Top Cars Under $30,000 for 2024 & 2025

One of the nameplates that helped define the crossover craze now stands out as strikingly different. The 2025 Subaru Outback is one of the last remaining station wagons on the market. However, given that it's currently based on the soon-to-be-discontinued Subaru Legacy sedan, the Outback is likely to shift away from its current low-slung long-roof shape soon. That means this could be your last opportunity to park Crocodile Dundee’s favorite ride in your driveway.

Verdict: The Outback offers a unique combination of practicality and value, but it’s held back by lackluster tech.

The Forester is one of Subaru's top sellers and one of the more popular compact crossovers in its segment as well, so it's hard to blame the automaker for not wanting to mess with a working formula. They seem to have focused more on refining an already popular car than creating a new car. In fact, the most obvious updates are to the vehicle's looks, which many would argue are inconsequential-but that's not a criticism.

Verdict: The 2025 Subaru Forester improves on the outgoing version with a better-equipped base model, more advanced tech and safety offerings, and a blessedly quieter cabin. If it's not the most beautiful crossover we've ever seen, well, at least that's authentic to the Forester brand.

We don't know if Mazda planned on launching a classic when it dropped the little Miata roadster into dealerships way back in 1990. Yet here we are, 35 years later and the little rear-wheel drive, two-seat convertible is still going strong.

Now in its fourth generation, the MX-5 is available with a soft or hard top and a six-speed manual transmission is standard. Some folks might complain about its minimal cargo space, cramped interior and hard-to-use technology. Others might want more straight-line power. Those folks just don't get it. The MX-5 isn't about practicality or beating a V8 off the line. Instead the Miata goes for driving fun where it counts– in the corners.

Verdict: The 2025 Mazda MX-5 Miata is a roadster that rewards drivers with precise handling that's only made better when the top is down and the tunes are cranked.

You don’t hear a lot about Mitsubishi these days. The company only sells a few models in the United States and while their market share has expanded this past year, it’s not like they have a stronghold on the American consumer. Take, for example, the Mitsubishi Outlander. Sales were up over 6-percent in 2024, yet it still sold only 45,253 units. For 2025 this midsize crossover gets a refresh and while the lower trim levels won’t likely stress your pocketbook, it’s a little tough to find the value in the top-most trim.

The most obvious changes are inside, with some new tech and a bumping new sound system. However, those with a keen eye will also find some differences in the exterior styling as well. Mitsubishi also improves the suspension tuning for 2025, but neglects the powertrain.

Verdict: The 2025 Mitsubishi Outlander still isn’t the best-driving crossover you can buy, and the front fascia might turn you off, but the small improvements and excellent sound system might inspire some buyers to visit the dealership.

Midsize trucks are having a moment. Rugged, off-road-ready lifestyle pickups and SUVs are all currently in vogue. In the past few years, we’ve seen redesigns for the Ford Ranger, the Nissan Frontier, and, long-awaited, the Toyota Tacoma. General Motors has joined the party with a redesigned GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado.

Smaller trucks' popularity has ebbed and flowed through the decades, but based on all of these redesigns, automakers are convinced that there are sales to be made. One way these trucks have evolved is by pivoting from downsized work vehicles offering weekend-warrior and lifestyle-off-roader versions, to focusing specifically on those weekend warrior and lifestyle shoppers.

Verdict: The Colorado has evolved from merely offering more content and upgraded versions to focusing on well-equipped, upgraded trims catering to recreation more than work.

Though Mazda hasn’t redesigned its popular compact crossover SUV since 2017, a program of continuous refinement makes the 2024 CX-5 better than ever. It might even be too good. It has shared showroom space with the similarly sized Mazda CX-50 model since last year but continues to outsell its newer and slightly more expensive sibling. As it turns out, there are numerous reasons for that.

Verdict: Mazda positions the CX-5 as an SUV for active urbanites, and it serves perfectly in its role. Stylish design, taut dimensions, excellent outward visibility, a comfortable cabin, commendable quality, and impressive safety ratings make it a great choice. Plus, the 2024 Mazda CX-5 is genuinely enjoyable to drive.

Just because you need more practicality, doesn't necessarily mean you'll have to sacrifice driving enjoyment or performance. Among compact SUVs, the 2025 Mazda CX-5 proves that you can satisfy your sporty appetite in an attractive and upscale alternative.

Verdict: The CX-5 offers an enjoyable driving experience, but it falls short in practical areas like fuel economy and cargo space.

This year, the 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata gets new steering, a reworked limited-slip rear differential, and a DSC-Track setting that relaxes the traction and stability control systems. In addition, the 2024 Miata gets the latest Mazda Connect infotainment system with an Alexa digital assistant and several interior refinements. The front and rear headlights are new, redesigned 17-inch wheels debut, and new exterior and interior colors are available. However, to achieve perfection, we’d like more choices in configurations.

Verdict: There isn’t a more elemental sports car than the 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata. You can spend more money to get added power, performance, practicality, technology, luxury, cachet, and exclusivity, but if you’re looking for the equivalent of a street-legal go-kart, nothing on four wheels better defines a cheap thrill.

It dates back to the days of the raised station wagon, before a crossover was a must-have—or even a thing. It’s now in its sixth generation, and it was just refreshed last year, but while others have ballooned into mini-SUVs, the Outback has clung steadfastly to the station wagon shape. The 2024 Outback comes in Base, Premium, Onyx Edition, Wilderness, Limited, and Touring trims, further differentiated by powertrain. Updates for this year include feature-enriched trim levels and trim-specific aesthetic tweaks.

