3 Reliable Used Hybrid SUVs Under $30,000 You Can Buy Right Now
- You can’t list reliable used hybrid SUVs without the 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
- The 2012 Lexus RX is a reliable used hybrid SUV option
- For those who need a little more room, the 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid might work
Looking for a used SUV with good fuel economy but don’t know where to start? These are some reliable used hybrid SUVs under $30,000 from brands you trust, like Toyota, Lexus, and Chevrolet. Scores for each sport utility vehicle from national safety groups are listed below too.
You can’t list reliable used hybrid SUVs without the 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

A 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid | Toyota
What’s not to like about the 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid? U.S. News says the Highlander SUV received a redesign the year before and was refreshed and ready for action. Due to the hybrid powertrain, this SUV had three rows, a quiet ride, and plenty of fuel economy. Toyota’s Highlander is known for being a reliable and long-lasting SUV, which the 2009 version was a good representation of. The Highlander gets 27 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway, making it a good choice for reliable used hybrid SUVs under $30,000.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid high safety scores on its tests. These include the moderate overlap front, side impact, and roof strength tests.
Average Price Paid: $11,982 – $20,597
Original MSRP: $34,700 – $41,020
The 2012 Lexus RX is a reliable used hybrid SUV option
Next up is the 2012 Lexus RX 450h, arguably one of the market’s most popular sport utility vehicles. Lexus continued its trend of popular and reliable vehicles with the RX hybrid. This version has a gasoline-powered V6 engine and either two or three electric motors, depending on which one you choose. Those fuel economy numbers work out to an EPA-estimated 32 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.
The 2012 Lexus RX received high safety scores from the IIHS on those important crashworthiness tests. It also received the IIHS Top Safety Pick award for 2012.
Average Price Paid: $17,868 – $18,611
Original MSRP: $45,235 – $46,825
For those who need a little more room, the 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid might work
For a large SUV, the 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid still gets respectable fuel economy. The hybrid version returned 21 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway, plus it has room for eight passengers. It can also tow up to 6,200 pounds for those who might need towing capacity. Drivers can remove the back seats for 108.9 cubic feet of cargo space.
Unfortunately, the IIHS did not rate the 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe. There is no safety score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), either. It is still a good option, but finding a newer option might offer more safety features.
Average Price Paid: $16,891 – $22,007
Original MSRP: $50,720 – $53,525
While prices for vehicles have started to come down, a $30,000 budget doesn’t go as far as it used to. These are some reliable used hybrid SUVs from Toyota, Lexus, and Chevrolet that come in under budget.