Used SUVs Under $20,000 With Useful Cargo Space

For a compact SUV carrying rear passengers, start with the 2018 Honda CR-V and gas-powered Toyota RAV4 LE or XLE. For a three-row SUV using every row, compare the 2020 Ford Explorer with the 2017 Toyota Highlander before assuming either can take the same luggage.

Maximum cargo volume is useful for a moving-day load, but it does not tell you how much luggage will fit when passengers occupy the rear seats. Start by comparing the space behind the last row you need to use.

These are specific configurations to search for below a $20,000 advertised price. Fees, taxes and delivery are additional, and not every example of these models fits the budget. Inspect the vehicle and verify its current asking price before treating it as a candidate.

The compact SUV comparison

Manufacturer figures: Honda, Toyota and Mazda. These are published volumes, not a standardized Autorrive luggage test. Trim, seat position and measuring conventions can affect how a published number translates into usable room.

How the stars work: For two-row compacts in this guide, behind-second-row volume earns five stars at 38 cubic feet or more, four at 34–37.9, three at 30–33.9, two at 26–29.9 and one below 26. The score measures volume only. It does not score opening width, loading height, payload or tie-down quality, and it is not a claim about a vehicle's rank across the whole market.

CR-V: start with a loading test

Start here if your main frustration is unloading a stroller to fit groceries beside it. The Honda has the largest seats-up volume of these three compacts, although the RAV4 is close enough that your actual items should decide the result.

The advantage: Substantial space without giving up the rear seating row.

The compromise: A single capacity number cannot establish that a tall crate fits under the hatch or that bulky items stay below your rearward sightline. Bring the crate or measure its full outside dimensions, including handles and feet.

RAV4 LE or XLE: a close alternative

The 2018 gas LE and XLE make a useful second stop after the CR-V. Keep this comparison tied to the specified gasoline versions; do not substitute a hybrid listing and assume every cargo and fuel figure carries over.

The advantage: Seats-up space close to the CR-V's published figure.

The compromise: The small numerical difference is not a reason to overlook a better-maintained car. Test the load floor, opening and rear-seat arrangement, then compare the condition and total price of the two actual vehicles.

CX-5: check whether the smaller cargo area meets your needs

If your normal load is two bags and groceries, a bigger cargo number might not improve daily life. Test the Mazda with that load and leave yourself room for the occasional larger trip.

The advantage: If your gear fits comfortably, you can choose based on seating comfort, condition and price without needing the largest cargo area.

The compromise: Its published luggage volume trails the other two. If a large stroller already crowds the floor, the remaining space matters more than how the empty vehicle looks in photographs.

Three rows change the calculation

Sources: Ford and Toyota. The separate three-row scale uses space behind the third row: five stars at 22 cubic feet or more, four at 18–21.9, three at 14–17.9, two at 10–13.9 and one below 10. These stars should not be compared directly with the compact-SUV scale.

The Explorer has more published cargo space with all three rows upright, so try loading it first if you regularly carry third-row passengers. The Highlander has more room for bulky loads when its third row can stay folded. Check passenger comfort and luggage space during the same visit; the cargo figures do not tell you how well the seats will fit your passengers.

Bring a realistic load to the appointment

Take the stroller, suitcase or largest work container you routinely carry. Put the front seats in their normal positions, leave the required passenger seats usable and close the hatch gently. Check that you can reach the spare-tire equipment without dismantling the whole load.

Then read the vehicle's tire-and-loading label. Cargo volume tells you how much space is available; the label tells you how much weight the vehicle can carry. Heavy tools can reach that weight limit before the cargo area is full. Follow the owner's manual for loading and securing cargo.

If passengers are the harder problem, use the family SUV guide. If you are still deciding between sizes, return to the SUVs under $20,000 guide.