What’s so Great about the midsize SUV?
This car is the perfect middle ground between a full-size vehicle and a crossover. The best midsize SUVs will offer excellent cargo capacities and relatively frugal fuel economy figures. A benefit of shopping in this segment is that the options are so varied, it’s unlikely that you’ll struggle to find the one that suits you best. This is especially true when budgets are considered; you can get your hands on an affordable option for the family just as easily as you can find an ultra-luxurious product.
Budget-friendly Midsize SUVs
These types of cars come in many shapes, sizes and price brackets. More affordable variations are plentiful, but it’s not simply the cheapest price, but the value for money, that needs to be considered. There are many ways to go about a purchase, but there’s a few things to consider when buying a car. Here are some excellent, modestly-priced options to consider:
#1. Hyundai Palisade – Sharing DNA with one of the USA’s most popular SUVs can never be a bad thing. The Palisade allows for the seating of up to eight passengers depending on configuration, and the inside boasts excellent comfort and convenience. It’s also home to a competitively-sized trunk and can tow up to 5,000 pounds. Beyond creature features, this SUV bagged a Top Safety Pick + award from the IIHS, making it a great all-rounder. You can get all of this at a starting price of $31,975.
#2. Chevrolet Blazer – Arguably one of the most attractive affordable SUVs out there, the Blazer is more than simply a pretty face. It comes well-stocked with safety and tech features, and the interior is of high quality. It has a pair of engine options, both of which are impressive and the fuel economy figures are just as competitive. It handles well for its size, and when you combine practicality with style, the Blazer is a fine choice all for under $30,000.
#3. Hyundai Santa Fe – The Santa Fe falls into the affordable range, yet it borders luxury. It’s spacious and comfortable, and comes laden with convenience and safety tech. Even in it’s most basic form, it’s impressive, and the choice between a 185-horsepower engine and a 235-hp motor makes it configurable enough for any shopper. It is also one of the SUVs on the list that can lay claim to a Top Safety Pick+ Award, making it a fierce competitor in the segment. Pair all of its merits with an agreeable price tag and you have a car worthy of the top 10 great new SUVs for about $25,000.
#4. Kia Sorento – The Sorento is yet another SUV on this list that takes some cues from the Kia Telluride, and it’s still not a bad thing considering how immensely popular it is. It offers great passenger space, but the trunk could be bigger. The benefit of this lineup is that it offers plenty of trim levels to choose from, the base model has a starting MSRP of just $26,990. That makes it a very attractive proposition for budget shoppers.
#5. Honda Pilot – The Honda Pilot has been an American favorite for quite some time, and that’s mainly thanks to its capable V6 engine that produces 280 horses, and its excellent handling. Some other contenders offer more cargo space from their trunks and others offer more in the way of standard technology, but the Pilot is spacious and safe, and has excellent fuel economy figures. It costs just over $30,000 at base level, and if you can look past its minor flaws, it’s a strong contender.
Luxury Midsize SUVs
These SUVs come with price tags that sometimes cost double the amount of an entry-level SUV, but in many cases, the inflation is worth it. Some of the best SUVs in this segment offer plush interiors and powerful engine options that more affordable products simply can’t match. Still, your budget will have to be quite liberal to enjoy the best of the best.
#1. Volvo XC90 Hybrid – When it comes to luxury SUVs of this size, you can’t get much better than the XC90. It’s not as gaudy as its German counterparts, but Volvo knows how to execute luxury perfectly and the inside is spacious and plush. It comes loaded with all the right bits, like a premium sound system and an array of driver-assist features. The Swedish SUV also boasts a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHs thanks to the latter. It’s not cheap, the starting MSRP of $67,000 means that it’s not going to be easy on your bank account, but every dollar is worth it.
#2. Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk – No, this SUV isn’t as plush and coddling as the likes of the Volvo XC90 or a Merc. What it is, though, is a fire-breathing go-fast SUV that leaves many of its grand counterparts behind. The $86,000 price tag is motivated by exactly 707 horses under the hood and physics-defying handling. The inside is still loaded with standard-fitted indulgences and while the interior isn’t on par with the Germans, it’s still impressive.
#3. BMW X5 M – Another SUV on the list with immense power, the X5 M is one of BMW’s flagship performance SUVs. With over 600 horsepower ready to be harnessed, the X5 is extremely quick off the line and equally composed in and out of the bends. The interior has some unmistakeable race inspiration paired with typical German quality and luxury. The feisty family-hauler comes in at over $100,000. Do you need an SUV that goes this fast? Probably not. Should you want one? Yes.
