You don’t have to be a car aficionado to know that cars are getting progressively more expensive — and at a rapid rate. For example, TopSpeed once had a list of the 10 best SUVs under $20,000 in 2018, and just five years later, only two 2023 SUVs, the Hyundai Venue and Kia Soul, can even meet the threshold of a starting MSRP under $20,000.
Though it takes more dough to get into a new SUV compared to a few years ago, there are still plenty of good models in the segment that ring in at under $25,000. And though SUVs are getting more expensive, they are also increasingly packed with desirable features, and safety equipment, and are growing in size.
Although the following models are all subcompact offerings, many still offer the practicality to make them suitable, for small daily drivers or haulers of small families that don’t break the bank. Buying a new SUV may not be as cheap as it once was, but these models show there’s still hope for those who have a limited budget and want a 2023 model on their driveway.
It should be noted, the following prices listed include destination charges.
9 2023 Hyundai Venue: $20,985
The Hyundai Venue may sport a strange moniker, but the boxy subcompact makes up for its odd nameplate with its ultra-low MSRP and plenty of practicality in a small package. The Venue starts at just under $21,000, and even the top-of-the-range Limited trim rings it at under $25,000. For the top trim, you get 17-inch wheels, heated front seats, wireless charging, navigation, and an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity.
The Venue’s high greenhouse provides ample space for passengers, and its cargo area will swallow up 19 cubic feet of stuff. Hyundai’s smallest SUV certainly isn’t for enthusiasts with its four-cylinder engine putting out just 121 horsepower and paired to a continuously variable transmission (CVT). But for those who place a higher value on pragmaticism, features, and a low asking price, the Venue is certainly an attractive option.
8 2023 Kia Soul: $21,215
The Kia Soul may no longer ring in at under $20,000, but the quirky little hatchback still delivers plenty of practicality, features, and uniqueness to cement the model as a legitimate value option. The Soul has been refreshed for 2023, and as such, it wears a new grille and other styling cues without losing its Hamster-dance-inducing funkiness. The base Soul starts at over $21,000 with four trims available, and only the top trim, EX, surpasses the $25,000 mark — and only by $515.
All models are now powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine offering 147 horsepower and paired with a CVT. In addition to unique options like colorful interior colors or two-tone exterior paint, the Soul comes well equipped with safety features, all but the base trim are fitted with a 10.3-inch touchscreen with SiriusXM Radio, navigation, and wireless charging. Its boxy styling also gives it ample passenger space while it accommodates up to 24 cubic feet of cargo behind the rear seats.
7 2023 Nissan Kicks: $21,775
Nissan has become synonymous with providing a value option in the segments in which it competes, and the Kicks furthers that M.O. among subcompact SUVs. The Kicks, which is a carryover model, is offered in three trims ranging from $21,775 to $24,335. No matter the trim, the Kicks come with a sizeable list of standard features. Base models feature a seven-inch touchscreen, automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and lane-departure warning while mid- and top-spec models adds a long list of added amenities.
The Kicks’ small footprint doesn’t equal cramped accommodations for passengers or stuff as most adults need to be shoehorned into the rear seats and the cargo area is a commodious 25 cubic feet behind the rear seats. The Kicks is also economical at the pumps, offering 33 combined mpg from its 122-horsepower inline-four paired with a CVT.
6 2024 Chevrolet Trax: $21,495
As of this writing, the 2024 Chevy Trax hasn’t yet hit the streets, but the model should be on the radar for bargain hunters. The prior Trax was about as exciting as an unsalted, boiled potato, but the upcoming new model is bigger, far more attractive, and comes with a nice list of standard features. The mid-range LT model, which starts under $24,400, includes an 11.0-inch touchscreen, remote start, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, while all models get driver’s aids in the form of automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and lane-keep assist.
