You can’t go more than a few seconds down the road without seeing one. SUVs have become commonplace on the roads today, with Hedges Company revealing they make up 12% of the total vehicles in the United States. However, if you’re considering buying one, you might want to skip the new price tag in favor of a used, cheaper SUV.
But which used SUVs stand out above all the rest? You’d be surprised at how many options you have if you’re looking for one on somewhat of a budget. It’s all about doing the necessary footwork before you sign the line on your new car.
Our Criteria for Inclusion
To bring you this list, we searched for the top-rated SUVs under $30,000 on various automotive websites like Autotrader, Cars.com, and Edmunds.
We stuck with those with 75,000 miles or less and found several that hit the mark and can be found at dealerships. Best of all, these SUVs aren’t ancient. Many are just a few years old, but the cost savings are astronomical.
2020-21 Kia Telluride
The Kia Telluride is designed with space in mind, with three rows of seating and ample cargo room. It was lauded as Edmunds’ top-rated SUV for two years with an overall 4.1 rating by owners.
Our search turned up a number of the 2020 and 2021 Tellurides for sale in the mid-$20,000s. Most had fewer than 50,000 miles on them, and some even had the original warranty in place.
2022 Honda CR-V
The Honda CR-V debuted in 1997, but has remained one of the consistent top sellers for the manufacturer. The 2022 model has an overall 4.5 rating and can be picked up for around $25,000, depending on your locale.
It’s well touted for its safety features and roominess, as well as the driver assist features included in all trims.
2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
This is probably one of the bigger SUVs on our list, but it has plenty of room, even if it only offers two rows of seating. Our search turned up several 2022 models in the $25,000 range, many with 50,000 or fewer miles.
The NHTSA has ranked the two models available, the Front-Wheel Drive and All Wheel Drive, as five stars in terms of safety.
2023 Mazda CX-50
If you’re looking for something more compact but with enough room and off-road capabilities, the 2023 Mazda CX-50 is a good bet to find in dealerships for around $25,000 to $27,000.
It has a combined 27 MPG, making it quite fuel-efficient for an SUV. It has an 8.1 overall rating with Edmunds, and a 4.1 customer satisfaction rating.
2022 Kia Niro EV
If you want to take a walk on the electric side, the 2022 Kia Niro EV is one used SUV you can find for a decent price. We found several in the low $20,000 range with low mileage.
In a road test, Edmunds found the Niro EV could do 285 miles on a full charge, making it an efficient option for zipping around town. It received an 8.3 overall rating from Edmunds and 4.2 from consumers.
2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Chevrolet has a few different SUVs in its lineup, and the Trailblazer is one of the newest. While listed as a small SUV, it has plenty of room inside to fit five people comfortably, from personal experience. You can find them on sale for under $30,000 and sometimes, even under $20,000 with minimal miles, depending on the features and trim.
Customers seem to really like the 2022 Trailblazer, as reviews give it a 4.1 overall satisfaction rating. Edmunds has rated it an 8.
2022 Honda Passport
The 2022 Honda Passport is a midsize SUV that gives you more space for either people or cargo, with the spacious backseat holding three people comfortably. It’s designed with fuel efficiency in mind, with 22 MPG combined, and has a powerful V6 engine.
The Passport has been Edmunds tested with an 8.1 rating and 4.6 overall customer rating, meaning many owners have been happy with this SUV.
2021 Toyota Highlander
Toyota has several SUVs ranging from small to large, and the 2021 Toyota Highlander falls in the middle. Yet, it can seat up to eight passengers, which is wild for a midsize SUV. The gas mileage isn’t bad either, with a combined 23 MPG.
Customers rate it a 4 out of 5 for reliability, while Edmunds rates the vehicle a solid 7.8.
2022 Tesla Model Y
It might be weird to see a Tesla on here, but the 2022 Model Y is one SUV you can get for under $30,000, actually. This all-electric car might seem small on the outside, but it’s quite spacious on the inside; it almost seems like your mind’s playing tricks on you.
Our search turned up several Model Ys in the mid-$20,000s, many with under 50,000 miles on them, so you can expect to get a lot of life out of them yet. Speaking of life, you can expect to drive close to 300 miles on a full charge. The Tesla Model Y comes with an enormous warranty of eight years or 120,000 miles for its powertrain.
2022 Honda Pilot
If you like the Passport, but want something even bigger, the 2022 Pilot comes with an extra row of seating for those rowdy sports teams or family road trips. It’s designed with comfort in mind with reclining second-row seats and built-in support.
The Pilot ranks slightly higher than the Passport, with Edmunds giving it an 8.2 rating. Plus, you can find various trims for sale in the $20,000 range.
In Summary…
If you have $30,000 burning a hole in your pocket and you’re in the market for an SUV, you’ll find plenty of options at dealerships nationwide with SUVs to check out.
Many are prior trade-ins, but if you pick certified pre-owned SUVs, you’ll have some degree of protection, for at least a short period. Best of all, these listings tend to be young with fewer miles, so you’ll feel better knowing they’ll last for a bit.
