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12 Great SUVs to Buy in 2025
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Mar 29, 2025
The popularity of SUVs doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon. There are countless choices on the market in 2025, and several of them are good choices. But, to help out those looking for a new SUV this year, we've assembled 12 great options across 12 different segments. Even if these are not your particular choice, they are still worth cross-shopping to see how the competition stacks up against some standouts in the SUV world.
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0:00
hey everyone it is Mike here from AutoGuide and today let's talk SUVs now this has been the most
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popular segment of vehicle for decades now and it doesn't really show any signs of letting up
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so in 2025 what are the best SUVs to buy well that list could be pretty big because there are
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so many good choices out there but what I'm going to do is give you 12 really good choices
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in 12 different segments. So in no particular order, here are 12 SUVs to buy in 2025
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So do you need a subcompact car, but you don't want a car? Well, Chevrolet has the answer for
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you, and that is the Chevrolet Trax. Essentially, it is a subcompact hatchback that's been lifted up
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And yes, it's only front wheel drive and it's not overly SUV in terms of capability, but it is in appearance and that seems to be the most important thing today
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And best of all, it starts at under $22,000 US including destination charges
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So what do you get for that price? Well, a pretty good package. Under the hood is a 1.2 liter turbocharged three cylinder
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Yes, a turbo three that's very small, but it still makes good power
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137 horsepower and over 160 pound-feet of torque which is good enough for the vehicle size and
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there's a six-speed automatic not a cvt which is also a plus standard is a 3.5 inch driver
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information center while higher models can have an 8 inch that's actually customizable as well
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there's over 25 feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and wireless apple carplay and android
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auto are standard and it's a lot of cool features in the tracks for the price and it's not a bad
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looking all-around package. Perhaps you want something a little bit bigger and all-wheel drive
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May I suggest the Volkswagen Taos. Now it is available in front or all-wheel drive but the big
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news is for 2025 it has been updated and the dual clutch transmission with the all-wheel drive system
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is dead. It has been replaced by an eight-speed automatic and it makes the overall driving
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experience so much better. Already the Taos was one of the better looking vehicles in this segment
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which is subjective but inside we really like the minimal interior design although we could use a
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few more physical buttons and I'm sure those are on the way for the infotainment system. But for its size the Taos offers a really livable rear seat for larger passengers and it still has
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good cargo carrying capacity. The 1.5 liter turbocharged four-cylinder also got an update
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this year it now makes 177 horsepower and 184 pound feet of torque which is more competitive
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in the segment but honestly the engine from last year already felt more powerful than a lot of
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competitors so this should only improve things fully loaded it's possible to get a lot of active
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safety systems things like adaptive cruise control crash mitigation lane keep assist and a lot more
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Best of all though, the Taos drives like a Volkswagen. What I mean by that is it has great road manners that feel more refined than a lot in the segment with reflexes that aren't expected in a small SUV
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Next up we have this segment that used to be called compact SUVs but they keep growing in size so they're now somewhere between compact and midsize
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Anyway my recommendation here is the Kia Sportage or Sportage for our Canadian viewers
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The reason I picked this is it's a great jack-of-all-trades. There's gas, there's hybrid and there's even plug-in hybrid versions of the vehicle
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Not only is there a lot of choice in the engine configuration there are a ton of trims so it's
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pretty easy to find a Sportage that would work for you. There's front-wheel drive
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there's all-wheel drive, pure gas engines have five trims, hybrids and plugins have another
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5 plus trims. The gas powered version has a 2.5 liter four cylinder that makes 187 horsepower
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and 178 pound feet of torque and it is combined with a eight speed automatic. Although options are
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obviously dependent on trims, some of the higher end models allow you to get things that are a
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little more premium like ventilated front seat to power passenger seat and heated rear seats
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All versions of the Sportage come stuffed full of safety systems with higher end models including the advanced forward collision avoidance Jumping to the hybrid and plug it has a lot of the same options and features that I described in the gas versions Both vehicles come with a 1 liter turbocharged four but of course with battery assist
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power. And in the hybrid, it makes 227 horsepower, and in the plug-in, it makes over 260 horsepower
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and both have 258 pound-feet of torque. On all-electric power, the plug-in can go about
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34 miles or 55 kilometers on a single charge. The Sportage is one of those vehicles that doesn't
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overly excel at anything but it does everything really well and would be a great vehicle for a
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small family. When it comes to a mid-sized SUV well I'm not really going out on a limb here and
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I'm picking the one that's been super popular for a long time and that is the Subaru Outback
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What started way back in the day as they jacked up wagon with body cladding, the Outback still retains its wagon-esque shape and capability while becoming more and more SUV-like
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Many competitors have tried to take down the Outback and failed, as Subaru nailed the formula from the start and seems to still have a winning package
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The Outback comes with a choice of flat four engines, available in a regular naturally aspirated version, or the torquey turbo
