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The best SUV for a car shopper depends on several factors, including the shopper's priorities, lifestyle, and budget. Some key aspects to consider include:
1. Purpose and Usage: Is your new vehicle used primarily for meeting family needs, off-road adventures, or as a daily commuter?
2. Fuel Efficiency: How important is fuel efficiency to you? Paying more for an EV might not make sense if your trips are short and few as opposed to long distances, several times a year. A traditional gas-powered SUV or hybrid might be a better balance of new car cost and fuel economy.
3. Budget: Initial cost, overall cost of ownership (including insurance coverage), and your new car's resale value are important factors to consider in order to make your new car choice a better investment.
4. Performance and Handling: Your engine choices are a V6, V8, or a turbocharged four-cylinder. However, turbocharged 4-cylinder engines are much more common in new vehicles today, so desiring a V6 or V8 limits your choices. You will also need to determine your driving conditions while weighing the pros and cons of buying a new vehicle with All-Wheel Drive (AWD) vs. Four-Wheel Drive (4WD): AWD is better for general on-road use in all weather conditions, while 4WD is ideal for off-roading.
5. Technology and Safety Features: Your new car's Infotainment System and its ease of use, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) for enhanced safety, and Connectivity System for your electronics are more of a personal preference, than a need. Still, they are nice to have in a car and these features do add to its resale value.
6. Comfort and Interior Quality: Seating comfort, cargo space, and high-quality interiors are key points for comfort and driver satisfaction.
7. Brand Reliability: Some brands have a better reputation for long-term reliability. Research resources like Consumer Reports that offer up-to-date reviews and insights of the latest models.
8. Test Drive: Most important of all is an on-the-road test drive to give you a good sense of how the SUV performs with respect to:
- Visibility
- Ease of parking
- Overall comfort while driving
In short, by evaluating each of the factors above, you can narrow down your choices and find the best SUV for you by making a smart and informed purchase decision
Consumer Reports Best SUVs Under $30,000 Recommended
To help you further with your decision-making, automotive analysts from Consumer Reports recently created a new list of their recommendations for 2024 and 2025 SUV models under $30K to help you find the most reliable vehicles at the best price. In the list you will find the higher-scoring models listed first.
"There are many subcompact and compact SUVs to choose from. Every brand plays in this popular market segment, and at first blush, many of the vehicles seem strikingly similar. But once you dig into the data to see how they perform and how much their owners like them, significant differences emerge," states CR automotive analysts.
Using data from their exclusive Annual Auto Surveys, they ranked the models listed below based on their predicted reliability scores and road test analyses. This includes models that possess the latest modern safety features smart consumers seek in their new car purchases.
That said, here is a summary of CR's latest report.
The BEST SUVs UNDER $30K TODAY
1. Subaru Crosstrek 2024
Price Range: $25,195 - $32,195
CR MPG: Overall 29 / City 20 / Hwy 41 mpg
Rated #1 of 11 Subcompact SUVs
Safety features: BSW and RCTW are not available on the base trim, but adding them as part of an options package on the Premium trim keeps the price under $30,000.
Predicted reliability rating: 99/100
2. Hyundai Tucson 2024
Price Range: $27,500 - $45,450
CR MPG: Overall 26 / City 18 / Hwy 35 mpg
Rated #8 of 32 Compact SUVs
Safety features: The 2025 Tucson gets standard AWD, and all safety features are standard.
Predicted reliability rating: 69/100
3. Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid 2024
Price Range: $28,220 - $31,405
CR MPG: Overall 41 / City 34 / Hwy 47 mpg
Rated #2 of 11 Subcompact SUVs
Safety features: AEB with pedestrian detection, AEB highway, BSW, and RCTW are standard.
Predicted reliability rating: 71/100
4. Honda HR-V 2024
Price Range: $24,600 - $30,200
CR MPG: Overall 27 / City 19 / Hwy 37 mpg
Rated #3 of 11 Subcompact SUVs
Safety features: BSW and RCTW are unavailable on the base LX but standard on the Sport.
Predicted reliability rating: 85/100
5. Kia Sportage 2025
Price Range: $27,190 - $44,190
CR MPG: Overall 25 / City 17 / Hwy 34 mpg
Rated #20 of 32 Compact SUVs
Safety features: The 2025 Sportage has AWD and all key safety features as standard equipment.
Predicted reliability rating: 60/100
6. Chevrolet Equinox 2024
Price Range: $26,600 - $33,400
CR MPG: Overall 25 / City 17 / Hwy 34 mpg
Rated #23 of 32 Compact SUVs
Safety features: BSW and RCTW are optional, but thanks to incentives on the outgoing 2024 model, adding them to the LS trim keeps the SUV under $30,000. A redesigned 2025 model arrives later this year.
Predicted reliability rating: 56/100
7. Nissan Rogue 2024
Price Range: $28,850 - $40,630
CR MPG: Overall 25 / City 17 / Hwy 34 mpg
#25 of 32 Compact SUVs
Rated #23 of 32 Compact SUVs
Safety features: The base S with front-wheel drive comes in at just under $30,000 with all key safety features standard. The AWD version is $630 over our threshold.
Predicted reliability rating: 44/100
8. Toyota Corolla Cross 2024
Price Range: $23,860 - $31,405
CR MPG: Overall 28 / City 21 / Hwy 35 mpg
Rated #4 of 11 Subcompact SUVs
Safety features: BSW and RCTW are unavailable on the base L trim, but they are standard on the other trims.
Predicted reliability rating: 71/100
9. Kia Seltos 2025
Price Range: $24,590 - $31,090
CR MPG: Overall 28 / City 20 / Hwy 35 mpg
Rated #5 of 11 Subcompact SUVs
Safety features: BSW and RCTW are unavailable on the base trim and standard on other trims.
Predicted reliability rating: 51/100
10. Mazda CX-30 2024
Price Range: $24,995 - $36,800
CR MPG: Overall 27 / City 18 / Hwy 37 mpg
Rated #7 of 11 Subcompact SUVs
Safety features: BSW is not available on the base LX trim.
Predicted reliability rating: 66/100
For additional articles related to new car shopping, here are a few useful ones for your consideration.
- Top 5 Best Trucks to Buy for Reliability and Value in 2025
- 10 Cheap Cars That Consumer Reports Recommends for August 2024
- Car Dealer Scams Customer with a $120,000 KIA
Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWritesfor daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.
COMING UP NEXT: 10 Cars, SUVs, and Trucks That Are Less Safe That Includes One Toyota Model
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