Used hatchbacks for sale near Fort Thomas, KY under $12,000

I have owned a Kia Soul Brownstone Edition for 6 years now. It hasn't given us any issues aside from a brake ABS failure in warranty. However, since Kia skimped out on immobilizers, I wouldn't get one without push button start, which is most of them, unfortunately. While they extended the warranty on the engine, they have plenty of fundamental issues with it, and also, my Kia after 4 years, has noises in front and back suspension sway bars, and the strut tower bearings make noise. While these don't need to be fixed, they make the car sound like crap. I just drove a 2019 Kona with the same amount of miles, and the suspension on that was just fine. Might be due to the larger wheels and smaller profile tires, I don't know. If Kia ever sells the EV soul in the US, I'd get that. So far, they've been good.

Bought this car in 2003 and it is still going strong in 2025 after more than 180000 miles. Lots of interior space. Outstanding reliability, never let me down in 20+ years. Needed some replacements of consumable parts: shocks, exhaust, radiator. Above all, it is still a pleasure to drive!

The best bang for your buckThis car is not overly flashy it makes you feel young when you want but yet distinguished when you need to

The driving is immaculate and very fun. I’m not a big car buff but this car made driving very enjoyable. The dashboard features were great and intuitive. The only weak part was the poor sound quality of the speakers.

Found our car at a local Toyota dealership. Great service. Was looking for Low mileage and a newer car. Great gas mileage also. Paid car off, but didn't get any deal for doing that was hoping to get free oil changes like my son did.

I got a 2013 Abarth as my first car at 18 years old. I drove it for 8 years until it was finally killed by a deer with over 223,000 miles on it and it was still going strong. It was always reliable and so much fun to drive. I drove it like any 18 year old kid would and it had no complaints. It made long commutes tolerable. It is also shockingly good in the snow. I only ever did routine maintenance to it and that’s all it needed. There were couple small things that started to go bad on it, such as the passenger window regulator, but nothing major ever broke. I would highly recommend this car to anyone who’s considering getting one. I would happily buy another one.

Best vehicle that I have ever owned, great mileage, reliable, has that inimitable distinct VW design, doesn't look like every other car on the road. Considering the VW Bus when it comes out in the fall of 2024!

I have a 2013 Prius. It has 129k on it. This is by far the most reliable & efficient vehicle. I had only had to change the oil & that is it. It regularly gets approximately 55/60 MPG. I absolutely love this vehicle & would not hesitate to get another Prius.

I bought this car used with about 50,000 miles on it from a car rental company. I needed an economical car with great fuel economy, too. I didn’t plan to keep it very long but, it’s now been seven years and it has 140,000 miles on it… We are still going strong! All I have replaced is a couple of belts, which was recommended by the mechanic, but had not broken yet and the front struts, because I got a pothole so big it bent the rim of my wheel. This car is a wallet friendly trooper!

got the car mid 2023 as a gift. it’s my first car and honestly, it’s amazing. doesn’t have anything too flashy, but gets me from point a to b. she’s super spacious, though my heated seats sometimes don’t work. the ac does break sometimes, but i love how fast the take off speed is :)

Had car 8 yrs only trouble I had was upper o2 snsir went out. Still runs like a kitten.Great sound system, easy steering wheel control. Drive it from Louisiana to North Carolina once a year great gas mileage.

This things fits EVERYTHING! I purchased this preowned back in 2021 with 48k miles on it. With 4 years of ownership and only 13k miles later, I’ve only ever had to keep up with maintenance including a set of new tires and one recall. Last summer I did notice some plastic paneling in the rear rattling that drove me nuts but haven’t heard it since so let’s hope it doesn’t start anew. With it being so cheap to maintain and the fact it sips gas, I have a hard time finding a justifiable reason to upgrade!

My vehicle will be paid off soon. It seems problematic situationa are starting. I read about recalls for 2017 ford focus. I've received NO letters from Ford yet. There are several recalls for make. Model and year 2017.

