Last year, the Toyota RAV4 dethroned the seemingly unstoppable Ford F-150 as the best-selling vehicle in the country. It’s indicative of a renewed interest in affordable alternatives to expensive large pickup trucks and SUVs. However, the RAV4 is far from alone in its segment. And where there are alternatives, there are cheaper rivals, like the Mazda CX-5 and Jeep Compass. 

The Toyota RAV4 is the best-selling SUV in the country, but it’s far from the cheapest compact SUV in the segment

The 2025 Toyota RAV4 starts at around $30,245 for the entry-level RAV4 LE. That leaves several alternatives in the compact SUV market that undercut the RAV4, if only by a small margin. Whether you want an off-road-ready SUV or a more dynamic drive, there are rivals ready to step up to the best-selling Toyota. 

For starters, the 2025 Mazda CX-5 starts at $29,990 for the S trim. For that money, buyers can get behind the wheel of a more nicely appointed interior and a more engaging drive than the wildly popular RAV4. Better yet, the CX-5’s turbo trims bump the base model’s 187 horsepower up to a much more muscular 256. Still, the difference between the base price and CX-5 and RAV4 is negligible at just $255.

Drop another $240 and you reach the 2025 Hyundai Tucson. Granted, the Tucson doesn’t deliver the same power output as the RAV4, but the Tucson offers similar cargo capacity and fuel economy. But the Tucson also carries Hyundai’s five-year, 60,000-mile basic warranty, a much better plan than Toyota’s three-year, 36,000-mile coverage.

Finally, the 2025 Jeep Compass undercuts the Toyota RAV4 by nearly $3,000 at its entry-level Sport trim. Also, with a 200-horsepower 2.0L turbocharged inline-four under the hood, the Compass is right on par with the RAV4. And with standard all-wheel drive (AWD) and certified off-road chops, the Compass is a fitting trail-and-campsite companion. Unlike the RAV4 or Tucson, you won’t find a hybrid in the Compass’s lineup.