Best SUVs Under $40,000

CR's top choices are based on our extensive testing and surveys

2020 Hyundai Palisade Hyundai / Mark Elias

SUVs are the most popular type of passenger vehicle sold in the U.S. today. Buyers love their versatility, ride height, and comfort. But once you decide that you want an SUV, it can be difficult to select the right model for you. That’s where Consumer Reports can help.

It can be a challenge to make a smart choice based on just a brief test drive at a dealership. There are dozens of factors to consider before you buy. That's why we purchase every model we test, drive it for thousands of miles, and put it through an extensive array of tests. Then we ask CR members about their experiences.

From that mountain of data, we provide a straightforward ranking within each vehicle category based on the Overall Score, rolling together our test and survey findings along with key safety information.

So if you’re looking for the best SUV, you’ve come to the right place. Below we present the best SUVs under $40,000 ranked by their Overall Score, including midsized SUVs and entry-level luxury SUVs. If you think your needs can be met by a smaller model, check out our list of the best SUVs under $30,000.

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Be aware that Overall Scores change over time as new information, such as reliability data, becomes available. The model pages always reflect our latest ratings.

We include which active safety features are standard and optional for each model, including forward collision warning (FCW), automatic emergency braking (AEB), and blind spot warning (BSW).

Some models include our new Green Choice designation, which highlights the vehicles with the cleanest emissions. You can read more about Green Choice here.

If you’re a CR member, this article and the list below are already available to you. But if you haven’t signed up, click below and become a member to access this list and all our exclusive ratings and reviews for each vehicle we buy and test. Joining also gives you full access to exclusive ratings for the other products our experts evaluate in several categories, including electronics and appliances.

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We investigate, research, and test so you can choose with confidence.

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