10 Reliable SUVs More Affordable Than A Subaru Crosstrek

For decades, Subaru has developed a reputation for producing dependable, long-lasting, and high-performing vehicles. While many cars depreciate quickly, CarEdge ranks this Japanese marque in the top three on its lists of automakers producing models with strong resale value after three, five, and seven years. Meanwhile, Consumer Reports hails Subaru as the top mainstream car manufacturer and the company with the third-highest rating for customer satisfaction in the industry.

Among the brand's lineup, the Subaru Crosstrek is a routine favorite. In 2025, the nameplate sold 191,724 units, which marked a 5.5% jump in demand from the prior year and set the vehicle's sales record, according to Subaru. While not the most expensive car on the market, many consumers may still be interested in alternatives to the Crosstrek that offer its characteristic reliability at a more digestible price point. To help narrow down the search, we assessed 10 reliable SUVs more affordable than a Subaru Crosstrek.

To determine a vehicle's reliability, we looked at J.D. Power's Quality and Reliability index. We only considered models with a score of at least 81 out of 100, which J.D. Power designates as "Great." This metric is based on three years of driver experience, so we only considered models from 2022. As of September 2026, the 2022 Crosstrek has a rating of 87 out of 100, per J.D. Power, and a fair purchase price of $17,950, per Kelley Blue Book (KBB). Ranked from most expensive to least, these are the reliable SUVs that are even more affordable than that.

The 2022 Nissan Murano has a fair purchase price of $17,700, according to KBB, which represents a 1.4% discount from the Crosstrek of the same year. J.D. Power gives this SUV a Quality and Reliability score of 88 out of 100, beating out its Subaru competitor. For additional financial context, owners of the Murano tend to spend about $507 annually on maintenance and repairs, as reported by RepairPal. That's slightly higher than the Crosstrek's projected yearly upkeep cost of $492. This vehicle may rank average among Nissan cars for retirees, but it's a solid choice for drivers seeking a middle ground between upfront affordability and long-term reliability.

FuelEconomy.gov, the federal government's official database of automotive fuel efficiency, estimates that the 2022 Murano gets 23 miles per gallon when used for combined city and highway driving. Assuming 15,000 annual miles and looking at gas prices as of September 2026, owners are projected to spend about $2,700 per year on fuel. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), an independent vehicle testing nonprofit, classifies this SUV as a Top Safety Pick+. This designation reflects top-tier crashworthiness and safety standards, and is the highest the organization offers. The 2022 Murano comes built-in with blind spot detection, rear automatic braking, and lane departure warning. KBB consumer reviews show that 75% of real-world owners give this vehicle a perfect score, with an overall rating of 4.6 out of 5. For reference, the 2022 Crosstrek has a 3.8 out of 5 rating, with half of owners giving it five stars.

KBB indicates that the 2022 Kia Seltos has a fair purchase price of $17,450. That gives potential buyers a 2.8% break on upfront costs compared to the 2022 Crosstrek. Additionally, this SUV excels in dependability, with a J.D. Power Quality and Reliability rating of 83 out of 100, far exceeding the market average. RepairPal estimates that Kia owners dedicate around $474 annually to repairs and maintenance, which is a slight improvement compared to that of the Subaru. These reasonable costs have helped establish the Seltos as one of the best affordable Kia cars for drivers on a budget.

The baseline 2022 Kia Seltos achieves 31 miles per gallon combined, per estimates from FuelEconomy.gov. When measured out across a full year, this SUV has an average fuel cost of $2,000. In terms of safety, the IIHS classifies this SUV as a Top Safety Pick, the group's second-highest award, largely thanks to the fact that it landed perfect scores on all six of its crashworthiness tests. It comes standard with lane departure warning and prevention, although rear automatic braking and blind spot detection are optional upgrades. The Seltos enjoys an average consumer review score of 4.2 out of 5, with 62% of drivers giving it a perfect rating, per KBB.

A newer Buick Encore GX has been heralded as one of the best cars for a retiree under $30,000, but drivers can cut that cost nearly in half by looking at the pre-owned market. The 2022 model year has a fair purchase price of $17,250, as reported by KBB, suggesting savings of roughly 3.9% when it's stacked up against the 2022 Crosstrek. Also, the 2022 Encore GX ties the Subaru SUV on dependability, with an 87 out of 100 on the J.D. Power Quality and Reliability scale. This Buick SUV does have modestly higher upkeep expenses, however: RepairPal projects that Buick drivers spend around $608 on yearly maintenance.

