Best used car for money

Price when new: $39, 950 (without packages)

Certified used price: $27, 076

Dealer used price: $24, 576

Private-party price: $22, 235

MPG (city/hwy): 18/25

In the RX you get a sleek package with a silky smooth ride. Plus, it’s a technological tour de force.

Taken together, these features made it one of our Greatest Cars of the 21st Century. Ten airbags, Bluetooth and a nine-speaker sound system are standard. Out in the marketplace you’ll find models with options such as smart headlights (adaptive front headlights, which let you see around curves, plus automatic high beams), collision-warning systems with adaptive cruise control, and a head-up display (to see your speed, GPS directions and other data without looking down at the dash).

Lexus also sells a hybrid version, the RX 450h (certified pre-owned price for the 2011 model: $30, 403), with better mileage and more horsepower than the gas-only version.