5 Hot CPO Sedans For The Budget Enthusiast

Congratulations! You're in the market for a sporty sedan that'll satisfy your driving urges and fit the entire family. It's a win-win. What's not so good is pricing. Not everyone has $40,000 to spend. Families cost money, you know. But don't worry, there's another way for you to get the car you want without having to empty the kids' college savings accounts. It's called a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle, or CPO. These are used cars still backed by a manufacturer warranty and are usually only a few years old with low mileage.

In the past, you always bought used cars at your own risk. Not anymore. A CPO-verified vehicle greatly reduces that risk and also saves you thousands of dollars. We picked out five CPO sports sedans that you can buy used for less than $25,000. Life's good after all.

How does 325 hp for around $24,000 sound to you? We thought so. Ford launched its Fusion Sport for 2017 and the package is very impressive. A twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 with the aforementioned horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque comes standard. Power is sent to all four wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. Some standard features include a black mesh grille, beefy 19-inch wheels, a rear spoiler, and quad exhaust pipes.

Prices vary based on the sedan's condition obviously, but we easily found several CPO 2017 Fusion Sports for sale for less than $25,000. Happy hunting.

Not all Dodge Chargers come powered by the supercharged Hellcat V8 with 707 hp. Believe it or not, Dodge's so-called four-door muscle sedan is also available with a 292-hp V6 with standard rear-wheel-drive. There's also the 5.7- and 6.4-liter Hemi V8s, but even those can still be pricey on the used CPO market. Fortunately, there are options. We found several used 2017 Charger V6s for around $20k. Need all-wheel drive? No problem.

Certified Charger SXTs, also powered by the V6, are out there for not much more. But if you're desperate for a V8, you'll have to start looking for 2016 model years Charger R/Ts, many of which are priced around $25k.

Ah yes, the original "four-door sports car." Those who grew up in the 1990s and early 2000s will remember that tagline. What set the Nissan Maxima apart from, say, the Toyota Camry, was its sporty nature, which has continued to this day. Some may claim, however, the Maxima has lost some of its sporty appeal, but we disagree. A naturally aspirated V6 comes standard and its exterior and interior design are bold. Late-model Maximas are also amazing value.

Our research found a huge selection of used 2018 Maximas to choose from, most hovering at around the $22,000 mark. A comparatively equipped new 2019 Maxima has a starting MSRP of nearly $35,000. Let someone else pay the depreciation.

If you're willing to buy the previous generation Honda Accord then you're in huge luck. 2017 model year Honda Accord Sports are incredible bargains and combined with the automaker's bullet-proof reliability, these CPOs might just be the best sports sedan bargain out there today. Our search showed lots of 2017 Accord Sports for sale all under $20,000.

Low mileage? Check. One previous owner? Check. Six-speed manual option? Oh yeah, though manuals can be a little harder to find. In any case, get a late model CPO Honda Accord Sport and you won't be sorry.

The Kia Optima may just be the best-looking mid-size family sedan on sale today. Same goes for late model used examples. Kia has become a design powerhouse in recent years and its Optima helped lead the way. But without question the top trim Optima SX is the best of the bunch thanks to fancier wheels, heated leather seats, keyless entry, and a top-notch navigation system.

Why spend over $30,000 on a new 2019 Optima SX when you can get a CPO 2017 Optima SX for around $20,000? You'll also get a turbocharged four-banger with 245 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. Nice.