Best Used Sports Cars Under $30k for 2025
The best used sports cars under $30k based on a data-driven analysis of each vehicle's reliability, resale value and safety.
The best used sports car under $30k is the 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata based on our analysis of 12 million vehicles to assess their reliability, resale value and safety. The 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata has an average price of $28,522 with an overall iSeeCars score of 8.8. Behind the MX-5 Miata is the 2023 Subaru BRZ with average used car price of $28,310 and iSeeCars score of 8.6. The number 3 best used sports car under $30k is the 2019 Nissan 370Z (coupe) at $28,124 average price and 8.4 iSeeCars rating. For this analysis, iSeeCars looked at used sports cars under $30k that are 1 to 6 years old to determine the latest model year vehicles that are within the price range of $25,000 to $30,000.
The best used sports car under $30k is the 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata based on our analysis of 12 million vehicles to assess their reliability, resale value and safety. The 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata has an average price of $28,522 with an overall iSeeCars score of 8.8. Behind the MX-5 Miata is the 2023 Subaru BRZ with average used car price of $28,310 and iSeeCars score of 8.6. The number 3 best used sports car under $30k is the 2019 Nissan 370Z (coupe) at $28,124 average price and 8.4 iSeeCars rating. For this analysis, iSeeCars looked at used sports cars under $30k that are 1 to 6 years old to determine the latest model year vehicles that are within the price range of $25,000 to $30,000.
-
iSeeCars Score: 8.8 / 10
- Average Used Car Price: 28521.826667
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars-
Reliability 8.9 / 10
-
Value Retention 8.7 / 10
-
Safety Not Available
-
iSeeCars Score: 8.6 / 10
- Average Used Car Price: 28310.43617
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars-
Reliability 8.0 / 10
-
Value Retention 9.1 / 10
-
Safety Not Available
3. 2019 Nissan 370Z (coupe)
-
iSeeCars Score: 8.4 / 10
- Average Used Car Price: 28124.204225
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars-
Reliability 7.9 / 10
-
Value Retention 8.9 / 10
-
Safety Not Available
-
iSeeCars Score: 7.9 / 10
- Average Used Car Price: 25857.297636
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars-
Reliability 7.4 / 10
-
Value Retention 8.3 / 10
-
Safety 8.0 / 10
-
iSeeCars Score: 7.6 / 10
- Average Used Car Price: 26832.902697
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars-
Reliability 7.2 / 10
-
Value Retention 8.0 / 10
-
Safety Not Available
-
iSeeCars Score: Not Available
- Average Used Car Price: 28435.227929
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars-
Reliability Coming soon
-
Value Retention 9.5 / 10
-
Safety Not Available
2022 Hyundai VELOSTER N
-
iSeeCars Score: Not Available
- Average Used Car Price: 26178.767857
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars-
Reliability Coming soon
-
Value Retention 8.8 / 10
-
Safety Not Available
-
iSeeCars Score: Not Available
- Average Used Car Price: 28424.732899
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars-
Reliability Coming soon
-
Value Retention 8.6 / 10
-
Safety Not Available
2019 Dodge Challenger
-
iSeeCars Score: Not Available
- Average Used Car Price: 27227.612261
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars-
Reliability Coming soon
-
Value Retention 8.5 / 10
-
Safety 8.0 / 10
Related Rankings
How We Rank These Cars
iSeeCars Best Used Cars Under $30k Rankings are calculated based on the latest research by our data science team and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
We analyze data from over 12 million new and used vehicles in our Longest-Lasting Cars and 5-Year Depreciation Studies, combined with the NHTSA's Safety Ratings to give you an unbiased guide to the best vehicles in each segment.
After being evaluated, vehicles with the highest average scores earn a spot in the iSeeCars Best Car Rankings. (No final score is given to vehicles missing a score in any of the categories, but scores for other categories are still shown.)
Vehicles are scored in three categories:
Reliability
The reliability score represents an analysis of iSeeCars' proprietary research on the longest-lasting vehicles.
Value Retention
The value retention score is based on our data science team's statistical analysis and prediction of 5-year depreciation from MSRP to determine which cars hold their value best, using US Bureau of Labor Statistics data to adjust for inflation.
Safety
The safety score is calculated based on the last five years of crash test ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and incorporates the latest Top Safety Pick information from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).