Many SUVs on the market are either affordable or safe, but these options from Toyota, Ford, and Nissan check both boxes. These three safe and affordable used SUVs have plenty of standard safety systems and high marks on crashworthiness tests. While some of the sport utility vehicles below come in over $50,000, that is mainly for specialized or limited edition trim levels. Most options linger around $30,000 or so.

The Toyota Highlander is a safe and affordable used SUV

If the 2021 Toyota Highlander wasn’t a contender already, Edmunds gave the SUV high marks. There are a few things the Highlander is known for, offering a quiet and comfortable ride. Toyota’s reliable SUV is easy to see out of, and the camera-based rearview mirror makes parking a breeze. There is also a surround-view camera system available for even more visibility.

Fuel economy for the 2021 Toyota Highlander is 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway with front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive gets 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. Either is a safe and affordable used SUV with room for seven or eight passengers.

Additionally, the 2021 Highlander comes with safety systems like Pre-Collision with Pedestrian Detection and Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the SUV a five-star safety rating. It also earned the Top Safety Pick Plus award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Another safe and affordable used SUV is Ford’s Explorer

Two areas where the 2021 Ford Explorer excels are balancing comfort and space. It has room for seven passengers and comes with all the modern equipment drivers seek. Ford’s 2.3L four-cylinder engine gets 24 mpg combined, or the all-wheel drive version gets 23 mpg combined.

Fresh off a recent redesign, Ford’s three-row SUV has hybrid trims and more affordable options throughout the lineup. The new Timberline trim has a higher ride height and better tires, making it more off-road capable.

The 2021 Ford Explorer gets a Lane Keeping System, Post-Collision Braking, and Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control for added safety systems. Ford’s three-row SUV received a five-star safety rating from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration and a Top Safety Pick Plus award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Third-row passengers will have plenty of space in the Nissan Pathfinder

The engine for the 2020 Nissan Pathfinder is a strong V6 that has enough power for this three-row SUV. Nissan ensured the Pathfinder had room in all three rows, and the last row was easy to access. It makes a good choice for those who need extra space. For safe and affordable used SUVs, the Pathfinder comes pretty well equipped.

The all-wheel drive Nissan SUV has EPA fuel economy ratings of 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. That’s quite average for three-row SUVs of this size. All versions can tow 6,000 pounds, which is a helpful feature.

Some noteworthy safety systems include Automatic Emergency Braking, Blind-Spot Monitoring, and Around-View Monitor. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration gave the Pathfinder a five-star safety rating. It also received the Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

You might be able to find one of these safe and affordable used SUVs with a bit of warranty left or even a Certified Pre-Owned version. Consumer Reports has some tips on finding a high-quality repair shop, which is always good to have in your back pocket. Keeping up with regular maintenance, as described in the owner’s manual, is the best way to keep your used SUV running its best for a long time.