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Here Are the 10 Cheapest New SUVs You Can Buy Right Now

Editors
9/17/2023
Here Are the 10 Cheapest New SUVs You Can Buy Right Now
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Automakers have been rushing to fill their lineups with SUVs, and the subcompact SUV class has grown considerably as a result. Even though most subcompact SUVs don’t have much more passenger space than your typical small car — and many of them have even less cargo space — they do have the higher seating position, a more rugged look and available all-wheel drive, features many shoppers want at a relatively affordable price.

Related: Here Are the 10 Cheapest New Cars You Can Buy Right Now

So perhaps it’s not surprising that all 10 of the models in our cheap SUV list are subcompacts. They’re ordered by base price, from least to most expensive, and all prices include the SUV’s destination charge, but not any cash incentives or taxes. Prices and EPA combined fuel-economy estimates are for front-wheel-drive versions of all the SUVs except the Kia Seltos, Mazda CX-30, Mitsubishi Outlander Sport and Subaru Crosstrek, which come with standard AWD. All prices also include an automatic transmission.

Affordable subcompacts like the Nissan Kicks and Hyundai Venue may look like other subcompact SUVs and are marketed as such, but they don’t offer AWD, whose availability we required to make this list. (You can find the Venue on our companion list, the 10 Cheapest Cars You Can Buy Right Now.) Adding AWD to most of the SUVs below costs around $1,500-$2,000.

To help with your search for a cheap SUV, we rounded up the 10 least expensive new cars as of October 2023.

Cheapest New SUVs

1. 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer LS: $23,395
2. 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross L: $24,960
3. 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport S: $25,300
4. 2024 Volkswagen Taos S: $25,345
5. 2024 Honda HR-V LX: $25,425
6. 2024 Hyundai Kona SE: $25,435
7. 2024 Kia Seltos LX: $25,715
8. 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Base: $26,290
9. 2024 Mazda CX-30 S: $26,370
10. 2024 Buick Encore GX Preferred: $26,895

1. 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer LS

Price: $23,395 (including $1,295 destination)
Combined fuel economy: 30 mpg

2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer | photo by Christian Lantry

Introduced in 2021, the Chevrolet Trailblazer subcompact SUV is powered by a 137-horsepower, turbocharged 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine and comes with standard FWD and a continuously variable automatic transmission or available AWD and a nine-speed automatic. The Trailblazer also comes standard with useful tech features like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity and important active-safety features including automatic emergency braking and lane departure warning with steering assist.

Shop the 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer near you

New
2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer LS
$22,895 $500 price drop
New
2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer LT
$25,190 MSRP $26,190

2. 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross L

Price: $24,960 ($1,350 destination)
Combined fuel economy: 32 mpg

toyota-corolla-cross-hybrid-s-2023-07-exterior-profile 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross | photo by Christian Lantry

Introduced in 2022, the Toyota Corolla Cross slots below the larger RAV4 in the automaker’s SUV lineup. As its name implies, the Corolla Cross shares a platform and powertrain with the popular Corolla compact car. That powertrain — a 169-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and CVT — is rated at 32 mpg combined with the base Corolla Cross L’s standard FWD. An 8-inch touchscreen display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity comes standard on the base L, as do advanced safety features like forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control. We like the Corolla Cross’ standard features and available AWD, but power is modest for both city and highway driving.

Shop the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross near you

New
2023 Toyota Corolla Cross LE
$29,498 MSRP $29,498
New
2023 Toyota Corolla Cross LE
$29,689

3. 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport S

Price: $25,300 ($1,445 destination)
Combined fuel economy: 27 mpg

mitsubishi-outlander-sport-2022-exterior-action-oem 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport | Manufacturer image

With a design that dates back to the 2011 model year, the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport was one of the early subcompact SUVs on that market, and it remains one of the most affordable. Mitsubishi has updated the SUV over the years, but it’s showing its age with a dated interior and unrefined drivability. Under the hood of the base S model is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, which makes 148 hp and is paired with a CVT. AWD now comes standard across all trims. The S features a 7-inch center touchscreen, while a larger 8-inch display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto requires upgrading to higher trims. Standard safety features like automatic high beams, lane departure warning and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection can be found across all variants.

