Used cars for sale near Arcola, IL under $20,000

I was looking for a new car and was looking at local dealerships. I knew several friends and family members who purchased from Pilson's so I figured I would give it a shot. I looked at their inventory online and found several cars I was interested in. There was one in particular. I went to take a look at it and met Nicole Jones a sales representative. She showed me my options in my budget. I was pretty nervous because I don't have the best credit and my current car I didn't think was worth very much. I was on a tight budget but Nicole said, "Just wait. We have something for you." She then showed me another car and I instantly fell in love. I had a bad car buying experience with my first car so I was pretty anxious about starting the process over again. Nicole made me feel comfortable every step of the way by thoroughly explaining everything. She had other customers in the store but never let me feel neglected. I worked with her all day and somehow with her magic, she got me approved for the car with monthly payments I could handle. It felt like she was a fairy godmother! She made me feel so comfortable and so excited about buying another car. I highly recommend Nicole Jones to anyone who is shopping for a car at Pilson's!

Overall I'm satisfying with the car I have no issue till now the car is running 55,000 mile over, still I don't have any major problem. The space is huge inside that car that is more satisfying even if you sit in the third row and adult person can sit comfortably.

In all my experiences in buying vehicles (around 50 years) I never had a more accommodating and excellent experience than with Pilsen . My salesman was top notch knowledgeable in everything from finance to delivery. I purchased a 2011 Chevrolet HHR . What put these folks over the top was several days after purchase I had an issue with fuel leak being it was 4th of July holiday I couldn’t get it to them I live in Newton Illinois. So that being said a very reputable mechanic in town repaired it the bill was 416.00 dollars. Upon contacting Brian G . The salesman explaining the situation he talked with General manager they agreed to pay for repairs even though technically they weren’t liable . But did the right thing sent me a check for the repairs which I received several days later I was overwhelmed with appreciation. I am retired and live on fixed income so this was huge I can’t thank them enough. Ted Barnhart very happy customer

Really like this SUV! Wanted more room than my Encore. Has everything I need! Good feeling when friends tell you how much they like the ride and the looks! Wife now driving the Encore, and she loves it!

Because it a great car because the car has 118k miles on it and its only 15,371 dollars and its used and works very well

Pilson Auto is the most helpful place to purchase a new vehicle. Kristy Goeckner is an amazing salesperson too work with!!! I highly recommend Pilson's in Mattoon to anyone looking to buy a new car and always ask for Kristy she will get you want you want and treat you like family!!

At 86000 miles my vehicle quick shifting, therefore something is wrong with transmission. I had it towed to a transmission repair shop and found out the fluid was burnt and there were metal shaving in the transmission. Now on this 2018 Lincoln MKX Reserve has a sealed transmission is this normal or has anyone else had this experience. I did not received any warning from my computer system until the day this happen

I have purchased 2 -Ford F150 from pilson auto . Every time they were great to buy from. Will purchase in the future also Curtious and professional . And the staff were great to work with

Have had a wonderful time owning this car, very reliable and a fun drive. Good on fuel efficiency and a great commuter vehicle. Would recommend to own.

I purchased a ford escape at pilson auto and was very please with working with Jim Javen’s and everyone involved with my purchased. I will continue to purchased on my next purchase.

This is my second Malibu and I love it. My first one was in 2018. I live the upgraded and updated version. Anna is always great.

Excellent people, I have never worked with better. Kirk in Sales is exceptional and will goes well beyond what is required to make a happy buyer. All of the personnel are super pleasant and helpful.

