Boxy cars are cool. Thanks to their squared-off designs, they offer not only funky style but also added practicality. These unusual vehicles also tend to hold their value well due to their endless appeal, with some even having cult-like followings. Here, we’ve outlined eight of our favorite boxy hatchbacks and SUVs under $15,000 available on Autotrader in 2025.
1. 2009-2018 Ford Flex
The Ford Flex didn’t get as much publicity as some other vehicles in Ford’s lineup when it was new. However, it still offers great style and practicality all packaged into an efficient, boxy design, and it continues to have a dedicated fan base. Introduced way back in 2009, the Flex carried on in the same basic design for over 10 model years, having received a significant update in 2013. The only vehicle on this list with three rows of seats, the Flex is an anomaly in that it combines the attributes of an SUV, a minivan, and a station wagon. Seating capacity is six with second row captain’s chairs or seven with a second row bench. All-wheel-drive (AWD) models can be had with a 355-horsepower twin-turbo V6, giving the Flex some serious pep. See Ford Flex models for sale
2. 2003-2011 Honda Element
The Honda Element started a fresh craze for boxy vehicles when it debuted in 2003. Offering available all-wheel drive, unique rear half-doors, a carpet-less interior, and a clever split rear liftgate, the Element offers exceptional utility, all in a small, efficient compact SUV package. Powering the Element is a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder putting out 160 or 166 hp, depending on the model year. The Element received a significant update for 2007, with much of the plastic bodywork replaced by body-colored metal panels. See Honda Element models for sale
3. 2015-2019 Jeep Renegade
Jeep introduced the Renegade in 2015 as a fun, boxy subcompact utility vehicle. With attributes straddling SUV and hatchback territories, the Renegade is built on a front-wheel-drive (FWD) platform shared with Fiat and offers available all-wheel drive. The top-of-the-line Trailhawk model even provides reasonable off-road capability, thanks to a low-range-mimicking 4-wheel drive (4WD) system with different selectable traction modes. When searching for a Renegade, remember that many of these are configured with front-wheel drive. See Jeep Renegade models for sale
4. 2006-2013 Jeep Wrangler
While its creases have softened over the years, the Wrangler is one of the original boxy cars. This iconic off-roader offers great configurability, with a removable roof and doors, and a windshield that folds down, if you’re willing to put in the time and effort required. The Wrangler offers excellent off-road capability thanks to a standard solid front axle that allows for increased stability in the rough stuff, although the vehicle’s on-road driving dynamics suffer as a result. At the $15,000 mark, we recommend a “JK” Wrangler, sold from 2007 through 2017, although our budget will only touch the lower end of model years beyond 2013. See Jeep Wrangler models for sale
5. 2010-2020 Kia Soul
The funky Kia Soul hatchback stands out in a crowd for several reasons. First, it has an angular yet boxy design, with slab sides and a flat hood and roof line. It also has aggressive front-end styling, with scowling headlights and low-set fog lights. Additionally, the top-of-the-line second-generation Soul packs an available 201-hp turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, giving it impressive performance credentials like a zero-to-60-mph time of only 6.4 seconds, well in excess of what’s offered by the competition. Finally, the Soul is sold in unique trim levels, like the ‘+’ (“plus”) and ‘!’ (“exclaim”), and offers orange interior accents and a variety of fun exterior colors. See Kia Soul models for sale
6. 2009-2014 Nissan Cube
Of all the boxy hatchbacks and SUVs on this list, the Cube has perhaps the most appropriate name. Despite being a Nissan, the Cube is kind of rare. It’s also packed with unique features, like asymmetrical bodywork. The Cube’s C-pillar is of a traditional design on the driver’s side, but on the passenger’s side, the pillar is blended in with the window, giving the vehicle a unique 90-degree wraparound design, but just on one side. It’s truly bizarre. But the quirks don’t stop there. The Cube came standard with a small piece of shag carpet on the dashboard, and “water ripple” designs throughout the cabin, like on the headliner and in the speaker covers, and color changing ambient lighting. Power comes from a relatively small 1.8-liter 4-cylinder putting out only 122 hp and 127 lb-ft of torque. Altogether, the Cube is a weird and charming vehicle. See Nissan Cube models for sale
7. 2008-2015 Scion xB
The Scion brand was all about quirkiness, and no other vehicle in its lineup embodied this more than the xB. The xB was extremely boxy in its first generation, with virtually no curves outside the wheel arches. A second-generation xB, designed more to American tastes, came out for 2008 and was sold through 2015. The design of the second-gen model was much curvier than that of the original, although it was still quite boxy. Powering the second-gen xB was a humble 2.4-liter 4-cylinder making 158 hp and 164 lb-ft of torque. See Scion xB models for sale
8. 2007-2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser
While the Toyota FJ Cruiser was built new through the 2014 model year, our budget only affords the three oldest model years, since the FJ Cruiser has retained remarkable value thanks to its quirky looks and excellent off-road ability. If you’re looking for a fun, stylish, and practical SUV, the FJ Cruiser is a great option, especially if your hobbies take you away from the pavement. However, one thing to pay attention to is the FJ Cruiser’s gas mileage; when new, the 2009 model was rated between 14 and 17 mpg around town and between 19 and 21 mpg on the highway. Fun fact: You can buy the FJ Cruiser with a 6-speed manual transmission. See Toyota FJ Cruiser models for sale
8 Great Boxy Hatchbacks and SUVs Under $15,000
- 2009-2018 Ford Flex
- 2003-2011 Honda Element
- 2015-2019 Jeep Renegade
- 2006-2013 Jeep Wrangler
- 2010-2020 Kia Soul
- 2009-2014 Nissan Cube
- 2008-2015 Scion xB
- 2007-2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser
