Used subcompact SUVs for sale near Encinitas, CA

I had a great experience working with Alexander at Carlsbad Lexus dealership. From the start, he was professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely focused on helping me find the right vehicle rather than just making a sale. He took the time to answer all my questions clearly, explained different options without any pressure, and made the entire process smooth and stress-free. What stood out most was his honesty and attention to detail. He was very transparent throughout the process. I never felt rushed or pushed, which made a big difference. Overall, I highly recommend working with Alexander and with the Carlsbad Lexus team, if you’re looking for a straightforward, reliable, and customer-focused car buying experience.

This is a perfect car for me (80 yrs old, 5’1”) it is easy to get in and out, and I sit far enough from the steering wheel so I can drive with my arms in a much more comfortable position than in my 2009 Honda Civic I had before

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 SUV looks very cute, drives extremely well, highly maneuverable, very stable, and is easy to park anywhere. Its interior is fabulous. It remains stable in cross winds and in tight corners.

I had a favorable experience while purchasing my new vehicle. Solon assisted me in identifying the specific model that met my requirements. His commitment and professionalism were highly appreciated throughout the process.

I absolutely love this car. It have a 2022 Trailblazer Activ with all the safety features and full sunroof, etc. I have 80,000 miles on it and it is so fun to drive! I have driven it all over the country and currently live in the mountains and commute 90 miles round trip over a mountain on winding road to work and back and it’s so easy in this car! I even lived in it for a few months when touring national parks and slept on a mattress in the back with seats folded down and it was super comfortable for me as a 5ft 5in person. Especially since I could look at the moon and stars through the sunroof while laying down in the back! I am praying that it goes to 200,000 miles because I dread the day I no longer have this car and may just end up buying another one even though I would prefer a hybrid for better gas mileage. I also have had exactly ZERO issues with this car! I have gotten regular oil changes and service checks and that’s it! About to get the spark plugs replaced just because it’s time. But it has not shown any signs of any problems whatsoever! I’m beyond thrilled with my purchase! And I only ever owned Toyotas or Hondas before buying this car, but the reliability so far is comparable! My auto shop also told me they never see these cars in the shop because they are reliable! So hope that helps someone!!

Very communicative and help helpful through the buying process. Offer the best prices definitely recommend.

Great car, terrible dealers and maintenance costs. I have had two GLA vehicles, a 2016 GLA45 AMG and this one a 2018 GLA 250 AWD. I have a love-hate relationship. The car itself is really enjoyable and the 208hp dual clutch drive train is nearly perfect in my mind for sporty but efficient driving. It has good acceleration, little to no lag and I can consistently hit the high 30’s for mileage in the mountains of Colorado. I have gotten 38mpg over a 250 mile trip. It is mid 20’s around town which is good because you need premium gas. The storage areas are small-ish and funky but doable and has two USB ports in the center console with no grooves for the cables but they will pass through. I recommend blind spot detection as a must because the side mirrors have a large blind spot you cannot dial out. The car runs very smoothly, absorbs bumps well and decent sound proofing for this size. The power lift gates, keyless doors on all four doors just touching the handles is perhaps my favorite comfort feature. It drives like a car so if you like high SUV seating positions this is not for you. Air works great, electronics are kind of odd for 2018 so having Apple Car Play is a must in my mind if you are buying used. I really love the car for it’s details, lovely interior and performance and can recommend it to others based on those things. The huge negative for Mercedes is they are hands down the worst dealerships and I interacted with three. They do all the classic dealer tricks and the maintenance costs on a car running perfectly fine will make you bleed. An A service (odd years) was $933.00 and they wisely will not tell you that till you show up. Shop around as another dealer was only about 60% of that. I just replaced a dead battery today and it was $639.00 and done in less than an hour. I would go to an independent shop for half price maintenance unless a warranty item (I have extended/CPO). In the end this makes me give up on Mercedes. Cars are wonderfully engineered and truly enjoyable and look great but dealers and everything associated suck. Yeah, I know there are probably good ones and if you don’t mind a siphon in your wallet and typical dealer tricks then you will love them and they will love you. So, 100% recommend the car and a 100% thumbs down on the dealers. Research yours carefully and if good or if you can go to an independent then jump on the car if you like sporty, elegant and fun.

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!

