The Great Value of a Used Chevrolet Car

For the past 100 years, Chevrolet has been a trusted name in American automobiles. While Chevy trucks have quite the reputation in the heavy-duty and work truck segments, Chevrolet’s line of cars doesn’t seem to get anywhere near the credit they deserve. In fact, used Chevrolet cars show up on a variety of “Best Of” and “Most Reliable” lists, which means it’s about time for the American public to discover the dependable and affordable nature of these cars. It is possible to find fantastic used Chevrolet cars around the country, and many of them retain their value as some of the best-driving, best-looking, and most economical vehicles on the road today, even if they’ve been on the road for many years!

In the past decade, Chevy has made some serious upgrades to their sedans and sports cars, which means they retain their value even after they’ve had a couple of tours of the freeway. A few models stand out from the rest of the crowd, especially because new generations are released frequently. While the 2020 Chevrolet line-up promises to be exciting, with a new wave of technology, safety, and engineering features, some of the used cars that haven’t quite made the “Classics” list still deserve attention.

An Incredible All-Around Value: The 2016 Chevrolet Cruze

The 2016 Chevy Cruze was entirely redesigned for 2016, resulting in a vehicle that was larger yet lighter, more fuel-efficient, and more powerful. The Cruze is often considered a “starter” model, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

The 2016 Cruze was offered in four trim packages: L, LS, LT, and Premier. The basic L package was not lacking, as it included a 7-inch MyLink infotainment system (which includes compatibility with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), built-in 4G LTE Wi-Fi compatibility, rearview camera, and a decent audio system that included USB and auxiliary inputs, making it decently equipped for a comparatively low price tag. The Premier model, of course, went all-out, with leather seats, improved rear suspension, and 17-inch wheels. Available options included Bose audio, sunroof, wireless phone charging, and safety options that are now standard, including blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and forward-collision alert.

The engine attached to the 2016 Chevy Cruze is a 1.4L inline-4, which offers 153 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. Even more impressively, the fuel economy is around 29-30 mpg city, depending on whether the car is equipped with a manual or automatic transmission, and over 40 mpg highway. While the engine isn’t stunning for power, it is modestly capable, and the fuel economy means that frequent commuting isn’t going to drain your wallet, making this an excellent vehicle for tighter budgets that require a good value.

Currently, the 2016 Chevy Cruze can be found between $10,000 and $16,000, depending on features, trim, mileage, and options. In fact, given the initial affordability of this “starter” vehicle, it is possible to find some pretty fantastic deals on this model!

Dressed to Impress: The 2016 Chevy Malibu

2016 was a truly great year for Chevy, as several models saw a completely redesigned, re-engineered revival. When placed next to the 2015 model, it’s easy to see that a complete facelift was in order. The shape of the grille, headlamps, and body changed entirely, with a lower, lighter, longer vehicle resulting in more legroom and headroom.

The 2016 Chevy Malibu was offered with three engine options. The base engine is a 1.5L turbocharged inline-4, which has a decent 160 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, and a respectable fuel economy of 27 mpg city and 37 mpg highway. Drivers could choose to step up to the 2.0L turbocharged inline-4 engine, which practically doubled the power to 250 horsepower and 258 lb-ft torque. Fuel efficiency decreased a bit, to 22 mpg city and 32 mpg highway. The third option was a Hybrid engine, which included a 1.8L inline-4 engine and two electric motors. The net horsepower is approximately 182, and the fuel efficiency ratings turned in an impressive 48 mpg city and 45 mpg highway.

Much like the Cruze, the 2016 Chevy Malibu incorporated some of the first generation versions of features we now see all the time. The Teen Driver feature was introduced on this model, which allows parents to set specific controls for the less experienced drivers in the household, and gives them access to a report card that demonstrates any problematic behavior, including speeding and stereo volume. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility came standard on all but the fleet trim, along with ten total airbags, and re-engineered stability control. The higher-level trim packages, Hybrid, 2LT, and Premier, included state-of-the-art safety technology that Chevy now includes standard on many vehicles, including adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning, forward collision alert, and rear cross-traffic alert, all of which use cameras and sensors around the body of the vehicle to inform the driver of obstacles, objects, and other vehicles surrounding the vehicle.

While the Malibu may seem like “just another Chevy sedan,” this hidden gem received a lot of attention upon its release in 2016, due to its fully improved safety features and conspicuous facelift. Today, the 2016 Malibu typically retails between $13,000 and $15,000, depending on trim and features, making it quite a value for a gently used, yet technologically relevant vehicle.

The Long-Awaited Return: The 2010 Camaro

The Chevrolet Camaro was retired in 2002, and everyone thought that would be the end of an era. Then suddenly, the 2010 Camaro burst onto the car scene and set muscle car hearts a-flutter. The Camaro might not be the right car for your garage, but very few people would disagree that it looks good in any garage.

When the 2010 Camaro was released, drivers were amazed by how it looked like a Camaro without borrowing any obvious design elements from previous generations. There’s nothing retro about this generation of Camaro, yet it offers a few clues to its past, specifically the coveted 1969 model.

Inside, the 2010 Chevy Camaro is entirely a modern product. Under the hood lies one of a choice of three engines. The standard 3.6L V6 engine offers an impressive 304 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, and while it could be paired with a manual or automatic transmission, the fuel mileage remains approximately the same, at 17 mpg city and 29 mpg highway. If that wasn’t enough power, the L99 trim included a 6.2L V8 engine that offered 400 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque. And if that still wasn’t enough power, the LS3 included a 6.2L V8 with 426 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque.

Inside, Chevy made it a point to add in safety features, including dual stage airbags, front seat mounted thorax side impact airbags, head curtain side impact airbags for the front and rear passengers, and a front-seat passenger detection system that would prevent airbags from deploying if a smaller passenger or child was in the front seat. The six-speaker sound system was paired with a CD player (remember those?) and XM Satellite Radio.

Though the 2010 Camaro is celebrating its tenth birthday, there are still many collectors who covet these vehicles. Finding one used for around $20,000 is typical, and generally speaking, mileage will be low, as few people have had a Camaro as a daily driver. Many drivers took the opportunity to upgrade the standard features, as well, so be on the lookout for a model with all the suped-up options.

Chevrolet has over 100 years of experience in producing quality cars and trucks, and finding a dependable used Chevy car in your price range shouldn’t be very stressful. In fact, many recent models of Chevy cars have held their value over the years. For a great sedan that offers a lot of car for just a little price, used Chevrolet cars are definitely an option for budget-sensitive shoppers. Of course, if you need some spice in your life, that fifth-generation Camaro might be the better fit!

Rick Hendrick Chevrolet of Buford

Located on South Lee Street in Buford, GA, Rick Hendrick Chevrolet is proud to service the Buford, Sugar Hill, Gainesvile, Cumming, and Flowery Branch areas. We know that shopping for a new or new-to-you vehicle can be stressful, and our goal is to take as much of that stress out of the process as possible. Our extended service and sales hours ensure that we’re open when you need us to be, with our Service department opening at 7 am and sales reps available until 9 pm Monday through Saturday. We offer auto service appointment scheduling and parts ordering online for your convenience, as well.

We would like to be your expert assistants when it comes to new or pre-owned Chevrolets and beyond. We are able to offer financing in-house, and offer special deals to help you find the vehicle for your budget. What sets us apart from the competition is simple: Only we offer the Hendrick Advantage. That means that we want to establish a relationship of trust with our customers, making the car buying experience enjoyable and stress-free. We want you to hold us accountable at every step in the process because ensuring you have the best experience is our number one goal.