2016’s Five Most Affordable SUV’s

According to consumer experts, October is the time to purchase a vehicle–new or used. September marks the end of the fiscal year and car dealers are looking to get rid of their existing inventory to make room for the new models.

Kelly Blue Book has released it’s list of the 10 most affordable Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV’s) for 2016 and we will be looking at the top five. Their list is a compilation of “cost to own” factors. They calculate what it would cost to own each vehicle based on factors such as:

• Price
• Depreciation
• Fuel efficiency
• Insurance

The cars that make their list aren’t necessarily the cheapest as far as the purchase price is concerned, but over the long run they will cost you less to own than some of the vehicles sold at a lower price point. They include the entire buy, own, sell cycle of a car in making their determinations.

So without further Ado…

Here are 2016’s top five SUV’s (according to Kelly’s Blue Book)

1. 2016 Mini Copper Countryman–BMW

With the fair purchase price range between $21, 327 and $22,426 this cutie is a great value and one of the most affordable SUV’s on the market if you can resist all of the attractive additions and upgrades. It’s 4 cylinder 1.6 liter engine allows it to be fairly fuel efficient at 27 city/32 hwy miles per gallon (MPG). Among consumers already owning this car it received an overall score of 8.1 out of 10.

2. 2016 Kia Sportage

The 2017 models have undergone a complete overhaul making the 2016 model even more of a deal. One of the most attractive features of this vehicle is it’s 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranties. EPA fuel estimates for this SUV are 21 city/28 hwy MPG. Consumers who have purchased this vehicle are extremely satisfied with it’s overall value and performance rating it 8.6 out of 10. Kelly lists the fair purchase price of this vehicle in the neighborhood of $21, 367 and the average MSRP sticker price is around $23,045.

3. 2016 Jeep Compass

The fair market price for this car is listed in the range of $18,975-19,722 making it a steal in the world of SUV’s. The EPA fuel estimates come in at 23 city/30 hwy. Consumers who own this car give it mixed reviews. Most cite they love the great gas mileage they get but there are other small discomforts such as rough handling, leaky roof, not roomy enough, etc. that have earned it an overall rating of 7.5. You should definitely check out the customer reviews before purchasing this one to see if you can live with this one’s issues.

4. 2016 Chevrolet Trax

Kelly Blue Book raves about this beauty:

“Budget-minded shoppers will love the 2016 Chevrolet Trax for its affordable price, excellent fuel economy, roomy interior and feature-rich cabin.”

It features EPA fuel estimate of 26 city/34 MPG and has a fair purchase price just under $20,000. The value this SUV offers is amazing. Customers who own this car believe so as well as they have given it an overall rating of 8.6 out of 10.

5. 2016 Jeep Wrangler

Besides being fun to own, the price point ($23,319) of this Jeep makes it extremely attractive. It also features a robust 3.6 liter, six cylinder engine. EPA fuel estimates are a bit low compared to other high value SUV’s at 17 city/21 hwy but what you lose in fuel economy you recoup in resale value. In fact, the 2016 Jeep Wrangler won one of Kelly Blue Book’s Best Resale Value Awards this year. Top that off with a stellar customer satisfaction rating of 8.7 and you truly have a gem. Owners of this SUV rave about this vehicle’s superior handling and convenient extras.

If none of these SUV’s tickle your fancy or if you’re in the market for a different style of vehicle, check out Kelly’s New Car Buyers guide or Kelly’s 10 Steps to Buying a Used Car. Make sure you know what you can afford and calculate and consider the total cost of ownership before you make your purchase. Consumer Reports suggest setting up your financing or at the very least knowing interest rates before going to the dealership and shopping for cars.

Featured Image by M 93 on Wikipedia available for use under Creative Commons 3.0 License