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Are you ready to find the best small used SUVs with excellent reliability scores? This list includes subcompact options with modern features that won’t let you down. See how long each option will last. 

Three reliable used SUVs for under $20,000 

iSeeCars provided a list of the most reliable small used SUVs to hunt for. Each option is under $20,000 but still has modern safety, comfort, and convenience features. 

With the help of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), iSeeCars analyzed over 12 million new and used vehicles to discover the most reliable models, best five-year depreciation rates, and safety scores. 

1. 2018 Subaru Forester 

    The 2018 Subaru Forester is the most reliable tiny used SUV on this list. It earned a reliability score of 8.3 out of 10. The average used Forester should make it between 200,000 to 250,000 miles. However, some models surpass 300,000 miles. 

    Plus, the average used price hovers around $19,256. It has a value retention score of 8.4 out of 10 and a high safety score of 9.0 out of 10.

    2. 2020 Ford Escape 

      The 2020 Ford Escape is another great used SUV to consider. It has a reliability score of 8.2 out of 10. An average Escape model is expected to last between 200,000 to 250,000 miles. Although, some examples have made it over 300,000 miles. 

      The 2020 Ford Escape off-roading
      2020 Ford Escape | Ford

      Average prices for used Escape models are around $19,991. It has a value retention score of 7.6 and an outstanding safety score of 10 out of 10. 

      3. 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander

        The 2020 Mitsubishi Outlander feels like an underdog here but it has a reliability score of 8.1. An average Outlander model is expected to last between 250,000 to 300,000 models. Some models surpass 300,000 miles. 

        The average price for this used SUV is $18,673. It has a solid value retention score of 7.7 and a safety score of 8.4.

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        Staff Writer

        Allison Barfield

        Allison Barfield joined MotorBiscuit in 2020 and covers all things trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps. Having grown up on a farm in Rock Hill, South Carolina, she’s no stranger to the “Best in Class” truck and SUV debates; people in her hometown were always gathering to help work on vehicles together, and deliberation would naturally arise.

        Allison graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Media Arts. She has helped bring awareness to issues Women In Trucking face and has promoted Truckers Against Trafficking, an anti-trafficking NGO.

        A fan of creatively dark literature, Allison appreciates the works of Shirley Jackson and Emily Dickenson. She lives in a mountainous area of the country and enjoys off-roading and camping. Her dog, Bruce, often joins her in testing trucks and SUVs for our site.