If you’re in the market for a midsize SUV or crossover, choosing the right model can be daunting—there are simply so many models to choose from on so many dealership lots that the task of finding the right one for you can be bewildering. Just what do you go for? That, of course depends on your needs, but whether you’re looking for a family-friendly SUV with a third row of seating, a small SUV that majors on off-road capability, or simply an SUV that delivers all the latest tech features and nailed-on safety scores, there’s undoubtedly a vehicle out there to suit.
However, new examples are more expensive than ever—the average new car price is now around the $50,000 mark.
However, there’s a silver lining here: The sheer number of used SUVs out there that are ready for their next home. And, since the second-hand market is so huge, depreciation deals a mighty price drop quicker than you’d think, making for some excellent values amongst even the lowest-mileage used car fare. With a budget of $20,000, consumers have ample choices. Let’s run through some our top picks in different SUV subcategories.
The Best Used SUVs Under $20,000 in 2025
- Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
- Kia Sportage
- Ford Edge
- Subaru Outback
- Lincoln MKT
- Jeep Renegade
- Dodge Durango
- Chevrolet Tahoe
- Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
- BMW X3
- Honorable mentions
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
Best Fuel-Efficient SUV Under $20,000: Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Priced from: $15,000
We’d love to say that you could slide behind the wheel of a Lexus RX 450h for under $20,000. You can, actually, but it’s going to be one with over 100,000 miles on it. The better choice at this price point is the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Limited, which is packed with most of the features you’d get with the Lexus, and at that price, you’ll be under 70,000 miles on the odometer, easily.
In the range of $15,000 to $20,000, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Limited is going to come from around the 2016 model year. The nice thing about the RAV4 is that it’s a real vehicle ready for just about anything you can throw at it, with the exception of carrying more than four other passengers. The Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in hybrid and Nissan Rogue are great options in this category as well, though lightly used examples aren't plentiful at this price point.
The RAV4 Hybrid Limited is going to be equipped with leather upholstery, the largest touchscreen infotainment system available, a power sunroof, and heated seats. You can also expect outstanding fuel efficiency for the class, with an EPA-rated 34 mpg city and 30 mpg highway fuel economy thanks to the hybrid drivetrain.
Kia Sportage
Best Compact Crossover Under $20,000: Kia Sportage Priced from: $16,000
With our $20,000 price cap, you’ve got access to some used vehicles that are relatively new, like the Kia Sportage. You’re not going to get into the fully loaded trim levels, but if you’re willing to accept the LX trim with cloth interior and all-wheel drive (AWD), you can find a Sportage LX AWD for under $20,000 from the 2023 model year with under 50,000 miles, meaning it may retain some factory warranty coverage (keep in mind that Kia backs non-certified used models with a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty).
We’ve driven numerous examples of these compact SUVs over the years, along with their Hyundai counterparts, and they’ve been great with one exception: They’re hard to see out of. Yes, you get a large screen for the reversing camera, plus blind-spot monitoring, but they do have seriously impeded visibility out the back window. That’s not uncommon these days, but it’s something to think about.
Aside from that one minor complaint, the Sportage is a capable, reliable, pleasant crossover with a healthy dose of standard safety features that should get you and a small family anywhere you need to go.
Ford Edge
Best Used Midsize Crossover Under $20,000: Ford Edge Priced from: $13,000
Our search for midsize crossovers under $20,000 turned up a very nice Ford Edge Titanium, protected under Ford’s certified pre-owned (CPO) program. Expand your search to other trim levels and you’ll be able to find a CPO Edge with that kind of mileage in any color you’d like, especially for a trim with front-wheel drive (FWD). The Chevrolet Equinox is its direct competitor, though not nearly as well-equipped.
The Titanium was a top trim level along with the performance-oriented ST, and sat above the SE and SEL. If you’re out there looking for an Edge, you're most likely going to find more SELs than any other trim level. They’re well equipped with alloy wheels, leather, power seats, automatic climate control, bluetooth, and seat warmers, but they lack some of the high-end features that the more expensive trims offer. If you can live with that, the Edge is an excellent, quiet, comfortable choice.