According to FuelEconomy.gov, the 2022 Encore GX has a combined fuel efficiency of 27 miles per gallon. This comes out to a roughly $2,300 annual expenditure on fuel, assuming 15,000 miles per year and September 2026 gas prices. For its part, the IIHS judges this SUV to be a Top Safety Pick, with the model scoring premium results across all of its six crash test simulations. The 2022 Encore GX comes standard with lane departure warning and prevention, with blind spot detection offered as a possible upgrade. KBB consumer ratings reveal that the 2022 Encore GX has an average score of 4.2 out of 5, with 60% of drivers giving it a perfect rating.

Along with the Subaru Crosstrek, the Chevrolet Equinox is one of the top-selling SUVs that are perfect for a retiree. When looking at the used market, the latter comes in at a more appealing price point, too. According to KBB, the 2022 Equinox exhibits a fair purchase price of $16,750. For comparison, that's a 6.7% lower upfront cost than the Crosstrek. On top of a compelling sales price, the 2022 Equinox also excels at dependability, sporting an 85 out of 100 on the J.D. Power Quality and Reliability index. Meanwhile, annual repair costs for this popular Chevrolet SUV hover around $537, per RepairPal estimates.

FuelEconomy.gov estimates that the 2022 Equinox's base trim gets a combined 28 miles per gallon. This means owners of this SUV would be projected to spend about $2,250 annually on gas. It is worth nothing that this model year does have a mixed IIHS crashworthiness report. While the nameplate received mostly perfect marks on safety tests, it fell short on two: The moderate front overlap test, which measures the effect of a collision to a vehicle's front corner, and the side test, which tracks the impact of a T-bone crash. Furthermore, this vehicle comes standard with a lane-departure-prevention system, but requires an upgrade for blind spot detection. Actual owners of the 2022 Equinox give it an average rating of 3.9 out of 5, although 50% of people who own one rate it perfectly, according to KBB consumer reviews.

The Trailblazer stands among the best Chevrolets for retirees, but this recommendation extends to the broader market, too. In reality, anyone looking for a balance between affordability and reliability may want to consider this SUV. KBB suggests that the 2022 Trailblazer carries a fair purchase price of $16,650, which is 7.2% lower than the 2022 Crosstrek's upfront costs. All the while, the Trailblazer still maintains a laudable J.D. Power Quality and Reliability rating of 84 out of 100. According to RepairPal, this SUV racks up an annual upkeep bill of $524 on average.

Per official FuelEconomy.gov estimates, the 2022 Trailblazer gets a combined 30 miles per gallon. Looking at gas prices as of September 2026 and assuming 15,000 annual miles, Trailblazer owners are estimated to spend $2,100 on gas per year — and that's not the only way the Trailblazer outclasses its Equinox cousin: The Trailblazer also earned perfect scores across its entire IIHS crashworthiness report, receiving a Top Safety Pick+ designation in the process. Drivers get lane departure warning and prevention standard with the base trim, but may need to spring for an upgrade if they're dead set on blind spot detection. KBB's consumer review aggregate shows that 70% of drivers give this vehicle a flawless rating. Overall, owners give the 2022 Trailblazer a 4.3 out of 5.

The 2022 Kia Sportage isn't the first or the last model from its South Korean manufacturer to make the list of reliable SUVs that are more affordable than a Subaru Crosstrek, but it remains a solid contender nonetheless. This nameplate has a fair purchase price of $16,450, according to KBB estimates, meaning buyers can save 8.4% compared to the Crosstrek. This inexpensive price point is paired with above-average dependability: J.D. Power gives the 2022 Sportage an 85 out of 100 on its Quality and Reliability index. Potential buyers may also appreciate this SUV's modest annual maintenance and repair costs of $462, per RepairPal — one of the lowest upkeep projections on this list. This attractive combination of dependability and affordability helps place the Kia Sportage among the top-selling cars that are perfect for a retiree.

Owners of the 2022 Kia Sportage will get about 26 miles per gallon combined in fuel efficiency, which FuelEconomy.gov projects will add up to roughly $2,400 in annual fuel expenses. The IIHS also gives the 2022 Sportage a placement among its Top Safety Picks, with the SUV earning high marks in its extensive crashworthiness testing. However, it did perform below average in its side test. Like they would with the Seltos, consumers get lane departure warning and prevention in the baseline trim, but need to upgrade for blind spot detection. According to an aggregate of consumer reviews from KBB, the 2022 Sportage has an average rating of 4.4 out of 5, with 69% of owners giving it a five-star review.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is the SUV successor to the Eclipse sport coupe, which was discontinued after the 2012 model year. KBB reports that the 2022 version of this sleek crossover has a fair purchase price at $15,950, which is a considerable 11.1% reduction compared to the 2022 Crosstrek. Despite this relative discount, the Eclipse Cross doesn't give up any dependability, earning a respectable 84 out of 100 Quality and Reliability rating from J.D. Power. For additional context, RepairPal estimates that the typical Mitsubishi owner spends around $535 annually on general repairs and maintenance.

