Safest used cars under $15,000 in NZ
Ranked by safety rating, then typical price · Prices listed by NZ dealers · 6 October 2026
- 12012 Toyota Aqua
- Safety rating
- 5/5 stars
- Typical price
- $8,980
- Running cost
- $1,780/yr
- 22012 Subaru Legacy
- Safety rating
- 5/5 stars
- Typical price
- $10,490
- Running cost
- $4,520/yr
- 32012 Toyota Prius
- Safety rating
- 5/5 stars
- Typical price
- $12,980
- Running cost
- –
- 42016 Suzuki Ignis
- Safety rating
- 5/5 starsest.
- Typical price
- $12,985
- Running cost
- $2,310/yr
- 52015 Subaru Levorg
- Safety rating
- 5/5 starsest.
- Typical price
- $13,980
- Running cost
- $4,040/yr
- 62013 Mazda Atenza
- Safety rating
- 5/5 stars
- Typical price
- $14,949
- Running cost
- $3,590/yr
- 72012 Nissan Serena
- Safety rating
- 4/5 starsest.
- Typical price
- $10,449
- Running cost
- $3,750/yr
- 82014 Nissan Note
- Safety rating
- 4/5 starsest.
- Typical price
- $10,950
- Running cost
- $2,400/yr
- 92012 Subaru Impreza
- Safety rating
- 4/5 stars
- Typical price
- $10,995
- Running cost
- $4,710/yr
- 102013 Mazda Premacy
- Safety rating
- 4/5 starsest.
- Typical price
- $11,993
- Running cost
- $3,800/yr
- 112014 Subaru XV
- Safety rating
- 4/5 stars
- Typical price
- $12,980
- Running cost
- $3,750/yr
- 122012 Toyota Camry
- Safety rating
- 4/5 stars
- Typical price
- $13,480
- Running cost
- $4,760/yr
- 132012 Mazda CX-5
- Safety rating
- 4/5 stars
- Typical price
- $14,990
- Running cost
- $4,040/yr
- 142013 Subaru Forester
- Safety rating
- 4/5 stars
- Typical price
- $14,990
- Running cost
- $5,000/yr
- 152012 Toyota Vellfire
- Safety rating
- 4/5 starsest.
- Typical price
- $14,995
- Running cost
- $4,810/yr
- 162013 Mazda Demio
- Safety rating
- 3/5 stars
- Typical price
- $9,990
- Running cost
- $3,170/yr
- 172013 Honda Fit
- Safety rating
- 3/5 stars
- Typical price
- $10,980
- Running cost
- $3,030/yr
- 182013 Toyota Corolla
- Safety rating
- 3/5 stars
- Typical price
- $12,980
- Running cost
- $3,410/yr
- 192013 Mazda Axela
- Safety rating
- 3/5 stars
- Typical price
- $13,723
- Running cost
- $3,460/yr
- 202014 Nissan X-Trail
- Safety rating
- 3/5 stars
- Typical price
- $14,985
- Running cost
- $4,760/yr
- 212015 Suzuki Swift
- Safety rating
- 2/5 stars
- Typical price
- $10,980
- Running cost
- $3,320/yr
- 222015 Toyota Vitz
- Safety rating
- 2/5 stars
- Typical price
- $12,990
- Running cost
- $2,740/yr
- 232015 Mini Cooper
- Safety rating
- 2/5 starsest.
- Typical price
- $13,989
- Running cost
- $3,700/yr
How this is ranked
Each model appears once, at its highest-rated model year with a typical asking price under $15,000. Ratings are the Used Car Safety Ratings (Monash University) or, for models with too little crash data, Rightcar's estimated Vehicle Safety Risk Rating, both via Rightcar (NZTA). Where a generation's variants differ, the lower rating is used. Ties go to the lower typical price. Typical prices are what NZ dealers list them for, on 6 October 2026.
Common questions
What is the safest used car under $15,000 in NZ?
By Rightcar's safety ratings, the highest-rated used models with a typical NZ dealer asking price under $15,000 are the 2012 Toyota Aqua (5 stars, typical $8,980), the 2012 Subaru Legacy (5 stars, typical $10,490) and the 2012 Toyota Prius (5 stars, typical $12,980).
Where do these safety ratings come from?
Most are the Used Car Safety Ratings, published by Monash University's Accident Research Centre from crash records in Australia and New Zealand. A model with too little crash data gets Rightcar's estimated Vehicle Safety Risk Rating instead. Both are shown on Rightcar by NZTA. A rating applies to a model generation, not to one car's condition or history.