I was initially looking for a used Golf, but the more I looked at the Beetle the more I liked it. When I found the one I ended up buying, it was love at first drive. This little car packs a punch with the 2.0T, and will throw you back in your seat. It’s an absolute blast to drive. Handles well around town and on the interstate, where it could easily get one in trouble since it wants to GO. The same engine as is found in the GTI, so this should be unsurprising. Easily gets 30+mpg on the highway when cruising along, typically around 20-25 city. These cars handle city driving just fine, but they are meant for the freeway in my opinion. I find the interior to be quite luxurious. Heated leather seats (not available in the Golf) with plenty of storage compartments. Not many frills, just a sleek and mostly practical dash. The trunk is big enough for grocery runs, and the rear seats fold forward for larger loads. It’s not going to haul large appliances or furniture, although it could possibly carry some bigger stuff on a roof rack. The Fender audio system is impressive, wouldn’t change a thing about it except it could benefit from an updated head unit with CarPlay. This hasn’t been an issue for me. I think the car is a real looker, it turns heads and has drawn the occasional compliment. My used model had some imperfections, but it’s still a great looking car that I want to look after and keep for as long as I can. It feels well built, the doors close with the satisfying weighty thud of a premium vehicle. Overall, I am very happy with my 2013 beetle. It’s not only fun, but it seems to be reliable with a couple caveats that some owners might not be aware of. The 2.0T engine is designed for premium fuel, using regular will eventually damage it. The 2.5 can run regular, but I believe the 1.8T will also want premium. The reason for this is lower octane fuel will cause detonation in these high compression engines. If you don’t know what detonation is, just know it’s bad. The oil needs changed more regularly than the manufacturer recommended 10k miles. 5k to be safe, 7k at a stretch. This is especially true for higher mileage vehicles. Speaking of stretch, there is a known issue with some 2.0T engines where the timing chain stretches over time and many miles, so if buying used that’s something I’d have a mechanic check out. This is an expensive maintenance item, but IF it’s needed, getting it done along with the tensioner and a new water pump for good measure will ensure that the new to you Beetle is reliable for many years and miles to come. The other issue is carbon build up. Getting it cleaned out is not as spendy as the timing chain but it’s also not a cheap fix. I believe this can largely be avoided by using top tier fuel (it contains detergents that help with this) as well as regular oil changes and some regular spirited driving. Would not recommend this car to someone who mainly does town or city driving, the 2.5 engine might be better suited for that. According to my research, the 2.5 is quite bulletproof BUT it’s not good for any engine to be driven at low RPM all the time.

The Beetle Turbo is a blast to drive, This car combines styling of the older generation beetle with good enough turbocharged power, making it a fun and exciting ride. Its 2.0l engine delivers a pretty quick acceleration, and the handling is surprisingly agile for a compact car. The interior is both somewhat stylish and comfortable, with a touch of the classic Beetle design. Plus, it's got a pretty good sound system. Overall, the 2012 Beetle Turbo is an amazing choice for a unique, fun car that puts a smile on anyone’s face every time they drive it.

This is a terrific car for someone who wants a reliable, economical car that's great in snow and ice, and gets excellent gas milage. To help maximize your mpg just watch the dashboard meter that tells you when you're getting the best mpg possible. If you're not (like the reviewer who said he got only 18 mpg) then you're driving too fast and you can't blame the car for that! I love my Subaru!

My 2010 Prius with the solar panel package has been the best car I’ve ever owned. At 180k miles it drives like a dream and I’ve never had to replace anything besides the brakes. If I drive right I actually get 60-85 mpg. It’s a really wonderful car. I expect another 50 to 100k more miles out of it.

Bought it new in 2017 because I wanted a small car that didn’t crumple in an accident. Well it didn’t. Had a major accident and it was totaled. Hit by a much larger truck combined front and driver side collision, went airborne over 2/3 lanes, knocked down utility poles and stopped. I crawled out the drivers door with only bumps and bruises. I am 76ers old. Nothing in the car touched me, except the airbags. The medics didn’t believe me. (I am an RN). I am so grateful that it did it’s job by saving my life. So, I Bought another FIT. The driver’s seat is uncomfortable on a long trip and it takes a few seconds to get in gear. That’s all I have for negatives.

The best purchase of my life. Bought this while in college as a basic sedan that I always liked the look of, and it was the most pleasant surprise of my life! So affordable, fun, peppy, responsive, and easy to maintain. It’s one of those cars that becomes your identity and a part of your personality. Maintained the car in my early 20s while going to school and had zero issues funding this car. Gas is cheap and my most major issue was the suspension needed to be redone when I hit 200k miles and because of harsh winters, I decided to put that repair money into a new AWD car. I miss the Mazda though!!! Recommend this vehicle to anyone and everyone!

We purchased our Mitsubishi used a year ago and have been quite pleased darting around Los Angeles with this small car. As small as it is, it's quite comfortable, even roomy, inside. Runs well. Highly recommend for older folks like us who don't do a lot of long-range driving.