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3 friends road tripping and eating snacks in their SUV. The sun roof is open
2017 Chevrolet Equinox Premier

1. 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

2023 Ford Escape ST-Line Elite

2. Ford Escape

CarMax owner rating

Price range
$11,599—$27,998
Estimated combined MPG
(data not available)
RepairPal reliability rating
4 out of 5

Pros

  • Smooth city and highway ride

  • Intuitive SYNC® 4 infotainment system

  • Plenty of engine choices

Cons

  • Handling lacks liveliness

  • Transmission can be abrupt when shifting

  • Body roll in tight corners

2021 Jeep Cherokee Altitude

3. 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

2025 Nissan Kicks SR 001 make pages

4. Nissan Kicks

CarMax owner rating

Price range
$12,998—$28,998
Estimated combined MPG
30 MPG
RepairPal reliability rating
(data not available)
2022 Buick Encore Preferred

5. Buick Encore

CarMax owner rating

Price range
$12,998—$20,998
Estimated combined MPG
26 MPG
RepairPal reliability rating
4 out of 5

Pros

  • Tiny size makes Encore a good urban runabout

  • At highway speeds, the interior is remarkably quiet

  • Fully featured infotainment system

Cons

  • Offers little in the way of cargo space

  • Unimpressive fuel economy estimates

  • Limited number of driver-assist features, and they’re optional

2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

6. Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

CarMax owner rating

Price range
$11,599—$19,998
Estimated combined MPG
21 MPG
RepairPal reliability rating
(data not available)

Pros

  • Supportive and comfortable rear seats

  • Lots of available features

  • Spacious passenger and cargo areas

Cons

  • Stiff ride on rough surfaces

  • Visibility is limited out the rear window

  • Not as fun to drive as other SUVs

2015 Jeep Renegade Trailhawk

7. Jeep Renegade

CarMax owner rating

Price range
$11,998—$24,998
Estimated combined MPG
26 MPG
RepairPal reliability rating
4 out of 5

Pros

  • Nimble handling for an SUV

  • Impressive standard tech features

  • Cool off-road Trailhawk version

Cons

  • Small size means less interior room

  • Shape creates wind noise on the highway

  • Some go-to comfort features are optional

2019 Ford EcoSport Titanium

8. Ford EcoSport

CarMax owner rating

Price range
$11,998—$19,998
Estimated combined MPG
25 MPG
RepairPal reliability rating
(data not available)

Pros

  • Spacious and upscale interior design

  • Quiet cabin

  • User-friendly technology

Cons

  • Low power and lack of refinement

  • Fuel efficiency disappoints, despite low-power engines

  • Missing key driver-assist equipment found on most rivals

2025 Hyundai Venue Limited

9. Hyundai Venue

CarMax owner rating

Price range
$14,599—$22,998
Estimated combined MPG
31 MPG
RepairPal reliability rating
(data not available)

Pros

  • Roomy cabin

  • Nimble and easy to maneuver

  • Plenty of standard tech features

Cons

  • Average interior look and feel

  • Slow acceleration

  • No all-wheel drive option

Ready to find your next 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 IN, 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.