Top 5 SUVs in 2024 Under $30,000

If you are looking for the best SUVs in 2024 that are under $30,000, then you are at the right place. Here are the top 5 options for you.

SUVs combine the best of both worlds under a single hood: city driving and off-roading. Now, there are a lot of companies out there mass-producing SUVs, but how do we separate the chaff from the grain? Well, we did it so you don’t have to do the grunt work or skim through heaps of catalogs, websites, and reviews.

Here are the top 5 SUVs that retail under $30,000 in the U.S. The parameters for ranking include acceleration, comfort, cargo, handling, space, fuel efficiency, value, and how much fun you have while driving the car.

Top 5 SUVs Under $30,000

2025 Chevrolet Trax

Practicality, affordability, and undeniable appeal: these words describe the 2025 Chevrolet Trax perfectly. We don’t want to say that this car is cheap, but it starts at $21,495 for the LS trim and goes up to $25,395 for the ACTIV trim. In the world of SUVs, this is as low as it gets.

Now, given the Trax’s price tag, we cannot expect a Ferrari engine or a Rolls-Royce interior. But nothing in this car is subpar. It has a 137-hp turbocharged 1.2-liter inline-three cylinder engine, a six-speed automatic transmission, and front-wheel drive. B-T-Dubs, there is no rear-wheel drive option.

In the city, you won’t notice any difference between Trax and its pricier alternatives, but on the highway, the lack of engine power is evident. According to Car and Driver, this car goes from 0-60 mph in 8.8 seconds. This is an acceptable number for the subcompact SUV segment.

With EPA-estimated ratings of 28 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway, the Trax marginally beats the Hyundai Kona in the city and is at par with the Mazda CX-30. As for the interior, an 11-inch infotainment touchscreen faces the drive along with the climate controls. The seats are comfortable and the cargo space is more than the previous models.

2024 Mazda CX-30

The base model of the 2024 Mazda CX-30 shines in the segment of SUVs and the most expensive trim almost touches premium brand models like the Audi Q3 or the BMW X1, quality and quantity-wise. It is possibly the most fun vehicle to drive on our list.

The Mazda CX-30 starts from $26,415 for the base model and ends at $38,220 for the Turbo Premium Plus. The CX-30’s standard engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 191 horsepower, paired with a six-speed automatic. Within city limits, this is more than enough, but without, you might feel the need for more power. The higher trims do offer better engines.

The fuel economy of the turbocharged CX-30 is 22 mpg in the city, 30 mpg on the highway, and 25 mpg combined. The non-turbo version boasts 26 mpg city, 33 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined.

The interiors don’t miss much. A wide infotainment display, premium climate control, leather upholstery in premium trims along with a power-operated rear liftgate. The CX-30 can fit six carry-on suitcases behind the rear seats, which is a little low.

2025 Buick Envista

The 2025 Buick Envista balances its pros with its cons. It is the competitor of the aforementioned Trax, CX-30, and the upcoming Volkswagen Taos. But the Buick is better than all of them in terms of price. The base model retails for $23,495 and the top-end Avenir model is at $29,695. All of its models have front-wheel drive.

The engine is not the Buick’s superior point. A turbocharged 1.2-liter three-cylinder produces 137 horsepower, which can only accelerate to 50 mph fast enough and then start lagging. Obviously, this car was meant for the city.

The fuel economy stats give the EPA estimates to be 28 mpg city and 32 mpg highway. One area in which the Envista excels is cargo space. It has a flat rear passenger floor with standard equipment. An 11-inch infotainment unit graces the interior with an 8-inch digital instrument cluster that includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Some miscellaneous features include automatic high-beam headlamps and lane-keeping assist.

2025 Volkwagen Taos

Presenting Volkwagen’s tiniest offering in the SUVs: Taos. But if you live in a city and don’t have intermittent urges to explore the wild, we don’t see any major problems in this car. The price starts at $26,000 and goes up to $35,000.

The Taos is lit up by a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 174 horsepower, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It is either a front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive depending on the trim. The car goes from 0 to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds, beating the previous contender on our list, the Envista.

The fuel economy is not public yet, but some predictions can be made based on the previous models. The front-drive version goes 28 mpg city and 36 mpg highway and the all-drive does 25 mpg city and 32 mpg highway. The interior is decent with a fully digital gauge cluster and an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen. Leather and leatherette upholstery are available based on the trim.

2025 Kia Niro Hybrid

The 2025 Kia Niro Hybrid’s selling point is its efficiency and nothing else. The price range is $28365-$42,165, based on the trim. The engine is a 139-hp powertrain that consists of a 1.6-liter four-cylinder and an electric motor. Automatic transmission is standard and the only option, as is front-wheel drive. The Niro Hybrid was made for the urban jungle so don’t expect to go off-roading in this car.

We don’t want to diss any car, but the Niro Hyrbrid’s acceleration is not great. If you go for the plug-in version, the electric motor adds a bit of punch, but nothing much. The car does 0-60 mph in 8.9 seconds.

The battery is an 11.1-kWh battery pack that lasts for about 33 miles of electric driving. The battery recharges in three hours when connected to a Level 2 charger. As for the fuel economy, the EPA estimates are 53 mpg city and 54 mpg highway for the base LX trim.

The interior is interesting. To go with the sustainability theme, Kia used recycled materials and natural fibers like eucalyptus leaves for the upholstery and such. An 8-inch touchscreen and a 10.3-inch infotainment display come in the base and above models respectively.

Those were our top 5 SUVs in 2024. Of course, any such list is dynamic given the number of innovations in the automotive industry. But for the time being, you’d be hard-pressed to find an SUV better than the ones we’ve listed in under $30,000.