Buying a new SUV is an expensive business. According to the latest figures, the average price of a new SUV is now just shy of $50,000. But with such a wealth of used examples on the market for half of that price, many of which still boast up-to-date tech, modern-feeling interiors, and decent performance guts, no one is to blame for going down the used route instead of the new one.
We have found 10 used SUVs from the last eight years for under $25,000 that all offer impressive tech features, comfortable cabins, lots of on-road and off-road usefulness, and a modern feel about them. Some are luxury, some were released as budget options, and some are impressive off-roaders; the used SUV market is a trove of all-encompassing bargains.
2023 Mazda CX-50 Preferred Plus
Average Used Price: $24,804
Blending rugged moves, upscale refinement, and a low average used price of just under $25,000, the CX-50 is a nearly-new mid-range model that offers more than the entry-level bargain prices.
You get everything that the base trim gets, but also more luxurious additions in the shape of a power-sliding panoramic moonroof, heated side mirrors, and an all-around plush design inside. All-wheel drive is equipped as standard, the 187-horsepower 2.5-liter inline-four can achieve around 27 combined mpg, and it has been rated as 70 out of 100 for reliability, 79 out of 100 for driving experience, and 77 out of 100 overall by owners on JD Power.
Inside, the CX-50 boasts a cabin that is fit for something more expensive, thanks to leatherette upholstery, an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, and automatic dual-zone climate control.
Tech is handled by a 10.25-inch infotainment display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and rear USB ports, while the CX-50 is also well-equipped for safety, with the i-ActiveSENSE suite included (auto emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning, and lane-keep assist).
2021 Jeep Wrangler Willys
Average Used Price: $24,662
There’s nothing quite like the Jeep Wrangler; it is a true American icon. Today, you can pick up a four-year-old example for under $25,000. The highest-grade model you can get of the 2021 MY for this price is the Wrangler Willys, which is the trim that sits between the Sport and Sahara trims.
If you don’t need all the extras that are featured in the Rubicon and are looking for a modern and off-road capable SUV, the standard-fit 32-inch mud-terrain tires, heavy-duty rock rails, Dana M220 rear axle, Hill Start Assist, Hill Descent Control, and off-road tuned dampers in the Willys will have you covered.
Like most modern Wranglers, the Willys struts with a blend of retro cool and modern additions that make it both fun and relatively comfortable to drive. A seven-inch touchscreen runs the Uconnect 4 system; Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included; easy-to-clean materials are utilized, and you still get classic Wrangler charm thanks to the removable doors, fold-down windshield, and removable roof.
There may be some drawbacks at highway speed, but if you are looking for a fun and iconic nameplate-wearing SUV with real off-road credentials, the 2021 Wrangler Willys is worth taking a look at.
2019 Chevrolet Suburban LT
Average Used Price: $24,484
If you are in the market for a used luxury full-size SUV, thankfully, prices take a nose dive after a couple of years, and turn these models into very affordable bargains. Hence, we can now pick up a mid-range 2019 Chevrolet Suburban LT for under $25,000.For the low price point, you get leather seating, a hands-free liftgate, a premium Bose audio rig, an eight-inch infotainment screen, heated front seats, and soft-touch materials. Though it is older than the two models above, the Suburban LT still feels pretty new thanks to the luxe trim, decent infotainment system, and powerful V8 under the hood.
Today, we rarely see a naturally aspirated V8 utilized in a new SUV, so if you are looking for a bit of pure V8 grunt to accompany the sub-$25K prices, available third row of seating, abundance of legroom (front: 45.3 inches/second row: 39.7 inches/third row: 34.5 inches), and maximum cargo capacity of 121.7 cubic feet, the Suburban LT’s 355-horsepower 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V8 should serve you well.
To top it off, we see plenty of used Suburban models hitting the 200,000+ mile mark thanks to their typical usage, so if you keep your eye on the market and find out what kind of life the example you are looking at has had, it could do you well as a long-term companion.
