Used cars for sale near Monterey, CA under $30,000

We were looking for a new vehicle and decided to take a look at what was available. Found a certified used car that if I hadn’t been told that it was a 2017, I would have thought that it was new. Richard was awesome. No pressure, showed us a number of new and used vehicles and was very personable and easy to work with. We showed up late in the evening and Richard, Jeff and Marcos hung out with us after closing to get the deal done and out the door that night with our new (used) Highlander. Great service. Definitely recommend anyone looking to buy either a new or used vehicle to check out Toyota of Santa Cruz for sure.

So I bought a ‘21 Outback premium with 30k miles and have already put 6K more on it. Here is my honest review: if you want a fast car don’t get the 2.5 non turbo- that being said it is adequate for myself and get great gas mileage. The interior is good- I have the spec with cloth heated seats and they are comfortable and the cabin feels nice- has some cheap parts but I knew what I was buying. The infotainment is frustrating at times- auto start stop is a pain in the butt- but the infotainment itself isn’t bad with good sound and good responsiveness. The apple CarPlay will lag and be finicky at times but nothing terrible. As for drive quality it is a smooth ride and I don’t have any real complaints yet. Like I had mentioned if you want a car that is going to be fast- this engine and transmission will not do that for you. Overall I am happy so far with my purchase and feel as though I made a sensible decision when choosing this over some of its competition (I was looking at the VW Tiguan and and Mazda cx5)

Traded in my 2016 Toyota van for brand new 19 Honda Odyssey EX with sensing. Yay! GM Tony Carranza And his management Team including Martin and Joe, All helpful and involved. Pablo was my sales person, Great guy drove up three different vehicles for me to pick from, answered all my questions. I decided to stay with a minivan instead of a SUV. Personally the sliding doors did it. Finance guy Connor was great, I did decide to buy warranty Why because I can’t fix anything myself. A dealership

Good car good buying process just wobbles a little at around 70-80 mph while on highway. Might just be a small alignment with only my car may not be a consistent problem.

Ocean Honda’s GM (Tony) is great to deal with, very helpful and approachable. Luis, my sales advisor, went above and beyond to find me the kind of vehicle I was looking for. He was also friendly, helpful and very knowledgeable. The whole buying process was easy and painless. Great dealership and great staff. Will definitely go back.

I absolutely love mine in comfort I think that it could have been a little bit better but that's on long trips. Short trips the comfort is fine. My car was totaled and my airbags blew on my steering wheel and at my legs and I'm so glad that they did because I really would have gotten hurt without those airbags The seat belt also did its job very well and the brakes warning light came on first then the brakes came on the exact same time I was putting the brakes on a guy ran a stop sign and there really wasn't much I could do but hit him which it did total my car and I am now looking for another one of the exact same kind I want my car back I love my Honda Civic sport touring.

The car I had identified online was the first they showed us, and we bought it at the advertised price. Very friendly. Then there was a lot of waiting and paperwork before we were turned over to Finance, where the forms to initial came fast and furious. All turned out ok.

You have to get the 2.0T and not the 1.5L. They hold way higher values while also being an absolute blast to drive with a large aftermarket community for this vehicle. Mine was totaled in a hailstorm, and after quite a bit of reserch this is the only vehicle I would buy again.

I have owned over 10 different midsize SUVs from the Mazda, Blazer, Highlander, land cruiser, and others. I have found that the palisade is by far the best I have ever. Now, if I could just figure out all of the electronics available, I would be very very happy.

Best vehicle Acura has made in last 15 years. Test drive an RDX Advance SHAWD package on sport mode for 15-20 mins and you’ll be sold. Beautiful airy cabin with pano, and the ELS sound system is killer! 2.0 turbo engine + 10 speed trans are bulletproof. Have my RDX Advance for 2 years now and will enjoy it for at least another 5 years. These are made to last, much like my 2006 TL that I have for over a decade, with 200k+ troublefree miles on the clock.

This is my first CX-5. I love it. Previously I drove a mazda tribute which was a 6 cylinder. I was reluctant to purchase a smaller vehicle with a smaller engine, but I’ve been pleased. My only negative comment is regarding the leg room in the back seat. It’s not great but workable for most average size adults.

