There's no exact definition of a sporty SUV, and the meaning tends to change within different automotive circles. Generally speaking, sporty SUVs merge attributes of the typical passenger car with features of rugged off-road vehicles. They can tackle almost every driving condition when built well, making them a better choice for adventures over sedans.
Most potent and desirable sporty SUVs like the Porsche Macan, Mercedes Benz GLE Class, BMW X5, Bentley Bentayga, and the Audi SQ7 cost about $50,000 and above. However, since more SUV owners are leaning towards sporty vehicles, automakers can push out more affordable options. If you know where to look, you could purchase a sporty SUV for cheap without compromising drive quality and comfort. Most of these SUVs are highly efficient and surprisingly loaded with unique features. Here, we've carefully curated ten versatile SUVs that you can buy brand new, without breaking the bank.
10 2021 Jeep Cherokee- $26,290
If you're interested in a capable SUV, you should probably check out the 2021 Jeep Cherokee. Once you buy the Cherokee, you automatically access the Jeep wave program, including free maintenance and support for 36 months. Powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, the Cherokee base model has an output of 180hp and an acceleration of 0-60mph in 6.7 seconds
The SUV is equipped with five drive modes, including auto, sport, track, snow, and tow, to tackle various driving conditions. Drivers have described the Cherokee’s interior as comfortable and practical.
9 2021 Subaru Forester– $24,795
Though not among the fastest SUVs, the 2021 Subaru Forester is a comfy vehicle. The Forester has standard all-wheel drive across all trims and uses an automatic CVT transmission system. For space, the 2021 Forester boasts 31.1 cu ft interior cargo and 71.1 cu ft of space, with the rear seats folded.
There's a 6.5-inch infotainment touchscreen in Subaru's typical style and an optional 8.0-inch screen. The Forester comes with the Eyesight feature for safety and has a combined fuel economy of 39 miles per gallon.
8 2021 Kia Seltos– $21,990
With a crease on each side of the Seltos, it matches the sporty look. For the 2021 Seltos model, Kia offers two engine options, including a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. The 2.0-liter engine is capable of 145 horsepower, 132 lb-ft of torque, and an acceleration of 0-60 miles per hour in 8.55 seconds
For infotainment, there's a 10.3-inch touchscreen and a head-up display. The Seltos also drives well, albeit not perfectly. On the downside, most driver assistance packages, including adaptive cruise control, are not standard
7 2021 Toyota RAV4– $26,050
For the 2021 model year, Toyota made no significant changes on the RAV4, but it's still an exciting SUV. The RAV4 has 37.6 cu ft of space at the back of the rear seats, and with the seats folded, the cargo is 69.8 cu ft. There's a 7-inch media touchscreen, but Toyota also has an 8-inch screen and wireless charging as an optional package.
The SUV's 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission to produce 203 horsepower. Though, unlike the Honda CR-V, the RAV4's seats are not power-adjustable.
6 2021 Kia Sportage– $23,990
Kia's Sportage is a 5-seater compact SUV. The 2021 version is available in four different trims: the LX, S, EX, and SX. Both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive are available with varying options of engine. The 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine is capable of 181 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque.
There's an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with buttons for easy navigation. The Sportage can tow a maximum of 2,000 lbs and has a combined fuel economy of about 26 miles per gallon. If you want more performance and features, you can always get a higher trim.
5 2021 Hyundai Kona– $23,034
With six different trim levels, the Hyundai Kona gives you options. The South Korean manufacturer has a standard front-wheel-drive and optional all-wheel-drive for all trims of the Kona. There are two powertrain choices with, of course, different capabilities. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder base engine delivers 147 horsepower, while the 1.6-liter turbocharged engine produces 175 horsepower.
For space, the Kona has about 45.8 cu ft with the rear seats folded, and that's fair for a subcompact SUV. The also Kona SEL trim has features like keyless entry and heated front seats.
4 2021 Kia Soul– $17,490
If there's an automaker we trust to offer value at an affordable price, it's Kia. The Kia Soul subcompact SUV seems similar to Hyundai's Kona, but its boxy frame and lowly-placed grille set it apart. There's a 2.0-liter engine with an output of 147 horsepower and a 1.6-liter engine with 201 horsepower.
The 147hp engine uses either a manual transmission or a CVT, while the 201hp engine uses a 7-speed automatic transmission. There's no all-wheel drive, but the Soul has about 62.1 cu ft of cargo with rear seats folded. As for handling, the Kia Soul is good but not as good as its rivals.
3 2020 Ford Escape– $24,885
The 2020 Ford Escape is undeniably a well-designed car. There are two gasoline engine versions, a hybrid variant and a plug-in hybrid version of the Escape. Since all-wheel-drive isn't standard, buyers can opt to pay an extra $1,500 for AWD.
The 1.5-liter produces an output of 181 horsepower, while the 2.0-liter engine is capable of 250 horsepower. With a towing capacity of 3,500lbs, the Ford Escape competes with SUVs like the RAV4 and the Volvo Xc40. Ford's Escape has five drive modes: sport, eco, normal, slippery, and snow.
2 2021 Mazda CX-30–$21,900
Of all the SUVs on our list, the Mazda CX-30 has the lushest interior design. The CX-30 has eight trim levels, and of course, the base model has fewer features. However, even though the base trim offers fewer features, it still looks like Mazda is offering a lot.
The 2.5-liter gas engine delivers 186hp at 6000rpm and 186lb-ft of torque at 4000rpm. There's an 8.8-inch infotainment touchscreen with a voice command system. The CX-30 also offers loads of driver assistance features.
1 Honda CR-V–$25,350
Honda's CR-V has both gasoline and hybrid trims. The base trim is fitted with a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine that generates 190 horsepower. Meanwhile, the hybrid trim has two electric motors and a 2.0-liter engine with 212 horsepower.
The CR-V is known for its superb handling and competes with SUVs like the Toyota RAV4 and Subaru's Forester. Behind the rear seat, Honda's CR-V has 39.2 cu ft of space, and with the rear seats folded, you get 75.8 cu ft. The CR-V's fuel economy is also excellent, with 28mpg in the city and 34mpg on the highway.