This Affordable Used SUV Beat The RAV4 And CR-V In A Value Ranking

Purchasing a new car is not the best financial decision in 2026. Thanks to rising sticker prices, rising auto insurance rates, and overall increased costs across almost all aspects of life, drivers are holding onto their vehicles for longer. This is, in turn, tightening the used car market. That said, if you're in the market for a spacious and reliable used vehicle, there is one midsize SUV that beats out popular options like the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V in affordability — the Buick Encore, which ranked No. 1 in iSeeCars' Most reliable 5-year-old SUVs for the money. 

Prices can vary, but CarGurus data, as of November 2026, shows used Buick Encores prices averaging around $11,576, with five-year-old models from 2021 listed for an average of $14,599. To put that into perspective, used Honda CR-Vs average $22,011 in listing price — and $23,843 for five-year-old models — while used Toyota RAV4s are priced even higher at an average of $25,809 overall, with five-year-old models averaging $24,431. Likewise, the average five-year-old used SUV in general is listed for around $24,377, per iSeeCars. Plus, Repair Pal gives the Buick Encore above-average rankings for reliability, with average annual repairs estimated to be around $466 compared to the overall vehicle average of $652.

Used Buick Encore prices are not only affordable compared to other SUVs; they're affordable compared to the used car market in general. As of 2026, it's become increasingly difficult to find used cars for around $15,000, or even under $20,000. Even though CarGurus data shows that the average used car sticker price has declined 2.17% in the three months prior to November 2026, prices are still averaging over $28,000. That makes the Encore one of the most affordable used vehicles on the market.

Also, even though car values depreciate quickly, there could be no better time than the present to pounce on the Buick Encore due to the fact it out of production — meaning its used car inventory isn't being replenished. The newest one of these cars you'll find is from 2023, and even the Buick Encore GX — a larger, pricier crossover that replaced the original Encore– is set to be discontinued after 2026. Good Car Bad Car data shows that a total of 594,721 Buick Encores were sold in the U.S. based on sales between 2013 and 2024, while Carfax shows over 2,000 used Encores currently for sale, as of November 2026.