Kia Rio (2015) - $9,000

Available as a sedan and hatchback , the Rio is a subcompact car from the Korean company Kia , which you can own for under $10,000. If you manage to get one in its fully equipped version, you can even get luxury features like cruise control and lane keeping assist.

The only downside is the air conditioning units, which tend to break down in these cars, especially if you live in a hot climate. Aside from that, these cars are very well built and shouldn't give you any problems in everyday use.

Honda CR-V (2012) - $9,800

The Honda CR-V is the best option if you want a safe SUV for under $10,000. It comes with a 2.4-liter engine, the same one tested in the Accord , a five-speed automatic transmission, and front-wheel drive .

The CR-V is one of the best-selling cars in the US market for a reason. It's the quintessential SUV that requires a regular maintenance routine and will never show signs of trouble. With simple maintenance and oil changes, you can keep it running smoothly for at least another decade.