Looking for an affordable SUV in 2025? You’re not alone. With rising vehicle prices, finding an SUV under $30,000 that doesn’t skimp on features can feel like a challenge. But even in the era of rising car prices, there are still plenty of budget-friendly options out there. Whether you’re searching for a family-friendly crossover or a compact SUV perfect for city living, this guide highlights the best SUVs for 2025 that keep affordability front and center.
Here’s a look at every crossover and SUV under $30,000 in 2025.
2025 Hyundai Venue
Base Price + Destination Fees: $21,395 – $24,645
Value: In 2025, the Hyundai Venue is the cheapest SUV on sale in America. The Venue offers an exceptional value for budget-conscious buyers looking for a practical subcompact SUV that comes loaded with modern tech.
What Drivers Like: Drivers love the compact size for city driving, while the impressive standard features like an 8-inch touchscreen and advanced safety tech make it a well-rounded choice.
Compare Hyundai Venue Cost of Ownership
2025 Kia Soul
Base Price + Destination Fees: $21,665 – $26,965
Value: The Kia Soul stands out with its quirky design, flexible interior, and shockingly low price point. It’s perfect for drivers who prefer a car with character. However, it’s lacking the cargo space of larger crossovers on this list.
What Drivers Like: Its unique styling, user-friendly tech features, and fun driving dynamics make it a favorite among young drivers and bargain hunters alike.
Compare Kia Soul Cost of Ownership
2025 Nissan Kicks Play
Base Price + Destination Fees: $22,910
Value: With the arrival of the fully redesigned Kicks for 2025, Nissan is keeping the previous generation Kicks in the lineup as a cheaper alternative, the 2025 Nissan Kicks Play. It’s compact, cheap, and offers great fuel economy for well under $25,000.
What Drivers Like: Most of all, drivers love the price. Time and time again, car buyers have lamented the shift to premium cars, and the premium prices that come with it. Budget-friendly automakers like Nissan have been steadily increasing prices, but the cheaper version of the Kicks is sticking around as an affordable subcompact SUV for now.
Learn more about the Nissan Kicks Play
2025 Nissan Kicks
Base Price + Destination Fees: $23,220 – $29,070
Value: The Nissan Kicks is fully redesigned for 2025. With better looks and all-wheel drive joining the lineup, a lot more shoppers will be test-driving the Kicks. But it’s not just about aesthetics. The 2025 Kicks is larger with 1.7 inches more front shoulder room, 1.9 inches more rear shoulder room, and 0.9 inches more knee room in the back. Ground clearance rises from 7 inches to 8.4, making this a better fit for snowy climates.
What Drivers Like: Drivers appreciate the 2025 Kicks for its modern design, roomy interior, affordable all-wheel drive, and most of all, the low price.
Compare Nissan Kicks Cost of Ownership
2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Base Price + Destination Fees: $24,395 – $30,595
Value: Looking for something more than the Chevy Trax, but hoping to stay under $30,000? The Trailblazer offers a blend of sporty styling and practicality, with plenty of tech and safety features. The main advantage of the Trailblazer is that it’s available with all-wheel drive for under $30,000.
What Drivers Like: Its more powerful engine option, all-wheel drive, and value-packed low price are top attractions.
Compare Chevrolet Trailblazer Cost of Ownership
2025 Buick Envista
Base Price + Destination Fees: $24,795 – $29,695
Value: Buick’s Envista brings upscale comfort and refinement to the entry-level SUV segment. As a replacement for the less exciting Encore, Buick’s new base model is great for around town, but lacks the acceleration for regular highway driving.
What Drivers Like: Drivers enjoy its quiet cabin, smooth handling, and attractive exterior styling at an affordable price.
See Buick Envista Listings Near You
2025 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
Base Price + Destination Fees: $25,365 – $30,380
Value: The Outlander Sport is a dependable choice for those who value affordability and versatility. However, it hasn’t changed much at all in the past decade. If you’re nostalgic for the early 2010s for some reason, this could be worth a test drive.
