17Jun
Note that some of the cars on this list have been sold since this article was first published. We have therefore removed the dead links to the specific ads.
Are you in the market for a used car? Are you wondering if a budget of ₦1 million or less can get you a decent car you won’t regret buying after driving it for a month? If you have a budget of less than ₦1 million, you probably already know there are used cars out there you can buy with that money. However, you're cautious because you've heard painful stories of those who nearly committed suicide after buying a Nigerian used car.
Indeed, anyone advising you to stay away from Nigerian used cars is giving you good advice, but it doesn’t mean buying Nigerian used is a guaranteed ticket to hell. It’s very possible to buy a ‘sweet’ Nigerian used car at an affordable price. You just need to know the mechanical and technical details as well as the reliability and actual condition of the car you're buying.
More so, not every imported used car (known in Nigeria as Tokunbo) will offer you the peace of mind you seek. It ultimately depends on several factors, including the vehicle’s accident history, the maintenance habits of the previous owner(s), the frequency of the required maintenance schedules, fuel economy, availability of spare parts, and overall reliability.
Ultimately, the best way to avoid ‘stories that touch’ is to walk into your nearest approved dealership and leave with a brand-new car. But considering the average price of a new car in Nigeria currently tracks around ₦25 million, the used car market is the only option for most auto shoppers in a country where 63% of its people are multidimensionally poor. Below, we show you the best-used cars you can buy for less than ₦1,000,000 and where you can buy them.
Related: The 10 Most Reliable Cars For Nigerian Roads
2003 Toyota Corolla – From ₦1 Million
First of all, we do not guarantee or vouch for the actual condition of any car or SUV mentioned in this article. This article lists the best budget used cars you can buy for ₦1 million or less.
We do not recommend the specific vehicles (including the sellers/dealerships) linked to or mentioned in this article. It’s your responsibility to apply due diligence should you choose to deal with/or buy from any seller or dealership mentioned in this article. We do not receive any commission from any auto seller or dealer mentioned here.
Having said all that, let’s move on. You’re probably surprised to see the 2003 Corolla mentioned in this list, considering the strong demand for this car in Nigeria and the resultant typical high price. We found one that appears to be in a fair condition listed on Olist for just ₦1 Million.
According to the ad, this is a "well-used Toyota Corolla 2003 with Engine, Gear, AC and other features in perfect condition." If this description is true, then this is a good bargain you're unlikely to see everywhere you look. The Corolla has a reputation for reliability and good fuel economy.
2001 – 2005 Toyota Camry – From ₦1 Million
Fair warning: you will encounter more Toyota models than any other brand in this list. The reason is simple; Toyota is the most reliable car brand in the world, according to the Consumer Reports Auto Reliability Survey. In other words, Toyota builds the most reliable cars, followed by Lexus (also a Toyota brand), and then BMW.
This explains why Toyota models are so popular with Nigerian drivers who gladly drive a ‘Big for Nothing’ as long as they get the durability and excellent fuel economy the Camry offers. Like the Corolla above, the Camry enjoys a year-on-year strong demand in the Nigerian automotive market, inadvertently pushing their prices higher than they should be.
Although you can get a 2001 Camry (nicknamed ‘Pencil’) for ₦1 million or slightly less, we found one we felt is in great shape on Jiji for just ₦1.450 million. Remember, you can still negotiate the price with the seller.
2000 Toyota Sienna – From ₦794,000
It's a dazzling sign of dependability and fuel economy when a car is the preferred vehicle for commercial drivers in Nigeria. Nigerian drivers must have tested and proven Sienna's suspension system around Nigerian roads, the fuel economy, engine, and availability of spare parts.
You don’t have to need it for commercial transportation purposes. If the Sienna is good for such a typically stressful business in a tough country like Nigeria, it only means the Sienna minivan is more than capable of serving as your ideal personal or family vehicle. We found a 2000 model with manual transmission advertised for just ₦794,000.
2002 Nissan Xterra – From ₦730,000
The Xterra is now discontinued, but plenty of used models remain on the used car market. If you're worried about the availability of parts now that Nissan has cut the Xterra from production, remember that the Xterra shares many interchangeable parts across model years 2005 to 2010.
It also shares many interchangeable parts with the first-generation Nissan Frontier and the Pathfinder. So, you should be covered for as long as you keep your Nissan Xterra on the road. We found some 2002 Xterra models advertised on Chutku for as low as ₦730,000.
This particular listing comes with the line, "Good engine and gear, AC, Alloy, first body…." There's another one on the inventory that cost ₦550,000, but the seller didn't include a photo, so we moved on.
