Reddit
reddit.com › r/4x4 › need a recommendation for a sub $5000 used vehicle for very light offroading!
r/4x4 on Reddit: Need a recommendation for a sub $5000 used vehicle for very light offroading!
February 26, 2024 -
95% of the time it'll be used as a regular car, but I need something to handle deeply rutted and potholed truck trails (Trabuco Canyon and Maple Springs if anyone is from OC). I'm not gonna be doing any desert roaming or anything truly offroad. I know nothing about cars so I want to just buy it and drive, not modify and swap parts. I've read good things about 4th gen 4runners and xterras but wanted to hear what you guys have to say! Thanks
Top answer 1 of 5
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Allow me to introduce you to the 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee! Thousands of them out there, many owned by grandmas. Some of the most comfortable seats I've ever owned, too.
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Thought about a Jeep Cherokee (XJ) same body style from 84-01? Lots of support for them and every question/comment/concern EVER has been talked about on a forum somewhere. Lots of upgrades that can be had from a junkyard, like axles and such. Making a stroker out of the 4.0 to a 4.6l doesnt look like its overly complicated either if you want more HP.
Kelley Blue Book
kbb.com › home › best cars › 10 best used suvs under $5,000
10 Best Used SUVs Under $5,000 - Kelley Blue Book
October 1, 2024 - ... The oldest model on our list, the 2003 Chevrolet Suburban is also the most capable in some regards, with up to 8,400 pounds towing capacity in addition to seating for up to nine and 138.4 cubic feet of cargo capacity.
Videos
What is the cheapest SUV available?
The Buick Encore is the cheapest available SUV by average Cars.com listing price, with an average listing price of $13,121.
cars.com
cars.com › home › cars for sale › suv › price under $5,000
Used SUVs for Sale Under $5,000 Near Me | Cars.com
Which SUV has the best MPG?
The Nissan Kicks has the best MPG among traditional internal combustion SUVs and offers up to 31 MPG city and 36 MPG highway for a combined rating of 33 MPG. The Kia Niro has the best MPG amongst SUVs with hybrid powertrains, reaching 53 MPG city and 54 MPG highway for a combined rating of 53 MPG.
cars.com
cars.com › home › cars for sale › suv › price under $5,000
Used SUVs for Sale Under $5,000 Near Me | Cars.com
Where can I find the most SUV deals?
The most SUV deals can be found near Chicago, IL with 19 great deals out of 230 listings starting at $417.
cars.com
cars.com › home › cars for sale › suv › price under $5,000
Used SUVs for Sale Under $5,000 Near Me | Cars.com
Autolist
autolist.com › suv-under+5000
50 Best SUVs for Sale under $5,000, Savings from $559
suv · Doors: 4 · Drivetrain: 4X4 · Exterior color: white · Combined gas mileage: Fuel type: gasoline · Interior color: Transmission: automatic · Mileage: VIN: 1FMFU16578LA03703 · 2013 Ford Escape SEL · 140,802 Miles · Madison, TN · GREAT DEAL · Skyrocket Motorsports LL...
Torque News
torquenews.com › 1084 › 10-best-used-suvs-under-5k-subaru-forester-checks-most-boxes
10 Best Used SUVs Under $5K, Subaru Forester Checks The Most Boxes | Torque News
August 26, 2024 - Which used SUVs are best to buy now? If you are looking for the most affordable under $5,000, KBB says the Subaru Forester is a great choice. Here are ten best and why Forester is a top pick and offers great value for your money.
DrivingLine
drivingline.com › articles › can-you-find-a-good-sub-10-000-4x4-in-todays-market-part-one-the-toyota-tax-vs-jeep-mania
Can You Find a Good Sub-$10,000 4x4 In Today's Market? Part One: The Toyota Tax vs Jeep Mania | DrivingLine
If you do find a nice, extra well-cared ... With a budget under $10,000 the two most popular models are going to be an XJ Cherokee or an older Wrangler....
Reddit
reddit.com › r › whatcarshouldIbuy › comments › 5t8rt9 › most_reliable_midsized_4x4_suv_under_5k
Most reliable mid-sized 4x4 SUV under $5k?
February 10, 2017 - We need the SUV to tow a small pop-up for camping trips. My wife currently works from home, so she only puts like 20 miles per week on her car.