Not only that, but its bigger brother the Ford Explorer has gotten quite bulky over the years, and the Ford Escape is just a hair too small—we really like the Edge’s overall size and dimensions.
Subaru Outback
Best AWD Crossover Under $20,000: Subaru Outback Priced from: $15,000
Although it started life as a station wagon, the modern Subaru Outback is now undeniably a crossover SUV. In fact, teasers of the 2026 model suggest the Outback will lose any hint of its wagon roots.
Equipped with standard AWD, the Outback (like its Forester brethren) has long been a fan favorite in the snowy northeast, pacific northwest, and the Rocky Mountain region. Subaru redesigned the Outback multiple times over the years, improving interior passenger and cargo space as well as updating and upgrading the car's safety tech.
While the 2.5-liter flat-four engine under the hood of most Outbacks may leave some folks wanting more power (particularly at higher elevations), it operates smoothly and is well-matched to the continuously variable transmission (CVT). Add in the AWD systems excellent traction management, and this is a well-priced SUV for shoppers who regularly travel in less-than-stellar weather conditions. And, of course, if you need a little extra oomph from the engine, Subaru did offer an optional 3.6-liter H6 engine upgrade, not to mention a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder.
New Outbacks range from almost $30,000 to north of $40,000, but previous-generation models offer the same style and much of the same mechanical equipment for a fraction of the price. Starting with the 2015 model year, shoppers can easily find good options below $20,000.
Lincoln MKT
Best Large Crossover Under $20,000: Lincoln MKT Priced from: $18,000
Over the years, we’ve recommended the Ford Flex to dozens of people who have families and need maximum functionality to haul around all their junk in comfort. The people who have taken us up on that advice have absolutely loved them. The Lincoln MKT is exactly the same model, but it looks less like a Brinks truck and offers more upscale styling than the Ford.
Like the Flex, the MKT was universally ignored by the car-buying public. Most of them ended up going to livery fleets after Lincoln ceased production on the Town Car. Part of the reason they were overlooked was that they carried a wildly high manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) as new vehicles, but that’s all corrected on the used market. For $20,000, you can buy a super clean, fully-loaded, low-mileage MKT with a heated steering wheel, backup camera, navigation system, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, lane departure warning system, and lots more. An MKT is going to have all of the luxury-car appointments and features of the most exclusive SUVs on the market, at a significantly reduced price.
One note on these: As we mentioned, a lot of these were in use in livery fleets. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, because fleet operators are generally pretty good when it comes to vehicle maintenance. Regardless of which model you select, we recommend checking the vehicle's history and springing for a pre-purchase inspection to avoid potential future headaches.
Jeep Renegade
Best Compact Rugged SUV Under $20,000: Jeep Renegade Priced from: $16,000
For less than $20,000, a proficient shopper can dig up a Jeep Renegade Trailhawk with fewer than 30,000 miles. We had grim opinions of the cheap, small Jeeps prior to the introduction of the Renegade, but this model changed those perspectives. That said, the Renegade doesn’t have quite the same level of luxury equipment as the larger Cherokee.
The Renegade is based on the same platform as the Fiat 500X, yet is wrapped in a more square, high-riding hatchback package. We dig its overall scrappy vibe, and cute circular headlights. It features a four-cylinder engine mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission versus a CVT that you’ll find in most vehicles in this class. And, shockingly enough, it's pretty capable off-road. You’re not going to scale the Rubicon, but it’ll certainly get you to any campsite without issue. They’re a great deal for adventure enthusiasts.
Dodge Durango
Best Midsize SUV Under $20,000: Dodge Durango Priced from: $17,500
The Durango is an eye-opening model. A few years back, we had one in the driveway during a good 10-inch dump of snow, which coincided with a planned a ski trip. We packed up the Durango, headed out and, despite the terrible weather, arrived at our destination completely without drama. We’ve had as many as five people inside and a week’s worth of vacation luggage, and it did the job remarkably well.
