Bankruptcy Bargains: Save Over $1000 Buying These Used Cars From Hertz
Get Behind the Wheel for Less
One of the highest-profile companies to declare bankruptcy during the pandemic, Hertz has deeply discounted many vehicles in its fleet for used-car buyers. Used-car comparison site iSeeCars crunched the numbers on recently listed vehicles, all from model years 2017 through 2019, to see which ones offer the biggest savings. Curious? Here are 25 vehicles being sold for at least 10% below market value.
Ford Focus: Save 10.2%
Average price: $11,157
Average savings: $1,206
The recently discontinued Focus was a budget-friendly pick even for new-car buyers. While Car and Driver notes that the compact was outclassed by rivals, editors called it "an easy car to recommend" in part because of its nimble handling.
Chevrolet Impala: Save 10.4%
Average price: $15,766
Average savings: $1,880
Also recently discontinued, the Impala is a full-size sedan that gets solid reviews from U.S. News in its current form. Phong Ly, CEO of iSeeCars, says it's a good pick for anyone who wants a roomy vehicle without stepping up to an SUV.
Related: Motor Memoriam: Discontinued Cars We Said Goodbye to This Past Decade
BMW X3: Save 10.5%
Average price: $29,073
Average savings: $3,502
This compact luxury SUV is a particularly good value because luxury rentals often have lower mileage than comparable used cars at dealerships, Ly says. Need a little more convincing? The current model is top dog in its class, according to U.S. News.
Hyundai Santa Fe Sport: Save 10.6%
Average price: $13,647
Average savings: $1,497
Americans love their compact SUVs, and if you're among them, a nearly $1,500 price break on a used Hyundai Santa Fe Sport might be a deal worth pouncing on. While the Sport is no longer in production, Motor Trend called the 2018 model a solid buy, saying it was a "thoughtfully designed, well-executed SUV," if not the most exciting on the market.
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport: Save 10.6%
Average price: $13,528
Average savings: $1,587
This subcompact SUV isn't a current favorite of Car and Driver, but if you're paying about half of what you'd pay for a new one, you might not care. Still, be forewarned. "It would have to improve just to rank as awful," editors write. Ouch.
Volkswagen Jetta: Save 10.7%
Average price: $10,634
Average savings: $1,228
Want something small but refined? Car and Driver calls the current Jetta "one of the more sophisticated compact cars," also praising its fuel efficiency and cargo room. Its sub-$11,000 price tag also makes it among the five cheapest cars on this list.
Related: 22 Most Popular Volkswagens of All Time
BMW 5 Series: Save 10.7%
Average price: $35,973
Average savings: $4,517
The pricey BMW 5 midsize sedan commands a premium "for its driving dynamics and luxurious interior," Ly says. It's also likely to have lower mileage than comparable cars at traditional dealerships, he adds.
Ford Taurus: Save 10.7%
Average price: $16,176
Average savings: $1,987
A best-seller for much of the '90s, the Ford Taurus was recently discontinued because buyers have fallen out of love with large sedans, Ly says. U.S. News ranked it near the bottom of its class, dinging it for a dated cabin, poor gas mileage, and ho-hum handling.
Cadillac XT5: Save 10.9%
Average price: $29,647
Average savings: $3,688
The current version of this luxury midsize SUV is reliable, good on gas, and offers a comfy ride, according to U.S. News. Plus, the rentals Hertz is offering have comparable mileage to what you'd find at a traditional used-car dealership, Ly says.
Ford Fiesta: Save 11.1%
Average price: $9,737
Average savings: $1,252
The second-cheapest offering on this list, the subcompact Ford Fiesta is even easier on the wallet with a significant discount from Hertz. Recently retired like many other Fords, U.S. News praised the Fiesta for "agile handling," if not reliability.
Nissan Sentra: Save 11.3%
Average price: $9,887
Average savings: $1,263
This ubiquitous compact sedan is among just three cars going for under $10,000 on this list. It's not among U.S. News favorites, but its competitive class also includes perennial favorites like the Honda Civic, Kia Forte, and Toyota Corolla.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500: Save 11.4%
Average price: $24,265
Average savings: $3,312
Need a truck? One of only two pickups on this list, the light-duty Silverado may be an ideal vehicle to buy from Hertz because rentals aren't typically treated as roughly as privately owned trucks, Ly says.
