- Best AWD SUVs
- Best SUVs [Top Ranked Models]
- Winners in Each Category
- Most Reliable SUVs
- Best SUVs by Size
- Most Fuel Efficient SUVs
- Best SUVs for Families
- Best SUVs by Price
- Best Used SUV
- Best Luxury SUVs
- 25 most reliable SUVs
- Everyone wants to be seen in an SUV, but not broken down at the roadside. So, to help you choose an SUV that won’t let you down, here are the 25 most reliable models.
- Best 7-seat cars 2023
- Mazda CX-60 long-term test
- New Lexus NX vs used BMW X5
Best AWD SUVs
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SUVs dominate the mainstream passenger vehicle market because of their size, flexibility and style. But many buyers consider them specifically for their go-anywhere capability, which includes the availability of all-wheel drive. All-wheel drive (AWD) systems have become so ubiquitous that finding the perfect AWD vehicle no longer requires buyers to make compromises in terms of style, size or price. In a broad sense, all-wheel drive, sometimes referred to as a “full-time” system, is engineered for on-road proficiency and aiding performance in slippery weather. In contrast, traditional four-wheel-drive (4WD) systems, sometimes referred to as “part-time four-wheel drive,” are tuned for real off-roading and generally include a low-range setting for multiplying engine torque. Blurring the lines further, some vehicles offer a choice between AWD or 4WD systems. For example, Jeep’s Quadra-Trac I system is a permanently engaged AWD system; Quadra-Trac II is a proper 4WD system with a low range. So, while the science, hardware, operation and branding of these systems vary widely , the intention is essentially the same: to provide power to all four wheels for improved traction and safety in any situation. (It’s worth noting that neither will help you stop better in slippery winter conditions. However, a good set of winter tires will, irrespective of your vehicle’s drive type.) Regardless of the type of drive system, this list considers the vehicle as a whole. In other words, how its combination of tech, infotainment, and advanced driving-assistance systems work to keep everyone entertained and safe; cargo and seating area, trailer integration, towing capability and roof rails for mounting bikes, snowboards and kayaks. These are the best mainstream AWD SUVs available for 2022 and include a mix of 2022 and 2023 model-year vehicles.
- 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Standard 4WD On Many Trims
- 2022 Ford Bronco Standard Part-Time Selectable 4WD
- 2022 Toyota 4Runner Standard Part-Time 4WD On Off-Road Ready Trims
- 2023 Subaru Ascent Standard AWD Across The Lineup
- 2022 Nissan Pathfinder Optional 4WD Across The Lineup
- 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Standard 4Motion AWD On Two Trims
- 2023 Honda Pilot Standard AWD On Top Two Trims
- 2023 Toyota Highlander Optional AWD Across The Lineup, Including Hybrid Trims
- 2023 Kia Telluride Optional AWD Across The Lineup
- 2022 Chevrolet Blazer Optional AWD On All Trims
Best SUVs [Top Ranked Models]
Anthony Sophinos has been infatuated with cars for as long as he can remember, and that passion has fueled his journey from nerdy gearhead to professional writer and content creator who covers all things automotive. His byline has appeared at CarsDirect, New Car Test Drive, iSeeCars, and other online publications. To read more of his work, visit anthonysophinos.com. When he’s not penning articles, you can find Anthony outside biking, hiking, or exploring New England in his Miata (in the summer, of course).
Commuting or vacationing, moving or remodeling, off-roading or mall-crawling — an SUV can handle it all. And with the proliferation of models encompassing all sizes and price points, there’s certainly a model out there that’s right for you.
So how do we define an SUV? Traditionally, the term meant a full-frame, rear- or four-wheel drive, and proper off-road chops. Today, people often use it interchangeably with the word crossover, which typically connotes a vehicle that marries a unibody platform and car-like powertrain with a body that’s the size and shape of an SUV. One non-negotiable feature, however, is available all-wheel or four-wheel drive.
Our list features a mix of traditional SUVs as well as crossovers. To avoid any confusion, we’ll simply use the term SUV from here on out. And now, without any further ado, check out our definitive guide to the best SUVs on the market across every segment and price point.
- Winners in Each Category
- Most Reliable SUVs
- Best SUVs by Size
- Most Fuel Efficient SUVs
- Best SUVs for Families
- Best SUVs by Price
- Best Used SUV
- Best Luxury SUVs
- Best SUVs for Towing
- Best SUVs for Off-Roading
- Best SUVs for Snow
- Best Four-Cylinder SUVs
- What Is the Best SUV Brand?
- What Is the Best All-Around SUV?
- Best SUVs by Type
- Frequently Asked Questions
Winners in Each Category
Category | Winner |
Most Reliable SUV | Toyota Land Cruiser |
Most Efficient SUV | Tesla Model Y |
Best SUV for Families | Chevrolet Tahoe |
Most Affordable SUV | Ford EcoSport |
Best Used SUV | Toyota Highlander |
Best Luxury SUV | Cadillac Escalade |
Best SUV for Towing | Ford Expedition |
Best SUV for Snow | Subaru Forester |
Best Four-Cylinder SUV | Toyota RAV4 |
Best Overall SUV | Toyota Highlander |
Most Reliable SUVs
Want your new SUV to outlast you? You’ll want to get something with a sterling reputation and a penchant for longevity. These models earn their place on our list of most reliable SUVs thanks to years of proving themselves across countless owners and abuse. You can find such standout, dead-reliable SUVs among the subcompact, compact, midsize, and full-size segments.