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So, all Outback's come equipped with a CVT, which some may not like, but at least this continuously variable transmission is a pretty good one
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And when paired up with the turbocharged engine, it actually creates really good response and swift acceleration
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Of course, this is a Subaru, so it comes standard with a ton of safety systems and it has 8.7 inches of ground clearance
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which means it can go places a lot of other SUVs can't and maybe shouldn't get stuck that easy with
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the Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive System. But more than its performance and capability
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the Outback can carry four adults in a ton of comfort and there is a lot of storage behind
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the rear seats still. For the super popular three-row SUV category, we've split it into
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two segments. First, we'll go with one of the smaller three rows, and that is the Hyundai Santa
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Fe. Redesigned for 2025, by now you've probably seen them on the road, and they are very boxy
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compared to previous generations. In fact, it's got a little bit of a Land Rover design feel to it
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This new style leads to a lot of room inside. In fact, the third row in the Santa Fe is more
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accommodating and more spacious than a lot of third rows in larger SUVs. Of course, when the
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third row is up because it is a slightly smaller vehicle there isn't much cargo behind the third
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row but if those seats are folded you have a nice big square cargo hold that can carry a lot of gear
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Hyundai is offering a lot of choice with the new Santa Fe as well as there's gas-powered turbo
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versions or there are hybrid versions there's also the soft rotor XRT model that's designed
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to be more rugged and really capitalize on the boxy shape and perhaps steal some sales from Subaru
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Being a Hyundai, there are so many features available like ventilated seats and power
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seats and heated seats, all the safety systems, sun shades, and there's even a cool handle
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built into the pillar on specific models that allow you to grab it to step on the rear tire
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and put stuff on the roof rack. And if you want to play a fun game with the Santa Fe, try to count how many H's are built
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into the vehicle. Headlights, taillights, seat covers, design elements, there are so many
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I'm not even going to try to figure out the total number. Sticking with three-row SUVs, we go to the large end of the scale with the Jeep Wagoneer
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specifically the Wagoneer L, which is the extended length version. Yes, it's a giant square box and the styling isn't for everyone and is kind of plain
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but just like the Santa Fe, that leads to tremendous passenger space
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The truck-based chassis under the Wagoneer also delivers incredible ride quality, especially when compared to its main competitors from Toyota, Nissan, Chevrolet, and Ford
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Powering all Wagoneers now is a 3.0-liter inline-six that's turbocharged and makes 420 horsepower in regular versions
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and if you step up to the Grand Wagoneers, it gets up to over 500 horsepower
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The vehicle starts at about $65,000, including destination charges, and can easily get into the six figure range
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But at that point you're getting some crazy options like rear entertainment system lounge chairs ventilated seats everywhere heated seats huge wheels adjustable air suspension retractable running boards you know all the good little toys that you want on your big huge
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people hauler. Okay, up until now, we've been focusing on SUVs more so for people and families
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than what an SUV traditionally was, and that's to go off-roading. So if you're looking for a true
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purpose-built off-roader, my recommendation is the Ford Bronco. Now wait, I know you may be saying
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what about the Wrangler? It's been the go-to choice forever and it is an excellent choice
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Really, Wrangler or Bronco, you can't go wrong, but the reason I'm taking the Bronco is it's a
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little more fresh in styling, but more importantly, it has way better road manners. So if you need to
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drive your Bronco on the highway to get to the off-road park, it will be much more enjoyable than
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doing so in a Wrangler. And much like its competitor from Jeep, there are so many choices for the Bronco and I don't
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just mean 2 door or 4 door, there's somewhat tame versions like the Big Bend and you can
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go all the way to the crazy extreme Raptor with the fire breathing turbocharged 6 cylinder engine
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For me though, I love the heritage, it just looks so cool with its retro styling while
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still offering modern conveniences. With modern conveniences I mean things like a 360 degree camera, a B&O sound system, all
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the usual safety systems like evasive steering assist, adaptive cruise control, collision
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mitigation, you know all those sort of things, and wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto
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Of course there's a rugged front bumper and tie down straps all over the vehicle because
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a lot of people at off road want to put a ton of accessories on their vehicle and the
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the Bronco is ready for that as well. So maybe you don't need something the size or price of the
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Bronco or are willing to live with as many trade-offs for such a capable off-roader
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Well, there is another choice for you and that is the Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness
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Smaller in size, this vehicle still offers over 9 inches of ground clearance and of course it has
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Subaru's all-wheel drive system which is very capable along with the two-stage X-MODE. It comes
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standard with all-terrain tires and some underbody guards to help protect it in case you get a little
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bit beyond its off-road capability. Inside it still has a lot of conveniences of a modern SUV
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like an available power driver seat, heated front seats, a giant 11.6 inch touchscreen and all of
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the usual safety systems included in Subaru's eyesight. Probably the best though for those that
