Four crossovers under $40,000

We look at four crossovers under $40,000 that offer great value, features and technology.

By Jim Resnick Apr 5, 2022

Kia

Article QuickTakes:

By a huge margin, the top selling car segment in America (aside from pickups) is the crossover SUV, and the meat of that particular segment are crossovers under $40,000. So, what exactly is a "crossover?" Essentially, it's simply an SUV created on a car platform but with a higher roof, larger door openings, more cargo space and potentially all-wheel drive. Imagine if that car platform was actually a balloon — the designers just blow it up a bit more.

Of course, it's more complex than that, but you get the drift.

In this list, we narrow down on five updated or all-new 2022 crossovers under $40,000 in their base form and offer a minimum of active safety technology like forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking as standard equipment. We also list the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's overall safety rating.

Subaru

Subaru Outback Wilderness

Base price: approx. $37,000

What's new for 2022:

New model on the Outback platform
Revised gearing (compared to Outback) to enable easier climbing, better acceleration
EPA city/highway mpg: 22/26

Pros

Spacious cabin
Optional turbo engine and shorter gearing than the normal Outback provide good power
Easier roof-loading of cargo than most SUVs
Good ride quality
Above-average off-road ability
IIHS "Top Safety Pick+"

Cons

Odd angles and some crude, plasticky details to the body
Big touchscreen is slow and hides controls that should be prioritized
Very clunky engine start/stop system causes a big shake when re-firing at a stop light

The 2022 Subaru Outback is really a station wagon in SUV clothing, which can be a good thing. With a very well-thought-out standard all-wheel drive system and lots of standard advanced driver assists, the Outback makes a lot of sense to a lot of people. As a crossover under $40,000, the new Outback Wilderness offers more off-road capability with a lift that gives a full 9.5 inches of ground clearance to avoid grounding out on rocks and is 1 inch higher than the standard Outback. A front skid plate comes standard, as do all-terrain tires and a new roof rack that can support 700 pounds of static weight for rooftop tenting. And, ever-thoughtful, Subaru fits the Wilderness with water repellant upholstery for easy wipe downs after returning from the wild.

Volkswagen

Volkswagen Atlas

Base price: approx. $35,000

What's new for 2022:

Base S trim is no longer available
Digital gauges are now standard
Several active safety systems are standard equipment
EPA city/highway mpg: 21/25 (std. 2.0L engine, FWD); 20/24 (std. 2.0L engine, AWD); 18/24 (opt. 3.6L engine, FWD); 17/23 (opt. 3.6L engine, AWD)

Pros

Very spacious interior offers loads of room in all three rows
Good balance between precise, deft handling and everyday comfort on decent surfaces
Straightforward, easy-to-use cabin design
High value factor, given the starting price and interior space
IIHS "Good" safety rating

Cons

Mediocre acceleration performance, even with the optional, though more operatic V6 engine
Only middling fuel economy

It's perhaps incongruous to think that one of the largest midsize crossovers under $40,000 comes from the same company that earned its stripes by building the original small car to many Americans, the Beetle. Regardless of lineage, the Atlas is a three-row crossover SUV in which real, live adults can fit comfortably in that third row. The Atlas provides plenty of cargo space, too, plus a good compromise between ride comfort and handling crispness and user-friendly tech features.

Hyundai

Hyundai Palisade

Base price: approx. $33,000

What's new for 2022:

Many active safety features are now standard across the trim levels
Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Bluetooth connectivity are standard on base SE trim
EPA city/highway mpg: 19/26 (FWD); 19/24 (AWD)

Pros

Interior design and quality of a high-end luxury car
Plenty of space for adults in all three rows, eight passenger maximum
Lots of standard high-tech features
Comfortable seating and ride quality
Extremely high value-for-money quotient, given the base price
IIHS "Top Safety Pick+"

Cons

Dull handling
Unimpressive fuel economy
Angular, anharmonic front end

Hyundai introduced the Palisade in 2020 to nearly dumb-struck auto journalists. The quality and luxury appointments inside surely would have commanded a much higher price and a European nameplate. Spacious, affordable for the segment and generously-powered a standard 3.8L V6 making 291 hp, the Palisade is just as compelling in 2022 as it was two years ago. Front-wheel drive is standard on all trim levels, as is the option of all-wheel drive.

Kia

Kia Telluride

Base price: approx. $33,000

What's new for 2022:

New Kia exterior details including the Kia logo
New standard features across all trims including the large 10.3-inch infotainment touchscreen
Many active safety and convenience features are now standard across the trim levels
EPA city/highway mpg: 20/26 (front-wheel drive); 19/24 (all-wheel drive)
IIHS "Top Safety Pick" ("Top Safety Pick+" when equipped with optional LED headlights)

Pros

Outstanding value
Distinctive, attractive design and style both inside and out
Spacious inside (eight passenger maximum with three rows) with premium feel
Many standard high-tech features
Excellent ride quality

Cons

Not-so-sporting handling
Not-so-thrifty mileage

First off, understand that the Kia Telluride and the Hyundai Palisade are twins under the skin (Kia and upmarket Genesis are sister brands within the larger Hyundai Motor Corporation). So the mechanical praises of the Palisade apply here, as well. Like the Palisade, though quite different in execution and specific design, the Telluride looks, feels, and drives like a luxury-class crossover SUV. It also benefits from a raft of standard tech and active safety features and adds a new, larger 10.3-inch infotainment touchscreen as standard equipment across the trim levels. It only mildly disappoints in the fuel economy and handling crispness departments.

TAGSsubaru outbackvolkswagen atlashyundai palisadekia telluride

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Jim Resnick

From racing exotic sports cars, to ranking new cars, to peeling back layers of cover up in an exhaust emissions scandal, Jim has chronicled the automotive sector for decades. Jim has also worked inside the corporate headquarters of three carmakers, and therefore understands how the automotive sausage is really made. But Jim’s affinity for vehicles takes a back seat to finding the truth and the cultural implications of modern transportation. He has also lectured at universities to engineering and policy students and faculty on the industry's relationship with legislation in the wake of the diesel exhaust emissions scandal several years ago. Put simply, Jim reports on autos, mobility, tech, car culture, and the traffic jam of topics within.