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Safest used cars under $20,000 in NZ

Ranked by safety rating, then typical price · Prices listed by NZ dealers · 6 October 2026

Ranking:Safest
  1. 1
    2012 Toyota Aqua
    Safety rating
    5/5 stars
    Typical price
    $8,980
    Running cost
    $1,780/yr
  2. 2
    2012 Subaru Legacy
    Safety rating
    5/5 stars
    Typical price
    $10,490
    Running cost
    $4,520/yr
  3. 3
    2012 Toyota Prius
    Safety rating
    5/5 stars
    Typical price
    $12,980
    Running cost
    –
  4. 4
    2016 Suzuki Ignis
    Safety rating
    5/5 starsest.
    Typical price
    $12,985
    Running cost
    $2,310/yr
  5. 5
    2015 Subaru Levorg
    Safety rating
    5/5 starsest.
    Typical price
    $13,980
    Running cost
    $4,040/yr
  6. 6
    2013 Mazda Atenza
    Safety rating
    5/5 stars
    Typical price
    $14,949
    Running cost
    $3,590/yr
  7. 7
    2013 Mercedes-Benz A-Class
    Safety rating
    5/5 stars
    Typical price
    $15,213
    Running cost
    $3,700/yr
  8. 8
    2014 Honda Odyssey
    Safety rating
    5/5 stars
    Typical price
    $15,220
    Running cost
    $4,760/yr
  9. 9
    2017 Nissan Serena
    Safety rating
    5/5 starsest.
    Typical price
    $15,985
    Running cost
    $3,650/yr
  10. 10
    2014 Mitsubishi Outlander
    Safety rating
    5/5 stars
    Typical price
    $15,995
    Running cost
    $5,000/yr
  11. 11
    2015 Honda Vezel
    Safety rating
    5/5 starsest.
    Typical price
    $16,980
    Running cost
    $2,840/yr
  12. 12
    2022 Mitsubishi ASX
    Safety rating
    5/5 stars
    Typical price
    $16,990
    Running cost
    $4,090/yr
  13. 13
    2022 Nissan Note
    Safety rating
    5/5 starsest.
    Typical price
    $19,985
    Running cost
    $1,780/yr
  14. 14
    2018 Subaru XV
    Safety rating
    5/5 stars
    Typical price
    $19,993
    Running cost
    $3,700/yr
  15. 15
    2017 Mazda CX-3
    Safety rating
    5/5 stars
    Typical price
    $19,995
    Running cost
    $3,330/yr
  16. 16
    2012 Subaru Impreza
    Safety rating
    4/5 stars
    Typical price
    $10,995
    Running cost
    $4,710/yr
  17. 17
    2013 Mazda Premacy
    Safety rating
    4/5 starsest.
    Typical price
    $11,993
    Running cost
    $3,800/yr
  18. 18
    2012 Toyota Camry
    Safety rating
    4/5 stars
    Typical price
    $13,480
    Running cost
    $4,760/yr
  19. 19
    2012 Mazda CX-5
    Safety rating
    4/5 stars
    Typical price
    $14,990
    Running cost
    $4,040/yr
  20. 20
    2013 Subaru Forester
    Safety rating
    4/5 stars
    Typical price
    $14,990
    Running cost
    $5,000/yr
  21. 21
    2012 Toyota Vellfire
    Safety rating
    4/5 starsest.
    Typical price
    $14,995
    Running cost
    $4,810/yr
  22. 22
    2012 Toyota Alphard
    Safety rating
    4/5 starsest.
    Typical price
    $15,488
    Running cost
    $4,950/yr
  23. 23
    2015 Subaru Outback
    Safety rating
    4/5 stars
    Typical price
    $15,965
    Running cost
    $4,300/yr
  24. 24
    2015 Nissan X-Trail
    Safety rating
    4/5 stars
    Typical price
    $15,980
    Running cost
    $3,750/yr
  25. 25
    2021 Honda Fit
    Safety rating
    4/5 starsest.
    Typical price
    $18,995
    Running cost
    $1,780/yr
  26. 26
    2021 Toyota Yaris
    Safety rating
    4/5 starsest.
    Typical price
    $18,995
    Running cost
    $2,600/yr
  27. 27
    2012 Toyota 86
    Safety rating
    4/5 starsest.
    Typical price
    $19,980
    Running cost
    $4,130/yr
  28. 28
    2013 Mazda Demio
    Safety rating
    3/5 stars
    Typical price
    $9,990
    Running cost
    $3,170/yr
  29. 29
    2013 Toyota Corolla
    Safety rating
    3/5 stars
    Typical price
    $12,980
    Running cost
    $3,410/yr
  30. 30
    2013 Mazda Axela
    Safety rating
    3/5 stars
    Typical price
    $13,723
    Running cost
    $3,460/yr
  31. 31
    2018 Nissan Leaf
    Safety rating
    3/5 starsest.
    Typical price
    $16,500
    Running cost
    $2,230/yr
  32. 32
    2013 Holden Commodore
    Safety rating
    3/5 stars
    Typical price
    $16,990
    Running cost
    $6,340/yr
  33. 33
    2021 Nissan NV200
    Safety rating
    3/5 starsest.
    Typical price
    $19,990
    Running cost
    $4,040/yr
  34. 34
    2015 Suzuki Swift
    Safety rating
    2/5 stars
    Typical price
    $10,980
    Running cost
    $3,320/yr
  35. 35
    2015 Toyota Vitz
    Safety rating
    2/5 stars
    Typical price
    $12,990
    Running cost
    $2,740/yr
  36. 36
    2015 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 $20,000. 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 $20,000 in NZ?

By Rightcar's safety ratings, the highest-rated used models with a typical NZ dealer asking price under $20,000 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.