Used subcompact SUVs for sale near Camp Pendleton South, CA

My wife and I purchased a really nice car (2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee) yesterday from Junior Alba at Kearney Mesa Jeep, Dodge. Junior listened to want we wanted and presented us with several cars that met the criteria. Very nice man. Interacted with several people during the purchase process, all nice. Give this team a chance if you are in the market for a car.

I picked the Jeep Renegade in the Trailhawk model because it is the only car in the compact category that also has excellent off roading capabilities. It completely beats out the other "off road" vehicles in its class like the Crosstrek or trailblazer. It also works excellent as a daily driver and great on long highway drives, having way better gas mileage than a pickup or wrangler. No road noise like you get in a wrangler or a truck with big off road tires. I've had this car for a little over a year at this point, with about 7000 miles, and the only thing I can say was any kind of issue was I got warning lights on my dash for the lane sensors, but they were just dirty and a quick wash fixed that problem. I can't say much for reliability just because the car is still so new. I have the leather trim upgrade that you can get with the trailhawk, but even with that the quality of the interior is lacking compared to other vehicle brands at the same price range and category, like the Crosstrek, but looking at Jeep's other vehicles like the Gladiator or Wrangler, it fits right in. Everything does feel high quality. I'm very picky about road noises and rattling panels or vibrations while driving, and I haven't had anything at all yet with this vehicle even when driving on rough roads or hitting bumps. The only reason why I gave this car a lower interior rating is just because of the excessive use of plastic. The exterior is very unique. At first I absolutely hated the blocky look of the renegade, but with all the iconic Jeep stying mixed in and the upgraded look of the trailhawk front bumper, I have grown to really love the way this little SUV looks. The blocky shape gives it extremely good headroom and gives it extra cargo space in the rear. The trailhawk model has armor on the underside to prevent damage by anything you're climbing over when going off road. There are some gaps in the armor that you can fill with available aftermarket parts. I will say that I think the cardboard box aerodynamics are the main reason why the gas mileage is so poor even with such a small engine. With about 55/45 split between in-town and highway driving respectively, on roads with large elevation changes, I do still get 24 mpg combined which is decent. The road handling is also great, the Renegade is a very light car, and even with being a little top heavy it zooms around corners almost like a small sports car. The 1.3l engine is surprisingly torque-y, it took me a little while to get used to being gentle on the throttle, the first few gears are very deep and the tiny turboed engine makes 210 foot pounds of torque so it will launch very quickly until it gets to 3rd/4th gear. The absolute worst and best thing about this car is it's transmission and the way it's programmed. In regular driving, it seems like the transmission has to stop and think about what gear to go to, so swapping gears is a little slow and not as smooth as other cars. At the same time, the transmission is the main reason why this car does extremely, unexpectedly well off road and in poor driving conditions. It will always keep power to wheels that have traction, and so gives impressive control. I have driven this up a mountain trail in the middle of a Montana winter and it felt like a leisurely drive, even purposely drove into tall snow drifts to give myself a challenge and plowed over them without any issue. When I got to the peak in my stock renegade trailhawk the only other vehicle on the peak was a modified, lifted Tacoma with large off road tires that had chains wrapped around them. I'm extremely impressed with how well this compact SUV really does off road. Overall I'm extremely happy with my renegade, and hope to have it for the next decade as a light trail/off road adventure car and daily driver.

We brought our car in for a recall repair. It took considerably longer than initially expected but the mechanics did a wonderful job and our service technician, Bobby, was great. He was friendly, courteous and efficient. He is a real asset to the Mazda dealership.

Pleased, I expected as a small car that the ride would be bumpy. It rides like a larger car. No under carriage noise. No window noise. Very important to me.

What an amazing experience! I had the pleasure to have John Khalil as my sales agent, who happens to not only be a welcoming and zealous sales agent at CarMax of Oceanside, CA, but also a very talented painting artist!! He had great compassion for my autistic son and made sure he was always comfortable during the efficient waiting process by offering him a cute CarMax car toy, a CarMax coloring book and crayons. He went above and beyond when complex situations came about during the bank’s verification process. The determination he had to push my situation through with his persistent diligence as I watched him communicate with high professionalism and positivity as a team with his colleagues/finance management team was remarkable!!!! Thank you, CarMax of Oceanside, CA!! You all are an amazing TEAM!! I’m so happy with my car!!!