Related: The Cheapest New Cars and Trucks of 2020
Cadillac CTS: Save 11.6%
Average price: $23,384
Average savings: $3,204
Luxury buyers who don't want to give up sporty handling should take a peek at this Cadillac sedan. Car and Driver says the 2019 version is heavy on athletic handling and edgy, sporty styling, though the tradeoff is a lack of refinement compared with the rest of the class.
Nissan Versa: Save 11.8%
Average price: $9,219
Average savings: $1,246
This subcompact sedan, little sibling to the Sentra, boasts the lowest average price on this list. The current model isn't among U.S. News' favorites, but it's safe and well-appointed, editors say.
Lincoln Continental: Save 11.8%
Average price: $24,313
Average savings: $3,467
Springing for the Continental, a full-size luxury sedan, buys you a "comfortable ride and abundant legroom," Ly says. Car and Driver calls the current model "the modern-day interpretation of the classic American luxury land yacht" but says some buyers may not appreciate the fact that it shares a lot of DNA with cheaper Fords and Lincolns.
Nissan Quest: Save 12%
Average price: $13,874
Average savings: $1,810
The discontinued Nissan Quest is the only minivan to crack this list, so families looking for something inexpensive but practical may want to take a long look. Ly says it has "a nice interior and offers a smooth ride," but The Car Connection calls it out for low crash-test scores.
Volkswagen Golf: Save 12.3%
Average price: $14,434
Average savings: $2,023
This sporty Volkswagen hatchback "provides abundant cargo room to serve as an SUV alternative," Ly says. The current model is among U.S. News' picks for its class, namely for its roominess and top-notch handling.
Kia Forte: Save 12.3%
Average price: $10,851
Average savings: $1,468
This current model of this compact car is an expert favorite, and buyers hoping for a roomier interior may be able to find one of the no-longer-offered hatchback versions by buying used.
Buick Cascada: Save 12.4%
Average price: $15,564
Average savings: $2,241
Calling all convertible lovers: Here's the only car on this list that will let you put the top down and enjoy the breeze. Ly acknowledges that this recently discontinued car was "not a popular vehicle" — U.S. News says it was outdated and outclassed — but the low price tag might inspire you to throw caution to the wind (pun intended).
Nissan Versa Note: Save 12.4%
Average price: $9,533
Average savings: $1,375
A used Nissan Versa Note would make a practical buy for city dwellers or fuel-sensitive commuters looking for a cheaper-than-cheap subcompact, though Car and Driver has called it out for a "slow-poke engine and poor handling."
Toyota Tundra: Save 12.6%
Average price: $31,383
Average savings: $4,714
The full-size Tundra is a pricier buy than the only other pickup on this list, the Chevy Silverado, but take note: Car and Driver calls out the current model for its aging design and says it's best left to buyers who will do its outdoorsy reputation justice.
Infiniti QX50: Save 12.7%
Average price: $27,760
Average savings: $4,145
The cheapest luxury SUV on this list, the Infiniti QX50 is another good value primarily because luxury rentals tend to have lower mileage than comparable used cars at dealerships, Ly says. Car and Driver praises the current model's "inspired design and innovative engine" and says it's a solid mix of practicality and refinement.
Mercedes-Benz A-Class: Save 13%
Average price: $28,555
Average savings: $4,252
Nabbing this small sedan from Hertz is a wise move for would-be luxury buyers, Ly says. It's already the least expensive vehicle Mercedes-Benz makes, he notes, and over $4,000 in savings over a typical used model makes it even more accessible to buyers who want luxury for less.
Chevrolet Trax: Save 13.4%
Average price: $11,196
Average savings: $1,714
Though it also doesn't garner much praise from experts, the Chevrolet Trax is cheaper than the other subcompact SUV on this list, the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. Car and Driver lambasts the current model's lack of power and cheap cabin, but paying just over $11,000 for an SUV may make any criticism easier to overlook.
BMW 7 Series: Save 13.7%
Average price: $42,680
Average savings: $6,877
Luxury buyers, you're in luck. The BMW 7 Series offers the greatest average savings of any car on this list. Buyers can expect to save close to $7,000 on this powerful sedan, and because many customers pass up luxury cars for cheaper rentals, "the average mileage is about half of what you would find from a typical dealer," Ly says.