I bought a used 2020 Ford escape hybrid titanium with 33,000 miles. I came from a 2015 X3 and I am surprised how well this car handles and feels firmly planted. I love the electric driving at slow speeds and you can hear the gas engine come on and it’s louder than my BMW, but I am still pleasantly surprised by the low level of road noise at highway speeds. Mine is Persian green, which is rare, and absolutely beautiful after I waxed it. The exterior is pretty good, considering its price range, and the interior is subpar with the hard plastic on the doors, but overall, the controls are very intuitive, easily reachable, and after I learned how to use all the options, my favorite feature is the adaptive cruise control with stop and go and lane centering. The car basically just drives itself, even in the city at low speeds. I just have to make the turns and stop at red lights and stop signs if there is no car in front of me. I also love the short stopping distances with the brakes, which feel great and confidence-inspiring, and the steering actually feels better than in my BMW, which was too light at highway speeds. Another feature that sold me was how much legroom there is in the backseat, especially the fact that you can recline the backseat a little bit and also push it a few inches back to create more legroom. There is definitely more legroom in the front and back than in my BMW, even though my BMW was a few inches longer than this car. I love the look of the RAV4 hybrid XLE and it has more cargo room, but if you check the user reviews, you’ll see that the Escape hybrid actually beats it in mpg and in my area, I would’ve paid $8k - $9k more for a similar used RAV4 so I felt like the Escape hybrid was a better value overall. I rarely buy extended warranties with cars, but I did with this one since it was such a good deal at only $4000 but it gave me seven years of extended coverage and up to 80,000 more miles, whichever comes first. Considering how tariffs will affect car part pricing and car repair bills, I thought this was a an exceptional value, just like the car itself. I’ve only had it for three weeks, but I am really enjoying driving the car and seeing how little gas it sips.

Great experience and customer service Kristy was fantastic and always a joy to work with

2021 LT Trailblazer is on point, been a great vehicle so far. Peppy, slick looks, great mileage, great tech and options. Spacious interior, heated seats, lane departure assist, wireless android auto, big touch screen all wins. Like the rims and color choices. Average 31 MPG so far and I get on it.

Purchased a used 2018 with 35K miles in 2023. I now have 75K miles as it's a commuter car, about 90 miles a day. I average almost 41 mpg going from Pueblo to Colorado Springs and back. The CVT was a bit suspect when I first got it, but I think the driving has corrected the 3rd gear delay. The CVT is hands down better than my Altima. One year that car was gone, total junk.

Had the car for 2 months now the rear brakes sound like they are metal to metal just purchased it in March shouldn't be metal-to-metal in the back brakes have to take it to a mechanic and find out what's going on

First off I would like to say that I am a huge car enthusiast who has owned many different cars in my 60 plus years. My most recent cars have been a 2017 Honda Pilot, 2022 Honda CRV and 2023 Toyota Highlander. The Pilot was nice but the CVT transmission drove me nuts with the way it jerked and shifted. The 2022 CRV was also nice but the electronics and bluetooth connectivity were SOOO bad!! The FWD Highlander with new turbo engine was a huge disappointment. I felt unsafe on curvy two lane roads.....like it didn't feel like it was gripping the road properly. It also had terrible turbo lag that was highly frustrating and dangerous feeling. When I would push it hard to get it going, it would almost skid out once it got going. The wireless apple CarPlay was its best feature but generally speaking the electronics were a nightmare and required a subscription to work best. You had to push multiple things to get to your radio and it was all so poorly designed. I had been having severe buyer remorse with the Highlander and started looking again. I drove a RAV4 and it was too underpowered and buzzy for my liking. Also drove a new Mazda CX-50 but was having a hard time spending the dollars on another new car since I would be losing on the Highlander trade. Long story short, we purchased a 2019 Kia Sportage EX for my college aged daughter in 2021. It was affordable, had good reviews and a longer warranty than everything else. She has loved it!! Turns out we have not needed the warranty even one time in these past two years. Only simple oil changes and tire rotations. She's away this summer so my husband and I have been driving her car periodically. During these drives, I decided I like her car so much, that I traded my Highlander for a certified pre-owned 2020 Sportage SX Turbo! I am SOOO thrilled with my decision!! The build is heavy and solid, visibility is incredible and driving it is SO much FUN! Feels like you're driving a Mercedes or BMW but at an extremely affordable price. The controls are so simple that I've not consulted the manual more than a couple of times. Everything has its own button and, although the car is loaded to the brim with every option you can imagine, it's all so easy to navigate and use. Kia made a winner here and I hope they continue on this path of using quality materials and easy to navigate electronics. If so I will be a loyal Kia fan forever!!

Kristy was great she got me do and was awesome I would recommend her to all of my friends

Not a more useful car ever built. Easily tows a seadoo ski boat, fold the second In third row seats down and this van swallows a 120 in wingspan remote control giant scale stop with biplane on the weekends. It is truly an amazing piece of engineering!

