Best budget SUVs: top 10
SUVs are loved for their versatility and endurance. This is a car for a large family, which can have five or seven seats. Such a car will fit all family members or a large company, as well as everything you need for a vacation. The high ground clearance makes the car less demanding to the quality of the road, and the high seating makes it easier to get in and out of the car. Finally, SUVs are less prone to wear and tear, so on the secondary market you can buy such cars in almost perfect condition. In our review of the best budget SUVs that you can buy on the US aftermarket.
Top 10 inexpensive SUVs
The rankings include:
- Suzuki Grand Vitara
- Mitsubishi Pajero Sport
- Renault Duster
- Nissan Terrano
- Volvo XC60
- Honda CR-V
- Hyundai Tucson
- Nissan X-Trail
- Subaru Forester
- Nissan Rogue
Our review will answer the question of which budget SUV is better to buy, will help you choose the most worthy representative of this family in the secondary market.
Suzuki Grand Vitara
Suzuki Grand Vitara is available in three- or five-door version and may well become an alternative to Toyota RAV4 or its other competitor - Kia Sportage. The engine lineup includes gasoline engines of 1.6 and 2.4 liters (the latter is available with automatic transmission) or diesel engine of 1.9 liters. Grand Vitara feels confidently on off-road, for what it should be grateful to the all-wheel drive and switchable gearbox with a low ratio.
The Suzuki Grand Vitara offers a high driving position, excellent road visibility, and comfortable handling. Among the disadvantages, users most often name a non-ideal five-speed gearbox and a stiff ride, which becomes noticeable on potholes. On the highway, the Grand Vitara will be a better choice than the Toyota RAV4, as it has a gearbox with a low ratio.
The design of the Suzuki Grand Vitara sets the car apart in the highly competitive four-wheel drive market. The car is the same size as the Toyota RAV4 and looks just as spectacular on the road. It has body-colored mirrors, black roof rails and stylish alloy wheels that make the car more spectacular. The interior has a great set of equipment, including climate control, heated electric mirrors, power windows all around. The SZ5 version has leather seat upholstery, keyless entry and cruise control.
Mitsubishi Pajero Sport
Our top budget SUVs continue with the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, a big frame SUV built on the same platform as the two-cab Triton. That means it has plenty of interior space, as well as a ladder chassis like the older models and a rigid-axle rear suspension. A big plus is a towing capacity of up to 3,100 kg and impressive off-road capability, as well as reliability, proven by Mitsubishi's 10-year warranty.
Despite the fact that the Pajero Sport is equipped with modern features and equipment, it is considered a reliable no-frills car that will serve for many hundreds of thousands of kilometers.
Externally, the Pajero Sport looks very harsh. It instills confidence in the car, that it is capable of tackling any road. Off-road accessories, chrome trim and rounded edges make its appearance versatile, allowing the car to be an off-road roamer or a tough trucking machine.
Renault Duster
The Duster has been a very popular car in recent years, being the same size as the Nissan Qashqai and priced almost the same as the Nissan Micra. The latest generation Duster has not undergone too many design changes compared to its predecessors.
Visually, the 2019 Duster is similar to the previous model, but a closer look reveals that the exterior has been updated to be sharper and more muscular. At the front of the vehicle, there are new headlights and grille that merge together to emphasize the width of the vehicle. The rear end has become less "square" than its predecessor. The most noticeable update in the rear part is the taillights, the shape of which has been completely changed - they protrude on both sides.
Inside, the Duster isn't up to the standards of more expensive SUVs in every way, but that wasn't the manufacturer's goal in delivering one of the most affordable SUVs on the market. The entry-level Essential model is as simple as can be, but the more expensive trims come with plenty of extras like chrome trim, a soft steering wheel, and higher-quality upholstery.
Nissan Terrano
The Nissan Terrano was the product of a collaboration between Nissan and Ford, who also produced the original Ford Maverick. However, the Terrano outlived its Ford counterpart by several years.
There are two different versions of the car: a sporty three-door aimed at young and active people, and a larger five-door with a long wheelbase that can be used as a great family car.
Until 2002, the engine choice was between a 2.4-liter gasoline engine and a 2.7-liter turbodiesel, and after that a 3.0-liter turbodiesel was added to the lineup. The best motor is considered to be the more powerful version of the 2.7-liter TDi engine, introduced in July 1996 and ideal for the hardy Terrano. The 2.4 gasoline engine is cheaper, but it won't provide as much thrust as the 2.7-liter engine. The 3.0-liter engine was only included in the top trims and was very expensive.
On the secondary market it is better to give preference not to the simplest versions - LX or S, but SE or SVE - the most luxurious version.
The Terrano wasn't as popular as the Cherokee or Discovery, yet it had a lot of fans. On difficult terrain, it lags behind the class leaders, but its capabilities are more likely suited for suburbia and towing. The Terrano meets most needs as family transportation, with five-door vehicles offering maximum loading flexibility and an optional seven-seat option.
Volvo XC60
Volvo XC60 is a worthy participant of the review "The best inexpensive SUVs". This is the second generation of the popular premium SUV from the Swedish brand, a car that occupies an intermediate position between the XC40 and XC90 models. It combines safety, style and high quality performance.
