Toyota RAV4 XLE AWD
A practical compact SUV with strong resale value, useful cargo space, and a proven non-turbo powertrain.
Call for availability View model guide →
Used SUV inventory
Popular used suvs to consider in Wantagh, NY
An SUV is the right choice when you need a high seating position, a large square cargo opening, and available four-wheel or all-wheel drive in one vehicle. Cherrywood Auto stocks used SUVs in Wantagh from roughly $13,000 upward. The models below are representative research profiles; call for exact vehicles physically available today.
Model guides5 matchesModels to compare
Used SUVs at Cherrywood Auto
These representative guides use AI-generated images and example mileage. Call 516-785-9378 for a real VIN and current availability.
Honda CR-V EX AWD
A roomy compact SUV that makes unusually good use of every inch inside.
Call for availability View model guide →
Nissan Rogue SV AWD
A comfortable compact crossover with family-friendly storage and useful driver assistance.
Call for availability View model guide →
Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo E 4x4
A comfortable midsize SUV with genuine 4x4 hardware and useful towing capability.
Call for availability View model guide →
Mazda CX-5 Touring AWD
A compact SUV for buyers who care as much about steering and cabin quality as cargo space.
Call for availability View model guide →
Representative model pages are research guides, not active VIN-specific listings. Images are AI-generated and mileages are illustrative. Confirm current physical inventory, actual price, mileage, equipment, condition, and history with Cherrywood Auto.
The short answer
What an SUV actually buys you
The three things an SUV gives you that a sedan cannot are ride height, a tall rear opening, and a drivetrain that can send power to all four wheels. Ride height improves your sight lines in traffic and makes it easier to get in and out, which matters more to most people than any other single factor. The tall rear opening is what lets you load a stroller, a bicycle, or a piece of furniture without disassembling it.
What you trade away is fuel economy and, usually, parking ease. A compact SUV typically returns three to six miles per gallon less than a comparable sedan, and the taller body is more affected by crosswinds on the Meadowbrook or the Wantagh Parkway. If your week is mostly solo commuting, that trade may not be worth making.
Going deeper
Compact, midsize, and body-on-frame
Compact SUVs such as the Jeep Cherokee, Nissan Rogue, and Honda CR-V are built on car platforms. They ride comfortably, park easily, and handle snow well with all-wheel drive, but they are not designed for towing or rough terrain.
Midsize SUVs such as the Jeep Grand Cherokee add a stronger drivetrain, more insulation, and genuine towing capacity, at the cost of fuel economy and garage clearance. Body-on-frame vehicles such as the Jeep Wrangler go further still: real low-range gearing and solid axles, with ride and noise penalties you feel every day.
Deciding which of those three groups you belong in narrows a used SUV search faster than any other question.
The trade-off
All-wheel drive and Long Island winters
All-wheel drive helps you accelerate on a slick surface. It does not help you stop, and it does very little for cornering grip. That distinction matters because a driver who over-trusts all-wheel drive on all-season tires in February is in more danger than a front-wheel-drive driver who knows the limits of the car.
If winter traction is the reason you are looking at an SUV, ask about tires as seriously as you ask about the drivetrain. A front-wheel-drive vehicle on proper winter tires will outperform an all-wheel-drive vehicle on worn all-seasons in almost every measurable way.
Before the test drive
What to check on a used SUV
Category-specific checks. Bring this list, or ask us to walk through it with you on the lot.
- ✓Engage and disengage the four-wheel or all-wheel drive system on the test drive and confirm no warning light appears
- ✓Look underneath at the subframe, control arms, and brake lines for salt corrosion, not just at the visible body panels
- ✓Check that all four tires match in brand and tread depth, which matters more on all-wheel drive than front-wheel drive
- ✓Fold the rear seats and confirm they latch and release cleanly
- ✓Test the rear liftgate, including the power mechanism if fitted, through a full cycle
Useful answers
Questions about used sUVs
Is a used SUV more expensive to maintain than a sedan?
Usually somewhat, yes. Tires are larger and cost more, brakes work harder on a heavier vehicle, and all-wheel-drive systems add a transfer case and rear differential that need periodic fluid service. Budget for higher tire and fuel costs rather than dramatically higher repair costs.
Do I need four-wheel drive on Long Island?
For most drivers, no. Nassau County roads are plowed quickly and snowfall is intermittent. Four-wheel drive is genuinely useful if you park on an unplowed street, tow, drive on sand, or have to be somewhere regardless of conditions. Otherwise, good tires solve most of the problem for far less money.
How many miles is too many on a used SUV?
Mileage matters less than maintenance history and corrosion. A 100,000-mile SUV with documented fluid services and a clean underbody is a better buy than a 60,000-mile example that has never had its differential fluid changed and has rusted brake lines.
Not seeing it?
Tell us what should pull into the lot next.
Describe the make, model, body style, budget, and the features that actually matter. A clear brief is a better search than a broad one.