At our $20,000 price point, you won’t find the sportier GT trim, and you won’t have access to the V8 in the R/T, but the 305-horsepower V6 engine in the older Durango is more than adequate on the back roads and along the highway.
In our search, we turned up several examples in the SXT AWD trim with less than 70,000 miles, and in very nice condition. One had leather interior and dual screens for rear-seat passengers, along with headphones. It’s a lot of vehicle for short money.
Chevrolet Tahoe
Best Full-Size SUV Under $20,000: Chevrolet Tahoe Priced from: $18,000
Twenty grand will buy you a Chevrolet Tahoe with fewer than 100,000 miles, but you’re going to need to search a bit. You can easily find a GMT800-era vehicle for that kind of money, but you’ll want to look around to find a GMT900, from the 2007 to 2014 model years. They’re modern, good looking, roomy, and capable.
We looked through the CarGurus listings and located multiple examples from around 2011, most in the LT trim level that included leather; wood accents on the dash, console, and door panels; and most of the luxury features you’d want in a vehicle like this, with the exception of a moonroof.
These are stout, durable vehicles that were built to run a quarter of a million miles without breaking a sweat. Find a clean Chevy with 75,000 miles and your kids will end up driving it when they pass their driver license test.
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
Best Fun SUV Under $20,000: Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Priced from: $12,500
The step from $15,000 to $20,000 really unlocks some potential in the Jeep Wrangler market. That extra five grand makes it a lot easier to step into a four-door Unlimited, which offers tons more room for rear passengers and cargo space to store more than a duffel bag.
Usually the $20,000 mark is the line of demarcation for vehicles with over 100,000 miles. A $19,995 Wrangler Unlimited is likely going to have a soft top and 90,000 miles. A $22,000 Wrangler Unlimited will probably come with a hard top and 75,000 miles.
Some trim levels are going to be locked out by the $20,000 cap, too. You won’t find a Rubicon in that price bracket, but you might find a Willys, which offered a lot of the great looks and some of the same hardcore equipment.
BMW X3
Best Luxury SUV Under $20,000: BMW X3 Priced from: $13,000
As one of the brand’s smaller crossover SUVs, the BMW X3 is a rewarding vehicle. It features typical BMW quality inside, and offers all the comfort, convenience, and sportiness of a 3 Series, while delivering the ground clearance and cargo capacity of compact utility vehicle. It also compares favorably to competitors from Volvo, Acura, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi.
For $20,000, you’ll be looking at something from around 2016, with just over 60,000 miles—relatively low mileage for a luxury SUV of that model year. You’re out of luck if you want the power of the X3M, but the X3 xDrive28i delivers excellent acceleration, sharp handling, and more room than you might expect from something this sporty.
Word to the wise: If you’re willing to go with an X3 made between 2006 and 2010, this first-generation BMW X3 is a massive bargain. These can be had for far, far cheaper, and models that possess BMW’s naturally aspirated N52 inline-six—3.0si and xDrive30i—are extremely fun to drive.
Honorable mentions
Because we’ve split our list of best SUVs into more specific categories, there are a couple of models that have missed a full entry here, but which merit your attention nonetheless.
This is particularly true when it comes to midsize crossovers, simply because so many are available. Two of particular note are the Mazda CX-5 and the Honda CR-V. The Mazda, for example is great not only because its svelte looks set it apart from the rather more chunky design vibes of most SUVs, but also because it’s far more fun to drive than you would expect of a car of this type. The CR-V, meanwhile—and you’re looking at the 2017-2022 fifth-generation model in our price bracket—is simply a stunningly competent family vehicle and generally scores favorable reliability ratings.
Moving to slightly larger three-row SUVs, the Toyota Highlander, Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento are all reliable SUVs with a spacious interior, but you might struggle to find clean examples of the latest and best iterations of all three models within out $20,000 budget.
