
Best Used Small SUVs Under $25k for 2026
The best used small and compact SUVs under $25k based on a data-driven analysis of each vehicle's reliability, resale value and safety.
The best used small and compact SUV under $25,000 is the 2021 Honda CR-V based on our analysis of 12 million vehicles to assess their reliability, resale value and safety. The 2021 Honda CR-V has an average price of $24,755 with an overall iSeeCars score of 8.5. Behind the CR-V is the 2021 Subaru Outback (suv) with average used car price of $23,432 and iSeeCars score of 8.4. The number 3 best used small and compact SUV under $25,000 is the 2021 Subaru Forester at $23,210 average price and 8.4 iSeeCars rating. For this analysis, iSeeCars looked at used small and compact SUVs under $25k that are 1 to 6 years old to determine the latest model year vehicles that are within the price range of $20,000 to $25,000.
The best used small and compact SUV under $25,000 is the 2021 Honda CR-V based on our analysis of 12 million vehicles to assess their reliability, resale value and safety. The 2021 Honda CR-V has an average price of $24,755 with an overall iSeeCars score of 8.5. Behind the CR-V is the 2021 Subaru Outback (suv) with average used car price of $23,432 and iSeeCars score of 8.4. The number 3 best used small and compact SUV under $25,000 is the 2021 Subaru Forester at $23,210 average price and 8.4 iSeeCars rating. For this analysis, iSeeCars looked at used small and compact SUVs under $25k that are 1 to 6 years old to determine the latest model year vehicles that are within the price range of $20,000 to $25,000.
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iSeeCars Score: 8.5 / 10
- Average Used Car Price: $24,755
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars-
Reliability 7.9 / 10
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Value Retention 8.7 / 10
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Safety 9.0 / 10
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iSeeCars Score: 8.4 / 10
- Average Used Car Price: $23,432
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars-
Reliability 8.0 / 10
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Value Retention 8.1 / 10
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Safety 9.0 / 10
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iSeeCars Score: 8.4 / 10
- Average Used Car Price: $23,210
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars-
Reliability 7.6 / 10
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Value Retention 8.5 / 10
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Safety 9.0 / 10
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iSeeCars Score: 8.3 / 10
- Average Used Car Price: $24,868
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars-
Reliability 7.8 / 10
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Value Retention 9.0 / 10
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Safety 8.0 / 10
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iSeeCars Score: 8.1 / 10
- Average Used Car Price: $22,989
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars-
Reliability 6.8 / 10
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Value Retention 7.9 / 10
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Safety 9.7 / 10
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iSeeCars Score: 8.0 / 10
- Average Used Car Price: $24,591
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars-
Reliability 7.9 / 10
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Value Retention 8.2 / 10
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Safety 8.0 / 10
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iSeeCars Score: 7.9 / 10
- Average Used Car Price: $24,705
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars-
Reliability 7.0 / 10
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Value Retention 7.8 / 10
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Safety 9.0 / 10
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iSeeCars Score: 7.8 / 10
- Average Used Car Price: $23,589
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars-
Reliability 7.8 / 10
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Value Retention 7.6 / 10
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Safety 8.0 / 10
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iSeeCars Score: 7.6 / 10
- Average Used Car Price: $23,163
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars-
Reliability 7.2 / 10
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Value Retention 7.7 / 10
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Safety 8.0 / 10
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iSeeCars Score: 7.6 / 10
- Average Used Car Price: $24,203
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars-
Reliability 7.1 / 10
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Value Retention 7.7 / 10
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Safety 8.0 / 10
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iSeeCars Score: 7.5 / 10
- Average Used Car Price: $23,268
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars-
Reliability 7.2 / 10
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Value Retention 7.7 / 10
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Safety 7.6 / 10
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iSeeCars Score: 7.4 / 10
- Average Used Car Price: $23,410
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars-
Reliability 6.9 / 10
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Value Retention 7.8 / 10
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Safety 7.5 / 10
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iSeeCars Score: 7.3 / 10
- Average Used Car Price: $24,873
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars-
Reliability 7.2 / 10
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Value Retention 7.6 / 10
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Safety 7.1 / 10
14. 2023 Jeep Cherokee
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iSeeCars Score: 7.2 / 10
- Average Used Car Price: $23,127
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars-
Reliability 7.0 / 10
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Value Retention 7.7 / 10
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Safety 7.0 / 10
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iSeeCars Score: Not Available
- Average Used Car Price: $24,377
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars-
Reliability Coming soon
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Value Retention 8.9 / 10
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Safety 7.0 / 10
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iSeeCars Score: Not Available
- Average Used Car Price: $24,613
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars-
Reliability Coming soon
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Value Retention 7.9 / 10
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Safety 8.0 / 10
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iSeeCars Score: Not Available
- Average Used Car Price: $21,082
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars-
Reliability Coming soon
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Value Retention 7.7 / 10
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Safety 8.0 / 10
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iSeeCars Score: Not Available
- Average Used Car Price: $21,509
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars-
Reliability Coming soon
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Value Retention 7.7 / 10
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Safety 7.0 / 10
Related Rankings
How We Rank These Cars
iSeeCars Best Used Cars Under $25k Rankings are calculated based on the latest research by our data science team and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
We analyze data from over 12 million new and used vehicles in our Longest-Lasting Cars and 5-Year Depreciation Studies, combined with the NHTSA's Safety Ratings to give you an unbiased guide to the best vehicles in each segment.
After being evaluated, vehicles with the highest average scores earn a spot in the iSeeCars Best Car Rankings. (No final score is given to vehicles missing a score in any of the categories, but scores for other categories are still shown.)
Vehicles are scored in three categories:
Reliability
The reliability score represents an analysis of iSeeCars' proprietary research on the longest-lasting vehicles.
Value Retention
The value retention score is based on our data science team's statistical analysis and prediction of 5-year depreciation from MSRP to determine which cars hold their value best, using US Bureau of Labor Statistics data to adjust for inflation.
Safety
The safety score is calculated based on the last five years of crash test ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and incorporates the latest Top Safety Pick information from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

















