The Cheapest SUVs of 2024

$25,795 | Overall Score: 6.6/10

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross gets good fuel economy, but it disappoints with below-average cargo space and a dated interior that can't match its rivals' tech-packed offerings.

The Cross comes with a 152-horsepower four-cylinder engine, which is adequate for most driving scenarios. At the same time, the continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) lets the engine wail under heavy throttle, which generates a ton of unnecessary noise.

The Eclipse Cross has a comfortable interior with ample seat support and bolstering. Space is plentiful in the front row, but the second-row seats could use more headroom. A 7-inch touch screen comes standard, but buyers need to step up to the larger 8-inch unit to get smartphone connectivity and the most desirable features.

$25,600 | Overall Score: 8.0/10

Buick gave the Encore GX a significant update for 2024, which gave it more refined styling and an impressive, tech-packed interior. The 137-horsepower base engine lacks power, but it delivers strong fuel economy and is relatively quiet in daily operation. Front-wheel drive comes standard, but all-wheel drive is available.

The GX has ample room for five people in one of the more spacious interiors in its class. Cloth upholstery comes standard, but synthetic leather upholstery is available. The easy-to-use infotainment system includes an 11-inch touch screen and an 8-inch digital gauge cluster.

$24,995 | Overall Score: 7.9/10

The Subaru Crosstrek gets a full redesign for 2024, and changes included more grown-up styling, a better interior and upgraded tech. With the 152-horsepower four-cylinder on board, the Crosstrek can feel sluggish at times, and the CVT causes the engine to whine loudly under heavy throttle.

The Crosstrek offers enough room for five people and comes standard with cloth upholstery. Subaru offers water-repellant upholstery and genuine leather in higher trims. There's ample space for front-seat passengers and the back seat can accommodate adults, though taller passengers may feel the pinch of limited legroom.

A dual-7-inch-touch-screen system comes standard, which can be clunky at times. The upgraded single 11.6-inch display works better but drives up the Crosstrek's affordable base price.

$24,155 | Overall Score: 8.1/10

The Taos is VW's newest crossover, bringing solid fuel economy and great interior space, despite its diminutive exterior dimensions. It comes with a 158-horsepower four-cylinder engine and either front- or all-wheel drive. It's let down by an unrefined eight-speed automatic transmission, but the Taos maintains a smooth ride in most driving situations.

Both rows of seats easily accommodate adults, though two people will be more comfortable in the back than the advertised three-person capacity. Even so, the Taos offers ample headroom in both rows, and installing car seats is easy thanks to conveniently located LATCH anchors. A small 6.5-inch touch screen comes standard, but it has niceties such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

$24,100 | Overall Score: 7.9/10

Honda redesigned the HR-V for 2023, giving it new styling, better tech and a smoother ride quality. It gets a 158-horsepower four-cylinder engine and either front- or all-wheel drive. Acceleration is decent, but the HR-V takes some time getting up to highway speeds.

The HR-V offers five seats, and the front buckets are reasonably spacious. The back seat isn't cavernous, but adults can ride without much complaint. A 7-inch touch screen and a 7-inch digital gauge cluster come standard, along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Honda's infotainment interface is improved over previous years, and it's made easier to use by physical buttons for volume and some other settings.

$23,060 | Overall Score: 7.7/10

The Toyota Corolla is one of the best-selling cars on Earth, so it's not surprising to see Toyota chasing that magic with a crossover. The Corolla Cross has a 169-horsepower four-cylinder engine and offers all-wheel drive. While the powertrain delivers impressive fuel economy, the engine is loud and unrefined at times, and the transmission feels surprised and is caught flat-footed at times.

The Corolla Cross' interior is well-built and comfortable, but there are more low-rent materials than expected. Toyota's updated infotainment software runs well on the standard 8-inch display, and the system offers a generous set of standard features including smartphone mirroring and Amazon Alexa functionality.

$23,340 | Overall Score: 8.3/10

The Seltos offers a roomy interior with lots of cargo space and a long list of standard features. It comes standard with a 146-horsepower four-cylinder engine that provides decent acceleration around town. The base powertrain loses some of its fizzle at higher speeds, where it takes more effort than expected to pass other cars on the highway.

The Seltos offers generous head- and legroom up front and in the back, and outward visibility is excellent in all directions. Kia's easy-to-use infotainment system runs smoothly on the standard 8-inch display, and even the base LX trim level gets desirable tech features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth and a USB port as standard.

$22,995| Overall Score: 6.1/10

The Outlander Sport is outclassed by most rivals, but it offers standard all-wheel drive, intuitive tech and strong warranty support. Its base engine is unimpressive and noisy, and the SUV's ride quality leaves much to be desired. The Outlander Sport can feel jittery on broken pavement, and there's more noise than expected at almost all times.

Inside, Mitsubishi uses lots of hard plastics and cheap-feeling materials, but there's enough room for adults up front, and two people can ride in the back without much discomfort.

Mitsubishi's infotainment system is easy to use and runs well on the 7-inch screen. Most features are held back for the added-cost upgraded head unit, however, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

$22,950 | Overall Score: 8.6/10

The CX-30 has impressive performance abilities and an upscale interior. Its 191-horsepower base engine is adequate in most situations, and Mazda equips a six-speed automatic transmission that improves the SUV's driving experience over most rivals' CVTs. All-wheel drive comes standard, and the CX-30 offers surprisingly engaging handling for a small crossover.

