3 Small SUVs That Cost Less Than $25,000 Out-of-Pocket Over 5 Years
Looking for a new compact SUV that won’t cost you an arm and a leg down the road? These small SUVs cost less than $25,000 out-of-pocket in the first few years of ownership. Each sport utility vehicle from Kia, Subaru, and Hyundai has an estimated fuel cost, insurance, and even depreciation.
The Kia Sportage Hybrid is a small SUV that will cost less than $25,000 out-of-pocket
Kelley Blue Book has some insight into the cost of owning a 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid. After adding up the fuel, insurance, financing, and fees, the Sportage Hybrid will cost around $20,402 out-of-pocket over the first five years. That’s pretty reasonable, given the starting price of $27,290.
| Fuel | $4,854 |
| Maintenance | $4,897 |
| Insurance | $5,430 |
| Repairs | $651 |
| Financing | $1,908 |
| State Fees | $2,662 |
| Total Out of Pocket Expenses | $20,402 |
| Depreciation (Loss in Value) | $12,685 |
| Five-Year Cost to Own | $33,087 |
One of the most significant costs of owning the Kia Sportage Hybrid is depreciation, but all cars go through that. After the $12,685 depreciation, this Kia SUV will cost around $33,087 in the first five years of ownership. While that might seem like a lot at first, the 2023 Sportage Hybrid has the lowest five-year cost-to-own in its class. For small SUVs that cost less than $25,000 out-of-pocket, the Sportage Hybrid has you covered.
Subaru’s small Forester SUV will cost less than $25,000 out-of-pocket in the first five years
There isn’t much to dislike about the 2022 Subaru Forester. It is a capable small SUV that has plenty of standard safety features for the money. Kelley Blue Book found that it had pretty reasonable ownership costs in the first years of ownership. The total out-of-pocket expenses for the Forester came out to $20,903.
| Fuel | $7,241 |
| Maintenance | $2,682 |
| Insurance | $4,985 |
| Repairs | $1,784 |
| Financing | $1,729 |
| State Fees | $2,482 |
| Total Out of Pocket Expenses | $20,903 |
| Depreciation (Loss in Value) | $12,298 |
| Five-Year Cost to Own | $33,201 |
Depreciation was one of the biggest losses with the Subaru SUV, losing about $12,298. After KBB added up all the fees, the five-year cost to own was about $33,201. Subaru priced the 2022 Forester at $25,895 to start.
Don’t overlook the Hyundai Tucson Plug-in Hybrid
When it came to the 2022 Hyundai Tucson Plug-in Hybrid, owning this car would only cost about $11,507 out-of-pocket for the first five years. Since it is a plug-in hybrid, buyers don’t owe the same fees a traditional gasoline vehicle might have to pay. That’s why you see -$3,430 in that category.
| Fuel | $2,601 |
| Maintenance | $3,734 |
| Insurance | $5,530 |
| Repairs | $676 |
| Financing | $2,396 |
| State Fees | -$3,430 |
| Total Out of Pocket Expenses | $11,507 |
| Depreciation (Loss in Value) | $19,542 |
| Five-Year Cost to Own | $31,049 |
Kelley Blue Book estimates that the 2022 Tucson PHEV will depreciate $19,542, making the total cost to own $31,049. That seems like a pretty good deal for five years of stress-free ownership from an SUV that only costs $35,400 to start.
These small SUVs that cost less than $25,000 out-of-pocket are the top three in the segment. While some are 2023 vehicles, you might be able to find a better deal overall on an outgoing 2022 model.
