I am presenting you 5 Affordable SUVs worth considering from a crazy, overfilled segment with more contenders than we can count. With the SUVs taking over the market at an unprecedented pace, I am pressed to find nice affordable SUVs you should actually consider before your next purchase.

No, I did not focus only on the cheapest, smallest or the best equipped - I actually tried to find some balance between the size, image, power output, and price. What I’ve found out is that quite a lot of rather formidable SUVs fall in the price category between $25,000 and $30,000. I picked out five of the SUVs that will be fast enough, that won’t break the bank, that have enough room inside, yet aren’t oddballs.

True, nothing surprising is on the list, but that may be just a sign that these five vehicles simply tick the most boxes of interest when it comes to new SUVs.

2019 Kia Sorento - $25,990

Yes, I did put two Korean cars on the list and that for a good reason. Both of them are quite similar in their execution and offer a whole lot of gear for a reasonable price. The first one is the latest Kia Sorento which starts at $25,990. Kia markets the 2019 Sorento as the “HIGHEST RANKED MIDSIZE SUV IN INITIAL QUALITY, 2 Years in a Row.” So, it appeared on this list for an obvious reason. It is a high-quality machine. Not only that, though. The SUV just received a nice makeover, and it fords through the new age fresh.

"In the highly-competitive crossover category, the Sorento is a clear example of how world-class design and craftsmanship are executed," said Orth Hedrick, Vice President, Product Planning, KMA. "Our popular utility now ups its game even further with enhancements in styling, packaging, and content, making it even more attractive to shoppers seeking a premium level 3-row SUV."

Apart from mating a 3.3-liter V-6 with a new 8-speed auto in its highest trim level, the new Kia Sorento is one of a few alluring three-row SUVs within this price point. Three rows are standard, as well as a 7-inch display with a comprehensive infotainment system that includes Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Add to this active safety features, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control System (TCS), Brake Assist System (BAS), Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), and Antilock Braking System (ABS). All of this comes as standard.

Engine available for the entry price point isn’t that punchy 3.3-liter V-6, but a 185 horsepower, 2,4-liter, I-4. Kia retuned a six-speed automatic for it as well. Front wheel drive is standard, but go for the V-6, and you can have it with 4WD and 5,000 pounds of towing capacity.

Read our full review on the 2019 Kia Sorento.

2019 Hyundai Santa Fe $25,000

Hyundai calls it the most tech-advanced SUV they have ever produced. The car was revealed only months ago, and it is already available in the U.S. for $25,000. Only in its five-seat version for now, though. The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe comes in seven different trim guises (SE, SEL, SEL Plus, Limited, Limited 2.0T, Ultimate, and Ultimate 2.0T), all of which are powered by a 2.4-liter, 185-horsepower engine. That's the same found in the entry-level Kia Sorento. However, the 2.0-liter, turbocharged engine with 235 horsepower is available for the current top-end model.

Even the entry-level version of the new Santa Fe comes with a 7-inch display that includes Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as well as a safety suit that includes Forward Collision Avoidance Assist, Blind-Spot system, and Rear-cross-traffic collision avoidance. Obviously, much the same safety tech as for the entry level Sorento. Nothing strange there as the cars share a lot of technology and all of the basic architecture.

As expected, Hyundai offers plenty of optional equipment for the latest Santa Fe. I'm talking about things like a high-end audio system, comprehensive infotainment system, as well as features like a Head-Up Display and wireless charging can garnish the cabin.

More importantly, Hyundai offers the next generation of the Htrac All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) system for the new Santa Fe. The new SUV is also noticeably larger than before and now measures 187 inches in length and 74 inches in width. All that with a longer wheelbase. Something all five occupants of the new Santa Fe will definitely enjoy the most.

For the new generation, the five-seater is called the Santa Fe, while the upcoming seven-seater will bear the name of the Santa Fe XL.

Read our full review on the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe.

2019 Toyota RAV4 $24,660

This one is a no-brainer. As one of the most popular compact SUVs, the latest Toyota RAV4 actually managed to continue the legacy of its predecessors, but also offer a bit more upscale styling, more room inside the cabin and a slightly changed character. While the new car most certainly takes crossover dogma to a whole new styling level that even tackles the surface of what one may call off-road, the new RAV4 is actually the perfect asphalt lover. The new Multilink with a different suspension setup makes it considerably more capable on roads. Some would say that its driving characteristics are as close to cars as possible for a Crossover.

Although we are still waiting for this car to hit the market in winter of 2018, Toyota revealed that the 2019 Toyota RAV4 will be powered by a Dynamic Force, 2.5-liter, four-cylinder with an 8-speed automatic. The other offering is a Dynamic Force 2.5-liter four-cylinder with electric assistance. The hybrid obviously offers a bit more power, but we still don’t know how much.

As I was saying earlier, Toyota really managed to give the RAV4 a more rugged look, as well as more engaging Off-Road capabilities with available Multi-Terrain Select and Dynamic Torque Vectoring All-Wheel Drive with Rear Driveline Disconnect.

Inside the cabin, Toyota took a whole new approach to the design giving the RAV4 a much more upscale look with a dominant 8-inch central screen (standard) and impressive design of the central stalk. Apart from lesser versions which are yet to be announced, the RAV4 will come in Limited, XSE HV, or Adventure trim. These three different guises of the RAV4 give the car three different allures and show that Toyota aims to offer far more personalization options than before.

Read our full review on the 2019 Toyota RAV4.

2019 Nissan Rogue $24,800

It may not be the most appealing in terms of looks, or in terms of tech, but the Nissan Rogue is simply a perfectly suited SUV that's powered by a 2.4-liter, naturally aspirated engine with 170 horsepower. It is also one of the least expensive offerings on the list, but don’t think for a second that it does not feature numerous advanced features. Its AWD system is actually Intelligent All-Wheel Drive which adapts to changing conditions in a matter of milliseconds. As expected, the safety suit is quite comprehensive and includes hill start assist, active ride control, intelligent engine brake, and more.

While the entry-level Rogue S offers a multitude of interesting equipment, the truth is that the best gear starts with the SV or SL versions. These offer a 7-inch infotainment display, Bose audio system, Around View Monitor (AVM) with Moving Object Detection (MOD). Safety features are listed in higher grade models as well with some of them getting Nissan Safety Shield technologies. This includes Blind Spot Warning, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert, as well as Lane Departure Warning and Lane Departure Prevention.

Read our full review on the 2019 Nissan Rogue.

2019 GMC Terrain $25,000

Finally, an American car on the list and it is a GM baby called the GMC Terrain.

"GMC's strong growth over the past decade is due in large part to Terrain," said Duncan Aldred, Vice President of Global GMC Sales and Marketing. "The all-new Terrain builds on that success, leveraging GMC's proven premium SUV experience to shake up the largest vehicle segment, with a strong blend of design, functionality and engineering excellence."

The new Terrain actually surfaced in May 2017 and is already becoming popular among SUV admirers.

Engine options for a car like this include small 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter turbocharged engines, both of which are kinda small for a car that sports 19-inch wheels in some cases. Nevertheless, the GMC Terrain is a compact crossover based around much the same basis as the Envision or the Equinox. This means it received fine infotainment GM gear, Apple Carplay, and Android Auto. Pay enough and you can get a small diesel drive system.

Read our full review on the 2019 GMC Terrain.