Related: The 10 Most Popular Cars In Nigeria And Their Prices
2005 Honda Accord – Good Price: ₦650,000
It’s not usual to find a foreign-used 2.9-liter 2005 Honda Accord in decent condition offered for just ₦650,000. So, we recommend approaching this dealer with caution. The dealership described it as a full-optioned model “available to buy and drive.”
According to RepairPal, the 2005 Honda Accord enjoys a reliability rating of 4.0 out of 5, which means above-average reliability compared to similarly classed sedans of the same year. It also ranked no.1 out of 32 for all car brands.
The 4-door sedan relies on a choice of I4 and V6 engines, including 2.0-liter and 2.4-liter Inline-4 engines. The V6s includes a 3.0-liter J30A4/J30A5 V6 and a 3.0-liter JNA1 V6 hybrid. You probably want the 2.4-liter twin-cam four-cylinder engine producing 160 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 161 lb-ft of torque at 4,500 rpm.
2000/2001 Mercedes Benz C200 – From ₦600,000
Don’t expect to look like a millionaire in dollars if you go this far back with the C-Class Mercedes-Benz. However, the 2000/2001 model is a sprightly upgrade over the widely popular “V-boot” 190, with an updated styling that made it look like a baby S-Class.
The C-Class underwent a significant makeover for the 2001 model year, complete with a choice of two new engines, including a supercharged 2-liter straight-4. Mercedes also added extra safety features to augment the car’s solid construction.
We found one with automatic transmission advertised for just ₦600,000. Although the seller says, "the car is in a good condition. No problem at all. A/C is chilling perfectly well. Just buy and drive," we say proceed with care.
2000 – 2005 Hyundai Sonata – From ₦600,000
If you’re among those who think Hyundai and Honda are part of the same brand or company, we urge you to perish the thought. Hyundai and Honda are separate Japanese marques.
Now that’s out of the way, the Sonata is probably the most popular Hyundai model in Nigeria, competing with the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry in the midsize sedan segment. We found a silver 2005 model listed for sale in Lagos for just ₦600,000. The seller described it as "clean in and out," with present features including leather seats, alloy wheels, keyless entry/ start, a CD player, and much more.
Volkswagen Golf 3/ 4/5 and 6 – From ₦380,000
If you're driving the V Golf in Nigeria, you're unlikely to get the level of respect you'd have gotten if you were driving any other car mentioned in this list so far. That's because the Golf is small – that's it. It has always been small.
However, the Golf is one of the most popular car brands on the planet, with more than 35 million units sold in the last 45 years, according to Volkswagen AG. VW says, "no other European car got sold so frequently."
The Golf enjoys a cult following around the world by those who value its practicality, robust and efficient engines, surprisingly comfortable cabin, and fun-to-drive capabilities. We found a foreign-used Golf 3 wagon body style advertised for a low price of ₦380,000.
1997 – 2001 Toyota Camry – From ₦500,000
Just ₦500,000 for a used 1997 Toyota Camry? It sounded unbelievable to us too – especially in this economy, until we saw the body condition of the car in question. Now, this car is obviously in bad shape cosmetically and will need plenty of bodywork to reclaim some or all of its original charm.
If you find a similar offer elsewhere where the side mirrors aren’t duck-taped, by all means, go for it. However, if the seller’s description of this Camry is true, it still makes financial sense to pay just ₦500,000 and take the car home.
According to the seller, the AC and sound system still work, and he/she has all documents in his own name. It also includes accessories like a jack, wheel spanner, and spare tire. There's no mention of the condition of mechanical components such as the engine, transmission, and suspension system.
2005 Honda Civic – From ₦500,000
Yeah, we didn’t forget the Civic. Used Honda Civic models are among the most popular cars on Nigerian roads, thanks to their relative affordability, rugged nature, and the availability of parts. The 2005 model particularly offers a roomier, quiet cabin, making it an excellent ride for both long-distance trips and city commuting.
It’s disappointing that the DX and LX trims of the 2005 model don’t have antilock brakes, but all the Civic models benefit from a range of economical, climate-friendly engines. It also earned impressive crash test scores from the IIHS. What are the odds you'd snag a model equipped with the Special Edition package introduced that year?
The Special Edition package was available for both the coupe and sedan variants. It included a leather-wrapped steering wheel, wing spoiler, and alloy wheels with the SE trims, a standard upgraded audio system with MP3 capability, a six-disc CD changer, and an auxiliary jack for portable music devices. We found a manual version on Chutku for just ₦500,000.
Comments