Cars.com
cars.com › home › cars for sale › suv › price under $5,000
Used SUVs for Sale Under $5,000 Near Me | Cars.com
She’s got a little rust and shakes a little bit over 70 mph but other than that she’s the most safe and reliable car. I would recommend this car to someone who’s looking for their first car. ... Est. $80/mo ... On my second one. The first was an 02 S/C 4x4 with the manual transmission that I drove on and off road for 7 years.
GTPlanet
gtplanet.net › home › forums › automotive › cars in general
Best 4x4 Under $5,000? | GTPlanet
January 29, 2005 - As for SUV's I say a Cherokee is your best bet, Wranglers are NOT your best bet though since they are by far the most over rated vechile on the road. You would be much happier with a Cherokee. I've also liked the Honda Passport that came out a few years ago, they look just like a Pathfinder. ... I'd have to second the first generation Explorer. Although it does have some major drawbacks (poor fuel mileage, pitiful suspension), it is as reliable a car as you can get (I have no idea what Firebird is talking about).
U.S. News
cars.usnews.com › car advice
Most Reliable Used SUVs Under $10,000 - US News Cars
April 29, 2026 - We have compiled a list of the most reliable SUVs that you can find for less than $10,000. We've based dependability on J.D. Power ratings. A reliability score of 91-100 is considered the Best, 81-90 is Great, 70-80 is Average and 0-69 is Fair and considered below average.
SlashGear
slashgear.com › 1933985 › suvs-used-reliable-under-5000-according-to-owners
5 Of The Most Reliable Used SUVs Under $5,000 - SlashGear
August 12, 2025 - In the pre-2010 model years, these used SUVs are able to boast exceptionally high reliability ratings. Despite this, though, one of the things you should know before buying a used CR-V is how 2007 and 2008 models have received many complaints from owners in the past. Interestingly, 2006 doesn't have nearly as many reported issues, and you'll have an easier time finding that model year under $5,000.
MotorTrend
motortrend.com › features › cheap-4x4-suvs-under-5000
Hit the Dirt: Cheap Off-Road 4x4 SUVs for Under $5,000
December 11, 2020 - Thanks to their short wheelbase and high center of gravity, these tiny cheap 4x4 runabouts are fairly dangerous to drive at highway speeds. Of course, that same pint-sized form makes them incredibly nimble once the asphalt disappears. ... The newest Samurai in America was built in 1995, which means most have huge miles and a list of needs. It's also a tiny truck with an equally tiny 1.3-liter, 63-horsepower four-cylinder engine. That's pretty under the radar for most Brodozer fans these days.
HotCars
hotcars.com › home › pickups and suvs › 10 most reliable 4x4s you can buy for under $10,000
10 Most Reliable 4x4s You Can Buy For Under $10,000
February 24, 2023 - And when you want an economical 4x4 that lasts, the 2007 RAV4 is an excellent choice. Equipped with the brand's usual refined engines, along with traction to all four wheels, this compact SUV will get you anywhere and save you money versus buying ...
Reddit
reddit.com › r/4x4 › suggestions under 5k
r/4x4 on Reddit: Suggestions under 5k
December 6, 2022 -
I dont know if this is the appropriate forum for this question, but im looking to buy a truck/SUV for a cheap price so I can have it built step by step for off-roading. Located in Bakersfield, CA Would love vehicle suggestions that would be the cheapest to purchase and relatively cheaper to build but also not break into pieces when off-roading!
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My vote is for a Chevy s10/s10 blazer or gmc Sonoma/s15 jimmy. The two door blazer/jimmy is a great platform to start with and they’re pretty slept on. If you get one with the 4.3 v6 they have lots of power to turn big tires. The transmission is the same one they used in half ton pickups and a limited slip rear was a popular option. The rear axle is essentially a narrowed half ton rear end. Plenty strong for a tiny truck or suv turning oversized tires. With a modest lift and some cutting you can stuff 33” tires under one. They’re great little trucks with a drivetrain borrowed from a full size pickup and very few people in the offroad world pay them any attention so they’re surprisingly cheap.