What Drivers Like: Its rugged design, high ground clearance (8.4 inches), and optional all-wheel drive make it a solid pick for some drivers.
Compare Mitsubishi Outlander Cost of Ownership
2025 Toyota Corolla Cross
Base Price + Destination Fees: $25,385 – $32,930
Value: Toyota’s renowned reliability is at the heart of the Corolla Cross, which also features excellent fuel efficiency and a comfortable ride. However, many drivers say it performs like an appliance, and lacks the more lively character of competitors.
What Drivers Like: Buyers appreciate its roomy interior, proven reliability, and impressive resale value.
See Toyota Corolla Cross Listings Near You
2025 Kia Seltos
Base Price + Destination Fees: $25,695 – $32,465
Value: The Kia Seltos combines eye-catching design, a spacious interior, and advanced technology in a compact SUV that costs well under $30,000.
What Drivers Like: Drivers love its responsive handling, customizable driving modes, and premium-feeling cabin. Like it’s sibling the Kia Soul, the Seltos offers a lot for the price.
See Kia Seltos Listings Near You
2025 Hyundai Kona
Base Price + Destination Fees: $25,747 – $33,295
Value: The refreshed Hyundai Kona offers a sporty drive (with the available 190-hp turbocharged option) and loads of standard features for its price.
What Drivers Like: Its bold design, high-tech cabin, and lively performance make it a favorite for urban commuters shopping the cheapest SUVs under $30K.
Compare Hyundai Kona Cost of Ownership
2025 Mazda CX-30
Base Price + Destination Fees: $26,415 – $38,370
Value: The Mazda CX-30 delivers luxury-like refinement and sporty handling at an affordable price point. Plus, Mazda routinely brings low-APR financing deals to the CX-30.
What Drivers Like: Drivers rave about its premium interior, agile performance, and advanced driver-assistance features. It’s among the most luxurious SUVs on sale for under $30,000 in 2025.
Compare Mazda CX-30 Cost of Ownership
2025 Volkswagen Taos
Base Price + Destination Fees: $26,420 – $36,120
Value: Featuring updated looks for 2025, the Taos now comes with a much-needed engine upgrade. The VW Taos combines European styling with practicality, all for around $30K.
What Drivers Like: Its spacious rear seats, intuitive tech, and smooth ride are major highlights. All-wheel drive is an option!
See Volkswagen Taos Listings Near You
2025 Honda HR-V
Base Price + Destination Fees: $26,750 – $30,850
Value: The Honda HR-V offers a blend of reliability, efficiency, and practicality. Better yet, it’s expected to maintain decent resale value for years to come. We give it a rare A+ CarEdge Value Rating.
What Drivers Like: Buyers love its roomy interior, excellent fuel economy, and Honda’s reputation for making reliable cars.
Compare Honda HR-V Cost of Ownership
2025 Subaru Crosstrek
Base Price + Destination Fees: $27,115 – $33,915
Value: Standard all-wheel drive and rugged capability make the Crosstrek a standout in the compact SUV market. However, it’s easy to spec the Crosstrek above the $30,000 mark.
What Drivers Like: Adventurers appreciate its off-road and all-weather readiness, ground clearance, spacious interior, and great resale value.
Compare Subaru Crosstrek Cost of Ownership
2025 Buick Encore GX
Base Price + Destination Fees: $27,295 – $34,395
Value: The Encore GX brings a premium feel to the compact SUV category with upscale features and a quiet ride. The Encore GX is much more feature-packed than the previous generation Encore. However, the Encore GX is lacking acceleration for the highway.
What Drivers Like: Drivers enjoy its refined interior, smooth handling, and impressive fuel economy in a compact SUV starting under $30,000.