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do like to adventure is the interior seat material that is capable of being wiped down for the
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mud, snow, dirt, salt, whatever we'll get on it. So far on this list I've mentioned a lot of
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vehicles that have hybrid options but what about the best overall hybrid SUV at a reasonable
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price? Well, for me, it's the new Toyota Crown Signia. Now, don't think of this vehicle as Toyota
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Venza 3.0. The new Crown Signia is not a slow, super relaxed cruiser of previous mid-sized Toyota
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hybrids. This one is actually kind of lively. With 240 horsepower net, it may not sound like it has
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a ton of power, but it delivers it really well, and the steering and suspension are set up for
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decent reflexes. It isn't a full-out sports vehicle, but getting 38 miles per gallon while
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carrying four adults and a lot of gear in the 25 cubic foot cargo area while still having a little
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bit of fun behind the wheel is a good overall package. Of course, this thing can come fully
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loaded with a lot of cool features. There's 21-inch wheels, heated rear seats, of course
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Apple CarPlay and Android Auto that are fully wireless, a wireless phone charging pad
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a panoramic sunroof, just so many different things. All the usual Toyota safety systems are here
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like the Star Safety System and the Toyota Safety Sense 3.0. Inside, the vehicle does look quite
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stylish and modern, with a 12.3-inch infotainment system sitting dead center on the dash
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When looking for the best overall plug-in hybrid SUV, we once again have gone back to
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the masters of the hybrid, Toyota. Formerly called the RAV4 Prime the 2025 RAV4 plug is essentially the same vehicle which is good news because it was already so good The electric motors and gasoline engine combined to make over 300 horsepower which is a lot for vehicle
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the size. In fact this is one of the fastest vehicles in its segment. Just as
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impressive is the fact it can go up to 42 miles on a single charge. That means a
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lot of people could commute to and from work without ever having to have the
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gasoline engine turn on. Of course being a RAV4 the interior may not be the most
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stylish but it is very functional and fits for adults in complete comfort and there's space for
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gear in the back because although this is a plug-in hybrid the rav4 doesn't really lose much
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capability inside or outside speaking of the outside i've always liked the looks of the latest
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rav4 with its boxier chunkier more suv overall look when it comes to recommending the best mainstream all-electric SUV well the choice is actually
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pretty simple now there are a lot of choices on the market and a lot of them are actually really
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good but as an overall package in terms of capability features style and most importantly
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choice gotta go with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 it can be had with just a single rear motor and small
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battery with a decent starting price that still has okay range and then there's extended battery
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all-wheel drive versions or if that's not enough there's now an off-road XRT version and of course
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there's the bonkers Hyundai Ioniq 5n that redefines what a performance electric vehicle can be not just
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an electric SUV. In fairness though when it comes to the Ioniq 5n it's not really much of an SUV
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be anymore it's really just a slightly raised car at this point but it's still so much fun to drive
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which is not something you can say about a lot of evs out there but back to the main reason i'm
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picking the onyc 5 and that's it's just got such a good overall package it's got the cool retro 80s
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design elements it can take adult passengers in the rear seat there's good cargo capacity
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and like I said it has a lot of choices in terms of drivetrains and battery sizes and
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all of them charge at a good speed and offer decent mileage. For example it can go up to 318
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miles on a single charge for the large battery rear wheel drive model. But the coolest thing
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about the Ioniq 5 is still that range of choice. You have the track ready 5n and then there's the
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new XRT that isn't just a warmed over rebadge. It has unique bumpers and all-terrain tires and
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really cool cladding. Okay so for the final vehicle on this list I have saved the craziest choice to last
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Maybe you want a all out performance SUV. Something that can drag race with the best of them
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Well there's really just one choice in the somewhat mainstream market and that is the
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Dodge Durango Hellcat. I mean who doesn't want 710 horsepower from a supercharged 6.2 liter V8 powering all four
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wheels in a smoky cloud of rubber. Yeah it costs over $100,000 with destination chargers and its fuel economy is well quite laughable
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But nothings gonna touch it in terms of straight line performance and it can take up to 6 people
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which is a bonus as well. And the Durango does have big meaty tires and brakes so it can handle and stop pretty
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darn well for what it really is and that's a large SUV
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Now Dodge has discontinued this version of the Durango quite a few times only for it to
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return and maybe, maybe this will be the last year but we'll have to wait and see
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Still if you really want a 700 plus horsepower 6 passenger SUV you better hurry up because
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it won't last forever. Well there you have it, those are my 12 picks and I know you won't agree with all of them
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but the point is to offer 12 good starting points in 12 different segments and if there's
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something else you're interested in or prefer it's worth doing a back to back comparison
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with these vehicles because I do feel these are all up near the front of each segment
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and worth consideration no matter what kind of SUV you're looking to buy in 2025
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