What’s the Cheapest SUV You Shouldn’t Be Afraid to Buy?
While SUVs are known for their ample seating and cargo capacity, these cars aren’t just for families. Even solo riders love the large cabins and plentiful safety features inside an SUV. These vehicles can also be equipped with all-wheel drive, which comes in handy during winter driving or light off-roading. There’s only one thing that scares off potential SUV buyers: cost.
New SUVs can be a little pricey, especially if you tack on some extra features. However, there are still plenty of SUVs loaded with fancy tech at a decent price. Here are some of the cheapest 2020 SUVs on the market plus a few you may want to avoid, according to Cars.com.
The Mazda CX-30, Mazda’s newest SUV
This brand-new model has already received great reviews from critics. It’s a two-row SUV with an ample cabin and decent legroom in the second row. It also comes with a lot of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, cruise control, and lane assistance. It has some nice standard tech too, but it doesn’t have a center touchscreen.
Its solitary 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine offering is both efficient and fun to drive. The CX-30 handles itself well around tight corners, but acceleration may cause its engine to strain. The base trim retails for an even $30,000.
The Hyundai Kona
The Kona is also fairly new to the SUV market, first introduced for the 2018 model year. The base model comes with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that can make up to 147 hp. The six-speed automatic transmission also comes with a manual shift mode. While it’s not the best car for highway driving, it provides ample power for trips around town.
The interior looks very upscale for only $21,440. However, if you have taller backseat drivers, you may want to find a different vehicle. The Kona also doesn’t have the biggest cargo hold compared to its rivals.
The Chevrolet Trailblazer
This is the newest SUV on this list, and it’s also the cheapest at just under $20,000. After a long hiatus, the Chevy Trailblazer is back with a fresh face and a peppy turbocharged engine. It’s capable of 137 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque. It gets decent gas mileage, 29 mpg combined, but some of its competitors can achieve better numbers.
The Trailblazer still comes with a lot of useful tech like smartphone integration and a large safety feature suite. Interior quality is average, but the two-tone roof is a charming touch. Overall, its redesign is a huge improvement, and it’s hard to beat that bargain price.
The Honda HR-V
The base trim of the HR-V costs around $21,940. It has one of the most fuel-efficient powertrains of any two-row SUV, earning up to 30 mpg combined city/highway. However, the engine itself is woefully sluggish at only 141 hp. Even light exertions cause the car to vibrate and the engine to buzz.
Still, the Honda HR-V has comfortable seats. The backseats are Honda’s functional Magic Seats, which can fold completely flat or upright to accommodate many kinds of cargo. In total, the HR-V has almost 60 cubic feet of luggage space.
Steer clear of these SUVs
As you can see, a cheap price doesn’t always mean you’ll get a bad car. However, there are a few new models that may not be as good of a value. The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport ES may come with a lot of standard tech, but its performance is downright horrible.
We also wouldn’t recommend the Ford EcoSport. Its compact size makes it an ideal car for a city dweller or a small family. However, second-row seating is tight and it has one of the weakest engines we’ve ever seen on an SUV.