The 2018 Acura RDX is the best used SUV under $20,000: KBB owners rate it 4.7 out of 5 for reliability, IIHS gives the 2018 model a Top Safety Pick, and KBB Fair Purchase Prices run from $17,000 to $18,350. The 2018 Toyota RAV4 (XA40) is #2 and the 2018 Toyota Highlander (XU50) is #3.
At a glance
#
Pick
Used price (KBB, 2018 model year, read in October 2026)
Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price $16,700 for the CR-V LX (originally $26,645) up to $18,950 for the Touring (originally $35,145)
Every trim under $19,000
Pick by what you want
Best overall
2018 Acura RDX
Best family size
2018 Toyota Highlander (XU50)
Best value
2018 Kia Sorento (UM)
Best near-luxury
2018 Buick Enclave
Lowest price
2018 Kia Sorento (UM)
The ranking
1
2018 Acura RDX
Photo: Mr.choppers / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe luxury pick.
Used price (KBB, 2018 model year, read in October 2026): Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price $17,000 for the RDX (originally $38,495) up to $18,350 for the Advance Pkg (originally $45,195)Owner reliability (KBB): 4.7 out of 5IIHS (2018): Top Safety Pick (applies only to vehicles with optional front crash prevention)
The 2018 RDX is a Top Safety Pick on IIHS, an award that applies only to vehicles with optional front crash prevention, and KBB owners rate its generation 4.7 out of 5 for reliability. Fair Purchase Prices run from $17,000 for the RDX to $18,350 for the Advance Pkg.
Go ifA luxury badge with the top owner reliability score
Skip ifYou need a third row
Why #1 over #2: Its $17,000 starting price edges the RAV4’s $17,600 at the same 4.7 score and award.
2
2018 Toyota RAV4 (XA40)
Photo: RL GNZLZ from Chile / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe all-trims-under-$20K pick.
Used price (KBB, 2018 model year, read in October 2026): Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price $17,600 for the RAV4 LE (originally $27,464) up to $19,800 for the Platinum (originally $37,804)Owner reliability (KBB): 4.7 out of 5IIHS (2018): Top Safety Pick (applies only to vehicles with specific headlights)
The 2018 RAV4 earns the same 4.7 owner reliability score as the RDX, with an IIHS Top Safety Pick that applies only to vehicles with specific headlights. KBB prices it from $17,600 for the LE to $19,800 for the Platinum, so every trim sits under $20,000.
Go ifThe top owner reliability score on a mainstream badge, with every trim under $20,000
Skip ifYou want the lowest starting price here
Why #2 over #3: Its 4.7 owner reliability score beats the Highlander’s 4.6.
3
2018 Toyota Highlander (XU50)
Photo: Cutlass / CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe family-size pick.
Used price (KBB, 2018 model year, read in October 2026): Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price $17,500 for the Highlander LE (originally $36,144) up to $22,100 for the Limited Platinum (originally $48,255)Owner reliability (KBB): 4.6 out of 5IIHS (2018): Top Safety Pick
The 2018 Highlander is a Top Safety Pick with no qualifier, and KBB owners rate its generation 4.6 out of 5. KBB prices it from $17,500 for the LE to $22,100 for the Limited Platinum.
Go ifThe unqualified IIHS award in a large family SUV
Skip ifYou want the top trims under $20,000
Why #3 over #4: Its 4.6 owner reliability score beats the Acadia’s 4.5.
4
2018 GMC Acadia
Photo: Kevauto / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe cheap crossover.
Used price (KBB, 2018 model year, read in October 2026): Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price $10,500 for the Acadia SL (originally $29,995) up to $17,150 for the Denali (originally $48,095)Owner reliability (KBB): 4.5 out of 5IIHS (2018): No Top Safety Pick award listed
The 2018 Acadia has a 4.5 out of 5 owner reliability score, and IIHS lists no Top Safety Pick award for it. KBB prices it from $10,500 for the SL to $17,150 for the Denali.
Go ifA 4.5 reliability score at one of the lowest starting prices here
Skip ifYou want an IIHS award
Why #4 over #5: Its $10,500 starting price sits below the Enclave’s $13,200 at the same 4.5 score and no award.
5
2018 Buick Enclave
Photo: Mr.choppers / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe quiet near-luxury pick.
Used price (KBB, 2018 model year, read in October 2026): Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price $13,200 for the Enclave (originally $40,990) up to $16,750 for the Avenir (originally $58,805)Owner reliability (KBB): 4.5 out of 5IIHS (2018): No Top Safety Pick award listed
The 2018 Enclave has a 4.5 out of 5 owner reliability score, and IIHS lists no Top Safety Pick award for it. KBB prices it from $13,200 for the Enclave to $16,750 for the Avenir.
Go ifA near-luxury Buick under $17,000 on every trim
Skip ifYou want an IIHS award
Why #5 over #6: Its 4.5 owner reliability score beats the Sorento’s 4.4.
6
2018 Kia Sorento (UM)
Photo: Benespit / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe cheapest award winner.
Used price (KBB, 2018 model year, read in October 2026): Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price $9,675 for the Sorento L (originally $26,890) up to $15,000 for the Limited-SXL (originally $47,515)Owner reliability (KBB): 4.4 out of 5IIHS (2018): Top Safety Pick (applies only to vehicles with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights built after May 2017)
The 2018 Sorento has a 4.4 out of 5 owner reliability score and an IIHS Top Safety Pick that applies only to vehicles with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights built after May 2017. KBB prices it from $9,675 for the L to $15,000 for the Limited-SXL.