I bought my car as used from the dealer. I have had no issues so far with it. The radio and heater work better than my old Toyota Corolla.

Owning my 2020 Jeep Renegade Limited has been an absolute joy. This SUV strikes the perfect balance between style, comfort, and capability. From the moment I got behind the wheel, I was impressed by its smooth ride, responsive handling, and surprisingly spacious interior. The premium features—like the leather-trimmed seats, intuitive Uconnect infotainment system, and advanced safety technology—make every drive comfortable and convenient. Whether I’m commuting in the city or taking a weekend getaway, the Renegade Limited handles it all with ease. What really stands out is its versatility. The 4x4 capability gives me confidence in any weather condition, and the fuel efficiency is great for an SUV of its size. Plus, the unique design turns heads wherever I go—Jeep really nailed the balance between rugged and modern. If you're looking for a compact SUV that delivers reliability, technology, and a sense of adventure, the 2020 Jeep Renegade Limited is a fantastic choice. I couldn’t be happier with mine!

I'll never shop anywhere else!! Salesman Patrick Tingley gave the BEST service! Got me the exact price I needed, filled my tank up with gas and a fresh car wash AND detail before leaving the lot. Super kind! He has my business for life!

Have had this car for a month. Everything is so well laid out and the MyBuick app is so easy to navigate. The mileage is fantastic. This is my first new car (ever) and my 3rd Buick overall. I love it!

Beyond great service, very nice, best I'm town. I would recommend anyone to come here to buy a car! Even tho I wasn't able to purchase a car right now they treated me with such respect!! Keep up great work Kc Summers Nissan Toyota Buick Gmc

So far, this has been a great car. Good gas mileage, good ride, good service, except for one issue with fuel injectors. Out of town dealership relaced quickly and professionaly and got us back on the road.

I have had this approximately 4 years now. and the only problem I have ever had is that it does not always recognize that I am in Park when I am shutting down the engine.

My guy was out delivering a vehicle so Doug stepped in. Sold me on the midnight Altima. Can’t wait to buy it this weekend. Yay Doug.

I bought 2017 Maxima in 2024...it is an awesome car looks sporty and is fast..great low and high end torque....I do use premium fuel as it recommends, note:I did purchase a warranty because I knew of some of the cars having cvt issues..so I took to Nissan they saw code recommended replacement of transmission with warranyi paid 200 dollars replaced...life is good so far 🙏🏾👍🏿

I have been a loyal customer to this dealership for repairs and car purchases for years, because I have tried others and KC Summers really is the best! Excellent quality of service, honest and knowledgeable staff, willing to explain details and work with your needs, great variety of vehicles, community involvement, and most of all their customer service is the definition of going above and beyond! Their prices can be a little higher than their competitors, but it is worth it to have a friendly, no hassle, flexible experience for every purchase and repair!! If you've never worked with them before, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised!

We own two 2018 Compass'. We have bought 3. We bought a 2007 brand new. It was a great car for 10 years and it got totaled. My wife currently drives a 2018 Compass and I just bought a second 2018 Compass yesterday. She drove a 2017 Ford Escape for while and didn't like it so we went back to the Compass. These are not without there issues. My wife's transmission started to get a hard shift last summer at around 55k miles. We had the trans fluid changed and currently at 65k no issues, no hard shifts. The dealership says that it is a "life time fluid." I don't agree. Find a good mechanic and have the trans fluid replaced every 30k miles and you should be fine. It cost much less than the one thousand dollars the dealership wanted to change it. I've also heard that the 2.4 liter Tiger Shark engines eat oil. We've own my wife's car for 3 years now and have not noticed any oil consumption. It's our travel car, and my wife travels a little for work so it puts on the miles. Smooth ride easy to drive for long trips, a little wind noise but it's not bad. The interior is nice. It actually has just a little more cargo space than the Cherokee. Infotainment is okay just a few quirks that I don't like but nothing major. The sound system is in my opinion one of the best. They changed the body style in 2018 and I think it's a really good looking car on the outside. The one I just bought is white with a black roof and blacked out badges and rims. Overall it's a great car and they are affordable. Do you research and make sure it's got a good service history. Best of luck!