Love them or hate them, compact SUVs have taken over the family car job. The days of stuffing everyone into a sedan are mostly gone, replaced by high-riding crossovers built to handle school runs, groceries, and weekend road trips.
Buyers have spoken, too, and imported models still dominate this space. When families want practicality, efficiency, and peace of mind, Japanese brands usually end up at the top of the list.
One standout makes an even stronger case used than new. A three-year-old example can give you nearly the same comfort, tech, and safety for thousands less, which is exactly why it’s the smarter buy.
10 Honda SUVs You Should Buy Used
These 10 used Honda SUVs offer great reliability, value, and performance for budget-conscious buyers.
SUVs have become America’s default family vehicle
Compact models lead the way with space, comfort, and utility
SUVs have basically become the default choice for American car buyers. According to Good Car Bad Car, more than 52 percent of new vehicles sold in the U.S. are SUVs.
Compact SUVs make up a huge chunk of that total, accounting for around 21 percent of the market. For most families, the appeal is simple: space, comfort, and everyday usefulness.
Safety is still the biggest priority for families
For most buyers, it’s not about driving the biggest vehicle on the road—it’s about feeling protected in it. SUVs have become the go-to choice because many shoppers see them as the safer option.
That isn’t automatically true, since crash safety depends on engineering, structure, and how a vehicle handles impact. Still, with modern vehicles getting larger across the board, plenty of drivers would rather be in an SUV than a small coupe when things go wrong.
Modern SUVs are packed with tech buyers actually want
SUVs also tend to get the family-friendly features buyers actually use. Many newer models pack in smart extras designed to make daily life easier, especially for parents hauling kids around.
Larger standouts like the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade even offer passenger intercom-style systems, letting the driver talk to rear-seat passengers without turning around or raising their voice.
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Why tariffs could make used SUVs even more appealing
Rising new-car costs may push more buyers toward lightly used options
Tariffs are still a major factor in today’s car market. Imported materials like steel, aluminum, and various auto parts have become more expensive, adding extra costs for automakers.
Some rules have changed over time, and legal fights have reshaped how certain tariffs are handled. Even so, those added costs haven’t fully gone away.
Buying used in 2026 is one of the smartest ways to shop
The pandemic years made car shopping more expensive and a lot more frustrating. That’s one reason lightly used vehicles still make so much sense today.
A three-year-old model is often a sweet spot for buyers. In many cases, it’s still part of the same generation as the new version, but costs less after taking the biggest depreciation hit.
Buying new in 2026 comes with a hefty price tag
Kelley Blue Book recently reported that the average new vehicle price in the U.S. sits around $47,000. If you want proof that affordability is a real issue, the new-car market is a pretty good place to start.
That’s exactly why a three-year-old family SUV can make so much sense. You get the space and features people want, but with a much easier monthly payment.
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Why the 2023 Honda CR-V is smarter than buying new
This 3-year-old Japanese SUV still delivers everything families want
The Honda CR-V has been one of America’s favorite compact SUVs for years, and the sales numbers back that up. Honda moved 403,768 of them in 2025, with more than 31,000 already sold this year.
It’s easy to see why families keep coming back. The CR-V offers one of the roomiest back seats in the class, with 41 inches of rear legroom and up to 76 cubic feet of cargo space when you need to load it up.
- Base Trim Engine
-
1.5L Turbo Inline-4 Gas
- Base Trim Transmission
-
Continuously Variable Automatic (CVT)
- Base Trim Drivetrain
-
Front-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
-
190 hp
- Base Trim Torque
-
179 lb-ft @ 1700 rpm
- Fuel Economy
-
28/34 MPG
- Make
-
Honda
- Model
-
CR-V
- Segment
-
Compact SUV
A practical powertrain that just makes sense
The Honda CR-V isn’t built to win drag races, but that’s never been the point. It’s built to be dependable, easy to live with, and ready for whatever the week throws at you.
Buyers get two solid choices: a standard gas engine or an efficient hybrid setup. The hybrid is the standout, delivering up to 40 mpg combined, which is excellent for a roomy family SUV.
2023 Honda CR-V performance specs
|
Powertrain |
Turbocharged 1.5-liter inline 4-cylinder |
NA 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder + electric motors |
|---|---|---|
|
Power |
190 hp |
204 hp |
|
Torque |
179 lb-ft |
247 lb-ft |
|
Fuel economy |
30 mpg combined |
40 mpg combined |
Why a used Honda CR-V makes so much sense
The Honda CR-V also gets a lot right simply by not overcomplicating things. It doesn’t chase flashy styling, fake sportiness, or expensive luxury gimmicks the way some rivals do.
Instead, it sticks to what most buyers actually care about: a roomy cabin, strong fuel economy, and a reputation for lasting a long time. That smart middle-ground approach is a big reason it continues to outsell plenty of competitors.
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Why the numbers make the CR-V easy to justify
Lower used prices make this family SUV an even better deal
A brand-new Honda CR-V starts at $32,370 including destination, which is fairly reasonable by today’s standards. With new-car prices where they are, that number could definitely be worse.
But this is where the used market gets interesting. A 2023 LX is closer to $23,900 according to Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Pricing, creating roughly a $10,000 gap.
That’s a serious chunk of money when the newer and older models are so similar underneath. Most buyers won’t give up much in performance, efficiency, or day-to-day usefulness by choosing the three-year-old version instead.
2023 Honda CR-V average used prices
|
Trim |
Price |
|---|---|
|
LX |
$23,900 |
|
EX |
$27,100 |
|
EX-L |
$27,600 |
|
Sport (Hybrid) |
$26,800 |
|
Sport Touring (Hybrid) |
$31,600 |
Honda reliability is another big part of the appeal
The 2023 Honda CR-V grades out well in the areas most buyers care about. J.D. Power gives it an overall score of 81 out of 100, including solid marks for quality, reliability, driving experience, and resale value.
Ownership costs look reasonable, too. CarEdge estimates around $7,636 in maintenance over the first 10 years, which helps reinforce the CR-V’s budget-friendly reputation.
There were a few recalls, including one tied to the fuel pump. Still, the total number was relatively low, and affected vehicles should have already received the needed repairs.
Safety is still one of the CR-V’s strongest selling points
This generation of Honda CR-V earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award for 2023, which is about as strong an endorsement as buyers can ask for. It performed well across crash tests, with only the updated moderate front overlap test falling short of the top “Good” rating.
Honda also includes its Honda Sensing driver-assist suite. That means features like automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping assist come standard to help make everyday driving a little safer and less stressful.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
