From frugal compacts to luxury SUVs, here are sterling-solid used choices

Contemplating buying a used vehicle? We've highlighted 10 of the best-reviewed second-hand models we've come across in the past year. We scan popular consumer websites for summaries outlining good and bad cars and trucks based on the recollections of actual owners who've documented their experiences online for all to see.

Some might surprise you as they did us. The list is limited to the best of the 50 or so models we looked into over the past 12 months, and as always the emphasis here is on reliability. Most models are four to six years old, right in the sweet spot when it comes to finding a nicely depreciated auto with plenty of life left. They're presented in order of surprise registered by us, from least surprising — a Toyota — to the most — an old Kia no longer in production. Happy reading.