10 Best Priced SUVs

Sometimes you need to move a lot of people or cargo for not a lot of money.  Looking for the best priced SUV - i.e., the one that fits in your budget - typically means targeting the base model.  Sure, you're going to forgo some premium features, and you might not get the nicest rims or the trick body kit that you see in the vehicle's advertisements, but at the core you still get all of the interior room that you need to deal with your daily needs.  Add in a wallet-friendly MSRP, and a best priced SUV can serve as both a highly useful and very economical second automobile.

Let's take a look at 10 of the best priced SUVs and see what they have to offer.

Best Priced SUV - 01 - 2014 Jeep Patriot - $15,995

The 2014 Jeep Patriot is the least expensive SUV on the market.  The compact Jeep Patriot isn’t the most refined option available, but base models do come with fog lights, a split and folding rear seat, a CD player, 16-inch steel wheels, and roof rails.  Under the hood, the Patriot features a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine that is rated at 158 horsepower and 141 lb-ft of torque, matched with a five-speed manual transmission.  Front-wheel drive is standard, and fuel economy for the vehicle is listed at 23-mpg in city driving and 28-mpg on the highway.  The Jeep can transport up to five passengers or as much as 53.5 cubic feet of total cargo.

Best Priced SUV - 02 - 2014 Jeep Compass - $18,459

It's perhaps not surprising that Jeep - a brand devoted exclusively to SUVs - would have two entries on our best priced list.  The 2014 Jeep Compass builds on the equipment offered by the Patriot but not by much, adding a tilt steering wheel to the list of standard gear.  Five passenger seating is again the norm, and the Compass' larger interior compartment makes room for up to 62.7 cubic feet of cargo.  The Jeep is motivated by the same 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine found in the Patriot (producing an identical 158 horses and 141 lb-ft of torque), but while it matches its sibling in city fuel mileage it actually tops the Patriot's highway rating by two miles per gallon.

Best Priced SUV - 03 - 2013 Nissan Juke - $18,990

The 2013 Nissan Juke is a polarizing design, with love-it-or-hate-it looks that catch the eyes of drivers and passersby alike.  It's hard to argue with the Nissan Juke's fun-to-drive character, however, or its reasonable starting price.  The Juke delivers 17-inch rims, a folding rear seat, power windows and door locks, air conditioning, cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity, a trip computer, and a tilt steering wheel to go with its 1.6-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine.  188 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque are standard - as is a continuously-variable automatic transmission - and the Nissan provides fuel mileage of 27-mpg city and 32-mpg highway.  The SUV's tiny size translates into a tiny passenger compartment, with tight seating for five or an available 36 cubic feet of total storage space limiting the Juke's utility.

Best Priced SUV - 04 - 2013 Kia Sportage - $19,000

The 2013 Kia Sportage is another fashion-forward SUV, but one that appeals to a broader range of buyers thanks to its more mainstream looks.  Inside, the Kia Sportage provides five passenger seating along with 54.6 cubic feet of storage space, and the base model comes with satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity, power windows and door locks, 16-inch rims, a trip computer, a CD player, and cruise control.  The Sportage's base motor is a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder that can be counted on to produce 176 horsepower and 168 lb-ft of torque.  This output is managed by a six-speed manual transmission, and fuel economy is listed at 21-mpg in stop and go driving and 30-mpg on the highway.

Best Priced SUV - 05 - 2013 Dodge Journey - $19,100

The 2013 Dodge Journey is the only three-row, six-passenger SUV on this list.  The Dodge Journey's generous interior dimensions also translate into a healthy 68 cubic feet of total cargo space.  Coming along for the ride with the base Journey are 17-inch steel rims, a CD player, dual climate control, cruise control, a touchscreen entertainment interface, and keyless entry and ignition.  The Dodge features a 2.4-liter, 173 horsepower engine that also produces 166 lb-ft of torque from its four cylinders.  Fuel mileage for the Journey, which is shifted via a four-speed automatic, is listed at 19-mpg around town and 26-mpg during highway cruising.

Best Priced SUV - 06 - 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport - $19,470

The 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport is aimed at buyers who enjoy aggressive styling in an affordable SUV.  The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport is also decently equipped, featuring the brand's Fuse entertainment and communications interface system, a CD player, cruise control, heated mirrors, 16-inch wheels, a split folding rear seat, and air conditioning.  Buyers can expect 148 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque from the vehicle's 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine, and a five-speed manual transmission sends that output to the SUV's front wheels.  Fuel mileage for the entry-level Outlander Sport checks in at 24-mpg city and 30-mpg highway, and the five-passenger vehicle can also handle up to 49.5 cubic feet of cargo.

Best Priced SUV - 07 - 2013 Nissan Rogue - $20,310

The 2013 Nissan Rogue is a popular compact SUV that is priced to sell, especially in the face of rivals from Honda and Toyota.  The Nissan Rogue can transport up to five passengers or just under 60 cubic feet of luggage, and it comes equipped with a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine that generates 170 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of twist.  A continuously-variable automatic transmission is included free of charge with the Rogue, which helps it to achieve fuel mileage of 23-mpg around town and 28-mpg on the highway.  Equipment for the base model includes power windows and door locks, a trip computer, a CD player, keyless entry, cruise control, tilt steering adjustment, and 16-inch steel wheels.

Best Priced SUV - 08 - 2013 Hyundai Tucson - $20,595

The 2013 Hyundai Tucson shares much of its platform with the Kia Sportage, and while it looks different than its mechanical sibling it attracts many family shoppers with its sleek, 'fluidic sculpture' styling cues.  Also appealing is the level of fit and finish inside the Hyundai Tucson, as well as standard features such as 17-inch wheels, a CD player, a trip computer, an adjustable driver's seat, power windows and door locks, tinted rear glass, air conditioning, and a split folding rear seat.  A 2.0-liter, 165 horsepower four-cylinder engine is another difference between the Kia and the base Hyundai, and this motor also provides 146 lb-ft of torque along with fuel economy figures of 22-mpg city and 29-mpg highway.  The five-passenger Tucson is shifted via a five-speed manual transmission, and it can haul up to 55.8 cubic feet of cargo.

Best Priced SUV - 09 - 2013 Mazda CX-5 - $21,395

The 2013 Mazda CX-5 is an all-new compact SUV that delivers excellent handling to go with its affordable price.  The Mazda CX-5 can haul either five passengers or 65 cubic feet of luggage, and the vehicle also comes with 17-inch rims, cruise control, power windows and door locks (with keyless entry), a split folding rear seat, a CD player, a steering wheel with tilt-and-telescope adjustment, and air conditioning.  A 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine pulls duty between the CX-5's front fenders, where it produces 155 horsepower and 150 lb-ft of torque, and a six-speed manual transmission allows drivers to row through the gears at their leisure.  Fuel economy for the front-wheel drive SUV is listed at a frugal 26-mpg city and 35-mpg highway.

Best Priced SUV - 10 - 2013 Ford Escape - $22,700

The 2013 Ford Escape is another ground-up redesign in the compact SUV segment.  The Ford Escape moves away from its truck-like looks to embrace a more modern design, although it maintains comfortable seating for five passengers along with a very respectable 68.1 cubic feet of total cargo space.  The entry-level Escape is equipped with power windows and door locks, 17-inch steel rims, air conditioning, cruise control, a CD player, and an adjustable steering wheel.  A 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine produces 168 horsepower and 167 lb-ft of torque in the SUV, managed by a six-speed automatic transmission, and fuel economy for the vehicle checks in at 22-mpg around town and 31-mpg on the highway.