5 Affordable Sporty SUVs
Alexandra Maloney
· 3 min read
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For many drivers in the
car-buying
market, price plays a huge part in what car to ultimately purchase. But, just because a car is inexpensive doesn’t mean you should have to sacrifice things you want—whether that be space, exterior design, or interior comfort. Here, we’ve compiled a list of five of the best and most affordable
sporty SUVs
. The good news? None of them will break the bank. 
Mazda CX-5
U.S News crafted a list of the
Sportiest SUVs Under $30,000 in 2021
, and gave the Mazda CX-5
the top spot. This car is another solid pick for an affordable sporty SUV, coming in at $25,270. This Mazda comes with great features like heated seats, keyless access through the Mazda app, and a lane departure warning system, all for a great price. Plus, the base model comes with a 2.5-liter, four cylinder, 187 horsepower engine, which is a great value.
Ford Escape
The newly redesigned 2020 model of the Ford Escape comes in at a starting price of $24,885. This car comes with tons of space throughout its two rows of seats for passengers, technology like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an overall sleeker and more intricate design.
This affordable sporty SUV also supports a 1.5-liter, three cylinder, 181 horsepower engine that accelerates quickly, making it a powerful vehicle on our list of sporty SUVs.
Honda CR-V
Coming in at the number one spot on
Hot Car’s list of 10 Sporty SUVs That Won’t Cost You an Arm and a Leg
is the Honda CR-V, and we agree this car deserves a top spot. The SUV starts at $25,350, which is within the lower price range for a car of this size. But, the lower price does not mean any features are lacking. The CR-V comes in both gasoline and hybrid and both have incredible engines. The gasoline model sports a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine with 190 horsepower, while the hybrid trim has a 2.0-liter engine with 212 horsepower. This affordable sporty SUV is perfect for drivers who want to go fast.
Hyundai Kona
Starting at $23,034, the Hyundai Kona has six different trims that are all affordable sporty SUV options, so you can ensure your car is exactly what you want.
All Hyundai Kona trims have at least 45.8 cubic feet of space, and in some models you can even get features like heated seats and keyless entry. In terms of engines, you have two options with the Kona—a 2.0 liter, 4 cylinder with 147 horsepower or a 1.6 liter turbocharged with 175 horsepower.
GMC Acadia
Coming in at $29,800, the GMC Acadia is a bit pricier than the others on this list, but it’s a larger SUV.
The Acadia is great for families and can seat up to seven passengers comfortably, making it perfect for long distance
road trips
. This car can cover many different types of terrain in case you want to engage in any off-roading adventures. Plus, it has a four-cylinder, 193 horsepower engine. It’s a great car to end our list of affordable sporty SUVs.