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.

needed service and was interest in an Iconic 9 but no salesperson was available so i left and went elsewhere but did not buy anything

Have 14k miles on 2022 hybrid. Gets 50 mpg combined city and highway. Plenty of pep handles and corners well. Fantastic technology love the android auto. Plann on keeping this one, it has all need. Eric from Lombard IL

I have been a Honda owner since 1981. I've owned them all. When it came time for a new one I looked at what was being offered but nothing satisfied me. I liked the looks and apparent utility of the Golf Sportwagen. One test drive and I was hooked. But really it was the staff at Cook VW that really made the switch so easy. Annie, Steve, Allison and all the the staff were just great people to work with. 100% professionals. No pressure. No surprises at contract time. Fair trade in value. No haggling. They knew what I was looking for and they got it for me at a great price. I test drove Honda's and VWs all over SD County and hands down this is the only dealer I'll be seeing for future purchases and service. Not familiar with VWs? Start here when thinking about buying your next car.

Fabulous car. Extremely happy with the purchase, performance and deal. I knew this was the right vehicle after reading the previous reviews. Thanks to all!!

Very communicative and good experience. Did not purchase a vehicle, but considering for a future purchase

Maintenance preformed when due, tires replaced at 45,000 miles, Brake job due now at 55,000 miles not any transmission, AC problems, the only complaint is the road noise. You have to take care of your car if you want it to last. I love my Rogue

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.

Bought this 2022 Compass Trail Hawk new for my wife. Earlier this year (2025) we landed a sweetheart deal on a new 2024 Wrangler Sport S. Guess who inherited the Compass ? I stepped down from a Grand Cherokee but I have no regrets. It has had a few electrical teething issues but all have been resolved and have not come back. The handling and fuel economy are much better than the Grand Cherokee. There are only 2 downsides..........the size of the gas tank (13.5 gal vs 24.5) and the cargo space behind the 2nd row seats. I have easily adapted to both ! I want to give a shout-out to our local dealership, Tri-City CDJR. Start to finish, an excellent place to purchase and maintain our Jeeps. BRAVO ZULU !

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.

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

This car has all the safety and comfort issues I was looking for - plus good gas mileage. The styling and four wheel drive fits with my rugged home woodland environment.

One of the most fun cars I have ever driven. The acceleration and handling are on another level than the X5M or X3M. It’s also practical and looks extremely sharp. Infotainment could be better - the PDK is lightening fast though. Exhaust tone is amazing. I can go on and on.

The experience I had at this dealership was great! Super helpful staff and they were able to get me a great deal on my Tacoma. Thanks Dave your the best!

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.

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.

No complaints, all praise and compliments! I admire carmax business model, and them having a no negotiation rule is a beautiful thing. Ray was my consultant and we sold our 2012 forte to buy an suv. Message me if you have any questions and I will answer them.

Whoever designed my 2919 Buick Encore was the best of the best. My wife and I love this car so much. I’v had a lot of cars over the years this one is the best. It is a great car and I love driving it.

Easy peezy. Fair price. Sales rep Dave Dawson was attentive and quick. Will be back, and would recommend them to others.

Bought brand new 9 miles on it now 5400 went from Iowa through Colorado to Arizona no problems other that forward Collison sensors getting dirty and the auto stop start not always working.I used rock mode on my trailhawk in canyon land it was a blast

I liked the fast they were considering how the regular process of buying a car is. They knew I was in a hurry and tried to push the process for me. Very appreciated

Purchased new Taos SE AWD end of April. Only have about 1,700 miles on it so far but I am very impressed. Fit and finish are great; rides smoothly and quietly. Many features on the vehicle for the money. 8 speed trans is seamless in its operation. Engine idles so quietly that my wife asked me why I had shut off engine when it was idling in a parking spot. Only concern (and it’s a very minor one) is need for more horsepower. I know that the’25 Taos has 17 more horsepower than the’22-‘24 models, but vehicle still feels like it needs more on inclines with four people in the car and when driving into high winds. But that is the only concern; made a great decision when I bought this car.

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.

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!

I bought the 22 model in Apr of 22 and had it about a year and the ac compressor went out. It took them a couple of months to get one and when they did they found that it had metal shavings all in the lines so they had to replace everything in the circuit. They gave us a loaner car for two weeks and so far it’s been working fine. Have had a couple of software updates so far but no other issues. Have just turned 10,000 miles. The transmission is jerky so I basically drive it around in sport mode to keep it from dropping into the highway gear. Overall we like it