What Are the Best Used SUVs for Albany Drivers?

If you live in New York like us, be it the city or the state, you know by now how essential a reliable mode of transportation is. Suppose you live anywhere in upstate New York, in particular. In that case, you’ve likely been searching for new or used SUVs for sale in Albany. Everyone knows that if you buy a used SUV, you’re saving yourself plenty of headaches in the future. SUVs are known for their adaptability and practicality, which compact and subcompact SUVs excel at. They’re never unwieldy, perform well, are incredibly fuel-efficient, and are full of cargo space despite their seemingly small size. If you’re among the wonderful drivers who live in the greater area of Albany, we would like to share some of our favorite SUVs with you. Let’s get started!

Chevy Trax

If you’re looking for one of the most practical subcompact SUVs for its price, look no further than a used Chevy Trax, particularly around the 2020-2022 model range. If you start out with the 2020 Chevy Trax, it boasts a turbocharged 1.4-liter I-4 engine linked with a six-speed automatic transmission, netting you 138 hp and 141 lb-ft of torque. While the Trax’s engine saw improvement in the years to come, even the 2020 version allows you to operate under front-wheel or all-wheel drive. In terms of efficiency, the FWD drivetrain earns EPA-estimated ratings of 26 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highway for a combined 28 MPG. In comparison, the AWD drivetrain boasts 24 MPG in the city, 29 MPG on the highway, and a combined 26 MPG. Fuel efficiency in Albany goes a long way, so whether you’re going about your daily routine: working, attending classes, driving to the Colonie Center Mall to get some shopping done, or heading up to Saratoga Springs for the day, the Trax’s fuel efficiency ratings are excellent for what you’re paying.

Putting aside the 2020 model, the 2021 Chevy Trax is a great place to start shopping if you want to go further. While it utilizes the same engine, the 2021 model increases horsepower and torque output to 155 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque, which equates to a percentage increase of around 12% in horsepower and 25% in torque output between the 2020 and 2021 models. The 2022 model maintains the same numbers. Regardless of which model year you prefer, a used Chevy Trax boasts 18.7 cu.ft. of cargo space, up to 48.4 cu.ft. when the back seats are folded. These models also come with a 7-inch infotainment center, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the Chevy Safety Assist suite for those hazardous Albany winters.

Ford EcoSport

Seeing its last model year in 2022, the Ford EcoSport differs from the Chevy Trax but maintains that affordable subcompact SUV criteria we’re looking for. With the 2020 EcoSport, a turbocharged 1.0-liter I-3 engine comes standard with a six-speed automatic transmission, netting you 123 hp and 125 lb-ft of torque. The EcoSport had a reputation for its more conservative approach to power throughput, and its fuel efficiency ratings reflect this. With the turbocharged 1.0-liter I-3 engine, the 2020 Ford EcoSport earns EPA-estimated ratings of 27 MPG in the city and 29 MPG on the highway for a combined 28 MPG. Only FWD is available with this powertrain.

The 2020 and 2021 Ford EcoSport boasted an additional engine option: a 2.0-liter I-4 engine. Available only in AWD, this engine produces 166 hp and 149 lb-ft of torque, netting a 35% increase in horsepower and a 19% increase in torque output over the turbocharged I-3. Similarly, this alternative engine boasts EPA-estimated ratings of 23 MPG in the city and 29 MPG on the highway for a combined 25 MPG. The EcoSport’s latest and final version, the 2022 Ford EcoSport, removes the turbocharged 1.0-liter I-3 engine and makes the 2.0-liter I-4 engine its sole replacement.

An advantage of going for the most recent EcoSport is that it brings a suite of Ford-related tech. For example, any EcoSport model year (being standard in 2020 and then optional in 2021 and 2022) comes with an eight-inch infotainment center built with Ford’s patented SYNC3 system, complete with amenities like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, requiring no additional devices to enjoy features like improved navigation and music. Suppose an affordable, dependable road trip machine is what you’re looking for. In that case, the Ford EcoSport boasts a maximum cargo space of 50 cu.ft. with the seats folded down, regardless of which of the three model years you decide to go for.

Honda HR-V

Honda veterans are likely familiar with the Honda HR-V’s incredible value, and aspiring Honda customers in Albany might also recognize it. With efficiency and performance to spare, not to mention a generous amount of cargo space, the HR-V can accommodate you in your everyday life while helping to alleviate the curve balls thrown your way.

The most notable thing about the Honda HR-V is its cargo space, which is quite significant. The 2021 HR-V has a minimum of 24.3 cu.ft. and a maximum of 58.8 cu.ft. of space if you buy the FWD model, with AWD models slightly altering the cargo space to between 23.2 and 57.6 cu.ft. of space. If you purchase the 2023 model, these numbers were adjusted again to 24.4 cu.ft. with the seats upright and 58.8 cu.ft. when folded. Cargo space is invaluable, and it makes the HR-V a proper, family-friendly vehicle, with enough space for everyone to fit their equipment for visits to the lake, camping trips, or personal visits to the local country club for golfing. If you’re more of the biking and hiking sort, you’ll have no trouble fitting your mountain bike in the back while you travel to your local trail.

Driving an HR-V feels slightly different from the SUVs we’ve mentioned because it’s the first that utilizes a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). The CVT keeps acceleration smoother than regular transmissions, and this CVT pairs with a 1.8-liter I-4 engine that boasts 141 hp and 127 lb-ft of torque. EPA-estimated ratings for the HR-V vehicles that use this engine have EPA-estimated ratings of 28 MPG in the city, 34 MPG on the highway, and a combined 30 MPG when used with an FWD drivetrain.

The 2021 HR-V with AWD’s ratings is also nothing to scoff at, thanks to its 27 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highway for a combined 29 MPG. However, if you buy the 2023 HR-V, it instead comes with a 2.0-liter I-4 engine with a more significant performance throughput of 158 hp and 138 lb-ft of torque. Fuel efficiency also remains equally excellent with slightly different ratings: 26 MPG in the city, 32 MPG on the highway, and 28 MPG combined with FWD, with AWD models achieving 25 MPG in the city, 30 MPG on the highway, and 27 MPG combined. An impressive showing, no doubt, so if you do a lot of driving in and around Albany, this is the type of fuel efficiency you should be looking for.

Albany Drivers Have Plenty To Think About!

We all wish shopping for a vehicle was a matter of closing our eyes and picking a number; the truth is, the vehicles we purchase can represent the sort of life we live and the toolkit we require. An SUV is this proverbial toolkit; if you live in Albany, you need a hefty toolkit to get by. There are some things you need to consider more than others–– for example, snow. You must always be vigilant with your selection. Still, if you visit us at DePaula Chevrolet and ask for one of the SUVs we’ve mentioned, you won’t go wrong.