See Buick Encore GX Listings Near You
2025 Jeep Compass
Base Price + Destination Fees: $27,495 – $33,990
Value: The Jeep Compass combines off-road capability with a stylish and comfortable interior. However, don’t expect an engaging driving experience.
What Drivers Like: Buyers appreciate its trail-ready features, optional 4×4, and rugged styling.
Compare Jeep Compass Cost of Ownership
2025 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
Base Price + Destination Fees: $28,255 – $33,450
Value: The 2025 Eclipse Cross is an affordable SUV, but has nothing in common with the Eclipse sports car of yesterday besides inheriting the legendary name. But for those looking for standard all-wheel drive for around $30,000, the Eclipse Cross is worth the test drive.
What Drivers Like: All-wheel drive, spacious interior, affordability, and off-road capability are loved by fans of this Mitsubishi crossover.
Compare Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Cost of Ownership
2025 Kia Niro
Base Price + Destination Fees: $28,365 – $42,165
Value: For 2025, the Niro comes standard with a hybrid powertrain, providing fuel savings for all. There are also fully-electric and plug-in hybrid options.
What Drivers Like: The Niro is thoroughly modern inside and out, and much improved from the previous generation of the Niro. Fuel efficiency is a big plus.
Compare Kia Niro Cost of Ownership
2025 Kia Sportage
Base Price + Destination Fees: $28,565 – $39,465
Value: The Kia Sportage is due for a major facelift in 2026, something that can be to the advantage of buyers looking to negotiate in 2025. Although lacking in power, the Sportage is well-equipped with infotainment and safety features.
What Drivers Like: Modern looks are complimented by a 12-inch infotainment screen, wireless smartphone charging, and heated front seats in the EX trim and up.
Compare Kia Sportage Cost of Ownership
2025 Ford Escape
Base Price + Destination Fees: $29,645 – $39,605
Value: The Ford Escape is the cheapest Ford SUV on sale in 2025. It covers all the bases for drivers looking for a commuter car (or crossover), but it’s not the best at anything. Unfortunately, it will be discontinued later this year following 20 years in the Ford lineup.
See the cars, trucks, and SUVs being discontinued in 2025
What Drivers Like: Affordable transportation in crossover form, with intuitive infotainment and decent fuel economy.
Compare Ford Escape Cost of Ownership
2025 Mazda CX-5
Base Price + Destination Fees: $29,990 – $42,020
Value: The craziest thing about the Mazda CX-5 is that it’s still great, even after 7 years of production without a major refresh. All-wheel drive is standard, but fuel economy suffers as a result.
What Drivers Like: Affordable all-wheel drive, an engaging driving experience, and luxury-inspired interior are all loved.
Compare Mazda CX-5 Cost of Ownership
2025 Chevrolet Equinox
Base Price + Destination Fees: $29,995 – $34,395
Value: Redesigned for 2025, the Chevy Equinox is more value-packed than ever before. After big upgrades, the 2025 Equinox has more in common with the larger Traverse.
What Drivers Like: While a CVT engine is standard, those who opt for all-wheel drive get a more powerful eight-speed automatic. The 2025 Equinox’s updated looks are a major leap ahead as far as aesthetics go.
Compare Chevrolet Equinox Cost of Ownership
What’s the BEST SUV Under $30,000?
Why spend more when you can get a fully redesigned, well-equipped crossover for well under $25,000? All things considered, we’ve chosen the 2025 Nissan Kicks as the best SUV on sale in 2025 for under $30,000.
With a base MSRP of just $23,220 with required destination fees, the 2025 Kicks is loaded with value. Now with more power, better looks, and a modern interior, Nissan’s new darling is already a hot seller. For the first time ever, all-wheel drive is available. To top it off, the 2025 Nissan Kicks is larger than the previous generation in every way, adding nearly 2 inches of additional shoulder room in the rear, and an inch of additional leg room.
Perhaps automakers will see the success of the 2025 Nissan Kicks, and put more sub-$30K SUVs on the market in the near future.
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