Go ifThe lowest starting price here with an IIHS award
Skip ifYou want the award on every build
Why #6 over #7: Its $9,675 starting price sits below the Tiguan’s $10,700 at the same 4.4 score and award.
7
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan
Photo: Vauxford / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe European option.
Used price (KBB, 2018 model year, read in October 2026): Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price $10,700 for the Tiguan 2.0T S (originally $25,590) up to $13,900 for the SEL Premium 4MOTION (originally $39,045)Owner reliability (KBB): 4.4 out of 5IIHS (2018): Top Safety Pick (applies only to vehicles with optional front crash prevention)
The 2018 Tiguan has a 4.4 out of 5 owner reliability score and an IIHS Top Safety Pick that applies only to vehicles with optional front crash prevention. KBB prices it from $10,700 for the 2.0T S to $13,900 for the SEL Premium 4MOTION.
Go ifA European-built compact under $14,000 on every trim
Skip ifYou want an unqualified IIHS award
Why #7 over #8: Its $10,700 starting price sits below the Forester’s $13,950 at the same 4.4 score and award.
8
2018 Subaru Forester (SJ)
Photo: TTTNIS / CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe tight-range pick.
Used price (KBB, 2018 model year, read in October 2026): Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price $13,950 for the Forester 2.5i (originally $24,710) up to $16,200 for the 2.0XT Touring (originally $37,005)Owner reliability (KBB): 4.4 out of 5IIHS (2018): Top Safety Pick (applies only to vehicles with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights)
The 2018 Forester has a 4.4 out of 5 owner reliability score and an IIHS Top Safety Pick that applies only to vehicles with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights. KBB prices it from $13,950 for the 2.5i to $16,200 for the 2.0XT Touring.
Go ifA 4.4 reliability score with a narrow price range
Skip ifYou want the lowest price here
Why #8 over #9: Its 4.4 owner reliability score beats the Rogue’s 4.3.
9
2018 Nissan Rogue (T32)
Photo: Mr.choppers / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe hybrid option.
Used price (KBB, 2018 model year, read in October 2026): Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price $11,200 for the Rogue S (originally $25,845) up to $13,500 for the SL Hybrid (originally $34,775)Owner reliability (KBB): 4.3 out of 5IIHS (2018): Top Safety Pick (applies only to vehicles with specific headlights)
The 2018 Rogue has a 4.3 out of 5 owner reliability score and an IIHS Top Safety Pick that applies only to vehicles with specific headlights. KBB prices it from $11,200 for the S to $13,500 for the SL Hybrid.
Go ifA hybrid trim in the same lineup
Skip ifYou want a reliability score above 4.3
Why #9 over #10: Its 4.3 owner reliability score beats the CR-V’s 4.1.
10
2018 Honda CR-V (RW)
Photo: Kevauto / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe popular name.
Used price (KBB, 2018 model year, read in October 2026): Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price $16,700 for the CR-V LX (originally $26,645) up to $18,950 for the Touring (originally $35,145)Owner reliability (KBB): 4.1 out of 5IIHS (2018): Top Safety Pick (applies only to vehicles with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights)
The 2018 CR-V has a 4.1 out of 5 owner reliability score and an IIHS Top Safety Pick that applies only to vehicles with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights. KBB prices it from $16,700 for the LX to $18,950 for the Touring.
Go ifEvery trim under $19,000
Skip ifYou want the top reliability score
How we ranked these
We ranked 2018 model-year SUVs from generations not picked on our other used SUV pages, each with a Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price that starts under $20,000, as read in October 2026. The order is the KBB owner reliability rating first, then the IIHS 2018 award, then the lowest starting used price. KBB’s owner rating covers a whole generation, so other model years of the same generation share it; prices and the IIHS award are for 2018. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.
Questions people ask
What is the best used SUV under $20,000?
The 2018 Acura RDX: KBB owners rate its generation 4.7 out of 5 for reliability, IIHS gives the 2018 model a Top Safety Pick, and KBB Fair Purchase Prices run from $17,000 to $18,350.
Which used SUV here is cheapest?
The 2018 Kia Sorento starts lowest at $9,675 on KBB, followed by the 2018 GMC Acadia at $10,500 and the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan at $10,700.
Which of these has the highest owner reliability rating?
KBB owners rate the 2018 Acura RDX and the 2018 Toyota RAV4 4.7 out of 5, the highest scores on this list.
Can I get a used Toyota Highlander under $20,000?
Yes, the 2018 Highlander LE starts at $17,500 on KBB; the Limited Platinum starts at $22,100.
Starting Kelley Blue Book used price, 2018 model year (USD) at a glance
2018 Kia Sorento (UM)$9,675
2018 GMC Acadia$10,500
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan$10,700
2018 Nissan Rogue (T32)$11,200
2018 Buick Enclave$13,200
2018 Subaru Forester (SJ)$13,950
2018 Honda CR-V (RW)$16,700
2018 Acura RDX$17,000
2018 Toyota Highlander (XU50)$17,500
2018 Toyota RAV4 (XA40)$17,600
Starting Kelley Blue Book used price, 2018 model year (USD), as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.