The XC60 is a fine example of a modern car for the family. Volvo XC60's competitors include the Mercedes-Benz GLC, Alfa Romeo Stelvio and Land Rover Discovery Sport. Since the introduction of the second-generation XC90 in 2015, Volvo has utilized a new concept in interior design, featuring high-quality materials along with modern technology. The car's interior is warm, comfortable and with Scandinavian character - and it is very often one of the main reasons for buying the latest generation of Volvo cars.
The car has a dashboard with a simple design that is so rarely seen in more "modern" competitors. The car's interior may seem somewhat dated at first glance, but after a couple of minutes you'll start to appreciate the elegance inherent in Volvo products. But the look of the interior is highly dependent on the equipment.
Honda CR-V
SUVs are often marketed as vehicles for active lifestyles. The original Honda CR-V has always been that, but now SUVs are mostly family-oriented, and perhaps that's why the latest version of the Honda CR-V is more refined and spacious inside, as well as more fuel-efficient thanks to the use of hybrid technology.
The entry-level S model features LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, traffic sign recognition and a customizable (electric) lumbar support system in the driver's seat. The SE version features a larger infotainment screen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, and front and rear parking sensors.
Cars in the SR trim feature blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and heated leather seats in the front with adjustable lumbar support. In the top trim, you enjoy heated leather seats all around, a panoramic sunroof and a power tailgate.
Hyundai Tucson
Hyundai Tucson is the best affordable SUV, similar in performance to Nissan Qashqai, Peugeot 3008 and Skoda Karoq. Great for everyday tasks. Before the upgrade in 2018 and replacement with a new version in 2020, the Tucson was powered by one of two gasoline engines - a 133-horsepower engine and a 174-horsepower turbocharged engine. Also in the lineup was a 113-hp 1.7-liter motor and a 2.0-liter diesel engine with 134 and 181 hp.
For 2018, the two underpowered diesels have been abandoned in favor of two 1.6-liter units with 113 hp and 131 hp, and the most powerful diesel has been replaced by a 2.0-liter unit with hybrid technology. A seven-speed gearbox is optionally available in all trims, with the option of using it with all-wheel drive.
The base model is the S, equipped with air conditioning, Bluetooth, LED daytime running lights (later models have a satellite navigation system with touch screen display). The SE version adds dual-zone climate control, heated front seats and rear parking sensors. SE Nav is equipped with satellite navigation.
Nissan X-Trail
Our Best Budget SUVs ranking continues with the Nissan X-Trail, one of the world's most popular crossovers. It is in demand in many countries and occasionally enters the top 10 most popular models. Despite such popularity, note that buyers choose this model much less often than, for example, Kia Sportage or Renault Duster.
The Nissan X-Trail has enough space both in the front and in the rear. In the base configuration there is no electric adjustment of the driver's seat, and the drive for adjusting the front passenger seat is available only in the top version. The luggage compartment of X-Trail is capacious - 561 liters, which is more than in Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage. The rear seats are foldable, which allows to get another 2,000 liters of free space.
The base version has a multifunctional audio system, and for those who want to have a multimedia system with a 7-inch screen in the car, you need to choose a more expensive configuration. Climate control for two zones is available in all versions, except for the base version, where the usual air conditioning is provided. The same applies to the electrically operated luggage compartment door.
Subaru Forester
The 2018 Subaru Forester was honored with the ALG Residual Value Award for best value in its segment. Nearly 98% of all Forester's sold in the last 10 years are still on the road because they were designed with a focus on safety, reliability, and practicality. For 2018, Forester introduced a new Black Edition 2.5i Premium model that comes with black 18-inch alloy wheels, black cloth-leather interior upholstery and a stylish exterior with black trim.
A major new feature for 2018 is Subaru's Active Torque Vector system, which comes standard on the turbocharged Forester 2.0XT. Forester's Eyesight driver assistance technology also received a boost, with the addition of automatic reverse braking and an automatic low beam/distance light switching system. Eyesight is now available as standard equipment on Forester Touring models. Like other Forester models, the base 2.5i version has a high ground clearance of 22 centimeters and also features Vehicle Dynamics Control technology for optimal traction on all road surfaces.
The 2.5i Premium model adds 17-inch alloy wheels, a power panoramic sunroof and automatic climate control. The 2.5i Premium version offers the option of installing Subaru Eyesight Driver Assist technology and a power tailgate as options. The 2.5i Limited comes standard with the All-Weather Package features, fog lights, and leather upholstery. This model also features blind spot detection and a rear cross-traffic alert system. The 2.5i Touring version also includes 18-inch alloy wheels and LED headlights.
Nissan Rogue
The ultimate budget SUV that, despite its playful name and imposing exterior, is a crossover that's perfect for everyday commuting and traveling, not extreme adventures. The Rogue has a modern interior with enough headroom that it can be compared to models like the Mazda CX-5 and Volkswagen Tiguan. Unlike the more traditional four-cylinder engines in those vehicles, the Rogue utilizes a unique three-cylinder turbocharged motor, but it doesn't always perform well on the road.
The Rogue has a large array of standard options and convenience features, and it outperforms many other compact SUVs in terms of fuel economy. The Rogue only has two spacious rows of seats, so it may be less appealing to larger families.
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