Automakers go to great lengths to make their SUVs stand out—be it with an edgy design, special features, or a specific powertrain. But in a market overflowing with so many excellent options, how do you really know which SUV is right for you?
We’ve done the dirty work and compiled a list of the best SUVs of 2025 (so far), based on our official rankings. The options range from compact luxury SUVs to full-size people movers, with gas, hybrid, and electric alike.
Using the same distinction from our annual Best of the Best awards, these are the SUVs we simply couldn’t get enough of this year—the ones we’d have in our driveways, money no object. As the year persists, more options will undoubtedly make this list. But for now, these are our top picks.
Cadillac Escalade IQ
Photo by: Alanis King / Motor1
Why We Love It: The Escalade is an icon. So if you’re Cadillac, how do you improve on an icon? By beefing it up with an electric powertrain, a lavish interior, and loads of technology, naturally.
The electric Escalade IQ has a massive 205.0-kilowatt-hour battery pack and two electric motors, which gives it a whopping 750 horsepower and 785 pound-feet of torque. That’s powerful enough to launch the three-row SUV to 60 miles per hour in about 5.0 seconds flat, while still returning an impressive 460 miles of estimated range. You will have to pay a cool $127,700 for that much performance, but hey, it’s an Escalade.
Chevrolet Suburban
Photo by: Christopher Smith / Motor1
Why We Love It: Chevy’s biggest SUV is also one of its best. The new Suburban may be daunting in size at a whopping 226.3 inches long, but it drives like an absolute dream and has some of the best technology of any SUV on the market today.
The top trim Suburban is powered by a 6.2-liter V-8 engine with a 10-speed automatic, which sends 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque to all four wheels. But it’s the updated Magnetic Ride Control with the Air Ride Adaptive suspension that makes the Suburban such a joy to pedal around town. That’s not to mention the 17.7-inch touchscreen and 11.0-inch digital instrument cluster that, yes, still comes with Apple CarPlay.
Honda Passport
Photo by: Jeff Perez / Motor1
Why We Love It: The previous Honda Passport was a mostly anonymous, middle-of-the-road crossover. That’s why Honda went back to the drawing board with its 2025 model, which gets a rugged new look and a fully revamped interior to go along with its genuine off-road capability—assuming you get the kitted-out TrailSport model.
Packing a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V-6 engine, the new Passport makes a modest 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired to a 10-speed automatic transmission and available all-wheel drive. The TrailSport trim adds a slight ride-height lift, all-terrain tires, a roof rack, all to get you where you need to go.
Jeep Wagoneer S
Photo by: Anthony Alaniz / Motor1
Why We Love It: The Jeep Wagoneer S is so quick that it may, in fact, break your brain. With a 100.0-kilowatt-hour battery pack and two electric motors, the super-SUV was so good that it even made our list of the Best Performance Cars of 2025 (So Far).
The Wagoneer S churns out 600 horsepower and 617 pound-feet of torque with that dual-motor setup, sending it to 60 miles per hour in a pretty ridiculous 3.4 seconds—all while returning an impressive 303 miles of range. That said, you will have to pay a pretty penny for that much performance; the Wagoneer S starts at $71,995.
Lucid Gravity
Photo by: Lucid Motors
Why We Love It: Lucid’s second model is an engineering feat. The Gravity GT is one of the most efficient, quickest charging SUVs on the market, yet also one of the fastest and nicest to drive. And Lucid’s obsession with packaging efficiency means it fits three rows of seating and tons of cargo room into a relatively small footprint.
Granted, it’s not perfect. The Gravity is expensive when you start piling on desirable options, and the early build cars we drove had some software bugs. But over-the-air updates should fix any user interface issues, and a cheaper Touring model is on the way. For such a young company, the Gravity is a truly remarkable vehicle.
Mazda CX-50 Hybrid
Photo by: Jeff Perez / Motor1
Why We Love It: Mazda knows how to make its SUVs stylish and fun to drive, but one area where the Japanese automaker was lacking somewhat was in efficiency. The arrival of the CX-50 Hybrid for this year changes that.
With a powered hybrid powertrain borrowed from Toyota, the CX-50 combines a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a single electric motor for a combined output of 219 horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque. Not exactly a supercar, but the CX-50 Hybrid excels in handling, comfort, and efficiency—returning up to to 38 miles per gallon combined.
Mercedes-Benz G580
Why We Love It: No Mercedes feels more like a Mercedes than the iconic G Wagen. Every component on this updated SUV, from the heater vents to the movement of the moonroof sunshade, absolutely drips with a feeling of quality. And for 2025, it’s made even better with an electric powertrain—somehow.
Of course, the usual G Class cliches have been upheld. The doors take your whole arm to open or shut. And when the door locks latch, it’s with a solid, resounding thunk. That sense of heft underscores the feeling you’re driving something of utmost quality. If a luxury vehicle is supposed to make its driver feel special above everything else (and we’d argue it should), then the new G Class is one hell of a luxury vehicle.
Nissan Murano
Photo by: Jeff Perez / Motor1
Why We Love It: Nissan’s recent corporate struggles aside, the company is making some truly great SUVs these days. The new Murano is no exception. The stylish, sensible mid-sizer debuted for the 2025 model year with a fresh design, a fully revamped interior, and a new engine.
The 2025 Murano ditches last year’s outdated V-6 for a new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that makes 241 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, while still returning a decent 23 miles per gallon combined. Pair that with a stylish exterior and a premium cabin, and it’s hard to hate the new Murano—especially with a $41,860 starting price.
Porsche Macan Electric
Photo by: Chris Perkins / Motor1
Why We Love It: The Porsche Macan’s reinvention as an EV has preserved the excellent luxury and driving dynamics of the gas-powered model with a huge boost in refinement and efficiency. You can tell Porsche learned a lot from its first EV, the Taycan, and while the Macan doesn’t quite feel as special, it’s not far off. You’d be hard pressed to find a better driving SUV.
It’s a great EV, and a great car full stop. Of course, this being Porsche, you’ll pay a lot for a Macan Electric—$77,295, in fact for the base model we tested. And that’s before options. But if you appreciate the things that separate the good from the great, it’s worth it.
Subaru Forester Hybrid
Why We Love It: Subaru finally got serious about making a hybrid, and its first effort for the US, the Forester Hybrid, is great. For about an extra $3,000, you get way better fuel efficiency and a far nicer drive than the standard Forester. Plus, Subaru cleverly integrated the hybrid system with its traditional symmetrical all-wheel drive system, so there’s no sacrifice in off-road ability.
Frankly, it’s a no-brainer, unless you want a base-model Forester, which doesn’t offer this hybrid system. And soon, the hybrid powertrain will come to the Crosstrek. Don’t be surprised to see that on a future iteration of this list.
Toyota 4Runner
Why We Love It: Completely redesigning the fifth-generation struck fear into the hearts of 4Runner enthusiasts. Was there any way Toyota could stick the landing while updating its long-serving SUV with hybrid tech, more-aggressive looks, and a break from absolute simplicity?
Yep, turns out there is. The new 4Runner improves everything about the old truck on paper with a new turbocharged four-cylinder making 326 horsepower. But on the road, where it really matters, the sixth-gen SUV is easier to drive, more efficient, and offers more trims than ever before, from the base SR5 to the rugged TRD Pro. The 4Runner is a safe bet for yet another generation.
