Believe it or not, it is still possible to find a functional SUV on the used car market in Canada for less than $10,000. You won’t drive home with the latest safety features or technologies, and fuel economy won’t be as good as it would be in a newer vehicle. You’ll also get less for your money than you would if you chose a less popular body style such as a sedan. It’s important to keep in mind that SUVs are in high demand in Canada, so you’ll probably end up with an older and higher-kilometre vehicle when working with a $10,000 budget. But the benefits can be powerful: a lower car payment, or none at all, would help a lot of households in this economy. Plus, chances are that all-important all-wheel drive (AWD) feature is still within reach with this budget, and having a higher ground clearance is important in many parts of the country where time spent off-road can often be the norm.
Armed with some patience and plenty of research, a serviceable $10,000 used SUV can be yours for many years to come. And research is likely why you’re here, so read on to find our recommendations for the best SUVs you can buy used for less than $10,000 in Canada.
Remember, any vehicle in this price range will be out of warranty. Be sure to investigate a vehicle you’re interested in thoroughly, take a thorough test drive, and get a pre-purchase inspection with a mechanic you trust. Find more of our tips for shopping for a used vehicle here.
If you're considering buying a sedan, hatchback, or other type of car instead of an SUV, check out our separate guide: The Best Used Cars in Canada for Under $10,000.
The Best Used SUVs Under $10,000
- Honda CR-V
- Toyota RAV4
- Toyota Matrix
- Subaru Outback
- Ford Escape
- Nissan Rogue
- Acura MDX
- Lexus RX
- Kia Rondo
- Hyundai Tucson
- Mazda CX-5
- Infiniti EX35
- Chevrolet Trax
- Honourable mentions
Honda CR-V
Let’s start with the obvious choices. There are two compact SUVs that have been perennial bestsellers in Canada since they launched in the mid-1990s. One of them is the Honda CR-V, and the proof is on Canadian highways. It’s not unheard of to see first-generation examples still rumbling along our roads, which is a testament to their dependability and longevity. With a $10,000 budget, you’ll be balancing vehicle age and odometer reading, meaning you’ll likely either get an older car with less feature content or a newer one that’s been driven further. Either way, the Honda CR-V has long been lauded for its reliability and safety ratings. As long as it's been well maintained, we wouldn’t be shy about picking up a CR-V that’s been around for a while or has been driven 150,000 kilometres or more. And if you buy one that’s been built since 2012, you’ll get a Honda CR-V that was built right here in Canada in Alliston, Ontario.
Toyota RAV4
The other perennial best-selling SUV in Canada is the Toyota RAV4. You’ll still occasionally see older models, complete with rear-mounted spare tire and side-hinged door, on Canadian roads. This is no doubt spurred on by the fact that Toyota has been manufacturing RAV4s in Woodstock, Ontario, since 2008. The same caveat applies here, too: RAV4s have insanely high resale values, so you’re likely going to have to decide on a balance of age and odometer reading that you’re comfortable with. But the automaker’s reputation for safety and reliability—and the evidence provided by the thousands of these that are still on the roads—make a well-maintained example in this price range a solid bet.
Toyota Matrix
The Toyota Matrix was far more popular in Canada than it was in the United States. Owners here tend to love them and hang onto them thanks to their reliability ratings and relatively low maintenance costs. With a compact footprint, tall profile, and relatively large cargo space, the Matrix — which is more something between a crossover and a hatchback — makes a good alternative to a small SUV at a lower price. Expect to get a 10 to 15-year-old car with about 200,000 km on the odometer in this price range, with plenty of higher-kilometre units around to show that these reasonably priced options have plenty of life left in them when they’re well-maintained.
Subaru Outback
What you won’t often find in a used Subaru Outback is a low kilometre count. Outback owners love to drive their cars for long distances and keep them forever. But what you will find when browsing this nameplate is standard all-wheel drive (AWD), above-average attention to detail, and meticulous maintenance. Most Outbacks you’ll find at this price point will have four-cylinder engines, but you may even luck into the occasional six-cylinder powertrain. The Outback’s wagon-like profile and roomy rear seats make it a great fit for those who want the usability of an SUV with more car-like driving dynamics. Find yourself one that’s been well cared for — chances are, the owner will be happy to tell you all about the car’s history — and get ready to throw your camping gear in the back and head off on your next adventure.
Ford Escape
Used examples of Ford’s compact Escape are plentiful across Canada. It’s not quite as rock-solid in reliability or safety ratings as some of its competition. But if you don’t mind getting a little less life span out of your $10,000 SUV, potentially in exchange for more feature content, it’s not a bad option. For this price range, you’re likely going to end up with a late second-generation or early third-generation model since the latter’s first model year was in 2013, just over a decade ago. Expect to get a mid-trim Escape with AWD and just under 200,000 kilometres on the odometer for this price, including an early and rudimentary version of the modern infotainment system.
Nissan Rogue
It’s certainly possible to buy a used Nissan Rogue for less than $10,000 in Canada. But if you do, we recommend aiming for something from the 2014 model year or newer. That marked the start of the Rogue’s second generation, which brought a significant bump in its safety ratings from the IIHS. Bear in mind, though, that Rogues of this vintage have mixed reliability ratings, so you might not get as much life out of one of these as you would from some of the alternatives. The trade-off is you can often find lower-odometer examples for less than $10,000, some of which are mid-trim models equipped with AWD.
