If you’re in the market for a vehicle this year, buying a used one could be more than just a savvy strategy. With new car prices averaging nearly $50,000, and prices on nearly everything else rising fast, it could be a necessity. 

That doesn’t mean settling for an old clunker, either. You can find great prices on cars that are just coming off leases and others that are just a few years old. In that sweet spot in the market, the biggest depreciation hit has already been taken by the car’s first owner, while major repairs are still in the distant future. 

Whether you’re buying new or used, your needs, wants, and requirements are your own. You might want a quiet ride, while another buyer might just want the latest car tech. You might need something big enough to tow a trailer, they might need something small enough to parallel park around town. In other words, there are no perfect used cars, just the car that’s perfect for you.

Here are some vehicles—tested and reviewed by AAA—that will meet a wide variety of buyer requirements. They also were named as top picks in AAA’s car guides for the 2021, 2022, and 2023 model years, which means they could make great used buys now.

Small Hatchback: 2023 Nissan Leaf SV Plus

The Nissan Leaf isn’t a car for gear heads, but it’s perfect for someone who just wants a small, budget-friendly, low-maintenance car. The SV Plus offers a 212-mile range; while a level 2 charger will speed up the charging process significantly, the Leaf can just as easily be plugged into a standard outlet, saving you some dough on electrical work and the charger itself. And while it charges slowly, plugging it in overnight usually does the trick. The back seats are uncomfortable, the brake pedal is a bit spongy, and the steering loose. But if you want a pluggable car that gets you from point A to point B without fun or fuss, the Leaf is the car for you.

Midsize Sedan: 2023 Toyota Camry Hybrid

Comfortable and spacious for its size, the good-old-reliable Toyota Camry is even better with hybrid technology, delivering a whopping 52 miles per gallon (combined). Its standard safety and driver assistance features—including automatic emergency braking, lane centering, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams—are plentiful. (Blind spot monitoring costs extra.) The engine can be loud, the entertainment system isn’t the best, and heated/ventilated seats aren’t available. But perfection isn’t why you buy a Camry—reliability is. It might not be exciting, but the Camry’s proven track record, fuel efficiency, and price make it easy to understand why this is one of the top-selling vehicles overall. 

Large Sedan: 2021 Genesis G80

The 2021 Genesis G80 was fully redesigned for the 2021 model year. It has a roomy cabin, with heated and ventilated seats, a 15-inch infotainment touch screen, and a suite of advanced driver assistance systems, including blind spot warning and automatic emergency braking. The 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivers strong acceleration and 25 mpg combined fuel efficiency. It offers a quieter ride than most standard sedans, if not as hushed as some of its luxury competitors. Rear-wheel drive is standard for the G80, but all-wheel drive is available if you need it. All that said, the G80’s trunk could be roomier, the GPS can be a bit difficult to use, and not everyone loves its updated exterior. Still, if you want a luxury full-size sedan without shelling out a top-of-the-line price, the Genesis G80 is a strong choice.

Large SUV: 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V

The Escalade-V trim gives the massive three-row luxury SUV a performance boost, with a supercharged 6.2-liter V8, high-performance Brembo brakes, adaptive air suspension, and standard all-wheel drive. The result is sporty handling, lots of power, and relatively comfortable steering. As you’d expect, the fit and finish throughout are top-tier, with plenty of leather and wood trim; unfortunately, visibility is poor due to large rear pillars, a small rear window, and backseat head restraints. Also unfortunate: the EPA-estimated 13 mpg (combined). Buying this luxury SUV used should get you a solid discount on the original $149,195 base MSRP; the national average of these vehicles currently available on Edmunds is around $118,000—still pretty eye-popping for many buyers. 

Small SUV: 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E

The Mustang Mach-E carries the name of Ford’s iconic muscle car, but otherwise it's a built-from-the-ground-up electrified SUV, the first dedicated vehicle of its kind from the iconic automaker. Available in rear-wheel and all-wheel drive, it’s practical yet fun to drive, with engine sounds available for those interested when selecting the “unbridled” mode. An optional extended-range battery gives the Mach-E an EPA-estimated range of 270 to 300 miles; even without that, the SUV is slow to charge at home with a level 2 charger. The Mustang Mach-E comes standard with forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind spot warning, and lane departure warning, among other safety features. The ride can be rough on uneven roads, you can’t tow with it, and the infotainment system is kind of clunky. But if you want an electric SUV with a sporty feel (and heritage), it’s worth a look.

Minivan: 2022 Kia Carnival 

With plenty of space and boxier, SUV-like styling, Kia’s 2022 Carnival doesn’t look like the typical minivan. The trim levels on the Carnival really change things up, with lots of options, including seven- or eight-seat configurations. Many advanced driver assistance features are standard, including automatic emergency braking, blind spot warning, and forward collision warning, but adaptive cruise control is standard only on the EX trim and above. Heated and ventilated seats, three-zone climate control, and a rear entertainment system are also available on select trims. Thanks to a 3.5-liter V6, towing up to 3,500 pounds is possible, but fuel efficiency isn’t great. Kia’s popular five-year, 60,000-mile warranty applies to second owners, but its 100,000-mile, 10-year powertrain warranty is reduced.

Pickup: 2021 Ford F-150 XLT SuperCrew Hybrid

The F-150 has been around for 77 years, but 2021 was the first year Ford added a hybrid option, clinching the automaker a winning spot in the AAA pickup truck rankings. The hybrid drivetrain improves overall fuel efficiency by 4 mpg over its non-hybrid sibling—20% better. All F-150s come standard with automatic emergency braking and forward collision warning, and the hybrid also offers a standard 2.4-kW generator, called the Pro Power Onboard, with a 7.2-kW unit—which, in theory, can power your home during an electricity outage—available. With a 12,700-pound towing capacity, great leg- and headroom, and a roomy interior thanks to the crew cab, it’s a practical yet rough-riding workhorse.