2020 Toyota Highlander L
Average Used Price: $24,037
Boasting an owner-rated overall JD Power score of 84 out of 100, a quality and reliability score of 86 out of 100, and a driving experience score of 84 out of 100, the five-year-old Toyota Highlander L delivers in Toyota-grade spades.
The Highlander L is the entry-level grade, but that doesn’t mean that it is basic. It is packed with lots of luxury features and tech-forward additions that make it seem newer than it is. LED headlights, a push-button start, the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite, and an eight-inch touchscreen that supports Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa are all featured, while the driver-centric and comfortable cabin make it a nice SUV to drive.
There are three rows of available seating in the Highlander L, and while the front two legrooms are very generous in inches, the third row legroom is suited more to those of shorter stature.
Even though the Highlander L is the entry-level grade, you still get a reasonably powerful V6 under the hood, good for 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. 0–60 mph times (around 7.6 seconds) aren’t indicative of high speed, but you can still tow up to 5,000 pounds behind you with it, so not only is the 2020 Highlander L comfortable, well-priced for its caliber, reliable, and up-to-date, but it can also be used for the weekend camping trip.
2020 Ford Expedition XL
Average Used Price: $23,636
If it is a capable used full-size model that you are looking for, the 2020 Ford Expedition XL has to be considered one of the best SUVs you can buy for under $25,000. Under the hood is a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 good for 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque paired with a 10-speed auto box, which combined, deliver a smooth, torquey feel, and a decent towing capacity.
You can tow up to 9,200 pounds behind you; there is seating for eight inside; with seats folded flat, you get 104.6 cubic feet of storage space; legroom across all three rows is spacious (front: 43.9 inches/second row: 41.5 inches/third row: 36.1 inches), and the interior is kitted out well.
Considering that it is only five years old and has an average used price of just shy of $23,700, the interior boasts a lot of goodies that make it feel comfortable and modern. At the center of the interior is an eight-inch touchscreen that runs Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while Ford’s Co-Pilot360 suite keeps you safe on the road with automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and a rearview camera.
Tri-zone climate control, multiple USB ports, lots of storage room, three rows of seating, and a perky-enough engine for its weight (5,368 pounds) make it an ideal used family-friendly SUV.
2023 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT
Average Used Price: $23,599
As potentially one of the most underrated SUVs you can buy on a budget, the two-year-old Hyundai Santa Fe XRT delivers in terms of family-friendly features and a bit of ruggedness that makes it look a little more adventurous without losing out on comfort.
Placed just above the SEL trim in the 2023 lineup, the XRT showcases black exterior accents, available side steps, roof rails, and dark alloys, giving it an outdoorsy, off-road-inspired look. Inside, it is relatively upscale for a mid-tier trim with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and an eight-inch touchscreen.
RepairPal has given the Santa Fe a reliability score of 4 out of 5 and has said that average annual maintenance costs are low at $515, so alongside cheap average used prices, you also get cheap running costs.
The XRT boasts a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter inline-four that can shift out 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, and while rest-to-60 times are a pedestrian 9 seconds, you do benefit from estimated combined mpg ratings of 26 mpg (28 mpg on the highway and 25 mpg in the city) for front-wheel drive models and 24 mpg (25 mpg on the highway and 22 mpg in the city) for all-wheel drive models.
2023 Volkswagen Tiguan SE 4MOTION
Average Used Price: $22,995
Sitting in the middle of the 2023 Tiguan lineup, the SE 4MOTION strikes a good balance between semi-luxury, all-weather capability, and comfortable driving. The SE 4MOTION comes equipped with a 2.0-liter turbo-four good for 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed auto box and VW’s 4MOTION AWD rig, so stability, cornering, and handling can be done with a good degree of confidence in the wet or the snow.
“Pretty respectable figures and on par with the other favorites in the segment. This powertrain propels the Tiguan to 60 mph in around eight seconds, which isn’t too bad. As for fuel economy, the EPA estimates the Tiguan at around 24 MPG city and 31 highway for the FWD version, and 22/29, respectively, for the AWD model.”
