As competition in the world of crossovers heats up, there is plenty of value on offer. From entry-level crossovers to luxury offerings, there is pretty much something for everyone. However, some of these crossovers are cheap for obvious reasons. Today we’ll be looking at new pricing deals for the Jeep Renegade and Ford EcoSport reported by CarsDirect. However, there are plenty of good reasons why you’ll want to avoid them. At the end, we’ll cover which small crossover should be on your wishlist.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade is one of the cheapest crossovers

Although the 2020 Jeep Renegade’s $22,620 base price doesn’t immediately make it one of the cheapest brand-new crossovers available, deep discounts do. According to CarsDirect, Jeep is currently offering up to $7,192 off the Altitude Edition trim level. You get a naturally aspirated 2.4-liter engine as standard under the hood, although a 1.3-liter turbocharged engine is available. The result is that the stylish renegade becomes a truly enticing crossover.

However, you may want to take a second and reevaluate the model before pulling the trigger. According to Consumer Reports, the Jeep Renegade is one of the worst crossovers in its segment. Among the major complaints, the two that stand out are poor reliability and owner satisfaction. Consumer Reports found issues in its engine, climate system, power equipment, and body hardware. The result is that while you won’t pay big money upfront, the ownership experience likely won’t be a positive one.

The 2020 Ford EcoSport gets up to $5,750 off

As far as Ford crossovers go, the EcoSport is already the cheapest option available, starting at $19,995. However, CarsDirect reports that new offers allow buyers to get up to $5,750 off on the SES and Titanium trim levels. Although the base 1.0-liter engine won’t break any speed records, it is reasonably fuel-efficient and perfect for city driving. Given the discounts, you should be able to score yourself a range-topping EcoSport for the price of what you’d normally pay for a base model.

However, like with the Renegade, the EcoSport is one of many flawed crossovers. According to Consumer Reports, the EcoSport isn’t quite bad as the Renegade, although it struggles in similar areas. Both the reliability and owner satisfaction categories saw poor ratings. Thankfully the powertrain appears to be quite reliable, says Consumer Reports. Where the EcoSport fails is the body integrity, body hardware, paint, and power equipment categories. The result is that if you’re in the market for any of these small crossovers, you’ll want to look elsewhere.

Buy the Subaru Crosstrek instead

Before we get too down on these small crossovers, we have to recognize that there are some truly great options available. While you should skip the Jeep and the Ford, you should buy the Subaru Crosstrek. During Consumer Reports’ testing of the small Subaru, the crossover excelled in all major areas. Aside from having good predicted reliability, owner satisfaction is predicted as being quite high. The Crosstrek also impressed on the road, receiving top marks during a road test.

If saving money on your next crossover purchase is the most important element, the Subaru will struggle. This is because there are no incentives for the recently revised Crosstrek. However, it is worth noting that the Subaru still carries a reasonably affordable starting price of $22,245. In this case, you’ll definitely be paying more than the aforementioned Jeep or Ford. However, you’re far more likely to have a positive experience in the end.