Shop the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport near you

New
2023 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport ES
$24,907 MSRP $26,585
New
2023 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport 2.0 ES
$25,270 MSRP $27,770

4. 2024 Volkswagen Taos S

Price: $25,345 ($1,350 destination)
Combined fuel economy: 31 mpg

volkswagen-taos-1.5t-se-2023-03-exterior-front-angle 2023 Volkswagen Taos | photo by Christian Lantry

Like the Corolla Cross, the Volkswagen Taos was newly introduced in 2022. VW’s smallest SUV is powered by a turbo 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 158 hp. With FWD, the engine is paired to a traditional eight-speed automatic and rated at 31 mpg combined; optional AWD swaps the eight-speed for a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. The base S trim gets a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen and lacks Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, which only comes standard on SE and higher trims. For 2023, the Taos adds standard forward collision warning with pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking to its base trim. For 2024, all trims get standard driver-assistance technology that was previously optional, as well as some new interior stitching. In addition, the base S trim adds automatic high beams, rain-sensing wipers and a heated leatherette-trimmed steering wheel; the SE variant gets dual-zone automatic climate control and a new SE Black Package.

Shop the 2024 Volkswagen Taos near you

New
2024 Volkswagen Taos 1.5T S
$27,501
New
2024 Volkswagen Taos 1.5T SE
$31,386 $1,073 price drop

5. 2024 Honda HR-V LX

Price: $25,425 ($1,325 destination)
Combined fuel economy: 28 mpg (2023 model)

honda-hr-v-2023-01-exterior-front-angle 2023 Honda HR-V | photo by Christian Lantry

Redesigned for 2023, the new HR-V sports a longer and wider exterior, a more powerful engine and improved safety tech. Aside from a small price bump, the 2024 HR-V carries over unchanged. The standard powertrain is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 158 hp (up from 141 horses in the previous generation) and is mated with a CVT. The power increase comes with a fuel efficiency trade-off, however, knocking the SUV’s EPA-rated combined mpg from 30 to 28 for FWD models. Standard on the base LX is a 7-inch center touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The Honda Sensing system expands to all trims including the L, adding a front wide-view camera, traffic jam assist and traffic sign recognition to previously available features like forward collision warning with pedestrian detection and brake assist, lane departure warning and lane departure steering assist.

Shop the 2024 Honda HR-V near you

New
2024 Honda HR-V Sport
$27,980
New
2024 Honda HR-V Sport
$28,030

6. 2024 Hyundai Kona SE

Price: $25,435 ($1,335 destination)
Combined fuel economy: 31 mpg

hyundai-kona-2024-40-exterior-front-angle 2024 Hyundai Kona | photo by Jonathan Earley

Hyundai refreshed the Kona for 2024 with updated styling, more room and improved technology. Three powertrains are available: two gas-powered engines and an all-electric version. The base SE once again gets a 147-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a CVT; it has a 31 mpg combined fuel economy rating. The sportier N Line and uplevel Limited use a 190-hp, turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder paired with an eight-speed automatic; it’s good for a 28 mpg combined rating. The front-drive-only Kona Electric variant is slated to launch later in the model year. Two battery sizes will be available for the all-electric SUV, and Hyundai says to expect a driving range between 197 and 260 miles, depending on equipment; official EPA estimates are not yet available.

Shop the 2024 Hyundai Kona near you

New
2024 Hyundai Kona N Line
$32,084 $350 price drop
Hot Car
New
2024 Hyundai Kona SEL
$29,210 MSRP $29,970
Hot Car

7. 2024 Kia Seltos LX

Price: $25,715 ($1,325 destination)
Combined fuel economy: 31 mpg

kia-seltos-sx-turbo-awd-2024-07-exterior-rear-angle 2024 Kia Seltos | photo by Christian Lantry

The Kia Seltos is one of four SUVs on this list that makes AWD standard on the base LX trim; the next-higher S trim, curiously, has standard FWD and optional AWD. The Seltos LX is powered by a 147-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that works with a CVT. The base model’s long list of standard features includes 17-inch alloy wheels and an 8-inch touchscreen multimedia system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Following a refresh for 2024, the Seltos gets updated front-end styling and enhanced safety and tech features like blind spot collision warning, a speed limit assist and warning system, and enhanced forward collision avoidance assist.

Shop the 2024 Kia Seltos near you

New
2024 Kia Seltos S
$27,913 MSRP $28,385
Hot Car
New
2024 Kia Seltos S
$27,836 MSRP $28,340

8. 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Base

Price: $26,290 ($1,295 destination)
Combined fuel economy: 29 mpg

subaru-crosstrek-premium-2024-03-exterior-front-angle 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Premium | photo by Aaron Bragman

The redesigned 2024 Subaru Crosstrek brings a performance boost, plus interior and tech upgrades, yet the subcompact SUV’s starting price is nearly unchanged from the outgoing model’s. The base Crosstrek is powered by a 152-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder that comes with a standard CVT and AWD. Inside, dual 7-inch touchscreens replace the smaller 6.5-inch unit in the 2023 model. The subcompact SUV’s value is further enhanced thanks to the latest version of Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assist suite, which has been updated for smoother operations and a wider field of view.