- Used crossovers can be purchased for as little as $12,000, making them an affordable option.
- Luxury compacts and subcompacts cost more but offer impressive convenience and safety features.
- Newer models may still have a manufacturer’s warranty associated with them, giving you peace of mind.
Over the last couple of years, pandemic-related issues and chip shortages have made the vehicle market challenging for both buyers and sellers. Used vehicles are holding their value far better than they have in recent history. Additionally, manufacturing delays mean those who buy new have to wait a long time to get their hands on their vehicles.
Crossover SUVs are rugged, reliable and powerful vehicles that are still fun to drive. This article highlights some bargain options available in the used crossover market, catering to all tastes and interests. Whether you’re looking for a subcompact or something that looks and feels closer to a full-size SUV, you have some choices.
What Is a Crossover?
Crossovers are similar to SUVs in look and feel. However, instead of the body-on-frame construction of an SUV, a crossover has a unibody construction more like that of a sedan. Crossovers have spacious interiors, offer a higher driving position than most cars, and have impressive towing capacity.
They’re designed with versatility in mind, being agile enough for city driving but still offering stability, traction, and power when heading off-road. This makes them a good compromise if you live in a city but want to be able to take camping trips. Of if you just need to transport sports equipment for family outings.
ShutterstockWhy Buy a Crossover?
Crossovers offer several advantages over SUVs. The main advantage is their fuel economy. Because they’re slightly smaller and lighter, you get greater gas mileage out of them. Hybrid crossovers can be even more economical for those who spend most of their time primarily driving in cities.
Another advantage of crossovers is safety. Compared to a standard sedan, crossovers are bigger and more robust and often have better driver assistance features as well as AWD, improved suspension and traction control. If you’re the sort of person who likes mountain trips or camping but you’re not a confident driver, a crossover can offer the handling and smooth riding experience you need for those trips.
ShutterstockUsed vs. New Crossovers
It’s hard to beat that “shiny new car” feeling. However, a brand-new crossover depreciates rapidly in value in the first couple of years of ownership. If you finance your new vehicle and pay for it over several years, the thrill of the vehicle being new wears off long before your car payments end.
Buying a used crossover can be much more economical than buying one new. You can save thousands on the cost of a brand-new crossover and still get something with a luxurious interior, good performance, and an impressive array of driver aids. It’s likely to hold its value better, too.
ShutterstockThe Best Used Crossovers for 2022
We compiled a list of some of the best used crossover SUVs on the market today. These vehicles offer good value for the money, while giving you the performance and power you need for towing small or medium-sized trailers or traversing difficult terrain.
This list includes older crossovers from Honda, Toyota, GMC, Kia, Mazda, and Hyundai. The crossovers are presented in no particular order, with each having its own clear pros and cons. Consider each one and test drive any that interest you to ensure they’re a good fit for your family and use case.
Shutterstock1. Honda CR-V
The Honda CR-V is a compact SUV with a luxurious interior and a good safety record. The 2010 model is incredibly affordably priced and can be acquired for less than $10,000. Honda’s reputation for reliability means that even older models can be a good bet, if they’ve been well maintained.
Experienced drivers who are confident in doing basic maintenance themselves are likely to find the CR-V easy to look after and a joy to drive. The engine is less powerful than those on some rival models, but this can be considered a plus in some ways. It means used models are more likely to have been owned by families than by off-road racers.
Source: Mazda2. Toyota RAV4
Toyota offers a generous warranty that covers used vehicles up to a certain age, as long as they’ve been serviced at a Toyota dealership. That makes a Toyota RAV4 from any recent year a decent option, if they’re in good condition.
Models from 2012 and newer offer well-equipped interiors and good fuel economy for this class of vehicles. The 2012 model is available for around $12,740. If you can find one that’s been well-maintained, you can expect it to give you many years of pleasurable driving. This crossover is equipped with good driver safety aids and offers a smooth ride even in relatively difficult conditions.
Source: Toyota3. GMC Terrain
The 2015 GMC Terrain has impressive towing capacity for a midsize crossover. It’s quite affordable too, averaging around $14,537. This makes it an appealing option for families looking for something that can tow a small caravan or a trailer for outdoor adventuring.
The Terrain offers decent fuel economy, with 32 mpg on highways. The 2.4-liter engine has some satisfying power to it. Interior features include a built-in WiFi hotspot and climate control features.
The GMC Terrain isn’t a great off-roader, though. It can handle poor weather but struggles on more difficult terrain. That makes it more of a robust daily driver than an adventure vehicle.
Source: GMC4. Kia Sportage
Kia’s 2013 Sportage is a compact SUV with a 260-HP turbocharged engine. It offers a good compromise between the high ride height and off-road capabilities of an SUV and the sporty handling of smaller vehicles. That compromise comes at the cost of interior space and smoothness on the road. The Sportage can handle difficult terrain, but it feels bone-jarring compared to some other options on this list.
With an average price of just $11,990, however, it’s hard to complain about what the Sportage has to offer. It’s a fun little compact that feels like an noticeable upgrade from a sedan.
Source: Kia5. Mazda CX-5
The 2014 Mazda CX-4 offers an impressive 35 mpg, making it one of the most economical crossovers from that era. It’s decently powerful and fun to drive. It also boasts a spacious interior and lots of driver aids, including automatic braking systems for city driving. Prices for the 2014 model average around $13,033, which is an appealing price considering the high-tech features on offer.
One of the few downsides of this model is that the manual transmission version is limited to the basic FWD version, which is quite thin in terms of features. The automatic versions are well worth a look, however.
Source: Mazda6. Hyundai Tucson
Rounding out this list is the Hyundai Tucson. The 2016 Tucson is a little more expensive than other models on this list. However, the 2016 model marked the third generation of Tucsons, offering improved fuel economy and new driver safety aids. The 2016 Tucson is a challenger for the Honda CR-4 and RAV4, although the 1.6-liter engine is a little underwhelming.
You can find this crossover on the market for around $17,445. It’s worth considering, due to its impressive driver aids as well as Hyundai’s 10 year/100,000-mile warranty. A used Tucson may give you several years of stress-free driving, even if you’re buying used.
Source: TucsonWhat To Look For in a Used Crossover
When shopping for a crossover, consider your priorities.
- Do you want something that can tow a camper, boat, or a trailer full of bikes?
- Is interior seating space or luggage space a priority?
- Are there driver assistance features that you can’t live without?
- How often do you plan to use it in cities versus off-road?
Crossovers are quite diverse in terms of their size, configuration and features, so what works for one family may be a poor fit for another. That’s why it’s a good idea to take any vehicle you’re considering for a test drive before you commit to the purchase.
ShutterstockHow To Get a Good Deal on a Used Crossover
If you’ve identified your dream vehicle, take a look at dealerships in your area, and also look on AutoTrader, Facebook Marketplace, and local online classified websites to see if you can find that make, model and year on sale. When you find one, look at the mileage and condition of the vehicle, and do a full vehicle history check before you consider buying it.
Dealerships are working on thin margins, but there may be some room for negotiation, especially if you know the fair market value of the vehicle from Kelley Blue Book. Private sellers may be more ready to negotiate, especially if you’re able to make a cash purchase. Don’t become emotionally invested in the car, however. Be ready to walk away if there are any issues.
