10 USED AMERICAN SUVS THAT ARE RELIABLE AND CHEAP

What do you want in an SUV? If you’re looking for a used American SUV that wears a name you know and trust, Ford, Chevrolet, GMC, and Dodge offer some great choices. When you choose a model from a few years ago, you’ll find several great options that are both reliable and cheap.

There’s no shortage of used American SUVs to choose from. When you add the need to have a model that’s also reliable and cheap, you’ve cut down on the total number of models to choose from. While there are certainly more options than listed, these are ten that you can count on, and you won’t have to break the bank to buy them.

2014 Ford Edge

Average Used Price Range: $7,038 - $9,743

When you don’t need three rows of seating or a massive V8 engine, the 2014 Ford Edge could be the right compact SUV to drive. This is one of the most reliable and affordable used American SUVs that you can drive. With three powertrains offered, it’s easy to have the drive you want.

Powertrain Specifications

When the 2014 Edge was made, fuel prices were pretty high, which pushed many drivers to search for smaller and more capable vehicles. This made the Edge popular for families that only require five seats and a decent cargo space in the rear.

Pros

• Quiet and comfortable cabin
• Abundant features
• Composed handling

Cons

• MyFord Touch interface is finicky to use and prone to glitches
• Transmission can be slow to respond
• Towing capacity is lacking

2017 Ford Explorer

Average Used Price Range: $12,477 - $18,592

The 2017 Ford Explorer is an excellent choice if you want an SUV that brings three rows of seats and lots of power for your drive. This Ford SUV includes a full package of useful off-road features, including the Terrain Management System that gives it the right qualities for your drive.

Powertrain Specifications

For 2017, the Explorer received a new appearance package called the XLT Sport Appearance package and a modest reshuffling of available features. The Sync 3 infotainment system is also available, replacing the MyFord Touch system in the Explorer.

Pros

• Plenty of high-tech features
• The optional turbocharged V6 has lots of power
• The cabin is quiet and comfortable on the highway

Cons

• Depending on the trim level, feels big and ponderous
• The rear seating legroom is subpar
• The Jeep Grand Cherokee is better on trails and for towing

2015 Ford Expedition

Average Used Price Range: $10,687 - $15,268

Ford was one of the first automakers to ditch V8 engines in its big SUVs. The 2015 Ford Expedition made that change, going from a V8 to a twin-turbocharged V6 that has more power than the previous V8 engine.

Powertrain Specifications

If your family needs something bigger and more capable than most crossover SUVs, the 2015 Ford Expedition could be the right SUV for you. This big brute can pull heavy loads while returning respectable fuel mileage for a full-size SUV.

Pros

• Roomy third-row seat
• Strong and efficient turbocharged V6
• Tows more than similarly sized crossovers

Cons

• Feels big from the drivers seat
• Difficult to park
• Truck-like feeling

2018 Chevrolet Equinox

Average Used Price Range: $12,218 - $15,090

The 2018 Chevrolet Equinox is the first model year of the second generation for this compact crossover SUV. For the 2018 version, Chevy gave the Equinox the same interior space as before but a smaller exterior footprint. This is also one of the few Equinox model years with a diesel engine.

Powertrain Specifications

It should be pretty easy to find a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. It was one of the most popular models in terms of performance, comfort, and value. The smaller size, diesel engine, and impressive interior space made the Equinox much more interesting.

Pros

• Three engines to choose from, including a diesel powertrain
• Smooth ride over most road surfaces
• Expansive list of optional safety features

Cons

• Smaller cargo area compared to most of its competitors
• The base engine shifts slowly
• Most active safety features are reserved for the top-line Premier trim

2020 Chevrolet Trax

Average Used Price Range: $12,115 - $16,042

The 2020 Chevrolet Trax is a bit of an outdated subcompact crossover SUV, but it still holds a special place in the Chevy lineup. This SUV can be fun on some dirt roads when it's equipped with AWD, and it's one of the most reliable and cheap used American SUVs on the market.

Powertrain Specifications

The subcompact crossover market has become the go-to class for many shoppers. These small SUVs fit into their budgets more easily, while still providing good capability figures and excellent driving manners, especially when driving on city streets.

