Buying on a Budget: Best Used SUVs for 2021

When you need to buy a vehicle on a small budget, you might think you have to sacrifice what you want because you have to stick to a low price range. Buyers who want SUVs can find amazing budget-friendly vehicles every time you type “used car dealership near me.” Whether you have $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000 to spend, you can find a used SUV for sale in your price range that will make you happy. In any of the suggested price ranges, it’s important to remember to search for a vehicle that has a good record of regular maintenance, a clean history free of accidents, and a vehicle that is a few years into a generation.

In case it isn’t clear why you would search by years in a generation, most manufacturers tend to update a vehicle design after five to ten years. When a vehicle is redesigned, it can receive anything from a complete overhaul to a few updates to the appearance and powertrain. While it may not always lead to mechanical problems, new designs can sometimes have issues that need to be ironed out after a year or two. As you browse for vehicles, it’s a good idea to look up what years a vehicle may have begun a new generation so you can avoid those first couple of years if possible. This is likely to ensure you find a more mechanically sound vehicle that will have the bugs worked out of the design, so you get a better vehicle for your money.

Best Used SUVs for $15,000

If you have as much as $15K to spend on an SUV, you will find a lot of options in this price range. Depending on the type of SUV you want, you can discover gems in this sweet spot of pricing with brands like Kia or Nissan, or you can go with more well-known brands like Toyota or Honda to get an SUV with a brand reputation for safety and reliability. Going for a brand like Kia could offer you a newer SUV within the last five or six years for this price if you look for the Seltos or the Sorento, both of which are relatively fuel-efficient and offer a lot of technology for the price. Kia tends to give you great value with the features included in their vehicles, and you are likely to find a number of convenience features to put you at ease on long drives.

Nissan SUVs like the Rogue and Murano are another pair of vehicles you are likely to find in this price range within the last five to seven years, both of which are excellent crossover SUVs. While the Rogue is the smaller of the two and will be more fuel-efficient, the Murano offers more space and a beautiful interior. Driving these SUVs will mean having a responsive powertrain with capable dynamics, and Nissan also offers a lot of tech for the money. Safety features tend to be plentiful with any Nissan, so you know if you spend a lot of time on the road, you’ll be covered.

Buyers who prefer to purchase from a bigger brand may want to consider the Ford Escape, a midsize SUV that could be purchased as a five-year-old vehicle for $15K. The Escape could have any one of three engines, available all-wheel drive, and can offer luxuries like leather seats and a powered liftgate. Ride quality in the Escape tends to be smooth, and seating will accommodate adults in both front and back rows.

If you want to stick with a brand like Toyota, you will need to search for a model between five and ten years old in this price range. A Toyota Highlander with three rows of seats can go for $15K if you look for one ten years old, or you could look for a RAV4 between five and eight years old. As is common with a Toyota, you will have a reliable vehicle with excellent safety standards and fairly good driving dynamics. Ride quality may be less comfortable than the Ford Escape, but you will have good interior space for cargo.

Best Used SUVs for $10,000

You might be pleasantly surprised by the types of SUVs you can find in the $10K price range, especially if you have a taste for something with a smoother ride and a little luxury or even an SUV with verve on the road. For instance, a Mazda CX-5 has a little bit of luxury with a lot of driving fun. If you look for a CX-5 that’s about 8-10 years old, you can have one for about $10K. You can expect great driving dynamics, responsive handling, and interior style. Mazda always delivers on a comfortable cabin with supportive seats, too. If you want a larger SUV, searching for a CX-9 gets you a three-row SUV for larger families, but you may have to look for a CX-9 that’s a little older for the $10K price.

Ford SUVs tend to last for many years, and the Edge is a sturdy two-row SUV with a smooth ride and great all-wheel drive capability. Interiors of the Edge are often comfortable and can range into luxury if you locate one in an upper trim. Like the Mazda, you may need to search in the 8-10 year range to find one for the right price. If you prefer more refinement, the Buick Enclave is a spacious, classy three-row SUV with excellent road manners. Expect an Enclave to have a responsive powertrain and a luxuriously hushed cabin with numerous conveniences and tech features like powered lumbar and OnStar connectivity. Buicks tend to last a long time and have an excellent build quality that holds up for many years.

Best Used SUVs for $5,000

When searching for used SUVs below $5K, it’s important to shop smart. In most cases, you will have to look for a vehicle that’s more than ten years old, but there are a number of SUVs that will still perform in that age range if they have been maintained well. One such SUV is the Subaru Forester. Even after a decade, a Forester can still run reliably and powerfully. Subaru sells the Forester with full-time all-wheel drive as standard equipment, and if you live on a back road or travel through rough terrain often, the Forester can power through almost any terrain with confident capability. You may have a tough time finding a Forester used because few people let them go once they own one, but if you get lucky enough to find one on a used lot, it’s worth your time to give it a test drive.

Another SUV to consider is the Honda CR-V. Reliable and safe, the CR-V also offers good space for passengers and cargo in a compact size. The CR-V is going to be a great buy if you need a family vehicle, and if equipped with all-wheel drive, it will travel well in adverse weather or rough roads. Likewise, the Toyota RAV4 is another reliable SUV with excellent safety records and good interior space for people and cargo. All three of the SUVs here have high resale values due to their excellent durability and longevity, which is why you can count on them all to keep running even after a decade of driving.

Shop Smart to Get an Affordable Vehicle

Remember, while you search for a used SUV to ask for a CARFAX report, which will give you a lot of valuable information about the vehicle’s history. If you have any questions or need assistance looking for a vehicle that fits in your budget, let us help you. We will walk you through your options so you can find the perfect used SUV that has a low price, but will still last you a long time.