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SUVs are at an all-time high in popularity. Every dealer in the country is trying to fill their lots with them. This has been tough over the past couple of years because of the relentless production delays and parts shortages. However, many expect the shortages to lift soon. With that in mind, here are the 10 cheapest SUVs on the market. Some of these are actually pretty cool. 

A red 2023 Mazda CX-30 subcompact crossover SUV model in a room paneled with see-through glass plating
2023 Mazda CX-30 | MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS

What is the cheapest SUV on the market?

The cheapest SUV on the market right now is the 2022 Chevrolet Trax LS. This subcompact Chevy starts at $22,895. If you think, “well, Hell, that’s not even that cheap,” you aren’t wrong. 

The car market has seen a dramatic rise in car prices. Dealers charge a premium for used cars because new cars are coming in so slowly. But then the dealers are also marking new models to compensate for the lack of new inventory. What’s happening in car (and especially SUV) prices have shot to the moon. Meaning even the cheapest SUV is still not that cheap. 

What are the top 10 cheapest SUVs this year?

Cars.com listed the top 10 cheapest SUVs currently on the market. All of these models are the base trim. 

1. 2022 Chevrolet Trax LS: $22,895

2. 2023 Hyundai Kona SE: $23,285

3. 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer LS: $23,295

4. 2022 Ford EcoSport S: $23,335

5. 2023 Kia Seltos LX: $24,135

6. 2023 Mazda CX-30 S: $24,225

7. 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross L: $24,395

8. 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport S: $24,495

9. 2023 Honda HR-V LX: $25,045

10.  2023 Volkswagen Taos S: $25,450

Are there any cheap SUVs that are good? 

The 2023 Kia Seltos is a cheap AWD car with compact SUV styling, like this one in front of a city skyline.
2023 Seltos | Kia

Look, the cheapest anything will often require you to sacrifice quality or coolness, often both. However, while some of these top 10 cheapest SUVs are duds, some are actually pretty cool. 

The Kia Seltos is actually a pretty cool SUV; it falls in 5th on the list of cheapest SUVs. The Seltos comes with AWD even in its base trim. The Seltos also pulls 29 mpg from its 146-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. Hey, it’s no Bronco, but it’s pretty cool for the price. 

The next on the list is the Mazda CX-30. The 2023 CX-30 only comes in AWD. You literally can’t get it any other way. The base model pulls 191 horsepower from its 2.5-liter four-pot. Unlike most others in this segment and price, the Mazda comes with a six-speed automatic transmission instead of the CVT. The Mazda also gets 29 mpg combined. Cars.com mentions that the stout list of standard features for the S trim includes an 8.8-inch display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an eight-speaker sound system, and push-button start with keyless entry.

The last of the really cool options for the 10 cheapest SUVs is the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross. The Toyota Corolla is not a nameplate we associate with SUVs, but the Cross brings all the practicality of the Corolla into the size and lifestyle of the RAV4. Sharing a drivetrain with the Toyota Corolla, the Cross gets an impressive 32 mpg. Unlike the others, the Corolla Cross doesn’t come standard with AWD. You’ll have to pay extra for that. 

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Staff Writer

Peter Corn

Peter Corn joined MotorBiscuit as an Autos Writer in 2020 and brings his quippiest Southern drawl to our table. Having, in his words, “helped” rebuild his dad’s 1959 MGA as a small child, Peter grew up loving vintage cars and trucks, adding motorcycles and all things 4×4 as he went.

Peter earned a Bachelor of Archeology and Creative Writing from the University of Alabama and has since melded his love of driving with storytelling. His voice, full of pleasantries and witticisms, can be enjoyed in The Gentleman Racer, The Vintagent, Gear Patrol, Iron & Air Magazine, and Classic Car Club Magazine.

Peter is a co-founder of both The Colloquial Magazine and The Fire Escape, the official podcast of The Colloquial. In an effort to increase his abilities in “ramping anything with wheels,” Peter has taken track training from Classic Car Club Manhattan and attended Rally School at Monticello Motor Club, where he was coached by eight-time Performance Rally motorsport champion Chris Duplessis.

On a lucky day, we get to hear Peter tell the story of his first car, a jewel of a 1958 Ford Fairlane, into which he dumped more time and money than made sense, but he has no regrets.