It's easy to assume that cheap models in any segment are bound to be unreliable, but that's not the case today. That said, there are always families searching for the best possible deal on a new SUV that fits their family comfortably and drives for years with minimal maintenance and repair costs. On top of that, shoppers are looking for the safest crossovers to keep their families protected. All-wheel drive is a great start, since it provides better traction and handling in adverse weather and on rougher roads than a front- or rear-wheel-drive vehicle would.However, "cheap" is losing its meaning. There are no more new cars under $20,000 since the Nissan Versa is gone, and getting all-wheel drive means spending a little more. That's why we put together a list of the most affordable, trustworthy, reliable crossovers you can buy for the 2026 model year.We specifically limited the selections to models with a RepairPal reliability rating of 3.5 or higher, in the top quartile of J.D. Power reliability ratings, or with below-average repair and maintenance costs. This list is organized by price (the lowest possible MSRP to get AWD) from the cheapest to the most expensive.All specifications have been sourced directly from the manufacturer. Prices are correct at the time of writing and exclude destination, options (unless otherwise mentioned), taxes, incentives, and other potential fees. Photos do not necessarily show the base trim. 2026 Kia Seltos AWD Base MSRP With AWD: $24,990 2026 Kia SeltosThe least-expensive model on our list is the Kia Seltos, which, when equipped with optional all-wheel drive on its base trim, starts at $24,990. Choosing AWD adds another $1,200 to its base price.We know Kia doesn't have the best reputation for long-term reliability, but the brand has had a bit of a comeback in the last few years. J.D. Power gave the current Seltos an 86 out of 100 for initial quality and reliability, which measures the level of defects, malfunctions, and design flaws experienced by vehicle owners for the entire vehicle, from the engine to the infotainment system.For more proof that this car is reliable, check out some older model years from this generation. The 2021 Seltos is proving reliable with few reported issues. 2026 Mazda CX-30 Base MSRP With AWD: $26,375 2025 Mazda CX-30Despite being one of the cheapest models here, the Mazda CX-30 comes standard with AWD across every trim. Mazda toes the line between affordability and premium, with some models offering some of the best-looking interiors on the market. The CX-30 is at the bottom of the brand's lineup, yet still feels upscale. To match its driving experience, it has a solid J.D. Power score of 80 out of 100 for quality and reliability. RepairPal gives the brand an overall reliability score of 4 out of 5, ranking it 5th among 32 automakers. 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Base MSRP With AWD: $26,995 2024 Subaru CrosstrekSubaru is known for its famous "symmetrical all-wheel drive" system, which comes standard with the Crosstrek and nearly every other model from the brand. The Crosstrek is great for families with adventurous spirits, since it has more ground clearance than comparable rivals and every trim comes with AWD. J.D. Power's latest dependability study ranked Subaru sixth overall with 181 problems per 100 vehicles, and the Crosstrek was named the most dependable small SUV in America. Its fuel economy might not be as good as some rivals, but buyers can spend more for a hybrid variant to even the playing field. 2026 Hyundai Kona AWD Base MSRP With AWD: $27,000 2025 Hyundai KonaLike most of this list, all-wheel drive costs $1,500 extra on the Hyundai Kona, bringing the SE trim's price to $27,000. Hyundai shares many parts with Kia. In the Kona's case, that means sharing a platform and powertrain with the Seltos.We know how reliable that model is now, and the Kona is no different. J.D. Power gave the Kona an 84 out of 100 for quality and reliability. CarEdge, a source for reliability and maintenance stats, finds that it costs buyers about $2,646 to repair and maintain over the first 5 years on the road, which is $950 cheaper than average. 2026 Honda HR-V AWD Base MSRP With AWD: $28,000 2026 Honda HR-VHonda joins the game with the HR-V, its smallest SUV/crossover. It's available in three trim levels, including the LX, Sport, and EX-L, and costs an extra $1,500.Honda's dependability remains strong, and the HR-V follows the trend regardless of its price or position in the lineup. According to J.D. Power's recent findings, it earns an 83 out of 100 in quality and reliability. CarEdge's data shows that buyers are spending an average of $2,347 to repair and maintain the HR-V over its first five years on the road, which is $1,249 less than the industry average. Our own research finds that used examples from the last half-decade are among the most reliable sub-$25k SUVs you can buy. 2026 Subaru Forester Base MSRP With AWD: $29,995 2026 Subaru Forester WildernessAs we mentioned earlier, Subaru models come with one of the best AWD systems on the market as standard, so the Forester doesn't require any add-ons. The Forester is a bit larger than most of the models we've mentioned so far, which makes it better for families with older kids. It's not too expensive, though.Plus, J.D. Power gave it an 81/100 for quality and reliability. As for maintenance, CarEdge's data shows that buyers can expect to spend about $2,718 over the first five years, which is $878 less than the average. 2026 Kia Sportage AWD Base MSRP with AWD: $30,590 2023 - 2026 Kia SportageThe Kia Sportage offers its base trim level, the LX, with optional AWD for an additional $1,800. That might be more than the price of any other model's AWD option, but the Sportage is still relatively affordable. This is Kia's most popular model, having sold 182,823 units in 2025. We can understand why buyers are drawn to it, since it also earned an 84/100 in J.D. Power's quality and reliability ratings. Owners can expect to pay an average of $2,659 for repairs and maintenance over the first five years on the road, which beats the industry average by $937. 2026 Honda CR-V AWD Base MSRP with AWD: $32,420 2026 Honda CR-V Hybrid TrailSportThe Honda CR-V has a higher entry price that might cause some buyers to think twice when looking for a bargain in this segment. A $1,500 AWD option brings its base trim to $32,420 before destination. Considering its reputation for reliability, practical sizing, comfort features, and more, we feel as though it's worth a test drive. While buyers can choose between two powertrains (including a hybrid, like in the TrailSport trim shown above), the 1.5L turbo I4 in the base model is reliable.J.D. Power gave it an 83/100, and CarEdge finds that it's cheaper to maintain than the industry average; it costs $2,425 over five years, which beats the average by $1,171. 2026 Toyota RAV4 Base MSRP With AWD: $33,300 2026 Toyota RAV4The Toyota RAV4 entered its sixth generation for the 2026 model year, which brought changes like a hybrid-only lineup and the LE trim now offering optional AWD for another $1,400. It's no surprise the RAV4 is trustworthy, since the brand it comes from is widely known as one of the most reliable automakers. We should note that it's fairly common for cars of all kinds to have issues when they enter a new generation. Still, we're confident the RAV4 will be fine, since it uses the same reliable hybrid powertrain as the previous generation. 2026 Subaru Outback Base MSRP with AWD: $34,995 2026 Subaru Outback WildernessSubaru caps our list of affordable, trustworthy crossovers with the all-new Outback. It also entered a new generation this year, shifting it from a wagon to more of a crossover. The body style aside, it comes with a standard symmetrical AWD system, as usual. J.D. Power gave the new Outback an 81 out of 100 for quality and reliability, which is great for any new generation. According to CarEdge, buyers spend about $2,730 on maintenance and repairs over the car's first five years on the road, which is $866 less than the average.