Pros

• Appealing passenger space for its size
• Plenty of features for the price
• Impressive fuel efficiency

Cons

• Ride quality is choppy on the freeway
• Slow acceleration from the underpowered engine
• Less cargo space than some rivals

2016 Chevrolet Tahoe

Average Used Price Range: $19,218 - $24,721

The 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe was the first model of its kind with an 8-inch color touchscreen interface. This Tahoe also features an updated OnStar system with 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot capability. If this is the large used American SUV for you, it’s possible to find one with a head-up display.

Powertrain Specifications

The 2016 Tahoe is the second model year of this generation. This full-size SUV brings an impressive array of features to the market, making it feel more like a Cadillac than a Chevrolet. If you need a big SUV with excellent towing power, the Tahoe is hard to beat.

Pros

• Impressive towing capacity
• Available nine-person seating capacity
• Quiet highway ride

Cons

• High cargo floor and load height
• Unimpressive cargo space behind third-row
• Bumpy, truck-like ride without the optional adaptive suspension

2013 Chevrolet Suburban

Average Used Price Range: $10,404 - $20,039

When you need a big and reliable used American SUV to handle the job, the 2013 Chevrolet Suburban is hard to beat. This model is affordable, making it easy to get things done and put them to work. This serious family-hauling machine can take your crew wherever you need to go.

Powertrain Specifications

The 2013 model adds new powertrain grade braking to be used in normal driving modes and not just the tow/haul mode for which it was previously used. The Suburban traces its roots to 1935 when the first full-size Suburban arrived. This big SUV can carry and pull everything you need.

Pros

• Seats up to nine people
• Class-leading cargo space
• Lots of standard and optional features

Cons

• The third-row seat is bulky and doesnt fold into the floor
• Long braking distances
• Acceleration is sluggish under a full load

2015 GMC Acadia

Average Used Price Range: $8,573 - $12,146

When your family has outgrown a five-passenger vehicle, the 2015 GMC Acadia could be the ideal vehicle to drive. This large crossover SUV has decent fuel mileage and towing while providing room for up to eight people to enjoy a drive together.

Powertrain Specifications

The 2015 Acadia adds the benefits of a heated steering wheel, a new 20-inch wheel design, and more paint colors. This should give you some great options when searching for one of the best used American SUVs that’s also reliable and cheap.

Pros

• Compliant ride quality
• Generous cargo capacity, even behind the third row
• Seating for up to eight passengers

Cons

• It can feel cumbersome to drive
• Small, antiquated audio and climate controls
• Occasionally, finicky infotainment system

2019 GMC Terrain

Average Used Price Range: $13,807 - $20,828

The higher trim levels of the 2019 GMC Terrain are much more appealing than the lower rims. The base models lack much of the safety features desired, but you can find this small GMC SUV at a good price, even at the higher trim levels.

Powertrain Specifications

The 2019 Terrain offers adaptive cruise control with pedestrian detection, a high-definition rearview camera, and a 360-degree camera system. These items are offered at the Denali trim. The SLT model can be found with the Chrome package, and the Black Edition package can be found on some SLE and SLT models.

Pros

• Comfortable and upscale interior
• The optional 2.0-liter engine is efficient and powerful
• Touchscreen interfaces are intuitive and easy to use

Cons

• Advanced safety tech restricted to pricey upper trim levels
• Disappointing base and diesel engines
• Less cargo space behind the rear seat than most competitors

2017 Dodge Durango

Average Used Price Range: $14,563 - $22,883

The 2017 Dodge Durango turned away from the luxurious Limited trim to add the sporty GT model in its place. This Dodge SUV is one of the most capable and impressive three-row crossovers on the market. This could easily be the right SUV for you and your family.

Powertrain Specifications

When you want big power but not a full-size SUV, the 2017 Durango has three rows of comfortable seats and an excellent Hemi V8 engine. This big crossover paved the way for many of the three-row midsize SUVs that we see in today’s market.

Pros

• Unusually spacious third-row seats
• The 8.4-inch touchscreen is one of the best in the class
• Impressive acceleration with V8 engine

Cons

• Lackluster fuel economy
• Bluetooth streaming audio isnt standard on SXT
• R/T models have a stiff ride

2024-08-31T07:05:48Z dg43tfdfdgfd