They got my truck in on a moments notice so I could leave on a scheduled trip. Many thanks, Jerry

It is a fabulous car. Easy to drive, very comfortable etc! I would HIGHLY recommend! At least give a trial run and see what you think !

I bought a 2019 Tacoma with 89k. So far performance is fantastic and can definitely experience the quality build. This has made me skeptical of the reviews about poor engine build and transmission problems like hunting for gears. Can't pretty much dispel the proven track record of the 2019 as one of Toyota best build of the year. As for the transmission, it is still the best performing and reliable 6 speed transmission as compared to the other brands with high failure rates. One of the reason I stick with Toyota because I once had another brand manufacturer bought new and as soon as it hit over 100k, transmission problems or some solenoid problem. As for the engine, the dealer even included a lifetime engine warranty. That just tells me, they never expect the engine to fail. the review with the engine knocking sounds like an another brand car. it just doesn't happen to a toyota.

Bought my used 2 door at about a year old, with 17,000 miles. Had a couple issues initially: passenger seat got stuck, and airbag light was on. But once I had those fixed, the car has been completely reliable. And I found out that the 2 problems were related. So really it was only 1 problem. The stuck seat has impacted the air bag sensor or something. Loads of fun driving this thing through the snow. 1 foot, 2 feet. Fluffy, or packed by the snow plow. It didn’t matter. Shift it into 4wd and point it where you want it to go. It just went over all of it, and without any drama. Nice and slow. No need for momentum. It just went right through the snow . Can’t wait to take it off road with some friends. As for everyday driving, I love it. You just have to know what you’re getting into. It’s not designed to be a comfortable or sporty car. It’s loud, rather uncomfortable on the bumps, the 2 liter engine sounds like a dish washer, etc. But, those are also all the quirks I love about it. It’s not pretending to be something it’s not. I would’ve gotten the manual roll down windows if I had the choice. It’s just the opposite of my other car, a Macan turbo. It’s just a good old fashioned, honest vehicle. The engine and transmission combo make for a pretty quick team. I’d say 0-60 in about 6 seconds. That’s pretty xxxx quick for a 4000 pound truck designed to go off road. Rarely do I push it that fast of course. I like to drive nice and slow in this car. This is my car to go slow and smell all the roses. I love it. I’m averaging just under 20 mpg driving mostly in NYC. Not bad. Best mpg I’ve had from all my suvs. The hardtop only takes 10 minutes to take off. But it’s still a pain in the xxx. It’s definitely a 2 person job. And then there the issue of where to store this big thing. It’s not like NYC houses have big garages. We’ll see how often I take it off once the summer comes around.

I was searching for an Ecosport on Cars.com and found an awesome deal at Watsonville Ford. I live 400 miles away, so I was wary of bait and switch which some dealers practice. But, we negotiated a deal and arranged financing online, I flew into san Jose (about 50 minutes away), they had a nice young man pick me up, I test drove the vehicle I was buying to the dealership. The paperwork was waiting for me, I was in and out of the dealership in less than an hour. No games were played, the process could not have been easier. I would feel very comfortable buying from them again.

This is a great truck. Good acceleration, towing, and four-wheel drive. I am definitely a Ford lover now. Can't go wrong with this truck. Mine is a 5.0L and can't find a fault with it after four years of ownership.

I have owned my 2017 Forester since late 2016. Except for normal maintenance I've had no problems with thr vehicle. All of the warning systems work very well,they have saved me from accidents numerous times. The automatic seat repositioning when some one else has used my is really handy eliminates all the adjusting needed to get the position back to my needs. Traction and controll during winter and bad weather are excellent. My forrester get used like a truck at times. Great overall car.

This vehicle met all my work and play needs. It has been comfortable, reliable, and capable. It has plenty of room for family and friends.

Have owned the Touring version for 4 months and 2000 miles. Averaging a solid 45mpg on mixed roads. Even with the 19" wheels and tires I found this much quieter than the previous generation. Not a head turner, but I don't need that kind of attention any more. Biggest downside is no seat height adjustment for front passenger. Biggest plusses include very stable at all speeds, feels well planted, huge back seat and trunk, very good infotainment, and the Bose system is very good for most. Very comfortable for my 6' frame. It's no race car, but it is actually fun to drive. And that comes from someone that previously owned a 2019 Acura RDX. Except for a little engine noise at low speeds, transition from electric to gas is seamless.

