We’re in no rush, but we’re fixing to be ready for a new car. When I say “smallish” I mean not that big, but with enough rear seat leg room for two adults to not be overly cramped. I know RAV 4 and CRV have legendary reliability, but for the 15-20K we’d be looking to spend it would probably mean getting one with over 100k miles. My wife likes the Hyundai Kona, but I’m not sure about the leg room. I assume a Tucson would be better in that department. She also likes the look of the Jeep Renegade, but that’s probably a no due to lack of reliability. There’s also the Ford Escape and Chevy Equinox.
I don’t own one but I’ve been heavily researching the same thing and have decided on the Kia Sportage. The Sorento might also suit you, as it’s slightly bigger.
Mazda CX-5 (& the smaller CX-3) are on my own list.
I’m considering the RAV4 or the Subaru Forester.
Not sure if it meets the OP’s definition of “smallish” but our 2024 Rav4 Prime (PHEV) has done very well for us. But, especially in the PHEV format, it’s pricier than ideal now that Federal incentives for BEV vehicles are gone and many of the state ones are going.
Given the OP’s mentions of cost and reliability concerns… getting that combination, even used, in the 15-20k range is going to be hard. I’d probably agree with @Chessic_Sense that a used Sportage with say 50-80k miles seems the best match.
I 
my Kia Niro. When I bought it in 2020, I also test drove the Hyundai Kona. I liked the Niro interior better for some reason I can’t remember.
I paid $21K for a 2021 Nissan Rogue with only 15K mile on it last August from a Nissan dealer. It was a lower trim grade but I have no issues with that. Its a great ride and gets very good gas mileage.
I’d consider a smaller Subaru, like a Crosstrek. Get one mid 2010s or later and you should avoid any head gasket issues, and they should be quite reliable otherwise. I’ve generally found Subarus to be some of the best value SUVs out there. What you sacrifice in creature comforts (their cabins are not luxurious and their infotainment sucks) you get back in reliability and driveability. They’re a smaller company, but Toyota invests in and partially owns them.
The electric Kia Niro is also a fantastic car if you don’t need AWD and don’t have range anxiety.
According to the March/April 2026 edition of Consumer Reports, the best small SUVs in your price range are the 2020 Buick Envision, 2019 Chevrolet Equinox, 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer, 2019 GMC Terrain, 2017 & 2019 Honda CR-V, 2019-20 Honda HR-V, 2021 Hyundai Tucson, 2016-17 Lexus NX, 2020 Mazda CX-30, 2019-20 Subaru Crosstrek, 2016-18 Toyota RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid, 2020 Volvo XC 40, and 2018 Volvo XC60.
I have a soft spot for Subies, so I’d lean toward the Crosstrek. And we rented a newish (20K miles) Hyundai Kona for ten days earlier this month, and it was fine. It didn’t excite me much, although it got great gas mileage.
We got our last two Rogues for about $20,000, both only a couple of years old, at Hertz Auto Sales. What is your approximate location?
I second the CX5. I’m on my second one. It’s the only car I’ve ever had twice. Great handling and mileage. It can tow up to 2500 pounds if you need that. I use it with a small pop up camper and my utility trailer all the time.
Consider it thirded. I love my CX5 so much we replaced our second vehicle with another Mazda (CX 30 for the second one).
mmm
Thanks for the recommendations. Our son’s fiance has a MX-3 (or is the 30 the newer version), which she really likes. My wife doesn’t like the look of several of the Rogue models. We live near DC, and I know there’s an Enterprise used car center not too far away. We’ve rented Crosstreks, and they seemed solid.
I worked at Nissan on the Rogue for 8 years before I retired. Its a great car with very few issues and good tech options available. I choose a 2021 model when I retired because it had had the older 2.5l engine that was carried over from the previous model. The newer engine had some issues and was a bit noisy due to the 1.5l turbo engine rattling. This one IMHO is the best of everything, latest tech with a proven drive train. And being in production since 2021 means all of the bugs have been corrected. I know, I helped fix them. 
Low mileage 21MY models can be had in the $20k range. I don’t recommend ones before the 2021 year because the tech on them is already 7 years old. The 2021 was a major upgrade.
First I have encountered this, all of the models are exactly the same since 2021 other than things like roof racks and colors. I didn’t care for the ones before 2021 either.
Most of Nissans competitor research show that styling is one of the newer Rouges strong features. But to each their own, don’t argue with a wife.
I’ve rented a couple of Nissan Rogues on business trips and found the shifter weird. It’s some sort of mouse-like thing.
Like… big ears and a tail, or two buttons and a ball?
Oh… that IS weird!
Rogue shifter:
I also strongly dislike the shifter on my current car, a Subaru Solterra:
I think that’s a Toyota abomination only for EVs, though (it’s a rebadged car)… the regular ICE Subies have traditional shifters, thankfully.
It an electronic shifter. The wave of the future, wave of the future, wave of the future . . .
It took some getting used to at first, especially trying to figure out how to put it in neutral at the car wash. But I figured it, just like many newer things.
The first time I rented one, I didn’t need to get into reverse until I got to the parking garage at the work location, and then it was a bit of a struggle to figure things out. Fortunately, I didn’t have an audience for that bit.
(BTW, and recognizing that this might be a hijack, what’s the expected future for Nissan? I wonder if it’s going to disappear in the next decade or so.)
Well at least you didn’t diss the infotainment system and audio sound quality. I would have taken that personally. 
If I were to pick a competitor I would choose a Mazda. But it would be hard pressed to find one in the $20k top price range.