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Jeep XJ 4.0 V6. Solid axles and one of the best engines Jeep has made, aisin transmission (same manufacturer as toyota), np transfercase. Has a strong drivetrain until you get to the axles which are fine with 33s but shouldn't be stressed much bigger than that. Tons of aftermarket. Downside is it's Chrysler and unibody. First gen Ford Explorer/Mazda Navajo. The automatic transmission is the weak spot on these but they made a lot of changes mid 93 for that. My original trans went to 200k and was still going good when I sold it. Even better you can get them with a manual transmission. The Ford TTB is Dana 35 inner with 45 outers pretty beefy for the size of them. Some hate on TTB but it flexes more than IFS and is tougher. 8.8 axle is stout and a favorite of jeep owners to swap in. Parts are plentiful for these and cheap. Bronco II would be another option but it comes with lighter duty axles (since it's a lot smaller). Cheap wheeling rig is to get Bronco II and put Explorer axles under it. Less aftermarket for them but there are plenty of lift kits and a strong community at https://explorer4x4.com/ . Get one with a towing package and it will have limited slip in rear. Mitsubishi Montero. Compared a lot to Izuzu Trooper (also a good option) both of these are kind of overlooked in the 4x4 world. They are IFS front (less articulation) but tough trucks. Not a ton of aftermarket for them. At one point someone on r/4x4 had made a list of all the reasons why the montero was better. It has bigger ring gears on the diffs and there were a bunch of other reasons too. It's a Trooper on roids basically. Troopers are fine though too. Both are pretty reliable. Both come with limited slips I believe.
CarBuzz
carbuzz.com › home › mainstream cars › 10 obscure suvs that offer reliable motoring for under $10,000
The Most Reliable $10,000 Used SUVs Nobody Talks About
July 1, 2025 - Following in the footsteps of the Montero was the Endeavor, and thanks to keeping the formula more or less the same, it's enjoyed a reputation as another reliable, affordable 4x4.
iSeeCars
iseecars.com › home › cars for sale › under $5,000 › used suv under $5,000
Used SUV Under $5,000 - iSeeCars.com
Save $1,173 on Used SUV Under $5,000. Search 185 listings to find the best deals. iSeeCars.com analyzes prices of 10 million used cars daily.
Autoweb
autoweb.com › best-used-suvs-under-5000
Best Used SUV’s Under $5,000 | Autoweb
Fuel economy came in at 11 city and 15 highway. Honda models have a richly deserved reputation for reliability, making the 1999 CR-V a reasonable consideration at this price point. A 146-horsepower, 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine powered the crossover.
Gear Patrol
gearpatrol.com › cars › a539685 › best-used-suvs-4x4-cheap
The Best Used 4x4 SUVs We’d Buy for $10,000 Right Now | Gear Patrol
August 25, 2022 - This one only has the base four-cylinder engine..but it also has a manual transmission, a mileage count under 50,000 and doesn’t look like it has been overly accessorized. ... The Isuzu Trooper — known by many names in many locations — was a damn good boxy SUV.
YouTube
youtube.com › watch
17 SUVs Under $5,000 That Will OUTLIVE Everything! (Car Makers HATE This List) - YouTube
17 SUVs Under $5,000 That Will OUTLIVE Everything! (Car Makers HATE This List)Get RJ's FREE Guide: "Avoid These 17 Cars In 2025!" here: https://shorturl.at/o...
Published August 14, 2025
Reddit
reddit.com › r/whatcarshouldibuy › what suv would you get if you only have 5k cash?
r/whatcarshouldIbuy on Reddit: What SUV would you get if you only have 5k cash?
August 5, 2024 -
SORRY I GUESS I MEANT SMALLER CROSSOVER SUV, WE ARE A FAMILY OF 4 (2 kids).
I live in a rural area but have good roads, I work at home but need to drive about 80 miles trips to go buy groceries and we like to road tripping 3-4 times a year and I need to pick up the kids from school.
Also I know nothing about cars, been driving a 2001 protege the last 10 years.
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Honestly I’d look for a second gen CR-V. I think they go for around that price depending on condition. My mom had one when I was kid and it was more than enough space for our family. Also I think they had bonus things like the lower trunk cover being a table. And it has a full size spare on the back. That being said, I’m slightly going off nostalgia here and I’m not sure of that generations reliability. But my mom’s CR-V is still running.
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4th gen 4Runner. You’ll be hard pressed, but you can probably score one for that price.
Facebook
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What's the MOST Reliable SUV You Can Get for $4K-$6K?
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