I've own a 2024 Kia Sorento SX Prestige for two months and have been completely satisfied with it. It has more then enough power. For those who have an issue with the dual clutch transmission, should understand that it is a computer controlled manual transmission. It will respond a bit differently then a conventional torque converter type. Some have said it doesn't shift smoothly at lower speeds but I personally have had no issues. I live in Pittsburgh Pa, which has a hilly terrain and bad roads and no problems so far. Stop and go traffic has been a none issue. Very smooth shifting transmission! The ride quality is very good. A little on the firmer side, but it takes large bumps well. Seats are comfortable and the interior has a premium feel. I've own a 2019 Honda Pilot Touring and in my opinion, the Sorento is better in every way except for the room in the rear. And where it excels is in the features it offers! It's much better equipped than Pilot at a less expensive price. It has so far been the best car I've own in my fifty years of buying cars! Everything works! Sorento has been one of Kia's more reliable vehicles. I highly highly recommend!

Heather was an amazing sales woman, I truly appreciate her hard work for making today happen! I purchased my first car by myself. I can’t wait to love my new Honda Civic

The moment I got the demo car onto the highway, I thought to myself, “I LOVE this car!” Which rarely happens. I test drove both the Model 3 and Model Y in snowy conditions, and had not a single bout of fear that I may lose control. A few weeks ago, when we were getting a winter blizzard, I was driving my Mother home from Boulder. It was snowing about 2” -3” per hour, people were spinning out all over the place. I was confidently holding the pace car position in the left lane passing 4x4 trucks, with ease. It was incredible. Get upto $1000 off your next Tesla by mentioning me at https://ts.la/jolene547482

Julian assisted me on my New car purchase, the 2021 Uxh BLSE. This is more practical, sharp and fun car to drive! Thank you for your service! Ask for Julian ,Guys and Gals!

STAR AUTO MALL: Worst car dealer EVER! I bought a 2017 BMW X3. They never checked the car! I had problems immediately! I called, emailed & texted... Star Auto Mall would NOT return my calls, texts or emails! I went to BMW dealer, and they found lots of issues! Wires hanging down, tires rubbing, etc. It cost me $480 to fix it! I billed Star Auto Mall, and it looks like they're just chucking me the finger!! AVOID these incompetent thieves! Here's links to my issues with the car they sold me! https://thebassplayer.com/BMW-Bill.pdf https://thebassplayer.com/BMW-1.mp4 If I don't get a check by the end of the month, a lawyer friend told me it's a slam dunk in small claims count.

Salesperson was knowledgeable with attention to detail.

My wife and I absolutely Love our RDX. Unfortunately we recently had a mechanical issue and the part is on back order, 3 weeks later and still no part. So our vehicle is great but not sure about corporate??????

Our salesman Anthony was fantastic. He did not rush us. He didn?t schmooze us. He was genuine and real.

Bought mine in 2025 with rather low miles on it (offerred by dealership as a CPO with 18 months left). It feels luxurious inside and is pretty quiet. I'd say it was really beautiful but the way the infotainment screed is situated on the dash it sorta looks like it was just stuck there. Still, it works really well and supports CarPlay which works seemlessly. I didn't buy this car to watch movies lol. Back seats are comfy but there is a raised floor channel which seems odd; you definitely would't put a fifth adult in the middle. Still, the rear seat pass-through is cool and accomodates my skis. With read seats flipped down the total cargo space is acceptable but by no means best in class. I'm no speed demon so the 2.0 turbo is plenty for me considering the weight of the car. It handles well but it's not an Ultimate Driving Machine experience. . Mostly I'm impressed with ride quality and interior cabin sound level. The stock stereo is so-so and I tried the upgraded B&O system and it wasn't remarkable either. I am impressed with highway fuel economy near 35mpg. I did not purchase addtl maintenace and strongly recommend you change fluids waaay more often than mfr's specifications.