Three-year leases signed in 2023 are maturing. Edmunds projects 500,000 additional off-lease vehicles will hit the used market in H2 2026, a 25.7% increase over last year. Compact SUVs represent one of the largest segments of that wave.
Live listing data as of May 31, 2026 shows 22,258 active 2023 compact SUV listings across eight models. That's the wave arriving in real time.
What Off-Lease Actually Means for These Cars
The typical 2023 return comes back with 25,000 to 35,000 miles, per Edmunds and Dealershipguy industry tracking. Standard lease terms run 10,000 to 12,000 miles annually, and lessees pay per-mile overages at return, so most stay within their contracted ceiling. What you're buying is a mid-trim version of a new car, typically an EX, XLE, LT, or SEL, rather than a base model, because base models don't lease as attractively.
These are not fleet rentals. They're consumer-driven, often dealer-serviced, and eligible for CPO certification at manufacturer programs where the coverage window is still open. Hyundai and Kia CPO programs, for example, extend the factory warranty to 10 years/100,000 miles from the original sale date.
The trade-off against buying new is straightforward. A new 2026 RAV4 starts at $33,350. A new 2026 Equinox starts at $30,795. The 2023 versions of both, with 25,000 miles, list well below those figures, and the depreciation hit has already happened.
The Supply Picture
More listings mean more competition among sellers. More competition means more room for buyers to negotiate.
| 2023 Model | Active Listings (May 31) | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Equinox | 3,200 | $9,995 – $34,686 |
| Hyundai Tucson | 3,094 | $11,000 – $36,885 |
| Kia Sportage | 3,015 | $11,900 – $45,390 |
| Ford Escape | 2,989 | $9,795 – $47,825 |
| Toyota RAV4 | 2,753 | $14,999 – $50,378 |
| Honda CR-V | 2,745 | $18,800 – $40,995 |
| Mazda CX-5 | 2,550 | $15,990 – $34,989 |
| Volkswagen Tiguan | 1,912 | $12,100 – $35,278 |
Source: CarScout active listings, May 31, 2026.
The Equinox, Tucson, and Sportage have the most supply by a significant margin. The Tiguan has the least. Price floors include high-mileage, accident-history, and aged examples; low-mileage off-lease examples will sit toward the upper half of each range.
Model-by-Model
Honda CR-V
The CR-V holds its value better than any other compact SUV in this group. According to Kelley Blue Book, a 2023 CR-V has depreciated 24% over three years, dropping roughly $7,600 from its original price, with a resale value around $23,600. That retention rate is among the strongest in the segment. Good news when you eventually sell; less negotiating room when you buy.
The 2023 was also the launch year for the current-generation CR-V, a complete redesign with a new powertrain and interior. No systematic issues have been reported for the 2023 model year. If you want the CR-V Hybrid, expect much tighter supply at significantly higher prices; demand has outpaced hybrid inventory throughout 2026.
Toyota RAV4
2,753 listings looks comparable to the CR-V, but demand is consistently higher. Average listings across all RAV4 years on Carfax run $31,626; 2023 examples sit near the top of that range for clean, low-mileage examples. The RAV4 doesn't negotiate like an Equinox. Sellers know what they have.
Toyota held the RAV4's design stable through 2023 after the 2019 redesign, so the platform is well-understood and parts are plentiful. The base infotainment system is functional but dated. The XLE and XLE Premium trims are the off-lease sweet spot; the Adventure and TRD off-road variants command premiums that rarely justify themselves in used pricing.
Chevrolet Equinox
3,200 listings — the most inventory of any 2023 compact SUV in this dataset. That creates real buying leverage, but context matters. The 2023 Equinox was the final year of the prior-generation design, which ran from 2018 through 2023. General Motors launched a fully redesigned Equinox for 2025. The 2023 is not a current-gen vehicle.
Known issue on the 1.5L turbocharged engine in the 2018-2023 generation: water pump failures have been documented and are worth a mechanic's inspection. The 2.0L LT trim has a better track record. Check service records carefully. The higher listing count gives you options — if one seller won't move on price, another will.
Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage
Both models received complete redesigns for 2022, making the 2023 the second year of the new platform, a better position than a first-model-year buy. Hyundai and Kia's reliability has improved substantially through this generation, and their 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty carries to subsequent owners. A 2023 bought now has roughly two years of factory coverage remaining.
Listings sit above 3,000 for both. The Sportage's high end extends to $45,390, which reflects the X-Pro Prestige trim premium. For most buyers, the EX and LX trims are the target: well-equipped, available in quantity, and priced reasonably against their Korean peers.
Mazda CX-5
Fewest listings of the non-German group at 2,550, but consistently the highest reliability scores in the segment, per Consumer Reports. No major powertrain issues documented for the 2023 CX-5. Clean low-mileage examples will land in the $21,000–$26,000 range; the $15,990 floor reflects high-mileage units. Mazda dealer density is lower than Toyota, Honda, or Chevy, which can matter for routine service and warranty work depending on your location.
Volkswagen Tiguan
1,912 listings — the least of any model here. VW's lower US sales volume limits supply, and the limited supply limits your negotiating leverage. VW's ownership costs run higher than Japanese brands, and German electronics require specialist access at independent shops. If you're buying a Tiguan, buy a certified pre-owned example with extended powertrain coverage.
What to Check on Any Off-Lease Vehicle
Pull the vehicle history report. A 2023 model with 25,000 miles should show three to four oil changes and at least one multi-point inspection. Thin service records mean either independent maintenance (ask for receipts) or skipped service. Neither is disqualifying but both affect negotiating position.
Have a pre-purchase inspection done before signing. For any used vehicle over $15,000, $100 to $200 for an independent mechanic's assessment is standard risk management.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are 2023 compact SUVs a good buy right now? Three-year leases from 2023 are maturing, adding a significant volume of low-mileage, mid-trim used vehicles to the market. Edmunds projects off-lease volumes are up 25.7% in H2 2026, adding roughly 500,000 units nationally. More supply in this segment means more negotiating room than buyers have had at any point in the past two years.
Which 2023 compact SUV has the most inventory right now? The Chevrolet Equinox leads with 3,200 active listings as of May 31, 2026. The Hyundai Tucson (3,094), Kia Sportage (3,015), and Ford Escape (2,989) follow. The Volkswagen Tiguan has the least with 1,912 listings.
How many miles do 2023 off-lease compact SUVs typically have? Most 2023 lease returns come in with 25,000 to 35,000 miles, reflecting a standard 10,000 to 12,000 annual mileage cap over three years. Lessees pay per-mile overages at lease end, so most returns stay within their contracted ceiling.
CarScout tracks live listing counts and price ranges across all eight of these models, updated daily from active inventory. The market pages show current supply by model year so you can time your search around real shifts: usecarscout.com/market.