This is by far the best subcompact suv for the money. I absolutely love the 2024 taos se. It's loaded with awesome tech and has great acceleration.

Brian was knowledge and made time from his other responsibilities to work with us. The car we called about was ready and waiting for us when we arrived. This was our first (and likely not last) CarMax experience.

The only thing is there is a space between the seat back and the seat, if you put something small on the passenger seat it can slice and end up on the floor of the back seat.

Buying a car was so easy and transparent with Encinitas Ford. Loved working with Larry (sales) and Dan (finance). Such a better experience than I had with another dealership.

Reliable and high performance BMW x1 with excellent value for the money. It’s exactly the same as an x3, but smaller cargo space. Easily fits 2 rear passengers.

Had the best new car buying experience of my life very straightforward with the deal that we had agreed upon over the phone and text. Translated into a great experience at the dealership couldn’t have had a better experience. Lisa, Tom, and Theodore in we’re all amazing people and made it such a great experience. I’m enjoying my new Volkswagen ID buzz tremendously. It fits the need that I had perfectly. Thanks again to the crew at Carlsbad Volkswagen.

a great car in all respects. Fun to drive. Consumer Reports recommends the 2016 and 2018 models for reliability. I highly recommend it. well built

Excellent overall experience. Sales representative was not the most knowledgeable, but was very attentive. The facility was clean and sales did not apply pressure. Representative made several follow-up calls which were appropriate and helpful to my search.

I had a 2014 wish I could get it back😢 I do such dumb things..it had the red interior and red and gray cloth seats in loved the look but inside tech was nit so good

Great car buying experience! Had worked in the Auto biz 35 years and can tell you these guys are fair, courteous and professional. Fair on both trade and purchased vehicles. Fast, friendly and a enjoyable processing

I brought my Trax about one year ago. No problems at all. Very comfortable to drive. Gas mileage is very good. I would buy another Trax again.

This was my first time visiting your store and Mesa was very informative and helpful.

I bought this used with 26,000 miles in the spring of 2024. I love the styling, interior, and value. My only complaint is that the angle of the infotainment display can make it difficult to see due to reflections, especially in bright sunlight. I love the AWD option, it adds to stability - even in dry conditions. The remote start is handy in cold weather since I now live in an apartment and no longer have a garage. Performance with the optional engine is more than adequate.

We purchased a 2017 Kia Soul in November 2019 and were really impressed with the overall process. We first saw the car online and called in to see if it was available. The salesperson who helped us, Sylvia, helped us get the car to that specific store(it was at a different Hertz Used Cars location), was very responsive and helpful, and was extremely professional and knowledgeable throughout. The building the dealership is in could be in better shape, but the price we paid was great and the whole process was quick and easy.

I bought a 2022 Taos and drove it for 3 1/2 years. I liked the car so much that I bought a 2025 Taos. My wife is now driving the 2022 and I am driving the 2025. Both cars are pure joy to sit in and to drive. The interior and legroom are spacious. The only negatives are the VW does not offer a power, passenger seat and a power hatch closer. Other than that, it is the perfect vehicle for us.

Had an enjoyable experience at Kearny Mesa Chevrolet. They have a wide selection of vehicles on their lot. All of the vehicles were show room ready. Our sales guy Uriel helped us pick the right Silverado for us. He was very helpful thru the entire process. The GM Michael was very personable and checked that we were well taken care of. We highly recommend Kearny Mesa Chevrolet!

Bought to replace a Cruze that was a real road warrior . 2025 Trax 3 cyl does 70 mph plus on trips with 3 adults in comfort . LS model had no rear hatch cover . Bought one off FB Marketplace for $10. Dealer wanted $235. Used the rubber floor mats from the old Cruze and snapped right into place on the Trax for the winter weather . Doing more frequent oil changes because of wet belt setup . Originally wanted a Buick Envista but felt the $21200 Trax was basically the same car for thousands less .

