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Compact SUVs are here to stay! Small sport utility vehicles like the ones listed here from Hyundai, Mitsubishi, and Honda offer the best of both worlds. Drivers get brand-new vehicle that is easy to drive and budget-friendly. Check out these small, safe, and practical SUVs under $40,000 for 2023.

The Hyundai Kona is a practical SUV under $40,000

Finding a small, safe, and practical SUV is made easier thanks to some of the most recent U.S. News rankings. Compact sport utility vehicles like the 2023 Hyundai Kona have thoughtful storage solutions and more cargo space than one might think. On top of that, brand-new SUVs like the Kona come packed with technology and standard safety systems to keep everyone safe. This compact SUV has room for five passengers and gets 158 hp.

Standard driver-assistance features include forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2023 Hyundai Kona a five-star overall safety rating. In addition, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Kona high scores on all of its safety tests. It missed out on the Top Safety Pick designation due to the LATCH system’s ease, so consider that if you have multiple car seats.

Mitsubishi’s Outlander is another practical SUV under $40,000

There has been a lot of buzz around the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander. It is fresh off a recent redesign and has plenty of standard features. On top of that, Mitsubishi’s new infotainment system is relatively easy to use. While this SUV has room for seven, the back row is better suited for children or cargo. It has 181 hp, and drivers can select from front-wheel or four-wheel drive for added capability.

Some of the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander’s standard driver-assistance features include automatic high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic emergency braking. It also gets rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and lane-change assist. This practical SUV under $40,000 received a four-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety also made it a Top Safety Pick Plus winner.

Drivers like the Honda HR-V and all of its features

Practical SUVs under $40,000 include this new Honda HR-V
A 2023 Honda HR-V | Honda

Back and better than ever, the 2023 Honda HR-V has a spacious inside and plenty of standard features. Honda’s newest infotainment system adds Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a new standard seven-inch screen. Regarding small, safe, and practical SUVs, the HR-V checks all of the boxes. This Honda SUV should be a quiet and comfortable ride with room for five passengers. It gets 147 or 276 hp, depending on which engine you choose.

The 2023 HR-V has many standard driver-assistance features like road sign recognition, rear-seat reminder, and forward collision warning. It also gets lane departure warning with lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high-beam headlights. While the NHTSA hasn’t rated the HR-V yet, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety made it a Top Safety Pick Plus winner.

Small, safe, and practical SUVs under $40,000 have more features than they used to. Standard safety systems are some of the most important tools on new vehicles, so be sure your next ride has everything you want.

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