With the average cost of a new vehicle hovering around $50,000, buying a new SUV might seem well out of reach if you’re on a tight budget.But automakers have increasingly been selling entry-level SUVs that are smaller and less expensive than all-star SUVs like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.
And if you buy used, it’s easy to get one of these small but versatile SUVs for less than $20,000.Edmunds’ experts have compiled five of their favorite used extra-small SUVs that deliver big on affordability, fuel economy and everyday practicality.Edmunds praises the Trailblazer for its versatility.Headroom and legroom are ample in the first and second rows.
The Trailblazer also has a pretty big cargo area.All-wheel drive is available, and all Trailblazers come with wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration to connect and use many of your phone’s apps on the center touchscreen.
Look for: The latest-generation Trailblazer arrived for the 2021 model year.Acceleration from the base 137-horsepower turbocharged three-cylinder engine is leisurely, though an optional 155-horsepower turbo three-cylinder adds a little more pep.
Trailblazers with all-wheel drive come with the more powerful engine as standard.The HR-V is Honda’s smallest SUV, but take a test drive and you’ll be pleased with how much cargo and passenger space it has.
The HR-V is also easy to see out of, which helps you easily squeeze into gaps in traffic or snug parking spots.One drawback to the HR-V is slow acceleration — you’ll notice it when you’re quickly trying to get onto the highway — but it’s countered by pretty good fuel economy.
The HR-V is available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.Look for: The HR-V came out for the 2016 model year.
Anything from that debut year up until about a 2022 HR-V will consistently be under $20,000.A 2022 HR-V EX, for example, comes with heated front seats, keyless entry, and the vehicle’s full roster of ad...