Verdict: Not everyone needs or wants a massive vehicle. With its higher ride height and excellent visibility, the Outback delivers the peace of mind many seek from an SUV in a smaller and more practical package. The broad trim spectrum means you can get a luxury experience at a lower price point or a no-nonsense version much cheaper.

The Rogue is Nissan’s entry into a crowded compact crossover SUV segment that includes well-known models like the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester, and Toyota RAV4, to name a few. The 2024 Nissan Rogue debuts refreshed styling and gets a tech overhaul highlighted by Google built-in apps, marking their first appearance in a Nissan.

Verdict: New tech features may be the headline, but an impressive powertrain and interior are what really make the 2024 Nissan Rogue stand out.

Based on the Hyundai Tucson compact crossover SUV, the Santa Cruz is not about towing the most weight, carrying the largest and heaviest loads, or driving to off-the-grid locations. Instead, it’s perfect for weekend do-it-yourself projects, hauling bulky items home from the big-box store, and carrying adventure gear on day trips. The 2025 Santa Cruz is better at these tasks than ever, thanks to new tech, styling updates, and off-roading enhancements.

Verdict: We realize the Santa Cruz’s styling isn’t broadly appealing, so if this Hyundai trucklet’s appearance is just too hard to accept, its direct rival, the Ford Maverick, might be more to your liking. If you like the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz, consider getting a turbocharged version. It’s not as fuel-efficient, but it’s a ton more fun to drive.

The Camry is a perennial favorite among families. It’s earned its popularity, with a reputation for reliability and safety, but it also hasn’t had as many competitors to contend with as its crossover siblings have. The few rivals it does have are all either new or recently refreshed, and now, the same can be said of the Camry. For 2025 it debuts a new look, new features, and a new hybrid powertrain, and it sets a new baseline standard for the high-selling midsize sedan.

Verdict: Toyota knows its audience. The new 2025 Toyota Camry gives the people what they want, with up-to-date styling and tech, a strong value proposition helped along by excellent fuel economy, and, most importantly, no fatal flaws that might push a brand loyalist out of their comfort zone.

That’s not surprising, considering how people have adopted SUVs of every size as their favorite kind of vehicle. Back in the mid-1990s, the original RAV4 (Recreational Activity Vehicle with 4WD) ushered in the era of the crossover. Almost 30 years later, the 2024 Toyota RAV4 helps to set standards in its segment, available with gas, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid drivetrains in trim levels ranging from basic or sporty to rugged or upscale.

Verdict: Last redesigned in 2019, the current-generation RAV4 is nearing the end of its run. But if you’re looking for a dependable, roomy, and practical compact SUV, a 2024 RAV4 will serve you well for a long time to come.

The latest iteration of this compact crossover takes styling cues from the only Chevy model to outsell it: the Silverado. Its new look comes with new standard tech and safety features, new transmissions, and a new trim bringing something new to the lineup to appeal to the weekend warrior crowd.

Verdict: We wouldn't be at all surprised to see the Equinox remain one of Chevrolet's best sellers. The added value outstrips the price increase in our book, and the makeover is sure to appeal to plenty of compact SUV shoppers.

The 2025 Nissan Rogue is one of the main players in the highly competitive compact SUV segment. Ever since the first Rogue went on sale for the 2008 model year, Nissan has made sure to constantly update and improve what’s now the automaker’s best-selling model in the U.S.

For the 2025 model year, the Rogue gets a little off-road bravado added to its winning recipe. The Rogue Rock Creek trim is equipped with adventure gear like all-wheel drive (AWD), all-terrain tires, a tubular roof rack, a surround-view camera system, and hill-descent control. It also has trim-specific exterior design touches like red trim pieces on the alloy wheels and front grille and “Rock Creek” badges on the front seats. Nissan’s ProPilot Assist 2.1 highway driving assist system is also newly available on the Rogue.

Verdict: With its reasonable price tag and impressive array of comfort features and tech touches, the Rogue is aimed right at the heart of the compact SUV segment. This year’s improvements add a little more polish to the Rogue, particularly with the outdoorsy Rock Creek model and latest generation of Nissan’s hands-free highway driving technology. This is an extremely well-rounded choice, though not everything is perfect.

Decades ago, few cars were anywhere near as fuel efficient as the Toyota Prius. Today, the 2025 Prius remains the fuel economy champion, but numerous alternatives are close behind. Some even offer more interior room at a lower price. That reality, coupled with the Prius’ cramped interior, limited trunk space, and general weirdness, means hybrid car buyers have options. In response, Toyota adds a new Nightshade trim level with a blacked-out look to the 2025 Prius lineup.

Verdict: The point of the 2025 Toyota Prius is fuel economy, but our Prius Nightshade test car averaged 39.2 mpg, falling significantly short of the EPA estimate of 52 mpg in combined driving. That certainly isn’t superior to roomier hybrid cars from Honda, Hyundai, or from within Toyota’s own lineup.

The Ford Maverick really shook up the pickup-truck market when it arrived as a 2022 model. Ford’s compact pickup utilizes the same basic platform as the Escape and Bronco Sport crossovers, but offers real truck capability and a hybrid powertrain to boot. The 2025 model features styling and tech updates, but the biggest news is a Maverick Lobo performance variant and an all-wheel drive (AWD) hybrid, so that’s what we focused on for this first drive.

Verdict: The Maverick is still a great vehicle, but it’s not quite the bargain it once was.