Official reports from FuelEconomy.gov indicate that the 2022 Eclipse Cross gets a combined 26 miles to the gallon. This means owners can expect to spend about $2,400 on gas over the course of a year, assuming 15,000 miles per year and September 2026 gas prices. The 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross has a decent crashworthiness report, with some specific shortcomings: The majority of its crash test simulations were given perfect ratings by the IIHS. However, its side and moderate overlap front tests were given the lowest scores possible, so the potential discounts the Eclipse Cross offers drivers may come at a cost in the event of a serious collision. Still, owners get lane departure warning out of the gate, and can upgrade for blind spot detection if they're looking to double down on safety. KBB indicates that 65% of actual owners give the 2022 Eclipse Cross a perfect rating, while the model has an average consumer rating of 4.2 out of 5.

The Ford Escape is the only vehicle from the iconic American marque to qualify as a reliable SUV that's cheaper than the Subaru Crosstrek. That's not a major surprise given that the average Ford model tends to be more expensive than both the industry average and the typical Subaru, according to August 2026 data from Cox Automotive. However, KBB indicates that the 2022 Escape has a fair purchase price of $15,600, which would offer a sizable 13.1% markdown when measured against the Subaru Crosstrek from the same year. This Ford SUV carries the marque's tough reputation, earning a J.D. Power Quality and Reliability rating of 82 out of 100, though RepairPal does estimate that it comes with relatively high annual maintenance expenses of around $600. If you're eager to save even more money without sacrificing dependability, check out the reliable cars that are more affordable than the Ford Escape.

FuelEconomy.gov estimates indicate that the 2022 Escape gets a combined 30 miles per gallon. If owners drive an average of 15,000 miles per year, they'll end up spending around $2,100 on fuel based on September 2026 gas prices. Additionally, this SUV earned a virtually unblemished crashworthiness report from the IIHS, falling shy only on the side test. Even then, it's still heralded as a Top Safety Pick. Unlike a lot of models on this list, the 2022 Escape also comes standard with blind-spot-detection and lane-departure-prevention systems. According to KBB consumer reviews, the 2022 Escape carries a 3.8 out of 5 average rating from actual owners. Meanwhile, 53% of drivers rate it perfectly.

The unmistakable Kia Soul has been a long-standing icon in the SUV segment. An immediate standout due to its characteristic appearance, this boxy model is known for its excellent reliability and stellar affordability. More specifically, the 2022 Soul has a fair purchase price of $15,000, according to KBB. That's a wallet-padding 16.4% drop from the Crosstrek's price tag. Furthermore, this Kia SUV boasts a J.D. Power Quality and Reliability score of 85 out of 100, reflecting top-tier dependability. Meanwhile, RepairPal estimates that Kia Soul owners spend around $437 per year on general maintenance and repairs, which is the cheapest upkeep cost on this list. With these modest costs, it should come as no surprise that the Soul ranks as one of the most affordable Kia cars for owners on a budget.

Notably, the 2022 Kia Soul averages 30 miles per gallon combined, per official reports by FuelEconomy.gov. On average, owners can expect to spend $2,100 annually on fuel for this model. The 2022 Soul is another Top Safety Pick from the IIHS, with pristine marks seen across all crash test simulations. However, this nameplate does leave some crucial safety features off of its entry-level model, requiring drivers to upgrade for blind spot detection, lane departure warning and prevention, and rear automatic braking. The 2022 Soul carries a 4.4 out of 5 average rating from real-world owners, per KBB consumer reviews, with 74% of owners giving it a perfect rating.

The Nissan Kicks is more affordable than the Toyota Highlander, the Subaru Crosstrek, and a variety of other SUVs. Per KBB estimates, the 2022 release of this vehicle features an extremely reasonable fair purchase price of $15,000. While that suggests its value roughly matches that of the Soul, the Kicks also ties for the highest dependability score on this list of reliable SUVs cheaper than the Crosstrek: It has an 88 out of 100 on the J.D. Power Quality and Reliability index. Its annual maintenance costs are also fairly competitive, with RepairPal reporting that Nissan owners, on average, spend about $500 annually to keep their vehicles operating optimally.

Impressively, the 2022 Nissan Kicks gets 33 miles per gallon combined, according to official FuelEconomy.gov estimates, placing it among the most fuel-efficient models on this list. Drivers who average 15,000 annual miles would spend about $1,900 per year on fuel based on September 2026 gas prices. Although the 2022 Kicks didn't receive any official award from the IIHS, it still received top-notch ratings across all of its crashworthiness tests. And unlike many of the more expensive models we mentioned, rear automatic braking, lane departure warning, and blind spot detection all come standard on this model, too. According to KBB consumer reviews, 49% of owners give the 2022 Kicks a perfect score, and the vehicle boasts a 4 out of 5 rating overall.