The Kia Sportage

Available in two trim levels, LX and EX, the Kia Sportage offers the kind of performance and refinement usually associated with the small SUVs from Japanese automakers. Both trims are equipped with a healthy list of standard amenities, such as alloy wheels, air-conditioning, a six-speaker stereo with a CD player, full power accessories and tinted glass.

The Kia Sportage may not look too big from the outside, but the interior has plenty of headroom and legroom, both in the front and the back. The rear seats split and fold flat for a level cargo floor and a maximum of 67 cubic feet of storage.

You can get a well-stocked Sportage with V6 power and 4WD for thousands less than its competition, making it one of the best values in the small-SUV category.