Buying used isn’t always about finding the cheapest car, truck, or SUV possible. Sometimes, it’s about maximizing the value of a larger budget. If you have about $30,000 to spend and you’re in the market for a used SUV, you have a vast range of options from full-size, highly capable SUVs to smaller, more city-friendly crossovers, with some fun-to-drive options both on-road and off.
Here are 10 of the best used SUVs you’ll find on a $30,000 budget.
1. 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe
For a full-size SUV with immense capability, few can match the 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe. Able to tow up to 8,600 pounds, yet also available with 4-wheel drive (4WD) and seating for nine passengers, the 2017 Tahoe is a great all-arounder — although it’s not the most fuel efficient. On our budget, you can choose whichever trim suits you best, including the top-spec Premier trim with adaptive cruise control, a rear-seat entertainment system, leather upholstery, and more.
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2. 2021 Honda CR-V
The 2021 Honda CR-V is probably a familiar face — you may have even owned one before — because it’s an incredibly popular SUV thanks to its practical size, efficiency, affordability, and reliability. Seemingly larger on the inside than the outside, the CR-V is more capacious than its compact SUV tag would suggest. Look for loaded Touring or EX-L models on a $30,000 budget.
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3. 2019 Honda Pilot
If you like the CR-V but need seating for seven or eight people and even more cargo space, the 2019 Honda Pilot is likely a great fit. Equally well known for its family-friendly features, the Pilot is also sure-footed in foul weather, especially with the optional all-wheel-drive (AWD) system, and its standard 280-horsepower V6 engine provides ample pep for short freeway merges. The top-tier Touring and Elite trims are within reach of our budget, with a moonroof, leather upholstery, heated second-row seats, wireless phone charging, a hands-free tailgate, and more.
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4. 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Where many of today’s SUVs end their utility, the 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee keeps going, right past the pavement and into serious off-roading, especially when outfitted with the Trailhawk off-road trim. If you’d prefer a healthy dose of luxury, that’s available, too, with the Summit and High Altitude models within reach. If you opt for the Summit, you’ll get a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system and a range of safety and tech features; pick the Trailhawk, and you’ll get Quadra-Lift air suspension and Quadra-Trac 4-wheel drive, among other upgrades.
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5. 2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid
If you want an efficient hybrid SUV with 3-row seating and standard second-row captain’s chairs, look no further than the 2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid. Fully loaded models fit well within our budget, with lots of upscale materials and current technology. The 227-hp output from the hybrid drivetrain is peppier than you’d expect, with fuel economy ratings up to 37 mpg combined — when equipped with front-wheel drive (FWD).
See 2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid models for sale
6. 2022 Mazda CX-5
The 2022 Mazda CX-5 is a sporty, upscale SUV priced like a mainstream model. It’s also pretty handsome, and it comes with standard all-wheel drive — in other words, it’s a strong value and good all-arounder. But if you’re looking for an SUV that scratches some of your sports car itch, the CX-5 is likely the best bet on this list. Fortunately, our $30,000 budget affords the top-spec 2.5 Turbo Signature with 227 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque.
See 2022 Mazda CX-5 models for sale
7. 2023 Nissan Rogue
Nearly brand-new, the 2023 Nissan Rogue’s base models were below the $30,000 mark off the showroom floor, although top-spec models nudge the $40,000 mark. On the used market, the mid-spec 2023 Rogue SV is within reach of our budget, offering a strong set of equipment, including smartphone integration, Wi-Fi, a power driver’s seat, and an optional Midnight Edition package that upgrades to simulated leather seating and dark exterior accents.
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8. 2019 Toyota Highlander
The 2019 Toyota Highlander is much like the Honda Pilot — a capable, trustworthy family favorite for decades. The 2019 model brushed up against $50,000 in its higher trims when new, but now the loaded Limited Platinum is within reach of a $30,000 budget. If you’re looking for an efficient, capable, and comfortable family SUV, the Highlander offers great value.
