Even though used cars and SUVs saw a price jump over the last few years, it can save shoppers money in the long run. It isn’t a secret that the best features and systems are sometimes reserved for the top trim levels, but used SUVs might offer a happy medium between price and specs. Check out some excellent midsize SUVs from Kia, Hyundai, and Mazda that have all of the features drivers are looking for in a more affordable package.

What is the best used SUV from 2020?

The 2020 Kia Telluride is arguably one of the best SUVs to hit the market in recent times, and U.S. News says it is one of the best used SUVs to look for. Since 2020 was the first year of the Telluride, that means you might be able to find an affordable used example. One of the benefits the Kia Telluride has to offer is how customizable it was from the factory. It can have different seat setups for seven or eight passengers, front or all-wheel drive, and plenty of additional features shoppers could add.

The Kia Telluride has only improved since that first year, and this three-year-old model is aging like a fine wine. With the original MSRP of $31,890 to $43,790 for a fully loaded Telluride, many used options are around $25,000 now. This midsize SUV has low projected ownership costs, which also adds value. If you can find a used Telluride with some miles on it, the best used SUV of 2020 could be yours for a pretty reasonable cost.

What is the best SUV under $20,000?

One of the best and most affordable SUVs from the last few years is the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe. It started at only $26,275, which means many options are currently available for under $20,000. Hyundai offered a variety of engine types to choose from, and the Santa Fe was available with front or all-wheel drive. The best fuel economy numbers came from the 2.4L engine with front-wheel drive, which produced 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway.

There were a few trim levels to choose from, but you might be able to find the top Limited trim for way less these days. This version comes with the most safety systems, which aided the midsize SUV in earning high safety scores. The IIHS made the 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe a Top Safety Pick winner. Additionally, the Santa Fe earned a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA.

What’s a good used SUV from Mazda?

Another excellent used SUV, the 2020 Mazda CX-9, has features that make it a top choice for pre-owned vehicles. Mazda’s midsize SUV has a comfortable cabin and plenty of room for six or seven passengers. It came in four trim levels, but the base CX-9 started at around $33,890. These days, you can find a fully loaded CX-9 Signature for about $30,000.

While the top-level trim might have been out of budget when it first hit the market, finding a used option might be attainable now. Mazda included many standard driver assistance features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane departure warning. The IIHS made the 2020 CX-9 a Top Safety Pick Plus winner, but only to vehicles built after 2019. On top of that, the NHTSA gave the SUV a five-star overall safety rating.