2026 Chevrolet Trailblazer
$23,000 - $29,200 | 27-31 MPG | $0.69 per mile
Safest Affordable SUVs for 2026
33 SUVs under $40,000 earned NHTSA's 5-star safety rating for 2026. The 2026 Chevrolet Trailblazer is the most affordable option at $23,000. Ranked by base price, cheapest first.
Photo by John Towner on UnsplashHow this list is generated
Model year: 2026; Vehicle type: SUV; Base MSRP: 40000 or lower; NHTSA overall safety rating: 5 or higher. Data is refreshed periodically from published sources.
335-Star Rated
15IIHS Awards
15Brands
$23k–$40kPrice Range
Sources: NHTSA.gov, IIHS.org, fueleconomy.gov, RepairPal.com, AAA.
Vehicles Matching These Criteria
Showing 30 of 33 vehicles
2026 Kia Seltos
$23,790 - $31,490 | 29 MPG | $0.66 per mile
2026 Buick Encore GX
$25,900 - $33,000 | 27-30 MPG | $0.66 per mile
2026 Mazda CX-30
$25,975 - $37,900 | 27 MPG | $0.69 per mile
2026 Honda HR-V
$26,500 - $31,850 | 27-28 MPG | $0.66 per mile
2026 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
$27,695 - $31,845 | 25 MPG | $0.69 per mile
2026 Kia Sportage
$28,790 - $39,690 | 26-28 MPG | $0.69 per mile
2026 Nissan Rogue
$29,090 - $38,990 | 31-32 MPG | $0.69 per mile
2026 Hyundai Tucson
$29,450 - $42,075 | 26-36 MPG | $0.69 per mile
2026 Mazda CX-50
$29,900 - $42,900 | 25-38 MPG | $0.69 per mile
2026 Subaru Forester
$29,995 - $41,595 | 29 MPG | $0.69 per mile
2026 Ford Escape
$30,350 - $38,935 | $0.69 per mile
2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid
$30,490 - $40,590 | 35-42 MPG | $0.78 per mile
2026 Volkswagen Tiguan
$30,805 - $43,085 | 25-28 MPG | $0.69 per mile
2026 Honda CR-V
$30,920 - $42,250 | 29-40 MPG | $0.69 per mile
2026 Ford Bronco Sport
$31,845 - $40,265 | 23 MPG | $0.69 per mile
2026 Kia Sorento
$32,390 - $47,790 | 23 MPG | $0.84 per mile
2026 Chevrolet Blazer
$34,200 - $46,400 | 21-22 MPG | $0.84 per mile
2026 Acura ADX
$35,000 - $44,000 | 28-29 MPG | $0.69 per mile
2026 Hyundai Santa Fe
$35,050 - $50,500 | 23-36 MPG | $0.84 per mile
2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV
$35,100 - $44,200 | 319 mi range | $0.79 per mile
2026 Lexus UX
$36,955 - $46,945 | 42-43 MPG | $0.78 per mile
2026 Nissan Pathfinder
$37,500 - $51,400 | 23 MPG | $0.84 per mile
2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee
$37,995 - $59,995 | 23 MPG | $0.84 per mile
2026 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
$38,300 - $53,620 | 22-23 MPG | $0.84 per mile
2026 Ford Explorer
$38,465 - $56,905 | 20-21 MPG | $0.84 per mile
2026 Mazda CX-90
$38,800 - $58,500 | $0.84 per mile
2026 Kia Sorento Hybrid
$38,890 - $47,190 | 34-37 MPG | $0.80 per mile
2026 Volkswagen Atlas
$39,310 - $54,630 | 22-23 MPG | $0.84 per mile
2026 Volvo XC40
$39,900 - $51,900 | 26-27 MPG | $0.86 per mile
This ranking shows the top 30. Refine by body type or year using the navigation above to find more.
Common Questions
How many 2026 SUVs have 5-star safety ratings?
All 33 SUVs earned NHTSA's top 5-star overall safety rating for 2026. Prices start at $23,000.
Which 2026 SUVs have zero recalls?
15 of 30 vehicles shown on this page have no recalls on file with NHTSA. Recall counts can change at any time as manufacturers and NHTSA identify new issues.
Which brands have SUVs on this list?
15 brands are represented: Acura, Buick, Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Jeep, Kia, and 7 more. Rankings are based on EPA, NHTSA, IIHS, AAA, and RepairPal data, not editorial opinion.