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Two women smiling and loading shopping into the trunk of a silver SUV on a sunny day
2023 nissan rogue side

1. Nissan Rogue

CarMax owner rating

Price range
$11,599—$36,998
Estimated combined MPG
29 MPG
RepairPal reliability rating
4 out of 5
2022 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid SE

2. Toyota RAV4

CarMax owner rating

Price range
$14,998—$45,998
Estimated combined MPG
28 MPG
RepairPal reliability rating
4.5 out of 5

Pros

  • Quiet and comfortable ride

  • Capacious cabin for passengers and cargo

  • Excellent off-road capabilities

Cons

  • Mediocre acceleration

  • Steering on road feels vague

  • Rugged styling might not be for everyone

2021 Honda CR-V EX

3. Honda CR-V

CarMax owner rating

Price range
$14,599—$40,998
Estimated combined MPG
29 MPG
RepairPal reliability rating
4.5 out of 5

Pros

  • Spacious interior

  • Intuitive infotainment

  • Smooth ride

Cons

  • Limited cabin storage

  • Noisy hybrid powertrain

  • Hybrid only on upper trims

2021 Mazda CX-5 Signature

4. Mazda CX-5

CarMax owner rating

Price range
$12,998—$35,998
Estimated combined MPG
24 MPG
RepairPal reliability rating
4.5 out of 5

Pros

  • Strong overall performance

  • Near-luxury interior

  • Attractive styling

Cons

  • Below-average passenger and cargo space

  • Firm ride quality

  • Weak base engine

2022 Hyundai Tucson side view

5. Hyundai Tucson

CarMax owner rating

Price range
$12,599—$32,998
Estimated combined MPG
26 MPG
RepairPal reliability rating
4 out of 5

Pros

  • Loaded with standard tech and driver assist features

  • A comfortable and quiet ride

  • Spacious and comfortable front seats

Cons

  • The base engine is sluggish off the line

  • Parking sensors are overly sensitive

  • Dashboard controls are touch-only

2017 Chevrolet Equinox Premier

6. Chevrolet Equinox

CarMax owner rating

Price range
$12,599—$34,998
Estimated combined MPG
26 MPG
RepairPal reliability rating
4 out of 5

Pros

  • Generous cargo area

  • Ample backseat room for adults

  • Turbocharged four-cylinder engine

Cons

  • Sluggish acceleration

  • Noisy cabin on highway

  • Heavy steering, bulky handling

2021 Jeep Cherokee Altitude

7. Jeep Cherokee

CarMax owner rating

Price range
$11,599—$27,998
Estimated combined MPG
37 MPG
RepairPal reliability rating
4 out of 5

Pros

  • Hybrid powertrain is standard

  • Fresh design and beautiful cabin

  • Large back seat and cargo areas

Cons

  • Sluggish acceleration with no V6 offered

  • Not as off-road capable as other Jeep models

  • Tows less than the previous generation

2020 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited 2.0T

8. Hyundai Santa Fe

CarMax owner rating

Price range
$12,998—$42,998
Estimated combined MPG
23 MPG
RepairPal reliability rating
3.5 out of 5

Pros

  • Comfortable and spacious cabin seats up to seven

  • User-friendly tech and plenty of driver assistance aids

  • Smart storage solutions throughout

Cons

  • Limited cargo space behind the third row

  • Visibility is impacted by large roof pillars and small rear window

  • Underwhelming real-world fuel economy

2023 subaru forester side

9. Subaru Forester

CarMax owner rating

Price range
$12,599—$39,998
Estimated combined MPG
26 MPG
RepairPal reliability rating
3.5 out of 5
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL

10. Volkswagen Tiguan

CarMax owner rating

Price range
$12,998—$36,998
Estimated combined MPG
24 MPG
RepairPal reliability rating
3.5 out of 5

Ready to find your compact SUV?

How we ranked this list

To create our "Best Of" lists, our analysts looked at CarMax vehicle and sales data over a recent 6-month period, from December 2025 through May 2026. Looking back over a 6-month period allows for the highest sample size possible while also providing up-to-date pricing information. Some articles may include data points with lower sample sizes.

Price excludes state and local taxes, title, registration, tags, and any optional products or services. Price assumes that final purchase will be made in the State of MD, unless vehicle is non-transferable. Vehicle subject to prior sale. Applicable transfer fees are due in advance of vehicle delivery and are separate from sales transactions. Limited warranty is 30 days. See store for details. We make every effort to provide accurate information, but please verify before purchasing.

We hope you found this information helpful. This content is intended to inform and is not meant to indicate that a particular vehicle is currently available or recommended for you.​

Statements of fuel economy or EV range are based on EPA and other third-party estimates for vehicles when new. Fuel economy and EV range will degrade with time and vary based on age, driving conditions, vehicle history, and other conditions. See fueleconomy.gov for more info.

Unless otherwise noted, information related to featured vehicles comes from third-party sources, including manufacturer information. Product and company names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of third-party entities. Use of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by these entities.​ By clicking on any video links, you will be taken to a third-party site maintained by YouTube, Inc.

We make every effort to provide accurate information, but please verify before purchasing.