Used subcompact SUVs for sale near Poway, CA

I went to buy my jeep at Kearny Mesa jeep and Jeff he was my sell represented he was on top of everything, at the moment we got there he answers all are concern, so if you are planning to buy a new car go to Kearny Mesa jeep and ask for Jeff , thank you Jeff for all you help!!

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 had an Awesome experience with Gerardo Campos and the staff! Gerardo took the time and so much patience to work with us and I never felt rushed. We're very satisfied with our New Hyundai Sonata!! Mary & Jeffrey Moore

After 100,000 trouble free miles we bought a second Renegade this February. Good car, reasonable mileage, no complaints. Moved up to the Trailhawk trim package

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!!!

Some early reviewers did not like the power, but it has been fine for me. I am not racing anyone. I like the “magic seat” capability. That has been useful many times. Driven literally across the country — California to Florida — with little fatigue. 60,000 miles and no maintenance issues.

Most comfortable car I have ever driven. My 6th BMW. So easy to get into tight parking spaces. Brakes a bit tight- need to get used to!

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 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 had the car I wanted transferred in and from start to end they kept me informed. The waiting period was a bit of a bummer, but knowing that my car was arriving made it worth the wait. Ryan was super he completed the transaction and put us in good hands. We had a minor defect with the windows but Ryan made sure it was taken care of . Overall we were quite pleased. We're definitely getting a second car with them . Lidia

Amazing car for the value! Looks great and drives even better. I'd recommend this car for family as two car seats fit perfectly in the backset :)

I had decided on the Hyundai Venue before visiting the dealership. What I needed was the individual packages. I have had the car for a short time. But I am very pleased with the ride and the performance.

My husband Paul and I recently purchased a '06 Saturn ION from CarMax in Kearney Mesa. We were greeted with friendly and professional service. The purchase went smoothly and we are happy with our Saturn Ion.

This vehicle has one drawback that I am aware of. The back up camera is very poor. The images are not crystal clear. It is like looking at a television screen from the 50s. I had a Blazer 2019 and my screen was great. I cannot understand why my 2023 vehicle has a poor screen. I have contacted General Motors and have gotten nowhere with them. I find this poor visual screen to be a safety issue. Had I known the back up camera and screen were so poor, I would’ve never bought the car as much as I like everything else about it. The visual on the screen is even worse at night.

The best and easiest purchase experience I've ever had. Kevin Sale was friendly, helpful, with excellent communication throughout my whole purchase. Jeff and the rest of the Encinitas staff were A+ as well.

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.

You can't beat the price of these vehicles on the used market. I found a Premier with 36k miles in great shape at a great price. If you're looking for a commuter vehicle and want to find out what the EV experience is all about, highly recommend.

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.

I love the look of this body style, unfortunately they changed they body style so next time I buy a car it won’t be the HR-V with backseat handle that make the vehicle look like a sedan.

Barely made into Oceanside from AZ with engine problems, spoke with Kal Chatham in Service and he did an excellent job of getting my truck in, diagnosed and informed of the problem. Fixed in one day, picked up the morning afterward and made the return to AZ with family aboard. Thanks Kal

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.

I came into test drive a pre-owned car and Greyson was awesome. Friendly and knowledgeable!

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!!

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 !

Five Stars Across the Board ? Best Car Buying Experience of My Life! I recently bought a vehicle (Equinox EV , and I have to say?this was hands down the BEST experience I've ever had buying a car. I absolutely freaking love my new Equinox, and from start to finish, the process was seamless, clear, and even enjoyable! I walked in only knowing one thing: I wanted an EV. That?s it. The salesperson asked me just a few thoughtful questions about my needs, and after test-driving only two different models, I found the perfect vehicle for me and my family. It was like they intuitively knew what would suit my lifestyle best without ever making me feel pressured or overwhelmed. Working with Chris Keppel on the financing and contract preparation was especially outstanding. He was not only incredibly efficient and organized but also took the time to explain everything thoroughly. I walked away understanding my financing terms, my lease obligations, and even my options for potential future changes. That kind of clarity and transparency is rare?and I really appreciated it. What stood out most was how the great service didn?t stop at the sale. I was told there might be follow-up regarding a possible lease upgrade, and sure enough, they actually followed through?offering me an improved rate and the option to re-sign if I wanted to. That level of attention and care is something special, and it shows they genuinely value their customers. The entire process was comfortable and low-pressure. I felt empowered, informed, and truly excited about my purchase. I would absolutely buy from them again (though hopefully not too soon?I plan on driving this Equinox for a long, long time!).

I am enjoying my 2022 trailblazer. The only problem of concern is the chip painting on the hood and the cost of repair for the chip painting.

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

Excellent drivability comfortable good value, quality and safety features Rides great . this is my 3rd Subaru 2 Foresters priori still own 1 2018 Subaru is a mainstay with me and my family. Great for winter

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.

The Jeep Renegade proves that you don’t need a massive SUV to enjoy real capability. It is great for everyday practicality, making it a great choice for drivers who want something different—something with personality, performance, and purpose. Whether you're commuting during the week or hitting the trails on the weekend, the Renegade is more than ready to go wherever life takes you.

Jason Jaffe , Luis Lopez and Chris from the finance department all gave me 5 star ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ service . Leasing my new 4 runner and trading in my vehicle went very smooth from start to finish . The smoothest car buying experience ever . Thank you so much to each of these employees for your excellent 5 star service . I highly recommend these employees and Mossy Toyota for a great car buying experience .

Our 2022 Taos is almost 2 years old with about 21K mileage. Very satisfied with our car. For the price point (25K) it provides good handling, a comfortable ride and great interior space for a subcompact SUV. The gas mileage is amazing at over 40 MPG on the highway and about 30 MPG tooling around town. Couldn't be happier!

Ryan our sells person was amazing! Got me a great deal! Didn’t spend hours and hours there .. very happy! Also Jacob in financing was great !! So happy i decided to purchase my Jeep here

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.

Dearrell was a great salesman. Everything was good fast past. I highly recommend you buy a car from here. They will work with you and find the of your dreams.