Car and Driver's Top SUV Picks: The Best SUVs of the Year

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If you're a new-fangled car buyer, chances are a car and driver-top suv is on your spending list. And if that's the case, you're damaged for choice. Each year, SUVs are becoming increasingly popular, and to cover every nook and crevice of consumer interest, from small carriers to big boxes, automakers continue to diversify the choice of SUVs and crossovers in their lineup. The locomotive landscape includes models that supply to the frugal-minded among us, the maximum performance-focused buyers, and every buyer in between. As a result, the competition is forcing variations to these types of vehicles. The dull SUVs of the past still exist, but there are also several charmingly engaging alternatives, not to mention some seriously off-road capable selections.

The result is the best SUV in a large field, which is a lot to wad through. We've split the more than 200 new crossovers in addition to SUVs for sale today across 13 parts to find the ones that dare to be good. Our editors have put every SUV sold today on our comprehensive testing regimen to filter out the pretenders. We've driven them all to decide which ones merit a spot on our 2023 Editor's Choice list, not to mention the designation of a few of the very best of these vehicles to our Best Trucks and SUVs of 2023.

Here are the Best Suvs

Hyundai Kona

Whether you call it a low-riding SUV or a big hatchback car, the tiny 2023 Hyundai Kona is a practical, fun-to-drive vehicle, which makes it one of our faves. The entry-level engine is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that makes only 147 horsepower, but the optional turbocharged mill handles in some spiciness that better games the Kona's agile handling. Like additional Hyundai models, the Kona comes crammed with a generous list of typical features, including driver assistance and documentary technologies, at a reasonable price. It's more than good. As rivals such as the Kia Seltos and the Volkswagen Taos cost thousands more to start, you may find it easy to validate splurging on a higher-trimmed Kona perfect even if you're on a budget. The Kona English hawthorn has few passenger or cargo planetary as some of its larger rivals, but when it comes to driving satisfaction, it's a package of spunky, funky fun no matter whether you think it's a carriage or an SUV.

Kia Soul

Forget the hamsters. The 2024 Kia Soul is a good-looking and distinctive option among today's crop of subcompact car SUVs. Its boxy styling is loud, and its interior suggests whimsical touches. Still, the Soul oozes realism thanks to a spacious cabin that's more spacious than you'd expect, given the car's unimportant footprint. The Soul likewise offers an impressive amount of landscapes for the money, given that it's less classy than many rivals with the Chevrolet Trailblazer, the Jeep Renegade, and the Kia Seltos. There's only one powertrain on offer—a 147-hp four-cylinder train with a continuously variable automatic show and front-wheel drive—. Still, the Soul is immobile and good to drive, thanks to its comfortable ride and refined demeanour.

Mazda CX-30

Driving vitality ranks high on our list of imports, and the 2024 Mazda CX-30 is a small SUV that satisfies our desire for fun-to-drive conveyance. The CX-30 is grounded on the Mazda 3 compact car, which clarifies its athleticism and class-above cabin fittings, which set it apart from rivals such as the Subaru Crosstrek and the Volkswagen Taos. By the entry-level 2.5-liter four-cylinder, the CX-30 can touch a bit sluggish, but if you're so inclined, Mazda offers a more powerful and more expensive 250-hp turbocharged type. All-wheel drive is standard with an engine; both come with a six-speed automatic transmission. The higher-end trims suggest near-luxury accommodations inside, which makes the CX-30 a more luxurious option in the subcompact border segment. Consider it an economical alternative to premium-branded models such as the Audi Q3 or the BMW X1.

Volkswagen Taos

Volkswagen's Taos mini-SUV blends the greatest of the Golf and Tiguan into one delightful set. All Taos models come through a 158-hp turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder. Predictably, acceleration isn't innovative, but its road manners are advanced, and its fuel efficiency is admirable. A good-looking exterior design wraps around a practical, efficient cabin with two spacious rackets of seats and an upright seating position that SUV consumers will appreciate. The Taos's low starting price makes it a good-looking option among small cusps, but while rivals such as the Chevrolet Trailblazer besides the Kia Seltos top out at just over $30,000, the Taos can bounce your budget up past the $35,000 mark. Its advanced trims add many features, but that sets the Taos in contention with larger SUVs, including its superior brother, the Tiguan.

BMW X1

Although it sits at the bottom of BMW's SUV lineup, nobody is yet entry-level near the 2024 BMW X1. Its light handling and real-world interior almost make the X1 an appropriate replacement for the 3-series station wagon that needs to be more specific from BMW's U.S. product portfolio. The standard powertrain is a 241-hp turbo four, but the racier M35i trim has a 312-hp option; both come standard with all-wheel drive and a seven-speed automatic show. The cabin features both a modern design and current tech, including BMW's latest iDrive nine docu-drama system, a curved-glass display, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. There are two seat rackets, both spacious for the unimportant SUV class, but the Mercedes-Benz GLB-class is roomier still and offers a non-compulsory third row of seats. What the Benz needs is the BMW's driving verve.

Volvo XC40

For decades, Volvo bent cars that were just as plain and box-shaped as they were safe-with-a-capital-"S." Modern Volvo endures to delight us with even safer models but through a much more stylish and sensitive project. That includes the plucky entry-level XC40 SUV, which blends outstanding protection with an upscale atmosphere and a youthful character. The cabin offers drivers a higher seating position than what's created in rivals such as the BMW X1 and the Mercedes-Benz GLA-class. Level the least expensive irregular features an inviting and agreeably neat interior, and the upper trims look carefully premium. Every Volvo XC40 is powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine with all-wheel drive that scoots along agreeably, and Volvo still needs to skimp on standard safety and assistance technology. An electric version, the XC40 Recharge, is also available if you're looking for an eco-friendlier selection.

Honda CR-V

As soon as the newest CR-V debuted last year, it was a hit, nearly earning a 10 Best Trucks and SUVs award. The Honda CR-V offers reliably good act, with plenty of usable space, friendly lashing dynamics, front- or all-wheel drive, a 190-hp turbocharged engine, and an optional 204-hp hybrid type. That hybrid powertrain delivers a stellar 40 mpg combined. Level in base form, the CR-V shines with a deep layer of modern tech and safety features that don't keep the spotlight deservedly occupied by its superb frameworks. Despite stiff competition from the Mazda CX-50, Volkswagen Tiguan, and Kia Sportage, the CR-V is our favourite in the highly prevalent compact SUV segment.

Conclusion

We have put together a complete list of the best SUV cars. Mahindra Scorpio N, Hyundai Creta, and Mahindra Scorpio are the three most popular cars below this preference. Explore the extensive slant of SUV cars in India, including details about pricing, images, videos, judgments, expert reviews, user reviews, and more.