Boxy cars are cool. Thanks to their tough-looking designs and added practicality, these uniquely shaped vehicles tend to hold their value well thanks to their endless appeal, often earning them cult like followings. Here, we’ve outlined seven of our favorite boxy hatchbacks under $15,000 and SUVs under $15,000 available on Autotrader in 2019.
2008-2015 Scion xB
The Scion brand as a whole was all about quirkiness, and no other vehicle in its lineup embodied this more than the xB. In its first generation, the xB was extremely boxy, with virtually no curves outside of the wheels and wheel arches. A second-generation xB designed more to American tastes came out for 2008 and was sold through 2015. The design of the second-gen model was much curvier than that of the original, although it was still quite boxy. Powering the second-gen xB was a humble 2.4-liter 4-cylinder making 158 horsepower and 164 lb-ft of torque. While the original was considered a subcompact, the new xB introduced in 2008 was classified as a compact, having grown considerably in size. Right now on Autotrader, there are about 480 2008-2015 xBs listed for around $15,000 or less. Over 350 of these are the updated 2011-or-newer model. Find a Scion xB for sale
2015-2018 Jeep Renegade
Jeep introduced the Renegade in 2015 as a fun, boxy subcompact utility vehicle. With attributes straddling both SUV and hatchback territory, the Renegade is built on a front-wheel-drive platform shared with Fiat and offers available all-wheel drive. The top-of-the-line Trailhawk model even offers reasonable off-road capability, thanks to a low-range-mimicking 4-wheel drive system with different selectable traction modes. When searching for a Renegade, keep in mind that lots of these offer FWD only. A quick search of Autotrader for sub-$15,000 Renegades yields over 1,000 results. 600 of these come with AWD, while 66 are the off-road oriented Trailhawk model. Find a Jeep Renegade for sale
2014-2018 Kia Soul
The funky Kia Soul hatchback stands out in a crowd for a number of reasons. First, it’s got an angular, yet boxy design, with slab sides and a flat hood and roof line. It also has aggressive front end styling, with scowling headlights and low-set fog lights. Additionally, the top-of-the-line second-generation Soul is offered with an available 201 hp turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with a 7-speed dual clutch automatic transmission, giving it impressive performance credentials like a 0-to-60 mph time of only 6.4 seconds, well in excess of what’s offered by the competition. Finally, the Soul is sold in unique trim levels, like the ‘+’ (“plus”) and ‘!’ (“exclaim”) and offers orange interior accents and a variety of fun exterior colors. Right now on Autotrader, there are over 1,000 2014-2018 Souls listed for around $16,000 or less, many of which are updated 2017-or-newer models. Find a Kia Soul for sale
2009-2014 Nissan Cube
Out of all of the boxy hatchbacks and SUVs on this list, the Cube has perhaps the most appropriate name. Despite the Cube’s economy car status, there aren’t a whole lot of them out there, with only 210 listed on Autotrader for $15,000 or less. Altogether, without even factoring in price, there are only 235 Cubes listed on Autotrader in total. Needless to say, the Cube is kind of rare. It’s also packed with unique features, like asymmetrical bodywork. The Cube’s C-pillar is of a traditional design on the driver’s side, but on the passenger’s side, the pillar is blended in with the window, giving the vehicle a unique 90-degree wraparound design, but just on one side. It’s truly bizarre. But the quirks don’t stop there. The cube came standard with a small piece of shag carpet on the dashboard, and “water ripple” designs throughout the cabin, like on the headliner and in the speaker covers, and color changing ambient lighting. Power comes from a relatively small 1.8-liter 4-cylinder putting out only 122 hp and 127 lb-ft of torque. Altogether, the Cube is a weird and charming vehicle. Find a Nissan Cube for sale
2003-2011 Honda Element
The Element started the most recent craze of boxy vehicles when it debuted in 2003. Offering available AWD, unique rear half-doors, a carpet-less interior and a clever split rear lift gate, the Element offers exceptional utility, all in a small, efficient compact SUV package. Powering the Element is a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder putting out 160 or 166 hp, depending on the model year. The Element received a significant update for the 2007, with much of the plastic bodywork being replaced by body-colored metal panels. Right now on Autotrader there are around 500 Honda Elements listed for around $15,000 or less. 300 offer AWD, around 120 of which are 2007-or-newer models. Find a Honda Element for sale
2007-2017 Jeep Wrangler
While its creases have been softened over the years, the Wrangler is one of the original boxy cars. This iconic off-roader offers great configurability, with a removable roof and doors, and a windshield that folds down, if you’re willing to put in the time and effort required to do so. The Wrangler offers great off-road capability thanks to a standard solid front axle that allows for increased stability in the rough stuff, although the vehicle’s on-road driving dynamics suffer as a result. At the $15,000 mark, we recommend a “JK” Wrangler, sold from 2007 through 2017. On Autotrader, buyers looking for a JK Wrangler have over 1,000 to choose from. With our budget, we’d look for either an early Rubicon model, of which there are around 70 listed, or an updated 2011-or-newer model, which comes with a fully redesigned interior, of which there are about 250 listed. Find a Jeep Wrangler for sale
2013-2016 Ford Flex
The Ford Flex doesn’t get as much publicity as some other vehicles in Ford’s lineup, but it offers great style and practicality, all packaged into an efficient, boxy design. Introduced way back in 2009, the Flex has carried on in the same basic design for over 10 model years now, having received a significant update back in 2013. The only vehicle on this list with three rows of seats, the Flex is an anomaly in that it combines the attributes of an SUV, minivan and station wagon. Seating capacity is six with second row captain’s chairs or seven with a second row bench. AWD models can be had with a 355 hp twin turbo V6, giving the Flex some serious get up and go. Right now on Autotrader, there are close to 250 2013-2016 Flexes listed on Autotrader for about $15,000 or less. Of these, only about 70 come with AWD. Expand your search to include model years all the way back to 2009, and there are over 500 to choose from. Find a Ford Flex for sale
