
If you’re in the market for a long-lasting SUV, here are some sport utility vehicles that have proven to be a good value year after year. The best used SUVs for the money last over 200,000 miles and still cost less than $20,000. What’s not to like about that?
The Hyundai Santa Fe is one of the best used SUVs for the money
When iSeeCars Analyzed more than two million used vehicles with the longest lifespan, it was also able to compare those models to current used car values. The Hyundai Santa Fe had an average price of $11,981 but a potential lifespan of 206,398 miles. That works out to about $131 per 1,000 miles, well below the average of $166 per 1,000 miles. For the best used SUV under $20,000 with a goal of 200,000 miles, this Hyundai SUV won’t let you down.
After the Santa Fe, the Ford Expedition has an average price of $15,584 and a potential useful life of 244,682 miles. iSeeCars says it has an average price of $143 per 1,000 miles. After 10 years of use, it still had over 108,762 miles of potential wear life left.
Model | Price per 1k Miles | Average price | potential useful life |
hyundai santa fe | $131 | $11,981 | 206,398 |
ford expedition | $143 | $15,584 | 244,682 |
Honda Pilot | $147 | $15,214 | 236,807 |
acura mdx | $151 | $16,522 | 228,472 |
subaru outback | $152 | $12,782 | 208,298 |
honda crv | $152 | $15,540 | 215,930 |
Mazda CX-9 | $154 | $12,330 | 201,972 |
toyota sequoia | $154 | $23,310 | 296,509 |
chevrolet suburban | $159 | $18,144 | 265,732 |
ford edge | $160 | $12,741 | 203,662 |
SUV segment average | $166 | $16,201 | 224,512 |
The industry average is $16,201 for the price of an average of 224,512 miles of life. Even reaching that threshold is quite an achievement.
See more of the best used SUVs under $20,000
The 10-year SUV list has plenty of good options. Both the Honda Pilot and Honda CR-V SUV are expected to last more than 215,000 miles. Add that to the reasonable price of under $16,000 and you have two of the best used SUVs under $20,000. Toyota’s Sequoia SUV is the only Toyota on the list and happens to be one of the more expensive options at $23,310. iSeeCars estimates the Sequoia costs $154 for 1,000 miles and has a potential lifespan of 296,509 miles.
Many automakers had at least one SUV on the list. Some of the best used SUVs under $20,000 include the Acura MDX, Subaru Outback, Chevrolet Suburban, and Mazda CX-9. Ford also had another option, the Ford Edge. Each of these has a potential lifespan of over 200,000 miles and a price per 1,000 miles of less than $166.
If you don’t want an SUV, buy a Chevy Impala
In the top 20 of all cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles, the Hyundai Santa Fe was one of the only SUVs. For the most part, sedans and SUVs were the longest lasting options for the money. The Chevrolet Impala sedan was the best car for the money, coming in at just $87 for 1,000 miles. The Impala offers the best bang for your buck, with a potential lifespan of 230,343 and an average price of just $9,706.
For the best used SUVs under $20,000 that will get 200,000 miles, the Hyundai Santa Fe is at the top of the list. While not every Santa Fe goes to 206,398 miles, it does stand a good chance in a high-mileage situation. Plus, with an average cost of just $11,981, it doesn’t get much better than that.