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Are you looking to buy a used SUV but don’t have a budget? Check out these options from Toyota, Honda, and Mazda, which are some of the best used SUVs over $20,000. These sport utility vehicles have room for people, cargo, and have high safety scores to keep everyone safe.

The Toyota FJ Cruiser is one of the best used SUVs over $20,000

The best used SUVs over $20,000 include this Toyota FJ Cruiser
A 2011 Toyota FJ Cruiser | Toyota

While U.S. News did rank 120 of the best used SUVs over $20,000, the 2011 Toyota FJ Cruiser was at the top of the list. This SUV does it all with its funky looks, excellent safety scores, and off-road capability. While the FJ Cruiser wasn’t around for too long, it made a big impression while it was.

This Toyota SUV has room for five and 260 hp to power whatever adventure you take. But don’t mistake this for an off-roading vehicle; it is an on-road SUV that can go off-road. Buyers could opt for rear or four-wheel drive, the latter of which is better for those adventures. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the 2011 Toyota FJ Cruiser high scores on its necessary crashworthiness tests.

Average Price Paid: $13,915 – $26,072

One of the best used SUVs over $20,000 is the Honda CR-V

The 2017 Honda CR-V excels at many things, such as passenger space and fuel economy. It has plenty of room for people and cargo; buyers could opt for front-wheel or all-wheel drive. If you can find one of the top-level trims, it will get you advanced safety features like blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and forward collision warning.

J.D. Power and U.S. News give the 2017 Honda CR-V a predicted reliability rating of three and a half stars, which is above average for the segment. The IIHS also gave the CR-V the Top Safety Pick Plus award for 2017. While it is definitely one of the best used SUVs over $20,000, it is also a safe choice for families.

Average Price Paid: $23,557 – 30,269

Don’t forget the fun-to-drive Mazda CX-5

Some of the positive attributes of the 2018 Mazda CX-5 include its excellent handling and upscale cabin. It has plenty of room for five adults, and buyers could opt for front-wheel or all-wheel drive. These get 24 to 25 mpg in the city and 30 to 31 mpg on the highway. Not only is the CX-5 fun to drive and an excellent SUV for the money.

With a reliability score of three and a half stars from J.D. Power and U.S. News, there is plenty to like about this Mazda SUV. The IIHS gave this SUV the Top Safety Pick Plus award for 2018, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave it a four-star safety rating overall. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and low-speed forward collision warning with brake assist are standard.

Average Price Paid: $23,813 – $28,556

These are just a few used SUVs over $20,000, but also some of the best options out there. If you can find one with additional safety features or packages, that is always recommended. These features were often available but not always standard.

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Staff Writer

Amanda Cline

Amanda Cline is an avid fan of Formula 1 and joined MotorBiscuit in 2021. A Southwest Floridian, she easily and often finds automotive events to attend in the Tampa, Orlando, and Miami areas.
Amanda is a graduate of the University of Central Florida, where she earned a Bachelor’s in English Literature and a Master’s in Technical Communication. Combining her editorial and digital media expertise, Amanda served as a content creator for FanSided and now provides our readers with a variety of automotive subject matter like pickup trucks and SUVs, including valuable consumer advice.

Amanda closely follows many F1 drivers, including Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, and the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team. Her all-time favorite author is Shel Silverstein.