I’m very happy with Kearny Mesa Jeep brought my son in there. He bought a 2019 Camry SE on their Uesd Car lot. Treated me very professional.

I know that here in Northern California, Buick isn't a very popular brand, but that means I was able to get a stunningly good deal on my new '23. I traded up from a low mileage '18 Buick Encore (not GX), and at the time of the transaction, it had a remarkable trade value. My dealer did a outstanding job on pre-sale prep and delivery. My sales rep answered my every question. I enjoyed the prior vehicle, and feel this new one will give me the same kind of driving experience. My added safety feature is the front accident/pedestrian avoidance and lane keep assist. I haven't had to use either yet, but feel good about having them aboard. This Buick strikes me as a hidden gem, full featured but still available at a price point that blows the other comparable Asian built imports out of the water.

Tony and the staff in the Service Dept are very pleasant to work with. They are courteous and professional. They make the service process very simple and easy from getting the loaner to having the car washed before pick up! Great job! Thanks!

I usually lease my cars. I loved this one so much, I bought it. My only issue is that it was recalled 4 months after I purchased it. Sue to the supply chain issues, it took nearly 4 months for the parts to fix it. I did have a loaner for the 4 months, but it was disappointing. I love the car and would purchase again.

No pressure to purchase. The vehicle appears to be in great condition. Sales person very knowledgeable

We almost got in a wreck just now, the car in front of the car in front of US slammed on their breaks. Our Kia Seltos 2024 beeped and then my husband pushed the breaks...none of us hit each other!! Thank you, Kia!!!! It was scary, and I could tell our car noticed the sudden stop before we did!! Thank-you!!

I was treated very well, I’ve not bought anything as of yet. Ms Lorie wonderful will consider giving her my business.

My first audi ever. So far i have driven it for 9 months and honestly has been problem free. Great value mechanical wise. Inside styling is nothing special. Infotainment system is hyper dated; the only issue i really have is the bluetooth randomly deactivating. Over all I was expecting the q3 to be a head ache and finally its not. For a cross over hatchback suv there shockingly a lot of space which for me is the whole reason why it might be hard to part with it one day!

I have owned my HR-V for about a month. Did have to tint my windows was no big deal. I think it had great power has alot on get up and go. Just the right size for me. Still learning what all the buttons do. Overall I am very pleased. First Honda owned.

I was able to purchase my car through Hyundai Escondido. Gerardo(Jerry salesperson) was able to assist us in getting the best deal. He is a very thorough person and kind hearted. If you are looking to purchase a car and need a spanish/english speaking person-go to him! -The Oteros

I have had pickups since 1973. My sister bought a Seltos 2 years ago and loved it. I bought one and cannot complain. It’s a 4 cyl so don’t expect to burn rubber but it will get you any place you want to go. Very happy so far…

Very helpful, very friendly. Straight to the point. Really appreciate it. Thank you very much

So slow it’s almost unsafe! Front seats are not comfortable. Blind spot in side mirrors. Everything else is good. Base engine needs 40 more horses. Sport trim should have a turbo engine.

Sam was a great source to lean on! Very knowledgeable and communicative through text over when the car was being taken back and when they were almost done with it. I never felt pressured to make a decision, and he was overall kind!

I got mine new in 2021. I've had a few small thing that had to be repaired but nothing major. My Seltos runs well and get good mileage

We just purchased a vehicle from Vista Auto Sales and had an amazing experience from start to finish. After a few stressful days of car shopping, this was such a breath of fresh air. Chris was knowledgeable, easygoing, and made the test drive completely comfortable and pressure-free. Araceli was direct, friendly, and transparent throughout the entire process. There was no sales jargon, no games, and no pressure — just honest, straightforward communication. They truly wanted what was best for us. They also hooked us up with an excellent service warranty, which gave us even more peace of mind. If you’re looking for a trustworthy, no-pressure dealership in North County, we highly recommend Vista Auto Sales!

Car is perfect for my needs. It is spacious and well designed. 9nly problem is the passenger airbag light activated when passenger seat is empty. Very annoying. You see it every time you look in your rear view mirror. Easy fix a piece of matte black masking tape.