The ’24 Trax’s larger overall footprint also leads to more rear legroom, and cargo capacity now stands at a notable 25.6 cubic feet. The new Trax will be powered exclusively by a turbocharged three-cylinder engine from the Trailblazer that puts out 137 horsepower. All models are front-wheel drive.
5 2023 Hyundai Kona: $23,475
Another Hyundai joins out list, and though it cost several thousands more than the Venue, the Kona sports a far more stylish appearance and, though it’s not quick, a more engaging drive. The standard Kona (a powerful N version and all-electric model are also available) only meets our $25,000 threshold in its base, SE, trim, but the well-equipped SEL is just over the mark at $25,285.
The Hyundai Kona comes standard with features like an eight-inch touchscreen, three USB outlets, a color driver’s information display, and keyless entry. The Kona’s long list of standard safety features includes blind-spot collision avoidance assist, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and lane-keep assist.The Kona’s 147-horsepower four-cylinder and six-speed automatic transmission don’t make for the liveliest of powertrains, but the Kona feels athletic in the corners without being stiff on highway jaunts.
4 2023 Mazda CX-30: $24,225
Only the base Mazda CX-30 rings in at under $25K, but the CX-30 should absolutely be on the short list for bargain hunters who are also enthusiasts. That’s because the Mazda provides the kind of driving pleasure found nowhere else in the bargain SUV segment. The CX-30 has a wealth of power against the other models on this list, 191 horsepower from a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, to be exact, and it pairs with a six-speed automatic.
On top of its notable power, the CX-30 is fantastically communicative with quick and accurate steering and predictable body motion that gives it supreme athleticism in its segment that’s a joy to drive. The base CX-30 may not be as practical as the other cars on this list — it can store 20 cubic feet behind the rear row, but passengers are left wanting for more space — but it comes with an upmarket interior, a respectable list of standard features, and handsome styling throughout.
3 2023 Kia Seltos: $24,665
The 2023 Kia Seltos isn’t the most fun-to-drive, or well-equipped model on this list, but it’s still an attractive option overall for under $25K, and to boot, it’s attractive to behold. The base Kia Seltos is motivated by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder cranking out 146 horsepower bolted to a CVT, but what sets it apart is that it’s standard with all-wheel drive, which isn’t even an available option for many SUVs under $25,000.
The Seltos is also among the most spacious bargain SUVs with an available 27 cubic feet of cargo space. In keeping with the typical Kia, the Seltos also comes with a respectable list of standard driver’s aids, though there are some desirable features locked away into trims that surpass the $25,000 mark.
2 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross: $24,395
Stick the Corolla name on just about any model and it’s bound to sell, and perhaps that’s the strategy Toyota took when introducing the Corolla Cross in 2022. Consider the crossover Corolla as the more spacious version of the sedan that is still underpinned by it. The base Cross, the only model to come in under $25K, features the same 2.0-liter, 169-horsepower four-cylinder from the Corolla sedan and essentially the same interior, just with more room to stretch.
The Corolla Cross’s cargo area accommodates 24 cubic feet of stuff with adequate passenger space in both rows. As standard, the Corolla Cross receives a suite of driver’s aids like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. Other amenities include a 4.2-inch information screen, and a seven-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto/Amazon Alexa and SiriusXM connectivity.
1 2023 Honda HR-V - $25,095
Okay, so we are breaking our own rule here with the HR-V starting at $25,095 with destination, but when you are dishing out $25,000 what’s one more note adorned with Benjamin Franklin’s mug? The HR-V has been completely redesigned for 2023, and the subcompact now sports a less traditional front fascia and a slightly more boxy, rugged overall design. It’s also wider and longer, and sports a new independent rear suspension and a more modern cabin.
The Honda HR-V shares its platform with the Civic, and that extends to its engine — a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that offers 158 horsepower to the front wheels and is mated to a CVT. As such, the 2023 HR-V is also more agile in corners. The HR-V has lost Honda’s “Magic Seat” second row, but the updated model now offers a sizeable 24 cubic-feet of cargo space.