Smart SUV Alternatives
Finding your dream SUV can be tough now, but there are other vehicles that may deliver the functionality you need
Most consumers looking for a new car want to buy an SUV. But getting one at a good price these days can be a challenge.
Pandemic-related microchip shortages, temporary factory closures, and labor problems have led to a scarcity of new models and have driven prices up significantly.
For example, an analysis by Consumer Reports found that earlier this year people were paying upward of 20 percent over sticker price for a 2022 Kia Telluride three-row SUV, and many other SUV models are also being sold for more than the manufacturer’s suggested retail price.
Creative shoppers may find deals by considering front-wheel-drive models or broadening their options to include alternatives that can provide most of the advantages of an SUV but are more widely available and priced within reach.
The three models below, all chosen by our experts and recommended by CR, deliver much of what consumers look for in an SUV—and even outshine them in certain ways.
If you’re a Consumer Reports member, this article is available to you. CR members have full access to the results of our Annual Auto Surveys; first-drive reviews of the newest cars, SUVs, and trucks; and our full road tests and exclusive ratings for each vehicle we buy. If you’re not a CR member, click below to join.
