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Best SUVs for 2021 – Roadshow [CNET]
The sport utility vehicle is, basically, the standard of modern transportation. Ousting the sedan from so many families’ lives, the SUV used to lean a little more unto “utility,” but today, it does it all. These vehicles quickly worked their way into the fabric of daily life. That means there’s a lot of choice, but it also means picking the right SUV for you can be daunting.
That’s where we come in. We’ve driven just about every SUV and crossover on the market, from small to big, from inexpensive to opulent. These are our recommendations for the categories that most buyers will find themselves in, and we’ve even made sure to include hybrids and electrics for folks looking ahead even further.
Comparison of the best SUVs for 2021
| Category | Name | Base Engine | Output | Fuel Economy (mpg, city/hwy/combined) | Base Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best subcompact SUV | 2021 Hyundai Venue | 1.6L I4 | 121 hp / 113 lb-ft | 30 / 33 / 31 | $19,935 |
| Best compact SUV | 2021 Mazda CX-30 | 2.5L I4 | 186 hp / 186 lb-ft | 25 / 33 / 28 | $23,000 |
| Best midsize SUV | 2021 Kia Telluride | 3.8L V6 | 291 hp / 262 lb-ft | 20 / 26 / 23 | $33,415 |
| Best full-size SUV | 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe | 5.3L V8 | 355 hp / 383 lb-ft | 16 / 20 / 18 | $50,295 |
| Best compact luxury SUV | 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLB250 | 2.0L I4 | 221 hp / 258 lb-ft | 23 / 31 / 26 | $39,100 |
| Best midsize luxury SUV | 2021 Genesis GV80 | 2.5L I4 | 300 hp / 311 lb-ft | 21 / 25 / 23 | $49,925 |
| Best full-size luxury SUV | 2021 Cadillac Escalade | 6.2L V8 | 420 hp / 460 lb-ft | 15 / 20 / 17 | $77,490 |
| Best compact performance SUV | 2021 Porsche Macan GTS | 2.9L V6 | 375 hp / 383 lb-ft | 17 / 22 / 19 | $73,450 |
| Best midsize performance SUV | 2021 Porsche Cayenne GTS | 4.0L V8 | 453 hp / 457 lb-ft | 15 / 19 / 17 | $108,650 |
| Best full-size performance SUV | 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLS63 | 4.0L V8 | 603 hp / 627 lb-ft | 14 / 18 / 16 | $133,150 |
| Best hybrid SUV | 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid | 2.5L I4 Hybrid | 243 hp net | 36 / 35 / 36 | $39,585 |
| Best electric SUV | 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E | Single electric motor | 255 hp / 306 lb-ft | 105 / 93 / 100 (MPGe) | $43,995 |
| Best off-road SUV | 2021 Land Rover Defender | 2.0L I4 | 296 hp / 295 lb-ft | 17 / 20 / 18 | $50,925 |
| Best off-road luxury SUV | 2021 Mercedes-Benz G550 | 4.0L V8 | 416 hp / 450 lb-ft | 17 / 19 / 18 | $132,650 |
| Best SUV if money is no object | 2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan | 6.8L V12 | 563 hp / 627 lb-ft | 12 / 20 / 14 | $332,750 |
How we made our list
Roadshow’s editors drive countless vehicles over the course of a year, and we all make sure to try and slide into as many different vehicle styles as possible. With combined decades of experience putting cars through their paces, the SUVs on this list represent the vehicles that we would want to own in each specific category.
Naturally you can take this list with a grain or two of salt. Most of the time, Roadshow’s editors get about a week with a vehicle, with the exception of long-term loans that last up to a year. Regardless, long-term reliability is not something we can measure, so you might want to talk to some owners to get a better feel for costs that may take a while to crop up. There’s also the matter of pricing; while the base prices (including destination charges) are plucked from each manufacturer’s website, they do not take discounts, haggling or demand-based price hikes into account, as final pricing is left to each individual dealership.
Read more: Best small SUVs for 2021
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