Hi,
Just would like to get opinion about what brand of small SUV is overall good buy. Not looking to spend over $10,000. Thank you
Bret
Well everyone wants an SUV these days and 10 grands is peanuts for one. So of course the Toyotas are the best, but you're going to have a hard time finding one in that price range. And there's no way I'd ever buy an American SUV. They are all junk
I'd rather get a Toyota Camry for $10,000. Heck, when I was hunting for another hood for my old Ranger, all I had was my 2017 Mustang. I found a matching body color Ranger, and unless I wanted to drive out of the way to get the Ranger, I took the Mustang. I got the donor Ranger's hood in my Mustang with a couple bungee straps. I had to leave the trunk partly open, but it worked surprisingly well. I really don't think you need an SUV. They're pretty overrated.
Finding a reliable, relatively low mileage SUV for 10 grand in today's market is a tough nut to crack.
At that price point, your choices are primarily going to be high mileage (100K-150K+) domestic makes and models, Hyundai/Kia, Nissan, and the occasional Audi or VW. I personally would pass on all of those, especially a high mileage Nissan or an Audi/VW.
If you can afford to wait a while and save up a bit more, I would do so. Easier said than done, especially if you need a vehicle now. But if you can hold off until the 15K-ish mark, you'll find a lot more options. Better makes, lower mileage, etc.
In the 15K range, I'd recommend looking at Mazda. I have a 2016 CX-5, and it has been an outstanding vehicle for me. I did a bit of searching, and you can find CX-3's and CX-5's with 100K or less mileage in that general price range. If it's been taken care of, a Mazda can last you a long time.
Good luck.