Hot Cars 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan Buying Guide – Marko Sokolovski
The interior is very well kitted out for its price point with dual-zone climate control, a heated power-adjustable driver’s seat, a hands-free liftgate, an eight-inch touchscreen, and soft-touch materials all showcased. If you keep your eye on the market, some used examples will be fitted with the 12.3-inch Digital Cockpit, which was originally available as an option, so if you want the techier version, these are the models to look for.
The Tiguan is VW-esque functional, and not only do you get a generous 40.2 inches of front legroom and 38.7 inches in the second row, but to make up for the slightly lacking maximum cargo space, VW have fitted it with clever storage solutions in the form of a deep center console, a hidden dashboard compartment, deep door bins, and a concealed storage compartment in the trunk.
2018 BMW X5 xDrive50i
Average Used Price: $20,282
German SUVs have garnered themselves a reputation for being luxurious and (for the most part) good for a bit of engaging driving, and the seven-year-old X5 xDrive50i is just that. The best bit: its current average used price is just north of $20,000.
At the center of everything is a 4.4-liter bi-turbocharged V8 that kicks out 445 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque, which shoots you to 60 mph in as little as 4.7 seconds, while the xDrive all-wheel drive rig takes care of traction, stability, and handling fun in the wet and the dry.
Before getting into ‘M’ territory, the xDrive50i is the top trim of the 2018 X5 lineup, and in typical BMW fashion, it blends high-end performance, thanks to the engine under the hood and driveline, with an athletic yet plush cabin.
Leather upholstery and trim make it feel luxe; the iDrive infotainment system handles connectivity and navigation; safety features are well catered for, with adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning featured, and generous legroom and cargo capacities make it a useful performance-focused luxury SUV in the mid-size market.
- Front Legroom. 39.8 Inches.
- Rear Legroom. 37.4 Inches.
- Maximum Cargo Capacity. 59.7 Cubic Feet.
2020 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 4MATIC
Average Used Price: $18,383
The beauty the of used luxury market depreciation works out well for the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 4MATIC if you are looking for an affordably plush SUV.
With average used prices under $19,000 and an interior packed full of Mercedes-grade goodness, a 208-horsepower turbo-four under the hood that gets you to 60 mph in around 6.7 seconds, and the 4MATIC AWD setup, you get a lot for your money.
The cabin is refined with MB-Tex upholstery as standard, though there are used examples boasting the originally available leather option; 14-way power-adjustable front seats provide ample support; dual-zone climate control is featured, and an originally available panoramic sunroof lets in a ton of natural light.
The GLA 250 is also relatively tech-savvy, with the COMAND infotainment system, featuring an eight-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, a power liftgate, and a rearview camera all originally fitted as standard. If you keep your eye on the used market, there are also examples out there that have been fitted with ambient lighting, meaning you can get a lot of luxury touches for not a lot of money.
2020 Mazda CX-30 Premium
Average Used Price: $17,660
Boasting a used price of under $18,000, a five-star NHTSA safety rating, a respectably powerful engine for everyday driving, an upscale interior, and oodles of comfort features, the top-trim 2020 Mazda CX-30 Premium is one of the best used SUVs you can buy for under $25,000 this year.
Being the top-end trim means that the CX-30 is the most feature-rich, and for an almost criminally low average used price, you benefit from leather-trimmed seats, a 12-speaker Bose audio rig, dual-zone climate control, a power sliding-glass moonroof, soft-touch interior materials, an 8.8-inch center display running Mazda Connect, and an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with two-position memory.
The exterior design is sleek and tidy; signature LED lighting sits upfront alongside adaptive front lighting; a power liftgate is showcased at the rear; it rides on 18-inch alloys, and a shark fin antenna sits on the roof. The 2020 CX-30’s design isn’t outdated yet, and to hit home that it is still a well-priced used SUV force to be reckoned with in the 2025 market, both reliability ratings and fuel consumption costs are wallet-friendly.
According to reviews of the 2020 CX-30 left on JD Power, it has been rated 80 out of 100 for reliability, while estimated combined mpg ratings say that it can achieve 25 mpg (34 mpg on the highway and 25 mpg in the city).