The US has a world status for liking issues huge.
Our meals parts are huge. Our properties are huge (so long as you do not stay in New York Metropolis). Our roads are huge. And the automobiles we drive on these roads are humongous.
SUVs accounted for 52% of recent automobile gross sales in 2025, up from 46% in 2021 and 38% in 2016, per Good Automobile Unhealthy Automobile. Full-size SUVs have doubled their market share since 2016, representing 3.5% of the market.
The expansion in SUV recognition is nice information for automakers. Revenue margins for SUVs and vans common 10% to twenty% greater than these for smaller automobiles, since bigger autos are costlier, however use lots of the similar elements, based on The Week.
Associated: These are the 5 most dependable compact SUVs, says Shopper Reviews
Many People purchase SUVs not simply on account of an affinity for giant toys, but additionally as a result of they consider these autos are safer.
SUVs are heavier and usually sit greater than sedans. That additional mass can scale back the drive transferred to occupants in a head-on collision or facet influence, based on Pierce Skrabanek.
Additionally, as a result of SUVs’ greater journey top locations the bumper above the primary reinforcement zones of a sedan, they’re much less weak to side-impact crashes than their smaller counterparts.
Additionally they rating higher in multi-vehicle accidents.
However there are tradeoffs.
Smaller autos are likely to deal with higher as a result of they’re lighter. So they’re higher at avoiding collisions altogether if the driving force can react in time. Additionally, as a result of greater journey top talked about above, SUVs have a higher rollover threat than sedans.
That greater middle of gravity additionally works in opposition to the automobile’s management throughout sharp turns, swerves, or high-speed crashes. Rollover accidents are hazardous as a result of roof crushes and ejections are frequent in these conditions.
However if you’re one of many 52% of People seeking to purchase an SUV this yr, and reliability is your prime precedence, Shopper Reviews simply launched an inventory of essentially the most dependable SUVs in the marketplace. I wrote about 5 of them right here.
And listed below are 5 extra of the buyer watchdog’s prime picks.
What’s Shopper Reviews?
Based in 1936 by a personnel fired from a product-testing agency referred to as Shoppers’ Analysis, Shopper Reviews is a multifaceted nonprofit group that goals to coach shoppers about merchandise and assist them make knowledgeable buying choices.
It does this by buying and testing merchandise instantly, administering detailed surveys to its members in regards to the merchandise they personal and use, and investigating the veracity of producers’ claims.
Associated: 5 nice SUV offers to think about, based on Shopper Reviews
Shopper Reviews at a look
- Based: 1936 (as Shoppers Union by former staff of Shoppers’ Analysis, fired after they tried to unionize)
- Headquartered: Yonkers, NY
- Management: Marta Tellado, president and CEO
- Staff: Approx. 500 to 600
- Members: At the least 6 million
- Mission assertion: “Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit member organization that works side by side with consumers for truth, transparency, and fairness in the marketplace.”
Shopper Reviews’ slogan, “Smarter choices for a better world,” captures the group’s function. CR goals to coach and inform the general public by offering goal details about standard merchandise, serving to shoppers make “smarter choices” when buying main gadgets.
For this checklist, Shopper Reviews relied on the corporate’s personal road-test scores, general scores, reliability scores, and owner-satisfaction scores from its unique Annual Auto Surveys.
5 extra dependable compact SUVs, based on Shopper Reviews
2026 Honda CR-V
Honda
- Value Vary: $30,920 – $50,000
- CR MPG: General 26/Metropolis 19/ Hwy 33
- CR Rating: #11 of 33 Compact SUVs
- What CR says: “The CR-V gained size and weight during its recent redesign, but it didn’t stray far from its proven formula of practicality and functionality. The 1.5-liter turbo-four mated to a CVT delivers unobtrusive propulsion, but it feels underpowered at times. At 26 mpg overall, fuel economy has regressed by 2 mpg. The CR-V’s ride is firm but absorbent, and handling is responsive and secure.”
2026 Subaru Forester Hybrid
Subaru
- Value Vary: $34,730 – $41,545
- CR MPG: General 34/ Metropolis 26/ Hwy 42
- CR Rating: #1 of 33 Compact SUVs
- What CR says: “The Forester Hybrid uses an electric motor powered by a lithium-ion battery to augment its 2.5-liter flat-four engine, which delivers 194 hp. We measured 34 mpg overall, a notable improvement from the 29 mpg overall we recorded for the regular Forester we tested. The Hybrid retains all of the Forester’s key virtues, including a comfortable ride, excellent outward visibility, and a roomy rear seat.”
2026 Kia Sportage
Kia
- Value Vary: $28,790 -$39,690
- CR MPG: General 25/ Metropolis 17/ Hwy 34
- CR Rating: #13 of 33 Compact SUVs
- What CR says: “The Sportage is one of the roomiest small SUVs, and the EX trim we tested comes equipped with desirable features such as dual-zone automatic climate control, a power driver’s seat, and heated front seats. But the lackluster four-cylinder engine returned 25 mpg overall in our tests. This compact SUV has responsive handling and a firm yet absorbent ride.”
2026 Honda Passport
Honda
- Value Vary: $44,950 – $53,850
- CR MPG: General 21/ Metropolis 14/ Hwy 30
- CR Rating: #1 of 12 Mid-sized SUVs
- What CR says: “The redesigned, Pilot-based Passport features a rugged, off-road flair. Its 285-hp V6 is slick and punchy, but the 10-speed automatic doesn’t always shift smoothly. With standard AWD, the SUV got 21 mpg overall in our testing. The ride is noticeably more comfortable than before, although handling is more competent than engaging. Most controls are clear and straightforward.”
2026 Buick Envision
Buick
- Value Vary: $41,000 – $50,700
- CR MPG: General 23/ Metropolis 15/ Hwy 33
- CR Rating: #17 of 33
- What CR says:”The Envision is a pleasant, if unexciting, compact SUV. It uses a responsive powertrain combination of a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired to a nine-speed automatic, but fuel economy isn’t stellar at 23 mpg overall. All-wheel drive is standard. The Envision rides smoothly and is quiet, although the larger 20-inch tires that come on the top Avenir trim compromise ride comfort.”
Associated: 5 extra nice SUV offers to think about, based on Shopper Reviews
