)
- Worst Year To Buy: 2006 Audi
6 2005 BMW 545i
Like their German cousins, BMW is renowned for creating cars that blend in but can pull away from their competitors with speed. Take the 2005 model of the 545i for example. Under the hood is a 4.4-liter N62 V8 engine that can produce 325 horsepower. 0-60 is at 5.6 seconds, and top speed is limited to 155 mph, yet, on average, it costs just $7,500 to pick up a 545i secondhand.
Like the S6, the 545i scores a positive 79 out of 100 on reliability at J.D. Power, and like many other BMW models, finding parts for the 545i should not be a struggle considering the widespread popularity of the model.
Average Used Price: $7,500
Reliability:
- Avg. Yearly Maintenance Costs: $734 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Costs During First 10 Years: $9,150 (CarEdge)
- Recalls: 5 (NHTSA)
- Worst Year To Buy: 2007 BMW 545i (CarComplaints)
5 2016 Toyota Avalon
The 2016 Toyota Avalon has many similarities with the Honda Accord Touring. They both contain a 3.5-liter V6 engine, with the Avalon producing 268 horsepower. 0-60 is in 7.3 seconds and top speeds of 147 mph are possible. The Avalon gets an extremely positive 85 out of 100 on reliability at J.D. Power and has a great 40 mpg on fuel efficiency. On average the car can be bought for approximately $15,000 second-hand according to Classic.com. Not a bad buy at all.
Average Used Price: $15,000
Reliability:
- Avg. Yearly Maintenance Costs: $444 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Costs During First 10 Years: $4,407 (CarEdge)
- Recalls: 3 (NHTSA)
- Worst Year To Buy Used: The 2014 Toyota Avalon (CarComplaints)
4 2015 Chevrolet Impala
With an unassuming exterior and a comfortable and spacious interior, the Chevrolet Impala might just be the stereotypical design of a sleeper. In its 2LT trim, the Impala's 3.6-liter V6 engine can produce 305 horsepower and get to 155 mph, which is more than enough for the average motorist. The 2015 model year of the Impala maintains the reputation that the model has always had for reliability, with a very impressive J.D. Power reliability score of 85 out of 100. Second-hand prices for the Impala range anywhere from $12,000 to $17,000 according to Classic.com, a bargain either way.
Average Used Price: $15,500
Reliability:
- Avg. Yearly Maintenance Costs: $537 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Costs During First 10 Years: $6,524 (CarEdge)
- Recalls: 3 (NHTSA)
- Worst Year To Buy Used: 2004 Chevrolet Impala (CarComplaints)
3 2012 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ
A predecessor of the 2015 model of the Impala was the Malibu LTZ 2012 model. Possibly due to its simplistic design, it has not been remembered remarkably well, but like many of its competitors, it can produce a good amount of horsepower with 252 and get to speeds north of 125 mph. More importantly, it scores an impressive 89 out of 100 on reliability from J.D. Power. It's fairly cheap, too, costing approximately $7000 to buy used and just $6,500 to maintain during its first ten years, according to CarEdge.
Average Used Price: $7,000
Reliability:
- Avg. Yearly Maintenance Costs: $543 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Costs During First 10 Years: $6,460 (CarEdge)
- Recalls: 3 (NHTSA)
- Worst Year To Buy Used: The 2010 Chevrolet Malibu (Carcomplaints)
2 2015 Subaru Legacy R
Launched in 2015, the reproduction of the staple of Subaru’s classic is as good of a sleeper as any others on this list. Fitted with a 3.6-liter flat-six engine, the Legacy could produce 256 horsepower and 247 lb-ft of torque. 0-60 clocked in at 6.5 seconds and is limited to 155 mph.
One can pick up the Legacy R for as little as $13,000 in 2023 according to Classic.com, and despite its speedier nature for a reliable sleeper it still scores a 75 on reliability from J.D. Power. Even more impressive is the fact that it costs close to $5,000 to maintain in its first ten years after purchase.
Average Used Price: $13,000
Reliability:
- Avg. Yearly Maintenance Costs: $563
- Est. Maintenance Costs During First Ten Years: $5,497 (CarEdge)
- Recalls: 3 (NHTSA)
- Worst Year To Buy Used: 2018 Subaru Legacy R (CarComplaints)
1 2011 Lexus GS 350
While the GS 350 may not be the most pleasant to the eyes, its luxurious interior and intelligent engineering and hardware make up for it and then some. With a 3.5-liter V6 engine, the GS 350 could produce over 300 horsepower and was electronically limited to 142 mph. Despite this, it could still do 0-60 in 5.7 seconds.
With an amazing reliability score of 90 out of 100 on J.D. Power, and the fact one can pick this car up for $14,000 on the second-hand market according to Classic.com. This makes the GS 350 one of the best picks for a cheap sleeper that will last you a lifetime.
Average Used Price: $14,000
Reliability:
- Avg. Yearly Maintenance Costs: $551 (RepairPal)
- Est. Maintenance Costs During First 10 Years: $5,721 (CarEdge)
- Recalls: 3 (NHTSA)
- Worst Year To Buy Used: 2013 Lexus GS 350 (CarComplaints)