Acura MDX
It’s certainly possible to buy a used Nissan Rogue for less than $10,000 in Canada. But if you do, we recommend aiming for something from the 2014 model year or newer. That marked the start of the Rogue’s second generation, which brought a significant bump in its safety ratings from the IIHS. Bear in mind, though, that Rogues of this vintage have mixed reliability ratings, so you might not get as much life out of one of these as you would from some of the alternatives. The trade-off is you can often find lower-odometer examples for less than $10,000, some of which are mid-trim models equipped with AWD.
Lexus RX
Ask the average Canadian to name the most reliable SUV they can think of, and we’ll bet the Lexus RX often springs to mind. This midsize two-row SUV has a reputation for longevity and relative safety, and AWD is a given. You’ll even find hybrids on the used market. While they won’t be performing as well in overall fuel efficiency as when they were brand new cars driving off the dealership lot, they’ll likely still save you some money at the pumps. The RX is another SUV its owners tend to keep for a long time, so age and kilometre counts tend to be on the higher side in this price range. But if you can bide your time, you should be able to find a 15-year-old model with less than 200,000 kilometers on it within our prescribed budget.
Kia Rondo
The Kia Rondo is often overlooked, which may be because it’s technically not an SUV but a multi-purpose vehicle or MPV. It comes with a surprisingly spacious interior for its size and available four- or six-cylinder engine options, but it has a relatively low ground clearance and was sold only with front-wheel drive (FWD). Some buyers may dismiss it as a result, but if you’re a city dweller looking for a spacious family vehicle and can afford a decent set of winter tires, the Rondo might be just the budget option you need. Plus, you may be surprised by how well it rates in reliability. Based on our Cargurus.ca used car listings, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a Kia Rondo that’s roughly 10 years old and has around 150,000 kilometres on it within a $10,000 budget.
Hyundai Tucson
If you want a compact SUV that’s likely to be a little newer than a Honda CR-V or a Toyota RAV4 you can get at this price, check out the Hyundai Tucson as an alternative. Past generations of the Tucson were on the smaller end of the compact spectrum, so that’s important to keep in mind if you expect to have a packed vehicle fairly often. But as a nameplate, it has a good reputation for reliability, and its tendency to fly below the radar means there are some deals out there to be scored. Our research on the CarGurus.ca used vehicle listings turned up multiple examples of 10- to 12-year-old Tucsons, many with less than 170,000 kilometres on the odometer, being offered below our $10,000 price point.
Mazda CX-5
Mazda’s CX-5 compact SUV is a much-loved option among those who appreciate a great driving experience. It first launched for the 2013 model year, meaning those earliest examples are passing the 10 year old mark. It’s now becoming more feasible to find used CX-5s for less than $10,000 as a result. Some people shy away from older used Mazdas, but the rust issued had been resolved by this point. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has given the CX-5 Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ ratings throughout its entire run, and it also gets very high marks for reliability. With a $10,000 budget, you shouldn’t have any trouble scoring a 10 or 11-year-old CX-5 with less than 200,000 kilometres on the clock. Bear in mind that AWD is attainable but not a given on CX-5s in this price range, so sort through the listings carefully if this feature is important to you.
Infiniti EX35
When nameplates disappear, people’s memories of them sometimes fade as well. This means a savvy shopper can score some deals. The Infiniti EX35 is a great example: the average buyer might not know that it preceded the Infiniti QX50. But when you trace its roots back far enough, you’ll learn about its reputation for great handling and decent reliability. 2012 was its final model year with this nameplate, so you’re looking at a 13-year-old model at minimum. You may also find a 2013 EX37, which was the only year this model carried that nomenclature. If you find one with much less than 200,000 kilometres on it for less than $10,000, grab it with confidence.
Chevrolet Trax
There’s a good reason the Chevrolet Trax is relatively easy to find for under $10,000: it wasn’t a whole lot more expensive than that to buy new. The Trax is a front-wheel-drive-only subcompact SUV that’s been on the market since 2013. The second generation just launched in 2023 and the first generation didn’t change much mechanically during its 10-year run, so shopping the used car market for one of these is simpler than average. There are varying reports on the Trax’s reliability, so that’s important to keep in mind. But it shouldn’t take much effort to find a Trax that’s less than 10 years old with around 150,000 kilometres on it for under $10,000, making it as much of a bargain among used SUVs as it was when bought new.
Honourable mentions
If you’re looking for a three-row SUV, the Toyota Highlander is a fantastic option. We skipped listing it above only because it’s nearly impossible to find a $10,000 Highlander regardless of age or odometer reading, but it’s worth looking into if you can expand your budget a little further. Same goes for the Toyota 4Runner: these are nearly indestructible and their owners keep them forever, so there just aren’t all that many cheap examples around. The Honda Pilot is another three-row SUV that’s unusual to find at this price point, but it’s also one of the most spacious midsize SUVs on the road. If you can track one down, it’s a solid bet.