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Life is expensive these days and used SUVs have also followed that trajectory. However, these reliable cheap SUVs have good safety scores and plenty of features to keep the family happy. These sport utility vehicles come from Honda, Lexus, and Subaru, check all the boxes, and still come in under $10,000.

The 2010 Honda CR-V is a reliable cheap SUV

Drivers like the 2010 Honda CR-V, and U.S. News still recommends it as a reliable cheap SUV that the whole family will like. This compact SUV has a nice interior and a decent cost, even for its age. The cabin is quiet and offers enough space for the family, with plenty of room in the cargo area. Some drivers complained about the four-cylinder engine not being powerful enough, but these engines are still going strong more than 10 years later.

Even though safety standards were very different in 2010, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the Honda CR-V a five-star safety rating. It also scored well in the moderate overlap front, side, and rear crash tests from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The Honda CR-V is a good option if you are looking for reliable cheap SUVs under $10,000 and still need a safe family vehicle.

The 2009 Lexus RX 350 is another reliable cheap SUV

Even though the 2009 Lexus RX 350 is a luxury SUV, it still comes in under budget, with all the bells and whistles drivers might want. The cabin is luxurious, comfortable, and quiet. Seats are comfortable and spacious for all five passengers, plus it has plenty of room in the cargo area. The RX 350 has many awards, like the best-used luxury midsize SUV, best luxury midsize SUV, and best luxury crossover for the money. Now it also lands on the list of reliable cheap SUVs under $10,000.

Even in 2009, the RX had a power liftgate, power seats in the front, and dual-zone climate control. It also has sliding rear seats that make life easier. If you can find a higher trim level, leather seats and a backup camera were available features. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration didn’t give the RX an overall safety rating, but it earned high marks on all front and side crashworthiness tests. In addition, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2009 RX its highest score of “good.”

The 2010 Subaru Forester is spacious and reliable

Reliable cheap SUVs for the family include this Subaru Forester
A 2010 Subaru Forester | Geoff Robins/AFP via Getty Images

What’s not to like about the 2010 Subaru Forester? This compact SUV looks small on the outside but makes excellent use of its interior space. It has plenty of room for five passengers, and the cargo space is large. The 2010 Forester doesn’t have too many options, especially on the base model. A higher trim level will be necessary if you are looking for Bluetooth or navigation. Subaru still equipped its SUVs with all-wheel drive, which is a bonus.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2010 Subaru Forester high marks on its tests from the time, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety made it a Top Safety Pick. Subaru’s Forester earned high marks on the important crashworthiness tests from that time, making it a good choice for a reliable cheap SUV for the family.

These reliable cheap SUVs are still running strong and have plenty of life left. Honda, Subaru, and Lexus are still making dependable sport utility vehicles, another positive for these options. Many outlets online, like Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds, have fair cost estimators to ensure you aren’t paying too much for your next vehicle.

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