See all our picks for the most reliable SUVs »
Best SUVs by Size
SUVs come in all shapes and sizes, but there are a precious few standout models that impress on account of their all-around excellence. These SUVs might not have the most cargo space or the most powerful engine, but what they do achieve can’t be quantified: they manage the rare feat of being greater than the sum of their parts.
We’ve found our favorites within each size class. Check out our favorite subcompact SUVs, crossover SUVs, small SUVs, midsize SUVs, and full-size SUVs to see which models properly knocked our socks off.
See all our picks for the best SUVs by size »
Most Fuel Efficient SUVs
Fuel economy is getting more important by the day. Hybrid and electric SUVs are proliferating. Even gas-powered models are doing all they can to cut down on emissions, in turn saving you time and money spent at the pump. But there are a few SUVs that are doing this better than anybody else.
Not everybody is ready to ditch gas completely, so there are plenty of impressively efficient SUVs still quaffing Shell’s finest. Hybrid SUVs give the best of both worlds — gas when you need it and electricity when you don’t. And for the futurist crowd, feel free to celebrate: the dam has now broken on electric SUVs. Here are our favorites of the current moment.
See all our picks for the most fuel-efficient SUVs »
Best SUVs for Families
When you buckle your precious cargo into the back seat, you want to know you can trust your vehicle to protect and cater to your children. That means safety gear, entertainment options, car-seat-friendly back seats, and plenty of cargo space.
With that sort of criteria on your shopping list, consider our favorite 3-row SUVs or eight-passenger SUVs. And if your brood is small enough to merit a third-row unnecessary, check out our two-row picks regarding the best SUVs for families.
See all our picks for the best cars for families »
Best SUVs by Price
We get it — you have a budget. And sometimes the SUV you want doesn’t exactly line up with what’s in your bank account. So what’s a good fallback option that won’t drain the last of your funds?
We’ve taken a look at the best SUVs under $20,000 and the best SUVs under $30,000. Both serve up great features and ample room and comfort — all for prices that should work for even the tightest of new-car budgets.
Best Used SUV
Top Pick: Toyota Highlander
Not feeling like buying new? The used market is an excellent alternative. With so many options coming off lease and hitting dealer lots, the selection of used SUVs has never been more varied.
Our favorites among pre-owned SUVs? We particularly like the Toyota Highlander and Subaru Crosstrek. The Highlander is the ultimate family SUV, with three rows and a high-quality interior that can stand up to the wrath of children on a road trip. Better yet, it offers a hybrid model — which posts some of the best fuel economy numbers in its segment.
The Crosstrek, on the other hand, is great for childless buyers who want something with ground clearance and proven reliability. And for those whose playground is the outdoors, rest easy knowing that Subaru is an expert at making all-season winners that seem tailored to active lifestyles. With used Crosstrek prices as affordable as they are, it’s hard to say no to this charismatic compact SUV.
See all our picks for the best used SUVs »
Best Luxury SUVs
Top Pick: BMW X5
There isn’t much that beats the feeling of climbing into a new luxury SUV loaded up with the bells and whistles. Does anyone really need 20 speakers in their cabin or 30-way seats? Probably not — but there’s real satisfaction in owning something that caters so lavishly to your comfort and experience. It’s a feeling that the best luxury SUVs deliver every time you get behind the wheel.
The BMW X5 might trigger this sort of dopamine response better than any other luxury SUV. It wears a cabin that’s elegantly appointed fine trim, soft leathers, and large, glossy screens. Under the hood, powertrain options range from a competent turbo-four to a brutally fast 600-plus horsepower twin-turbo V-8. It’s an excellent, versatile choice that is a noted segment leader.
Want the biggest, most glamorous SUV this side of a Bentley Bentagya? Check out the Cadillac Escalade. The current model was all-new for 2021; it features a host of updates and improvements that once again asserts the big Cadillac as the king of the SUV hill. A potent V-8 engine, up to 38 linear inches of screens, and sumptuous interior fittings make this new Escalade a standout.
See all our picks for the best luxury SUVs »
See all our picks for the best 3-row luxury SUVs »
See all our picks for the best luxury compact SUVs »
25 most reliable SUVs
Everyone wants to be seen in an SUV, but not broken down at the roadside. So, to help you choose an SUV that won’t let you down, here are the 25 most reliable models.
The farthest most SUVs ever venture off-road is the pavement outside the school gates, but they can still have a pretty hard life coping with use as the family taxi and comuting companion, so you need one that won’t let you down.
To help car buyers choose ones that won’t suffer a string of costly faults, we’ve asked nearly 25,000 SUV owners to reveal all about the dependability of their cars. For the annual What Car? Reliability Survey, conducted in association with MotorEasy, we asked motorists if their cars had suffered any faults over the past 24 months and, if so, how long those issues kept their cars off the road, and how much they cost to get them repaired.
We compared SUVs in four different classes: small SUVs, family SUVs, large SUVs, luxury SUVs, sports SUVs and coupe SUVs. Here we reveal the most dependable 25 models, based on the data for cars aged up to five years old.
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