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9. 2022 Toyota RAV4
The compact alternative to the Highlander, the 2022 Toyota RAV4 is another fan favorite thanks to its excellent features-per-dollar ratio, its roomy interior, and its good fuel economy. Because it’s almost new, not every 2022 RAV4 fits within our budget. Depending on how far you’re willing to travel, the XLE Premium or Adventure models may be the limit. Those are still very nicely equipped, and you’ll also be able to choose all-wheel drive or the optional 800-watt JBL audio system.
See 2022 Toyota RAV4 models for sale
10. 2021 Volkswagen Atlas and Cross Sport
Whether you prefer the square-backed Atlas or the coupe-like Cross Sport, the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas range is a great choice for those seeking European style, roomy second rows, plenty of cargo space, or (in the Atlas) a third row. The sky is nearly the limit in terms of equipment — the only model likely to be out of reach of our $30,000 budget is the top-spec SEL Premium R-Line 4Motion. Delete the R-Line package, and you still have a premium SUV with all-wheel drive, leather upholstery, Fender premium audio, and more.
See 2021 Volkswagen Atlas models for sale
Best Used SUVs on a $30,000 Budget
- 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe
- 2021 Honda CR-V
- 2019 Honda Pilot
- 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee
- 2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid
- 2022 Mazda CX-5
- 2023 Nissan Rogue
- 2019 Toyota Highlander
- 2022 Toyota RAV4
- 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
I agree re the Flex. Its an AWD wagon. Same for our Lincoln MKT. One of the nicest wagons I’ve ever driven. Smooth, quiet, goes like stink, all the options I could ever need. But its listed as an SUV on the registration. Why? Sure as heck can’t take it off-roading. That’s what the Expedition is for. Speaking of which, I would take the Expi any day of the week over the Tahoe. Personal opinion, but surprised it didn’t make the list.
I just wish Ford hadn’t given up on cars. In Canada, we love wagons almost as much as the Europeans do – manual transmissions as well. But, as the wind blows from the US, the stink always lands in Canada. Wish we had the European models instead of the American options. Life would be better.
They are all wagons, really, with “lift kits” ranging from 2″ to 10″. So many wagons based on Sedans originally, with FWD std and some form of “AWD” offered to make the marketing of “off-road” vehicles barely acceptable for these station wagons. Now, these vehicles are called “CUV” instead of wagons; even the original AWD station wagon – Subaru!
Truck-based vehicles, likely to be RWD in base trim, like the 4-Runner, might qualify as having actual off-road capability, so perhaps they can pass as “Sport/Utility Vehicles”. Still, there are plenty of RWD sedans – mostly from German Auto Corporations – that also have a station wagon variant. They can be identical in ground clearance to their sedan counterpart, or, by implementing that typical (even adjustable) increase in ride height, they somehow turn into a new class of car altogether.
I’m not a hater of “CUV’s”, as I myself recently traded a Mazda6 sedan for a CX-5 wagon. Same engine, similar chassis. It offers about an additional 4 inches of ride height, giving me a better view of the traffic around me, increased storage space in the back, and can send power to the rear wheels if slippery conditions warrant the extra assist. My gas mileage dropped by about 5 mpg, and until the recent spike in gas prices, it seemed like an even trade off.
My failed back fusion is less aggravated when I get in or out of my lifted wagon. Gas prices have recently returned to about $3/gallon here in Tennessee, which makes it easier for me to justify changing vehicles. I suspect much higher gas prizes are in the near future, so I’m hoping for a skyactiv G Hybrid for my next CX-5 wagon, courtesy of Toyota’s latest Hybrid, or PHEV, technology in 2024-2026.
If Mazda brings back the “6” while offering a “shooting brake” (sporty wagon) version on RWD platforms, I would give it a long look. My Mazda6 FWD sedan was more fun to drive than my current CX-5 FWD-based wagon, but not by that much. A RWD-based sports wagon, however, might change my thinking.
The Flex is a wagon, not an SUV/CUV.