Here are the best new SUVs for the daily commute
SUVs were born out of a need for something different from what a trucker would experience. Before these five-door brands hit showrooms, the best 4×4 machines you could get had only two doors and rolled over when going through a fast bend in the tarmac.
Much of that formula didn’t change when the SUV went mainstream. However, as the 90s approached, the market began to demand something different. Buyers now wanted a big car with a beefy engine and magnanimous tires to slaughter the trails and take their kids to school. It was then that commuting became a buzzword in the SUV segment, and urban driving influenced Land Rover to develop the Range Rover. These ten brands are among the best results of this revolution. They are fantastic for anyone on the go most of their week.
ten Acura RDX
Acura RDX first hit the market in 2006. For over a decade and a half, this brand has been living proof of constant upgrades, functionality and reliability. Acura set this crossover apart by giving it sporty driving dynamics, a peppy turbocharged engine and the brand’s Super Handling all-wheel-drive system.
This brand still holds its crown as one of the best luxury crossovers you can get for the price. It is a great value compared to its German rivals, which cost a little extra money. Its closest competitors are the Lexus NX and Genesis GV70.
9 Chevrolet Equinox
The Chevrolet Equinox is an attractive car because of one important factor: price. It’s one of the best SUVs for the price you can get. It comes with many features that put it above the competition. Plus, it’s one of the roomiest SUVs you can get for the price.
The base model Chevy Equinox comes with lane departure warning, forward collision warning and lane keep assist. The Equinox is also equipped with USB ports, a 7-inch touchscreen, Wi-Fi and Android Auto/Apple CarPlay.
8 Ford Explorer
The Ford Explorer should be your go-to brand if you love carpooling. This SUV offers nearly the same seating capacity as a Sienna or Carnival without the pitfalls of a minivan.
The Ford Explorer can accommodate seven people. It impressively maintains excellent gas mileage thanks to a hybrid powertrain that makes daily commuting cheap and environmentally friendly.
Under the hood, the Explorer packs a V6 engine combined with an electric motor delivering a combined fuel economy of 27 mpg. The Ford Explorer also comes with cool features such as a power tailgate, three-zone automatic climate control, Apple CarPlay, 8-inch touchscreen and Android Auto.
7 Ford Mustang Mach-E
Many tankers might still be writhing in pain after the Mustang’s nameplate was renamed to an EV crossover. But the quality of this SUV should be comforting. However, you will need to go deeper in your pockets to enjoy all the niceness of this brand.
The Ford Mustang Mach-E offers a maximum range of 300 miles, which is quite sufficient for daily commuting. You get some nice features with the lower trim like rain-sensing wipers, 15.5-inch touchscreen, windshield defroster, Wi-Fi, and Android Auto/Apple CarPlay.
6 Hyundai Santa Fe
Hyundai follows the famous adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t try to fix it.” This has made the Hyundai Santa Fe one of the safest SUVs to drive. And compared to the 2021 model year, the 2022 model year received very few updates. Most of what worked remained unchanged.
The Hyundai Santa Fe is already a very practical and reliable car. It has a very bold exterior with an aggressive power unit under the hood. All versions run on a 2.5L inline-four mill connected to the wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.
5 Kia Carnival
The Kia Carnival is technically not an SUV, at least by Kia’s definition. They call the brand a minivan or a multi-purpose vehicle and not even a minivan as some buyers might assume. This mixture of definitions is because the Carnival combines the look and style of an SUV with the functionality of a minivan.
The Kia Carnival can accommodate seven to eight passengers with various seating configurations. If you are a carpooler, you can easily adapt your travel companions. The brand also offers hands-free power sliding doors for easier movement in and out of the car.
4 Forestry Subaru
The 2021 Subaru Forester is a compact SUV that should be on your to-do list. This brand was designed to outperform and outperform some of the best crossovers on the market. This brand performs very well in road tests, with Consumer Reports giving it an overall rating of 90. It’s very stable on bumpy roads and quite responsive in corners.
This brand also boasts of an excellent predicted reliability rating. This has been a staple of the nameplate since its inception, indicating that Subaru is always committed to building the cheapest crossover to maintain.
3 Subaru Outback
The Subaru Outback may look like a small crossover, but it’s an all-terrain weapon in its own right. All models of this Japanese brand are equipped with all-wheel drive. All models also come with Subaru Eyesight, a feature pack that includes lane centering, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist.
Other features bundled with the Subaru Outback include a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, single-zone automatic climate control, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. These also come with the base model, so you have plenty of features to fiddle with, plus a capable chassis for off-roading and commuting.
2 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
It’s one of the best commuter SUVs money can buy. The 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid triumphs over other cool crossovers and SUVs with an attractive price and feature set. Like the famous Honda Civic Coupe, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid scores highly in all key areas.
It scores a high reliability score of 9.2/10 and an impressive security score of 10/10. The Toyota Highlander Hybrid’s average fuel economy also tops the pack, with the mark posting a combined 28 mpg. You also get 44.2 inches of legroom in one of the roomiest cabins on the market.
1 Toyota RAV4
The Toyota RAV4 is available in three variants, the standard RAV4 hybrid, a variant of gasoline engines and a plug-in hybrid, with each option offering different levels of fuel economy. The PHEV gets 94MPGe and 38mpg with gas power alone. The mark reaches 40 mpg combined. Even if you opt for the non-PHEV variants, the fuel economy of this brand is still very decent.
The RAV4 also comes with plenty of cabin and cargo space. The lower LE trim comes with various technologies and features such as a 7-inch touchscreen, adaptive cruise control, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and high beam assist. Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 is also standard in all trims.
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