3 Popular Small SUVs With a Stress-Free Ownership Experience for 2023
A new SUV should be free of issues, but that isn’t always the case. These SUVs with a stress-free ownership experience come from Mazda, Subaru, and Toyota. Check out the sport utility vehicles below to compare features, MSRP, and even safety scores from the IIHS and NHTSA.
Mazda’s CX-50 is an SUV with a stress-free ownership experience
Edmunds actually ranked the 2023 Mazda CX-50 in first place for all small SUVs, but it also happens to be an SUV with a stress-free ownership experience. The interior is nice and feels more luxurious than it costs, and drivers say the CX-50 is fun to drive. Mazda equipped the CX-50 with five roomy seats, and all trim levels get all-wheel drive for 2023.
Some of the best safety features on the 2023 CX-50 include Lane Keep Assist and Rear Smart Brake Support. Blind Spot Prevention is also helpful in keeping the SUV in its lane. The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety gave the CX-50 its Top Safety Pick award for this year. It performed well on all of the crashworthiness tests, but the IIHS prefers the LED projector headlights on the 2.5 Turbo, 2.5 Turbo Premium, and 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus trims.
MSRP range: $27,550 – $42,300
SUVs with a stress-free ownership experience include the Subaru Forester
People like the 2023 Subaru Forester for a few reasons, such as its comfortable cabin and standard features. All-wheel drive comes standard on the Forester this year, and it is even more capable off-road than in previous years. Subaru’s EyeSight Driver Assist Technology comes with lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, and automatic emergency braking standard.
Reverse Automatic Braking is also helpful, applying the brakes if a vehicle is detected while in reverse. The DriverFocus helps keep the driver-focused, which may or may not be beneficial for all buyers. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration gave the Forester a five-star overall safety rating, while the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety made it a Top Safety Pick winner. Subaru’s Forester is definitely on the list of SUVs with a stress-free ownership experience.
MSRP range: $26,395 – $36,795
Toyota’s RAV4 is another SUV that drivers like
Some drivers are looking for an SUV with a long history of reliability and stress free-ownership, like the 2023 Toyota RAV4. Toyota’s small SUV is comfortable inside and has plenty of features that drivers want. People also like the RAV4 Prime, which is a plug-in hybrid version. Cargo space is class-leading, and even though it only has room for five passengers, the seats are comfortable.
The 2023 RAV4 benefits from Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, which adds forward collision warning with automatic braking, adaptive cruise control, and a lane-keeping system to help keep the SUV centered. Toyota also added automatic high beams and a traffic sign reader for added technology. All of these helped the RAV4 receive a five-star safety rating from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. On top of that, the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety made it a Top Safety Pick winner.
MSRP range: $27,975 – $37,680
SUVs with a stress-free ownership experience do usually benefit from a warranty and free maintenance for a period of time. While that does add to the ownership experience, drivers don’t want a vehicle that needs to be going in for issues regularly.