Interior finishes are excellent, and far outpace the CX-30's modest base price. The front seats are spacious and supportive, but space is a bit limited in the backseat. Mazda's non-touch-screen infotainment interface can be confusing at first, but most people can get up to speed and learn the system without much hassle.

$22,400 | Overall Score: 7.7/10

The Buick Envista is all-new for 2024, and it has an affordable price, solid fuel economy and a spacious interior. With just 136 horsepower on tap, the SUV isn't going anywhere in a hurry, but its ride quality is smooth and handling predictable.

The Envista offers seating for five on nice cloth upholstery. Stepping up the trim ladder gets you leather upholstery and other niceties like heated front seats and a heated steering wheel.

Standard features include an 11-inch display, an 8-inch digital gauge cluster and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system isn't visually appealing, but it's easy to use and not distracting while driving.

$22,140 | Overall Score: 8.4/10

The Hyundai Kona isn't the most spacious SUV, and its styling can be polarizing, but it offers strong performance and a long list of safety features. The base engine provides good acceleration in town and on the highway. Though it's not overly sporty, the Kona has balanced handling and a comfortable ride quality in most situations.

Inside, the Kona has ample space in the front, with supportive buckets and plenty of padding. The backseat isn't as comfortable and it lacks space, making it difficult for adults to find a comfy position. Hyundai's tech is straightforward and runs well on the standard 8-inch touch screen.

$22,100| Overall Score: 7.8/10

Chevy revived the Trailblazer name in 2021 for use on a subcompact crossover, but what it lacks in rugged off-road capability, this vehicle makes up for it with a spacious interior and solid fuel economy. The base 137-horsepower four-cylinder is OK, but won't hasten any pulses in daily operation. The ride is mostly smooth, however, and handling is agreeable.

The Trailblazer has ample interior space, especially up front, where adults will have no trouble riding comfortably. The backseat is less accommodating, but it's reasonably spacious and makes it easy to install car seats.

$20,440 | Overall Score: 7.8/10

The Kicks lacks pep in its powertrain, but it's affordable and returns impressive fuel economy. With just 122 horsepower on tap, the Kicks is as sluggish as it looks on paper. Front-wheel drive is the only option, but the upside is that it returns 36 mpg on the highway.

Cloth upholstery comes standard, and Nissan offers synthetic leather in higher trims. Despite its tiny exterior dimensions, this SUV has adequate space in both rows, though all seats could use more cushioning and support.

Standard features include a 7-inch touch screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth and three USB ports. Nissan's infotainment software is easy to use and runs well on the responsive touch screen.

$20,400 | Overall Score: 7.5/10

Rumors have pointed to the Trax's demise for years, but Chevy shocked everyone with a redesigned 2024 model that features more tech, a refined interior and shockingly attractive styling.

It sports 137 horsepower, but it's only available with front-wheel drive. The Trax has a smooth ride and confident handling, but lacks the power it needs for reaching highway speeds and passing once there.

The Trax offers seating for five, and its base cloth upholstery feels nicer than expected. Higher trims get partial or full synthetic leather, and heated front seats are available. Chevy's intuitive infotainment software runs flawlessly on the 8-inch touch screen, and the Trax gets desirable features like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

$19,890 | Overall Score: 8.5/10

Kia Soul buyers get fantastic value and a spacious interior with a load of standard features. The only engine choice is a 147-horsepower four-cylinder, but it's more than adequate in most situations. A boxy shape doesn't make the Soul ungainly in the corners, as its handling is confident, and ride quality is smooth in most situations.

The cabin offers plenty of head- and legroom in both rows, and the rear seats are comfortable for adults, even on longer trips. Kia equips an 8-inch touch screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and higher trims have a 10.2-inch display. Kia's infotainment system is easy to use and responsive, though it's not as flashy as some rivals' interfaces.

$19,650 | Overall Score: 7.5/10

The Venue is targeted at young urban professionals, and its price tag reflects that positioning. Even with its budget-friendly price tag, the SUV features easy-to-use tech and impressive maneuverability.

Its 121-horsepower engine isn't the best around, as its response is lackluster when attempting to pass and merge at highway speeds but it gets the job done around town. Fuel economy is solid, at up to 33 mpg on the highway, and the Venue delivers decent ride quality in most driving situations.

Interior finishes are appropriate for this price range, meaning there are plenty of hard plastics and cheaper materials throughout. The Venue comes standard with an 8-inch touch screen running wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Hyundai's interface runs smoothly on the responsive display.

What is the cheapest SUV in 2023?

The cheapest SUV on our list is the 2023 Hyundai Venue, which offers a starting price of just $19,650.

What is the best and cheapest SUV to buy?

The Mazda CX-30 and Kia Soul earned high marks in our overall scoring, and both have affordable starting price tags.

What is the cheapest 3-row SUV?

The Mitsubishi Outlander is the cheapest three-row SUV in our rankings.

What is the cheapest SUV with automatic transmission?

The Hyundai Venue has a low starting price and comes standard with a continuously variable automatic transmission.

Going for a budget SUV doesn't mean giving up on every desirable features. Even the most affordable models should still have:

Are you interested in any of these affordable SUVs? Did you find one that suits your needs and fits your budget? If you need to do more research, check out our subcompact SUV rankings. You can also compare all the cheapest models side-by-side to determine which crossover best suits you.

When it comes time to buy or lease a new vehicle, use the U.S. News Best Price Program to find the dealer in your area with the best pre-negotiated prices. Shoppers who use the program save an average of over $3,200 off the sticker price. It helps connect you with local dealers and also offers online options and home delivery.