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Best used-car deals on small SUVs
During the holiday season, travel demands are high and money tends to be tight, adding appeal to replacing your dated clunker with a fresher used car. With all the gifts and food needing transport, and threat of foul weather, an SUV is a good choice.
In our latest price analysis, we found that there are plenty of deals on 3- to 4-year-old used small SUVs. These tend to be Goldilocks vehicles, with a just-right balance of fuel economy, room for families and cargo, and available all-wheel-drive. A used SUV allows you to reap these benefits for less money than buying new. To make it easier to find what you’re looking for, we've identified some of the best used deals on small SUVs on the market.
Buying a used car has many benefits. Most important is that the original owner takes the initial depreciation hit, as new cars lose much more value in the first and second years than those that follow. Also, most small SUVs have the latest safety equipment, such as curtain air bags and stability control, and are still affordable.
When shopping, look for models that scored well in Consumer Reports’ tests when new, have proven reliability, and perform well in government and insurance industry crash tests. Before handing over the cash, have the vehicle inspected by a trained and trusted mechanic to make sure there are no hidden problems.
Check out our top deals for recommended used SUVs from the 2010-2012 model years. We placed the vehicles in order of the cheapest price you might be able to get when buying from the dealer. The models listed below cost 13 to 44 percent less than the retail price when the vehicle was new. Plus, all of the models have at least average reliability according to our latest subscriber survey.
See our complete list of used-car deals across a variety of vehicle categories.
| Vehicle |
Mileage |
MSRP When New |
Buying from Dealer Average Price
|
Drop In Retail Value vs. MSRP |
| 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander |
51,000 |
$22,240 |
$12,375 |
44% |
| 2010 Nissan Rogue |
51,000 |
$21,540 |
$13,950 |
35% |
| 2011 Nissan Rogue |
40,000 |
$22,060 |
$15,550 |
30% |
| 2010 Toyota RAV4 |
51,000 |
$24,935 |
$16,000 |
36% |
| 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander |
40,000 |
$24,495 |
$16,450 |
33% |
| 2012 Nissan Rogue |
22,000 |
$22,780 |
$17,025 |
25% |
2010 Subaru Forester
|
51,000 |
$23,795 |
$17,800 |
25% |
| 2010 Honda CR-V |
51,000 |
$25,095 |
$17,900 |
29% |
| 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander |
22,000 |
$23,295 |
$17,950 |
23% |
| 2011 Toyota RAV4 |
40,000 |
$25,460 |
$18,500 |
27% |
| 2011 Honda CR-V |
40,000 |
$25,245 |
$20,075 |
20% |
| 2011 Subaru Forester |
40,000 |
$24,195 |
$20,300 |
16% |
2012 Toyota RAV4
|
22,000 |
$26,085 |
$20,450 |
22% |
| 2011 Kia Sportage |
40,000 |
$24,795 |
$20,550 |
17% |
2012 Honda CR-V
|
22,000 |
$23,745 |
$20,775 |
13% |
2012 Subaru Forester
|
22,000
|
$26,595 |
$22,400 |
16% |
| 2011 Infiniti EX35 |
40,000 |
$35,550 |
$28,000 |
21% |
—Liza Barth
Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2007-2013 Consumers Union of U.S.
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