Consumer Reports Best New SUVs Under $30,000 in August
Let’s face it, buying a new car right now isn’t ideal. These are some of Consumer Reports’ best new SUVs for under $30,000. For the most part, these are smaller SUVs with a smaller price. If the sport utility vehicle doesn’t have all the features you want, the next trim level up might have more to offer. If all else fails, try looking at dealerships outside of your area. The extra work might get you a better deal on a reliable new SUV.
The Subaru Forester is one of Consumer Reports’ best new SUVs under $30,000
When Consumer Reports looked for the best small, the 2022 Subaru Forester was at the top of the list. With high marks on the road test and predicted reliability areas, the Forester has a lot to offer buyers. Consumer Reports put the Forester first out of 22 similar compact SUVs.
Included safety features are forward collision warning (FCW), lane departure warning (LDW), and automatic emergency braking (AEB). The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the 2022 Forester the Top Safety Pick Plus award. The Subaru Forester is a good choice for a reliable new SUV under $30,000.
Price range: $25,895 – $35,995
Check out the Ford Bronco Sport as one of the best new SUVs under $30,000
For buyers, the 2022 Ford Bronco Sport is about as good as it gets. Consumer Reports thinks it is one of the best small SUVs under $30,000, which it is. The Bronco Sport is highly customizable and a bit more compact than the regular Bronco, which puts it within budget.
FCW, LDW, and AEB are standard safety features. Blind-spot warning (BSW) and rear cross-traffic warning (RCTW) are also standard. The IIHS also gave the 2022 Bronco Sport the Top Safety Pick Plus award.
Price range: $28,815 – $36,590
Don’t overlook the Toyota RAV4 sport utility vehicle
The 2022 Toyota RAV4 is known for being a reliable and affordable small SUV. The 2022 version has rather average scores from Consumer Reports, but this SUV does come with a pretty solid reliability history. Consumers also like the powertrain options, such as the RAV4 Prime, but that is out of budget.
Toyota includes FCW, AEB, and LDW standard, but BSW and RCTW are optional. Buyers can increase the trim levels to get more features, but this might go over budget. The IIHS gave the 2022 RAV4 the Top Safety Pick award. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave this SUV mostly four and five stars on its crash testing.
Price range: $26,975 – $38,075
Mazda equipped the CX-5 with plenty of safety features
Drivers report that the 2022 Mazda CX-5 is pretty fun to drive and has high Consumer Reports scores. A high-reliability score is always nice, which the 2022 CX-5 delivers on. Areas like the ride, comfort, braking, and emergency handling receive high scores.
Mazda equipped the CX-5 SUV with all the safety features one might want, such as AEB, FCW, LDW, BSW, and RCTW. Along with a Top Safety Pick Plus award and high scores from the NHTSA, the CX-5 is one of Consumer Reports’ best new SUVs for under $30,000.
Price range: $26,250 – $39,000
The Hyundai Tucson is a new SUV under $30,000
The 2022 Hyundai Tucson has a lot going for it. Consumer Reports gave it high marks on the road test, predicted reliability, and owner satisfaction. Areas like seat comfort, ride, noise, and emergency handling were also positives for the Tucson. It also gets 26 mpg overall, which is about $2,075 annually in fuel costs.
Hyundai included all the five safety features mentioned previously, and the 2022 Tucson received good scores from the safety groups. With a Top Safety Pick Plus award from the IIHS and a four-star overall rating from the NHSTA, this small SUV is a good buy.
Price range: $24,950 – $43,200
If you can’t find the best new SUVs under $30,000 with all the features you want, try expanding your search. Many dealerships make shipping or transporting a car easy these days, especially with the semiconductor chip shortages. Safety features can be worth the extra hassle, especially if it still comes under budget.
