The 5 best luxury SUVs for less than $40,000, according to Consumer Reports
Ranked by handling, comfort, mileage, and more, these SUVs feature premium perks at relatively low prices
Luxury comes at a price, but it doesn’t need to be a totally astronomical one.
Consumer Reports rated the five best luxury SUVs available for under $40,000, all of which scored high on its tests.
From handling and comfort to affordable upgrades, continue reading to see which vehicles made the list and why.
2 / 6
2026 Mini Countryman
Credit: Mini
Starting at $38,900, the 2026 Countryman is the highest-rated SUV on the list. It gets a combined 28 mpg overall and earned praise from CR for its handling, short stopping distance, and “whimsical character.” It did say the SUV has spotty power delivery and its controls aren’t the most intuitive.
3 / 6
2026 Acura ADX
Credit: Honda $HMC
The 2026 ADX comes CR recommended and starts at $35,000, meaning you can still get upgrades and stay under that $40,000 budget. Plus, it gets a combined 27 mpg.
“It’s designed to appeal to folks who want to treat themselves to a little luxury but would still like a practical SUV from an automaker known for reliability,” CR said. Still, it complained about the ADX's noisy cabin, less than stellar acceleration, and an uncomfortable back seat.
4 / 6
2026 Lincoln Corsair
Credit: Lincoln
The 2026 Corsair starts at $39,985 and gets a combined 23 miles per gallon. While it shares a platform with the Ford $F Escape, CR said the two “won’t be confused…thanks to its well-appointed cabin, comfortable ride, and lively powertrain” that altogether “fulfills its premium promise."
It dinged the vehicle for the controls, but was otherwise happy with the SUV's ride, quietness, powertrain, braking, and finish.
5 / 6
2026 Lexus UX
Credit: Lexus
The 2026 UX starts at $36,740 and gets a combined 37 mpg. While CR said “The UX is a slightly raised hatchback marketed as an SUV,” it found Lexus’ smallest SUV “to be quite pleasant and thrifty on fuel, and we like that it’s loaded with standard safety equipment.”
Still, CR had some problems with the controls and said the vehicle feels tiny inside.
6 / 6
2026 Volvo XC40
Credit: Volvo
The XC40 starts at $39,900 and gets a combined 24 miles per gallon. While it doesn’t come CR recommended, it earned praise for its “interior ambiance” and nice front seats. CR did say “it lacks the polish found in some of its key rivals,” and criticized its stiff ride, controls, gear selector, and noisy engine.