Finding a good used SUV can be challenging nowadays. There are many options that will offer plenty of value. But which ones will last you long enough to make the purchase worth it? iSeeCars analyzed data from tons of vehicles and determined which ones had the best chance of protecting your investment by finding one under $30,000. Was the best-used SUV under $30,000 on the list a popular Toyota or Honda? Let’s take a look. 

Should you buy a Toyota or Honda used SUV? 

The list on the iSeeCars website contains three used Toyota SUVs. In the No.3 spot is the 2015 Highlander hybrid, which has approximately 4.2% of its vehicles make it over the 200,000-mile mark.

Powering it up is a 3.5-liter V6 engine combined with an electric motor setup, producing 280 hp total. This particular version earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA, and you could find it on the used market for around $26,753.

Toyota’s gas-only version of the 2017 Highlander (No.8 on the list) also received a five-star rating from NHTSA. Approximately 1.3% of these models made it over 200,000 miles. On a used dealer lot, you might be able to find it for about $28,456. In the No.4 spot, we find the 2015 Toyota 4Runner with an average price of $26,781. This version has 3.9% of its vehicles making it over the 200,000-mile mark. 

Honda has two used SUVs on the list. We find the 2017 Honda Pilot sitting in the No.6 slot with a price of $28,292. This model earned a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS, and it got a 4.8 rating from the NHTSA. The last model from this brand to make the list is the 2017 Honda CR-V, which has 1.1% of its vehicles making it over the 200,000-mile mark. The average costfor this version is $22,634.

What is the best-used SUV under $30,000?

While Toyota and Honda have some decent used SUV offerings, none of them made it to the No.1 spot. The model that’s considered the best-used SUV you can buy is the 2015 Ford Expedition.

According to the data iSeeCars analyzed, this vehicle has 5.2% of its models going over 200,000 miles, making it more reliable than you might think. It also has a five-star rating from the NHTSA and owners paid an average of $24,233 when they bought it. 

Powering it up is a 3.5-liter V6 generating 365 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. Paired with it is a 6-speed automatic with manual shifting capability. You can get the standard rear-wheel drive or a 4WD. As for towing capacity, you can expect the Expedition to haul up to 9,200 lbs. 

Overall, the model costs around $861 a year for average maintenance and repair tasks, which is a little high compared to other models, but the Expedition is known for making it to 300,000 miles, so as long as you take good care of it, this version should last you quite a while. 

What about the second-best used SUV under $30,000?

You won’t find a Toyota or Honda in the second spot either. Instead, the model that’s considered the second-best SUV is the 2015 Chevy Suburban. This sport utility vehicle is on the higher side but still manages to land just under the $30,000 mark.

For approximately $29,191, the 2015 model of the Suburban offers a 5.3-liter V8 engine producing 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque enabling the SUV to haul up to 8,300 lbs. 

According to the iSeeCars list, the Suburban has 4.9% of its vehicles lasting past 200,000 miles. As for fuel economy, this SUV offers 18 mpg combined, which isn’t great, but the Suburban is a full-sized vehicle, so it’s no surprise that it’s a gas guzzler. 

As for safety, the Suburban received four out of five stars in NHTSA tests. It excelled in side impact crash evaluations but was dinged a star in the frontal impact protection tests. 

Toyota and Honda SUVs offer some good used models, but you won’t find any in the top two spots of iSeeCar’s list. Instead, you get Chevy’s Suburban in the second slot and the Expedition as the best-used SUV you can get for under $30,000.